If you could have just one computer, what would you pick?

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pianowizard · #1 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:20 am

Let's pretend that in the next two years, you are allowed to own or use just one computer. In this scenario, which computer would you pick? These are the rules for this poll:

1) It can be something you currently own, or something you owned in the past, or even a computer that you have heard/read about but have never had.
2) Mods are acceptable, e.g. replacing an X60's XGA screen with an SXGA+ screen.
3) If you opt for a laptop, you aren't allowed to use an external monitor. Having an external monitor makes it almost like owning a laptop plus "half a desktop", which is sort of cheating for the purpose of this poll.
4) External disc drives are allowed.

For me, I need something that's light and durable enough for traveling; high screen resolution for multitasking; and powerful enough for the applications that I use. If the Panasonic CF-B10 had a U.S. English keyboard, that would be my choice: it has Core i5, 15.6" 1920x1080, an internal optical drive, and a weight of only 4.1 lb. Unfortunately, it has a Japanese/English keyboard, which I can't stand. So, I have to settle for the Panasonic CF-Y7: Core2 Duo, Windows Vista COA (my favorite OS), 14.1" 1400x1050, internal DVD burner, and 3.5 lb.

Several other computers (all laptops) that I wouldn't mind having as my only computer:

Sony Vaio Z Series (the new one that just came out -- see http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20075 ... less-cool/): 13.1" 1600x900, Core i7, SSD, 2.6 lb. Unlike the first-generation Z Series, this one has no optical drive and so I would need an external drive for installing software or watching DVDs once in a while.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y5 (the one in my signature): 14.1" 1400x1050, Core Duo, internal optical drive, 3.55 lb

Lenovo Thinkpad T420s: 14.0" 1600x900, Core i5, SSD. While traveling, I would swap out the optical drive for a travel bezel to reduce the weight to 3.7 lb.

rumbero · #2 Post by **rumbero** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:38 am

A 15" T60 with UXGA Flexview display hosting a T61 penryn-capable mainboard with Intel X3100 graphics and a T9500 CPU and 8GB RAM and some decent SSD drive. And it would be running some kind of Debian based Linux. 'nuff said.

jdk · #3 Post by **jdk** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 11:30 am

Sun Ultra 24, completely maxed out (dual displays, 8GB RAM, etc). With a Logitech Marble Mouse, and maybe a Model M keyboard. It would run FreeBSD or Scientific Linux and have Windows 7 accessible in a VM.

A31 · #4 Post by **A31** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:55 am

My custom-built PC with my new 24" Iiyama display I got today

Specs: Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1, Core i5 760 2.8GHz Quad-Core CPU, 8GB DDR3 RAM, WD Caviar Green 2TB HDD, Seagate Barracuda 320GB HDD, EVGA GeForce GTS 450 Superclocked, Samsung DVD-RW

I'm one for powwweeerrrrr!

pianowizard · #5 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 8:36 am

jdk wrote:Sun Ultra 24

A31 wrote:My custom-built PC with my new 24" Iiyama display I got today

So, what are you going to do when you need a computer while on the road?

Colonel O'Neill · #6 Post by **Colonel O'Neill** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:37 am

IBM Watson, and lots of LCDs.

ThinkRob · #7 Post by **ThinkRob** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:44 am

*Any* computer?

Power 740 Express
2 x 16-core POWER7 @ 3.55 GHz
32+ GB RAM
8 x Intel X25-E in RAID 6+1

Now since I can't very well obtain the entire GDP of a small nation to purchase such a machine, a more reasonable (and realistically affordable) workstation would be:

SuperMicro 7046A-T
2 x Xeon X5675
24 GB registered ECC RAM
6 x X25-M in RAID 1+0

ozzymud · #8 Post by **ozzymud** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 12:59 pm

Colonel O'Neill wrote:IBM Watson, and lots of LCDs.

+1 to that, my daughter watches Jeopardy and had the nerve to not tell me about those episodes :/ (luckily they were still in deleted items in MythTV

)

ThinkRob · #9 Post by **ThinkRob** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:06 pm

Colonel O'Neill wrote:IBM Watson, and lots of LCDs.

The hardware that makes up Watson isn't actually all that special. IIRC it's just a rack or two of POWER7 boxes with some really fast interconnects.

Still, the whole setup must have cost a few million (if bought at retail prices)...

Unknown_K · #10 Post by **Unknown_K** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:10 pm

A custom built desktop with at least 8 cores and 8GB of RAM running Windows 7 I guess.

To be honest only having one machine would kill my collecting and gaming hobby so that one machine would just be for boring misc web use (and those above specs are overkill).

#11 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:36 pm

The hand held device that runs "The Hitchikers Guide To The Galxay"!

Cheers,

Bill B.

craigmontHunter · #12 Post by **craigmontHunter** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:20 pm

Bill - that exists: http://www.xkcd.com/548/

I would probably take my T61- it does what I need, I am planning on keeping it as my main computer for the next 3 or 4 years (through university) - it has enough battery life and power for me, bluetooth, and I am not spoiled by high resolution screens (my last interm laptop was 800X600 - wxga seems like a huge upgrade

) It also has enough height for me (I like widescreen, espeically with lower resolutions i.e 1280X800 vs 1024X768, but I don't like the 16X9, it just feels like a step backwards). It is also tough enough to survive me (actually quite a feat

).

I think I have chosen the most *average* system yet (especially on a thinkpad forum

).

jdk · #13 Post by **jdk** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:06 pm

pianowizard wrote:
So, what are you going to do when you need a computer while on the road?

Hypothetically, do without. Or use my phone. I probably need to do without anyway. My last vacation, I spent more time on the computer than on the beach. I'm glued to my X60s.

#14 Post by **ZaZ** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:09 am

Boy, that's a tough one. I guess I'd say perhaps the T520 with the FHD and the quad core. I like my laptop to be portable, which my X220i certainly is, but it's no match for my hexa core desktop. I'd probably get the dock too for when I'm at my desktop. That seems to be the best blend of the two.

A31 · #15 Post by **A31** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:32 am

pianowizard wrote:So, what are you going to do when you need a computer while on the road?

I don't tend to use computes whilst on the go. If I do, which is rarely, like jdk, I can use my phone which does my email and web all for me, which is enough.

LegendaryKA8 · #16 Post by **LegendaryKA8** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 1:01 pm

If I was relegated to just one machine, I think I would be happy with a well-specced W520, with the 256GB SSD I already have and a 750GB HDD in the Ultrabay. That would give me plenty of power for the gaming and etc. that I do, a FHD display for plenty of real estate, and all of that stuff. If I could extend that to peripherals, I'd do well with a docking station with my Model M and Logitech G7 mouse, and two large, high-res displays. That would give me enough power to be good for the next good while.

ajkula66 · #17 Post by **ajkula66** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:48 pm

If I were to use the machine in question just for my personal stuff, I'd stick with my T43p.

In case of work and travel being involved, I'd opt for my current employer-issued laptop that I barely use...Panasonic CF-31.

paul*robertson · #18 Post by **paul*robertson** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 3:14 pm

#19 Post by **thePCxp** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:41 pm

I would pick the W520. I need a powerful, reliable, rugged, portable computer for music creation (and for some graphics-related tasks). It would be a top-of-the-line model: Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor (2.50GHz, 8MB L3, 1333MHz FSB), Windows 7, 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory, color sensor, 32GB RAM, RAID 0, Dual RAID HDDs: 500 GB Hard Disk Drives, 7200rpm, wireless broadband, 9-cell battery, ThinkPad b/g/n wireless, and Bluetooth. I would also include an audio interface, a MIDI keyboard, and a condenser mic, headphones, and studio monitors.

edikat · #20 Post by **edikat** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:22 am

Like somebody else also mentioned... I'd say without hesitation the T43p, but follow it by a 770Z and then perhaps a 600X or T30.

pianowizard · #21 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:23 pm

edikat wrote:Like somebody else also mentioned... I'd say without hesitation the T43p, but follow it by a 770Z and then perhaps a 600X or T30.

You mean you could use the 600X or 770Z as your only computer for two years???

edikat · #22 Post by **edikat** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 7:05 am

pianowizard wrote:Like somebody else also mentioned... I'd say without hesitation the T43p, but follow it by a 770Z and then perhaps a 600X or T30.

You mean you could use the 600X or 770Z as your only computer for two years???

Sure...

They can run XP, Office 2003/2007
The can run the latest browsers (or at least FF5!) so I can read news
The 770Z has SXGA+
The 770Z can support a PIII I believe? But even a PII would be OK.
I rarely use flash (and don't like it anyhows)
I can plug in a PCMCIA WLAN card
Battery life isn't great but I rarely use battery!
I don't use much disk space.. although probably more than 8GB

My only issue would be the 600X's screen perhaps (SXGA+ so much nicer on the 770Z) but XGA is fine (I use it on my X60s...).

Back in 2003 I used a bog standard P233MMX 770 for Software development for 6 months, and wasn't aware of the slowness until we ported the application to a P4 desktop. Now that shocked me

But.. yes I could use them. Of course I prefer the T43p!

Ed

pianowizard · #23 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:09 am

edikat wrote:The 770Z has SXGA+

I no longer have Thinkpads but over the years I owned at least 30 different models of Thinkpads. The 770Z with 1280x1024 (which is SXGA, not SXGA+) is the only interesting model that I still haven't had. If I come across a cheap one on eBay, I will buy one just for fun.

edikat · #24 Post by **edikat** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:59 am

pianowizard wrote: I no longer have Thinkpads but over the years I owned at least 30 different models of Thinkpads. The 770Z with 1280x1024 (which is SXGA, not SXGA+) is the only interesting model that I still haven't had. If I come across a cheap one on eBay, I will buy one just for fun.

Sorry, SXGA, yes. I believe the 770Z was top dog in its day. I can't recall the introduction but I remember reading it was Autumn/Winter 1999 that it made its appearance.

This was the heyday of the .com boom, mega money and no expense spared. The 770 series seemed like they were works of art.

I shouldn't be so nostalgic I know.

ausmike · #25 Post by **ausmike** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:03 am

After months oif use and really giving LOTS OF THINKPADS ...

i have two items = x220 (current model with HD screen) and W520FHD + multi+ BR(older model)

I would pick x220 for travel and W520 for home

But I use X220T with infiniti glass - and feel its not close to FHD

so if i had to Pick it be older W520FHD+BlurRay

pianowizard · #26 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 10:43 am

edikat wrote:Sorry, SXGA, yes. I believe the 770Z was top dog in its day. I can't recall the introduction but I remember reading it was Autumn/Winter 1999 that it made its appearance.

According to the twbook, the 770Z came out in Feb 1999.

The 1280x1024 resolution of the 13.7" models still beats many of today's laptops which only have 1366x768 (and 1280x1024 is actually higher than 1440x900!). Unfortunately, its 366MHz PII and max RAM of 320MB would make WinXP SP3 painful to use. I just read up on PIII upgrades for the 770Z and learned that while it's possible to upgrade the CPU to PIII, there are various issues. So, if I do get a 770Z, I would most likely just install Win 98SE on it and use it only for a few old DOS programs that I still have. I would definitely not use it to get on the internet.

asiafish · #27 Post by **asiafish** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:06 am

Current model 11.6" MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge i7 upgrade and 256GB SSD

jdrou · #28 Post by **jdrou** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:55 am

W520. I'd just live with carrying the extra weight (vs. my X201) back and forth to work every day.

If money were no object I might go for a 17" like the Precision M6600.

Brian10161 · #29 Post by **Brian10161** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:38 pm

I'm not really sure. I saw an 11.6" macbook air today and it was nice. I really like my X120e and T400s notebooks, so I would probably pick one of those two.

It would either be a Thinkpad or a Mac. I don't like anything else really, some nice notebooks out there, but I have used a lot and gathered an opinion of my own.

Desktops are not really interesting for me now as most laptops are powerful enough for me.

Totoro-kun · #30 Post by **Totoro-kun** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:19 am

I would keep my current T61. Trustworthly and most comfortable Thinkpad I had honor to own. It's perfect size - 14.1" (not too big or bulky to carry, not too small for decent work too). 16:10 wsxga+ screen is also nice, and with decently tuned Slackware Linux system it feels fast enough for everything I do. The thing i like most about it, is that it feels very sturdy, no flexing, no "noisy" parts, no cheap look. In my opinion this laptop has best power to build quality ratio i have seen. And I think I can easily work with it another 2 years, probably even twice as long if needed

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