The spectacular deaths of computers
Without going into too many details, I started Sunday with two computers and finished with none. Hardware problems were the order of the day, and so I am ditching my miserable SFF case (I'm looking at you, Soltek) and going with a comparitively gigantic microATX case and motherboard. With the investment of a mere $140, I'll be able to cram the best parts of the two dead machines into something that is quiet and, ideally functional.
On the whole, however, maintaining hand-built computers is starting to lose its luster. I'm not as enthusiastic about spending countless hours in front of a wedged system trying to guess its innermost thoughts as I used to be. I'd rather be doing, well, just about anything else. So, after this (hopefully) last measure and a good chunk of time (a year or two), I'll probably be following the same advice I've been giving to family members all along:
- Buy a name-brand computer with a service contract.
- Use the spare time to take up a less expensive hobby.
Yes, even my fickle lust for about a dozen different operating systems is slowly cooling off in favor of a stable, working computer that everyone in the house can use. I just wish the best options were a little more palatable...