GoToSleep's 700g Build Thread (& complete remodel)

I'm one of those that has a mac running XP. I haven't actually even started it up in mac in 2 years. I like how smooth the mac OS X runs but just wasn't practical or compatible with the software I run.

BTW NICE PCS!

 

What your forgetting is I walk out of the apple store having spent less money on my mac then you on your pc. The standard mac has just as many features as a top of the line computer. The reason computers seem cheaper is the lowest priced model has the least amount of things on it. By the time you add all the upgrades to any pc for it to have everything the mac does you end up spending the same if not more. And you go in say your a student and they give you a free ipod and printer.

 

Seriously? Go do some research.

I can go get a PC laptop that has HDMI out, a video card with dedicated memory vs. shared, an express card slot, larger hard drive (double), more memory (double), the works, for cheaper.

No upgrades on the PC required.

 

Ok what I'm saying is you sell the ipod for $300 like it costs and the computer is still less. and what I'm saying to have a pc that matches performance of mac you need to spend alot more. I did the add ons on dell to see what it would cost to have everything the mac did when I got mine for school the mac was cheaper and a better overall computer.

 

lol. Sorry in advance GoToSleep, I have to do this.

jturnbull,

I have a mac.

I can still get a PC cheaper that has a faster processor, more memory, larger and faster hard drive, and more overall options. Go to Best Buy and compare for yourself. Now, the processor, bus speed, and screen size are the same for like comparison. I can find a PC with a bigger screen for under $799. Now, sorry, you don't have to pay more for a PC that matches the performance of a Mac.

processor = same
bus speed = same
PC memory = double, 2gb vs. 4gb
Hard drive size = 3.1x the size of the Mac, 500gb vs. 160gb
Graphics Card is comparable, different brands
PC has HDMI output. Mac has a proprietary output that requires purchase of separate adapter around $20.
PC has a memory card reader for convenience. Mac doesn't. Disc labeling / lightscribe - PC has it, Mac doesn't.

I can go on. Sorry, the PC is cheaper, and just as fast. Frankly I don't care about an iPod, that's only valid if you're a student. If you want one of the aluminum unibody macbooks they're $1200 and no better than the white macbook, they just look better. You pay for a name and the ability to run Mac OS X. Wait, I can do that on a PC anyhow with a few tricks, and pay less.

Cheapest Mac: $899

ProcessorIntel® Core™2 Duo
Processor Speed2.13GHz
Display TypeWidescreen TFT-LCD (1280 x 800)
Screen Size (Measured Diagonally)13.3"
System Bus1066MHz
Cache Memory3MB on die Level 2
System Memory (RAM)2GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To4GB
Type of Memory (RAM)DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive TypeSerial ATA (5400 rpm)
Computer Hard Drive Size160GB
Optical DriveDouble-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Optical Drive Speeds4x DVD+R DL; 4x DVD-R DL; 8x4x6 DVD+RW; 8x4x6 DVD-RW; 24x10x24 CD-RW
Direct-Disc LabelingNo
Digital Media Reader or SlotsNo
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Video MemoryUp to 256MB (shared)

PC - $799

Processor BrandIntel®
ProcessorIntel® Core™2 Duo
Processor Speed2.13GHz
Battery Type6-cell lithium-ion
Display TypeTFT-LCD widescreen with TruBrite technology (1280 x 800)
Screen Size (Measured Diagonally)13.3"
System Bus1066MHz
Cache Memory3MB on die Level 2
System Memory (RAM)4GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To8GB
Type of Memory (RAM)DDR2
Hard Drive TypeSATA (5400 rpm)
Computer Hard Drive Size500GB
Optical DriveDouble-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Optical Drive Speeds4x DVD+R DL; 4x DVD-R DL; 8x8x8 DVD+RW; 8x6x8 DVD-RW; 24x16x24 CD-RW
Direct-Disc LabelingYes
Digital Media Reader or SlotsYes, digital media card reader
GraphicsIntel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

 

Surivived the OS upgrade with only minor inconvenience so I will present a tutorial on

How not to place your corals…

I was at the LFS Thursday night and got my first corals for the new tank. One of the owners was kind enough to give me basic instructions: try to only handle the coral by the bottom, she was very careful to make sure that the edges of the corals were not bumping up against the edges of the bags and that they had a gentle a trip home as possible.

That’s when the fun started. Someone asked me a while back how I planned to get my corals placed at the bottom of the tank and I joked that I was just going to drop them in form the top and hope that they landed right side up. Well, that’s pretty much exactly how things worked out except I can tell you all that similar to how sea turtles, lobsters, and sea slugs have magnetic guidance systems Magnetic Orientation and Navigation in Marine Turtles, Lobsters, and Molluscs: Concepts and Conundrums1 | Integrative and Comparative Biology | Find Articles at BNET
Corals have the same thing. This ensures that every time you drop one into your tank it is guaranteed to land exactly upside down in the furthest reaches of the tank. After floating everything, the first coral that I tried to place was a really nice Christmas Tree Favia. My LFS let me borrow their extra-long PikStick. I was careful to grab the coral just by the 2 little spots on the edges where the polyps didn’t come over the edge. I gently lowered the coral down and somehow managed to drop the *@#%$ thing which promptly bounced off the ledge that I was trying to place it on, flipped over and landed upside down in the sand at the very bottom of the tank. Of course there were mountains of rock right beside its resting spot so it was a beast just to get it picked up again, let alone turning it over and getting it positioned at my planned location. The second coral that I placed was a large, Wellsiphilia (true brain). Any guesses as to how this played out. Yup, carefully grabbed coral with tongs, carefully lower into tank, coral slips out of tongs, flips over, lands upside down in sand at the bottom of the tank. I did eventually get it right side up but before I was done, I managed to drop another coral (purple Montipora) right on top of the brain. I spent 3 hours getting the 14 corals placed and when I finally got to bed, had nightmares about my corals relocating themselves and waging chemical warfare with each other.

 

Sounds like a real nightmare man. I think you will be ok though


As far as the computers go... I am a die hard PC fan too. I have tried to screw around with a Mac, and as a business user - i just cant see myself using a Mac. I have a IBM thinkpad ultraportable and the thing is bullet proof. It wasnt cheap but i can tell you that a Mac wouldnt have lasted through what this has.


...not really sure how we go into the mac vs PC debate

 

The Aurora goby came out to check things out



Three coolers worth of coral



Just going for a little float



After waaay too much drama, the Christmas Tree Favia is the first in position

 

Right side of the tank



Green Candy Branch



Another shot of the red eye Favia



frog spawn



Oh BTW, all of these shots are with jsut 2 of my 4 400W 14K MH lights on. I should have some 454 VHOs going in the next few days and I'll turn on the other 2 MHs as well.

 

Hey GTS - just wondering if that Aurora goby is a sand sifter.

I need one and i like the looks of that one more than say a diamond - and its different than the gold head.

Thanks,