Text 19205, 68 rader
Skriven 2006-07-03 09:17:44 av Jeff Guerdat (1:275/311)
     Kommentar till en text av ED VANCE
Ärende: Re: MoBo.
=================
ED VANCE wrote:

> While I was looking at HPs' site for my brother I looked at the
> specifications for the a1430n and noticed that they use a Asus MB but
> they call it by a different name, so maybe the MB is a standard MB.

Interesting.  Especially that they would name the board manufacturer - 
maybe there's a deal between 'em.

> When I asked above about Compaqs and HPs I was thinking about the whole
> computer: Power Supply, Cabinet, Floppy Drives, etc.
> 
> I remember from reading Fido in the past that Compaq used non-standard
> Power Supplies and other parts in their computers, and I was wondering
> if HP since they acquired Compaq has also done the same?

The motherboard pretty much dictates the case and, to a lesser degree, 
the power supply.  Hence, if the motherboard is non-standard, the case 
virtually is, also (I say virtually since it's possible that it could be 
dual purpose but you wouldn't know until you took everything out.

As for add-in parts such as drives, etc., I'd be very surprised if those 
are non-standard in any way these days.  The trays that they may screw 
to to insert into a bay would be unique but many drives don't even use 
trays, probably for cost savings.

So, non-standard to me means, basically, motherboard.

> I don't even today consider a Compaq or a eMachine because I feel they
> might be limited for upgrading hardware etc...

That's an easy way to pare the list down but the only way to answer the 
question properly is to investigate any machine you have interest in. 
You can probably find "standardized" machines with some more obscure 
part in it that doesn't make it proprietary but has that effect.  Not 
likely but possible.

Besides, it may simply be better to look at the new low cost computers 
as just commodities, just as you do with any other appliance.  At some 
point it may simply make more sense to buy another low cost computer and 
donate/junk the old one.  Minimize your cost - keep it below, say, $500, 
and use it up for 5-10 years (whatever you're comfortable with).  Then 
replace it with another "toaster".

> BTW, my brother called today and he went to Office Depot and bought the
> HP a1430n pc. I hope he likes it, I was impressed with it but when the
> OD salesman told me that they can order a SysteMax pc custom made and
> have it sent to the store so I can pick it up I have really been
> thinking hard about duplicating the HP a1430n and adding some
> modifications that suit me.

NSOunds like a plan to me!

> I probably won't pay the ~US$700.00 he paid :-{ but I want one that will
> make me happy (for another 12 years or so, if I live that long a la Jean
> Parrot ;-] ).

Do you REALLY want to be that old??  ;)

> Another question, I believe you are using 3 seperate SATA drives for
> your RAID setup, how do you back up your data, or even make an Image of
> it with IIRC each drive having part of the data of every file on it?

The hardware/software makes the 3 drives look like one big one to the 
computer and OS.  So, you simply back up the data as you would any other 
drive.  Works for both Ghost as well as anything you would do in the OS.
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