howdy. i was thinking of maybe getting a gamecube or xbox kinda thing for my teenage son...but then it seemed if one just doubled the costs once you got everything you need for those systems, you may as well get a pc. so, does anyone have some thoughts, places to look/buy from for pc gaming computers? sure. i'd lone to save bucks and assemble the thing myself, but being a lifelong mac guy i'm worried about 1) buying compatble components and 2) nagging problems that don't wanna go away and that i'm clueless to fix. i've peeked at the Sharky extreme site, and was also turned onto a place here in ca. called gentech computers (seems like i'd be spending at least a grand at this place, without monitor...which i don't need). but any and all help is much appreciated.
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I have a quick (?) comment relating to this topic, in a backward
I have a quick (?) comment relating to this topic, in a backwards sort-of way!
If your teenage son is asking and looking forward to an X-Box (or something similar)...buying him a computer won't make you the most popular guy on the planet come December 25th...trust me...I know...I've been there!
Dedicated game boxes, while they seem so inefficient and non cost-effective to us adults, are "the bomb" to the kids that don't have to buy them. They are bombarded by commercials from the game box industry, and they want *that* game and *this* game box.
I tried to convince my kids that the computer would allow them to play the same kinds of games, only *better*...*plus*...they can do lots of things that the dedicated game boxes can't do...
It didn't fly!!!
In fact, once I realized how much of a pain in the ass it was to hook up 4 game pads...get the system to install and then play the games without locking up...I realized that I should have gone with the "no-fuss...no-muss" game box in the first place. Their friends will come over, and want to bring their new N64 game...easy! But try being in the middle of something important (like the 49ers/Colts game), and your kids are screaming "Daddy...will you install this game on the computer?". Then after 3 attempts, 4 reboots, and 20 minutes later...the game *still* doesn't recognize all 4 game pads...Grrrrr...."What's the score on the Niners game up there???". "Whose ideas was it to buy this friggin' computer in the first place???!!!"
Then...they proceed to load every conceivable gadget in the world on their PC (auto-changing wall paper...Britney Spears sound bites..Monty Python video clips...and Heaven Forbid...AOL versions 5.0, 6.0 AND 7.0!!!!) Grrrrrr...
The damn computer is soooooo screwed up by then, I have to reformat the hard drive about every six months just to keep the thing running!!! Then I make all these rules..."If *anyone* even *thinks* about touching this computer again...I'll make them use a Macintosh!!!"
I was also trying to be the good parent, and make sure that my kids had "educational games" to play on the computer rather than the brainless Mario Brothers type of games that would waste away hours of their lives to no good end...
Whatever! It sounded good in theory...but in reality, all they wanted to do was play the same games that all their friends were playing, and I somehow wasn't fulfilling that basic need...
They were not thrilled with Santa that year!!!
At my house...I realized that we needed *both* systems because I feel that it is absolutely *essential* that my kids have a computer *first*, and a game box second. Unfortunately, my kids feel just the opposite way!
In my opinion, you are doing the right thing, but I promise you...your kids won't feel the same way.
Just a word to the wise from someone who has been there before!!! Trust me on this one...**BUY AN X-BOX** and save yourself some misery!!!
Good luck...oh...and Merry Christmas!!!
DH
Originally posted by Doublehelix: Then...they proceed to load e
Originally posted by Doublehelix:
Then...they proceed to load every conceivable gadget in the world on their PC (auto-changing wall paper...Britney Spears sound bites..Monty Python video clips...and Heaven Forbid...AOL versions 5.0, 6.0 AND 7.0!!!!) Grrrrrr...The damn computer is soooooo screwed up by then, I have to reformat the hard drive about every six months just to keep the thing running!!!
man, can i relate to that one!
in my case, however, he really does want a new computer, as opposed to one to them game boxes, which he's never even mentioned really (other than to say that 3 of his friends have an xbox already!!!).
that Sharky's Extreme site does a good job of listing all the components one needs to build a budget gaming system, and i'm 1/2 tempted to buy the parts and force the kid to build it himself, thinking that once he experiences the pain of such a process, he might actually better appreciate what he has while it works. a pipe dream to be sure... :roll:
Boy, does this all come back with a thunderclap. Ten, maybe twe
Boy, does this all come back with a thunderclap. Ten, maybe twelve yrs. ago, all my son wanted was Nintendo, so we got him one. He's graduated into building just the kind of gaming puters you guys are talking about. He and his friends cluster their computers around an ethernet card and all play the same (RPG - role playing) game, each from a different perspective. Looks really cool.
Problem is, that's all they do with their lives. They all exhibit the classic symptoms of addiction. My son lasted one semester at college and his roommate buddy, who was a sophomore at the time, also flunked out. They're both in Kansas city now struggling at low paying jobs and gaming their asses off.
I know you can't keep your kids from the world or the world from your kids, but I just wish we had held off on that first Nintendo.
BTW, Helix, you could get your kids a game cube/xbox and yourself a Mac so that the whole family can operate efficiently. Sorry, Opus, just had to say that.
Peace on Earth
Henry
"i'm 1/2 tempted to buy the parts and force the kid to build it
"i'm 1/2 tempted to buy the parts and force the kid to build it himself, thinking that once he experiences the pain of such a process, he might actually better appreciate what he has while it works. a pipe dream to be sure... "
A couple of years ago I got my 12 year old son to build his PC. I wound up doing a lot of the work but he learned a bunch of stuff and now he does his own repairs and upgrades. Pretty cool!!
Thats basically the route I took as well...now look at me...I he
Thats basically the route I took as well...now look at me...I help everyone and anybody on this friggen place...lol!!
Yes..you too can let your kids be like me!!! Am I a hero at that point!!! LMAO!!!!
Opus...
P.S....I aint even going to go for that Macs work more efficiently crap!! HA HA HA HA HA!!!
If the PC is just to be used as a Gaming system than just go to
If the PC is just to be used as a Gaming system than just go to CompUSA and get a PC that way...those systems are perfect for that..or buy a Dell..in fact the company I most reccomend you get a system from is Micron PC..they make amazingly great systems. Get a PIII if you can..they're cheaper since they're not the top processors these days...P4's have a new code that games havent been optimized for so you'll be basically running a PIII mode instead..
If you want to build your own I can give you advice on that of course :p
Main things for Gaming systems....high ram video card(AGP of course) 32 or 64MB..one hard drive is fine for gaming systems..and of course a high speed CDROM for games that require the CD to be in system while playing..also a good sound card like a Sound Blaster live...and yes of course...plenty or RAM...it's so cheap these days too..hope that helps
Opus