New Desktop

[rollestonpark]

Thank you for replies.

I used to build machines for myself and others, guess its 10-12yrs since I last did one, eventually it got to the point it wasn't worth it.
I hadn't considered building one but may well price up the bits and see.
Back then I used to use a lot of AMD Athlons, but Intel do seem to be the more popular nowadays, and I'm not at all familiar with AMDs line up of chips.

I'm going for a new monitor too, sorely tempted to go for a 27" job. Probably overkill for my needs though.

Spec isn't so hard, as long as there is room for changing something if need be, think I will go for something with a graphics card though, its just finding a decent reliable supplier I'm after.
I was thinking of buying one with no OS and installing Win 10 myself, that saves a load of crap ending on there.

I have kids but they won't get to use this one, this ones mine, nobody else including Mrs FB gets to use it!!

I have built a fair few machines, but depending on what your looking for, it's often cheaper to buy ready made these days.
I have bought 3 of these recently Lenovo M715q for the farm and family. AMD processor (which is often more secure at the moment because intel can't be bothered to fix their processors, google etc)
I am a massive windoze/micro$oft and apple hater these days (sorry you guys that like these products, but Jesus God help us, it is utter expensive cr@p)

Anyway, I just wipe the new PC out of the box completely and install Linux Mint and they works great. Small box and is really zippy under Linux Mint.
Highly recommend the move to Linux Mint. I basically have a rule when buying computer hardware, if it won't work with Linux, don't buy and look elsewhere for the same sort of hardware that does.

I know I'll get shot down for this, buy hey, I don't care, Apple and Microsoft completely suck (as the americans would say). Windows 10 is spyware/adaware, if that's your thing, fine.

Chris

 

[Kidds]

Are Dell not up to the mark these days?

 

[rollestonpark]

Are Dell not up to the mark these days?

Used to rate Dell, but think they are behind the times these days, but, if you can get a deal on good hardware, go for it.

 

[Feynman]

Could you please explain how an AMD cpu is better than an Intel cpu at video editing?

More core and threads /£

 

[Storeman]

More core and threads /£

But as it's the GPU, not the CPU doing the bulk of the graphics work, how is it better?

 

[TechWise]

Take a look on Amazon for parts. I got all the parts for my custom PC from there. 1TB M2 SSD, 32GB 4.2MHz RAM, AMD 3600X Ryzen processor, AMD Rx570 graphics card and three 21" Full HD monitors.

 

[moorender]

Totally agree about 2nd monitor, wish I'd done it years ago. It helps with little things. I've just copied a long invoice number off one screen onto accounts on the other; no fat finger problems. If you have windows 10 it should be easy and only the cost of 2nd monitor and a twin monitor stand if you want one.

 

[bitwrx]

I have built a fair few machines, but depending on what your looking for, it's often cheaper to buy ready made these days.
I have bought 3 of these recently Lenovo M715q for the farm and family. AMD processor (which is often more secure at the moment because intel can't be bothered to fix their processors, google etc)
I am a massive windoze/micro$oft and apple hater these days (sorry you guys that like these products, but Jesus God help us, it is utter expensive cr@p)

Anyway, I just wipe the new PC out of the box completely and install Linux Mint and they works great. Small box and is really zippy under Linux Mint.
Highly recommend the move to Linux Mint. I basically have a rule when buying computer hardware, if it won't work with Linux, don't buy and look elsewhere for the same sort of hardware that does.

I know I'll get shot down for this, buy hey, I don't care, Apple and Microsoft completely suck (as the americans would say). Windows 10 is spyware/adaware, if that's your thing, fine.

Chris

I used to run everything on Linux to, but after a decade of working in an office job I kinda just got used to Windows and Office (especially Excel).

As far as I know, the open equivalents to Excel just don't have the features that I want (power query mostly), so I'm kinda stuck with Ms. I've done both dual boot and virtual machines in the past, but the hassle at the time is more than I'm willing to tolerate today. I'd consider Linux again if I could switch it on and double click one icon to get Excel and farmplan working seamlessly.

Have any of the distros got this capability?

 

[rollestonpark]

I used to run everything on Linux to, but after a decade of working in an office job I kinda just got used to Windows and Office (especially Excel).

As far as I know, the open equivalents to Excel just don't have the features that I want (power query mostly), so I'm kinda stuck with Ms. I've done both dual boot and virtual machines in the past, but the hassle at the time is more than I'm willing to tolerate today. I'd consider Linux again if I could switch it on and double click one icon to get Excel and farmplan working seamlessly.

Have any of the distros got this capability?

You can always download linux mint and write it to a memory stick, then boot from that to try it without effecting your windows installation.
Nice to try to get a feel for it, although a little slower from a memory stick as you would imagine, but good enough for a try out.
Does LibreOffice (included with Mint) not offer what you need? In my experience it does 99% of what excel does.

As for farmplan, we moved to xero and haven't looked back, all cloud based so linux not an issue.

I just got so annoyed with windows, in that just about every program you install these days has background running services, which massively slow it down. Even though you might only run such programs occasionally, they are basically always running in the background, and the number of registery enteries also have a big effect on the machine's speed.

Linux for the most part doesn't work in this manner, mostly programs only run when you set them to, not at startup.
I suppose while farming software companies will only write for windows, then some will have to have a windows machine on site somewhere.

 

[J B]

Does LibreOffice (included with Mint) not offer what you need? In my experience it does 99% of what excel does.

In the past I have helped folks with their RHI application and some of their 'macro enabled' (?) spreadsheets would not work with Libre Office

 

[bitwrx]

You can always download linux mint and write it to a memory stick, then boot from that to try it without effecting your windows installation.
Nice to try to get a feel for it, although a little slower from a memory stick as you would imagine, but good enough for a try out.
Does LibreOffice (included with Mint) not offer what you need? In my experience it does 99% of what excel does.

As for farmplan, we moved to xero and haven't looked back, all cloud based so linux not an issue.

I just got so annoyed with windows, in that just about every program you install these days has background running services, which massively slow it down. Even though you might only run such programs occasionally, they are basically always running in the background, and the number of registery enteries also have a big effect on the machine's speed.

Linux for the most part doesn't work in this manner, mostly programs only run when you set them to, not at startup.
I suppose while farming software companies will only write for windows, then some will have to have a windows machine on site somewhere.

Yeh, I'm familiar with all the advantages of *nix-type OSs, particularly the open ones (openness being the big philosophical one for me), and agree that Farmplan is dated (but that's not a management decision within my remit at the moment), but...

- Excel really is unbeatable for what I want to do, and the alternatives just don't come close. I probably use the 1% of features that LibreOffice and Gnumeric don't have in 99% of my spreadsheets. Or at least that was the case last time I checked.
- After nearly a decade in a corporate environment, I really am very habituated to MS.

I have Debian installed on my personal desktop (which I used to dual boot or VM with windows), but I haven't used it in at least a year. I'm no longer just browsing the internet or mucking around with Python in my spare time, which Deb is great for.

I just want a computer that works straight out of the box, boots up fast, and has the latest version of Excel. My little Lenovo from Currys, which took me an hour or two to select and buy, and arrived next day, does everything I need. Shame really.

 

[Steevo]

@Pheasant Surprise might have something to chip in - either on new PC (Apple?!) or Linux!

 

[rollestonpark]

In the past I have helped folks with their RHI application and some of their 'macro enabled' (?) spreadsheets would not work with Libre Office

Yeah, we've had that with older versions of libreoffice, seems better now.
However, the guy who helps me with my RHI had problems with the macro sheets in his version of Excel as well.
But Ofgem's spreadsheets aren't the best to be honest.

Strangely the Ofgem spreadsheet seemed better in google sheets. Weird.

 

[fermerboy]

In the past I have helped folks with their RHI application and some of their 'macro enabled' (?) spreadsheets would not work with Libre Office

I have a spreadsheet I did in excel to do YFC stockjudging scoring and it wont work on anything other than MS Excel. Been caught out once or twice with that now.

 

[ollie989898]

My PC is just as fast now as when it wss new and running W7. Yes Windows is a hugely complex OS but it can do everything i want. Linux is great if you dont need the software support.

I have no clue why people buy Apple gear at all. I would rather buy a gucci case and run it as a chromebook or under linux.

 

[Timbo]

! thing to add - 2 monitors, 2 monitors, 2 monitors. (3 if you are keen)

Once you've had 2, you'll never go back.

 

[ollie989898]

! thing to add - 2 monitors, 2 monitors, 2 monitors. (3 if you are keen)

Once you've had 2, you'll never go back.

Totally agree. I use three with my studies and it makes life 300% easier. Wouldn't be without them now- as vital as a mouse and keyboard.

 

[FIL46]

I have bought direct from HP a few times you get good spec and with the vat clamed back not a bad deal.
how about this one
https://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=7EL75ET&opt=ABU&sel=DTP

 

[ollie989898]

I have bought direct from HP a few times you get good spec and with the vat clamed back not a bad deal.
how about this one
https://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=7EL75ET&opt=ABU&sel=DTP

HP make some nice machines.

 

[Timbo]

I have bought direct from HP a few times you get good spec and with the vat clamed back not a bad deal.
how about this one
https://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=7EL75ET&opt=ABU&sel=DTP

Dear for what it is.