Advice on new work computer
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
I would definitely go for the #2 option. My code isn't buggy. Those are all fleatures.
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
Jeff Martin wrote: 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. MID level??? No fair, no fair ... :confused:
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
#2 is a good option. After all, the flat panels are TRUE 17". Personally, my development system is a mobile solution, currently with a Toshiba P25-S507. As to dual monitors, at home I plug it into a 17" flat screen and run everything in dual monitor mode. It's great! Actually, I'm thinking of adding a Margi card[^]) for a third monitor! Marc Latest AAL Article My blog Join my forum!
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
I've always felt that a developer should have a middle of the road machine. That way, if the software runs well on the developer machine (performance wise), it should be as good or better when deployed. If the software is a dog during development, the pain caused will help motivate the developer to fix it. This helps reduce the "runs fine on my machine" type of responses to customer complaints about performance. Oh, the hell with that!! Get the Dual P4 with 2GB!!!! onwards and upwards...
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
I'll take #2. Oh, this isn't a giveaway?:) Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
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Jeff Martin wrote: 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. MID level??? No fair, no fair ... :confused:
Well, mid-level as in not as good as #1. It's still a very nice machine.
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I've always felt that a developer should have a middle of the road machine. That way, if the software runs well on the developer machine (performance wise), it should be as good or better when deployed. If the software is a dog during development, the pain caused will help motivate the developer to fix it. This helps reduce the "runs fine on my machine" type of responses to customer complaints about performance. Oh, the hell with that!! Get the Dual P4 with 2GB!!!! onwards and upwards...
Well, that's not really a factor here. I do all web stuff, so everything runs on our web server. I don't know the exact specs on it, but it's a kick-ass system. So even w/ the top of the line dev machine, dev and testing is still going to be on less horsepower than the server.
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It's upgrade time at work, so I have to decide what my new development machine will be. I have 3 options 1) Top of the line workstation - Dell Precision, Intel Xeon 3.2Ghz processor (motherboard has dual processor support, may be able to upgrade to 2 processors next year), 2GB dual channel DDR SDRAM, 120 GB SCSI RAID 0 drive , CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be the dual 17" CRT monitors I have now. 2) Mid level desktop machine/new monitors - Dell OptiPlex, Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz processor, 2GB DDR SDRAM, 120 ATA harddrive, CD-RW and DVD drive. Display would be new dual 17" flat panel monitors. 3) Mobile solution - Development class laptop (haven't spec'ed one out yet), probably 1.7Ghz Centrino processor, comparable drive space and memory to above systems. I would lose the dual monitors by going w/ the laptop, but it has advantages. I'm leaning toward #2, because of the dual 17" flat panel monitors. I have single 17" flat panel and home and love it. I like it better than my dual CRT monitors at work, so I can only dream of having two flat panels. I like the mobile option also. One of the advantages of that is our entire building is covered on wireless, so I can go anywhere and work or take my own machine for demonstrations and meetings. We have laptops available now for demos, but there's always trouble getting new stuff working on them. I could also take work stuff home, which isn't a huge advantage because I have VPN access already. So I can work from home with no problem. I just can't sit on my couch and work :) Running all the time: Visual Studio.NET (sometimes 2 instances), Query Analyzer, Outlook, SQL BOL, Media Player, IE, MS Messenger Occasionally running: Word, Excel, Visio, Enterprise Manager, DreamWeaver, Remote Desktop (to servers) What are your thoughts on the above options?
<jealous> Who do I have to @#$! to get a job where you work? </jealous>
Software Zen:
delete this; -
<jealous> Who do I have to @#$! to get a job where you work? </jealous>
Software Zen:
delete this;I'll talk to my boss about that, cause it sure ain't me. :)