You, and your Personal Computer

[Krytos]

What makes your PC personal to you? 9 out of 10 people modify their computer in various ways (and make up statistics) - the most notable and abundant being some peice of software to augment your computing experience, from a new and cool looking theme for Windows, new cursors, new sounds to small little add-ons to your browser. Here you can share your experience.

What do you suggest people use, what shouldn't they use - what would you like to see? What makes your computer personal to you?

Go wild, but on topic

 

 

 

 

I'll start - The idea of this thread came to me a day ago when I was screwing around with Windows, after getting a little tired of the same old desktop staring back at me.

So I went in search for something that would automatically change the backdrop image of my computer. I know Macs have this ability, and rather like it, especially if you're desktop oriented. A 5 minute search resulted in this Power Toy: http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/312 <- Contains a review of the powertool, the download link is towards the bottom before the comments section.

It's not exceptionally good, actually apart from doing what I asked for (changing the backdrop) it's rather plane - with limited control. But, it'll do until I find a replacement. It's an official Power Toy as well - so stable, and no side effects like spyware.

 

My brother sent me this one, basically a spiffy and very attractive graphics update for XP: http://xpero.msfn.org/ <- There's a link with screenshots on the site to see what it looks like.

You don't loose or alter XP basic look, a lot of graphics are replaced and makes XP feel nicer and upto date. Being a partial graphics designer, 3d modeller and even tangling with coding here and there I still feel having an attractive OS interface is vital to keeping a good work place. A bland and boring looking computer just doesn't inspire you to work as much as in a flashy looking environment - this one I strongly back, and suggest downloading.

It also comes with a very nice task witching utility (ALT Tabing) that allows you to set up how the alt tabbing works. Very spiffy

I suggest you download the Guide first before installing

[nordwindranger]

my pc is special to me because of the all of the hardware that ive put into it.

 

my computer started its life as a dell resale computer. I soon stripped everything useful out of it, and have been rebuilding it ever since.

my current build is:

processor: p4 2.8 ghz

ram: 1 gig ddr400 pc3200 mushkin ram

audio: soundblaster live 24bit card

video: ati x1300 card with 512 meg of onboard ddr3 hyper memory

black and silver case.

speakers: logitech 5.1 system

 

specialized software:

gamespace 1.6 (3d modeling)

firefox

paint.net (really good free paint and editing program)

Im useing a logitech wireless keyboard and mouse combo.

Im using the spruce style from the windows classic themes selection (win xp pro)

[Mad78]

Very nice find Kryt i think i shall try that XPize mod.

My turn to sudgest a few.

 

Electric Sheep: A very nice screensaver which evolves constantly.

 

Flyakite OSX: For those who like the look of the Mac interface and want it on there PC.

 

Vista Inspirat: If you want you desktop to look like vista.

[malarkie]

An AMD 3000+ tops the list followed by

A Ti 4200 or 9800 Pro depending on how my computer is acting

A 300 gig Western Digital HD

1 gig of pc 4100 DDRAM

Altec Lansing 5.1 speakers with an audigy wrap up the interesting bits.

 

Software customized to change with whatever I am doing very quickly.

 

All in all, a fluid PC that is only a bit out of date.

[Sinister]

I built my computer back in the early part of 2002. It is the first computer I have ever built from scratch. Its predecessor was store-bought, and when it got old, I decided that I at least wanted to build one computer for myself. What it has:

 

1 ghz AMD processor

512 mb RAM

20 gb HD

4.3 gb HD

128 mb Radeon 9600 SE video card

 

That's it. Not special at all by today's standards. I really need to upgrade, but at the moment I lack the time and money to do so. I'm debating on whether to buy or build my next computer. Other than that, I've decorated my desktop with some custom wallpaper.

Edited September 24, 2006 by Sinister

[Defender_16]

An Early P4 1.6 (?) GHz

A 9200 Video Card that I bought just to play Halo PC.

 

The "expanded" hard drive space of One 13GB and one 38GB Harddrives.

 

An upgrade From Windows ME to XP that I'm still working the bugs out of.

 

A Battlestar Galacitca 'Draids' sensor screen saver.

 

And my giant semi-alsmost-organised filing system.

 

Not bad for something that was assembled in 2001. (I need a new computer. )

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

When if comes to my experience in Windows, it's very basic. I change my wallpaper, add a few cusom sounds. The only thing that makes my computer definitively "mine" is a) the drivers I use for my video card. Dell never updates their mobile drivers, so I'm using custom modified desktop drivers, and b) assorted tools that I use for school like IP changers, MAC Addres spoofers, e-mail tracking tools, password crackers, file recovery tools, firewall penetration tools etc.

 

Probably what makes my laptop stand out from others is the install of the Auditor distrobution of Linux that I can boot from. Most people use SuSE, Red Hat, or Slackware. I use this because it has everything I need for school (the tools I listed for Windows, and then some).

 

Oh, and there are some fun LEDs on the outside that I can change the color of...

[Mitth_raw_nuruodo]

I've got a nine month old Gateway CX-200X. That is, a Gateway brand Tablet PC. Specs are:

1.8 gig processor

1 gig RAM

60 gig Hard Drive

ATI Mobility Radeon X600 SE

 

Then I've got Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.1 (it's a dictation program). I've also got West Point Bridge Builder and a couple CAD programs all for school.

[Evaders99]

I do custom builds for people, generally with generic parts for very cheap. No real customizations... but I just hate the XP theme, I switch it back to class view. Besides custom wallpaper and my own picky way of organizing the Start Menu, really little else I do. I usually partition things into 3 parts for Program Files, Games, and data ... if that counts

 

However currently I am using a laptop, mostly for the mobility. I'm not that mobile, but I like something I can carry around if necessary.

 

I bought a new machine a few weeks back after my old one died. It is the cheapiest 15.4" with a Mobility Radeon X1600

 

Acer Aspire 5672

 

Intel Core Duo 1.66

1 GB DDR2 RAM

120 GB SATA Hard drive

Mobility Radeon X1600 128MB

Purchase price: $1079.99

 

Of course I reformatted it and installed XP Pro, converted the hard drive to NTFS partitions.

[Mad78]

The PC i use at the moment is the first i ever built from scratch.

Spaces:

Athlon 64 3700+

2 Gb of Ram

A biggish HD but that i will need to upgrade.

Sapphire Radeon X800 GTO2 which I modded to act like a X850.

 

All in all its really fine for games coming out these days! I installed the Vista Inspirat Pack to change the desktop.

[turtle]

Apart from changing the desktop image to a family picture I don't think I've done anything to my computer to mod it in anyway really.

[JediHunter]

Ive got my 5 year old Alienware as my main computer still.. it has a 1700+ AMD Althlon XP with 768MB of RAM, A GeForce 3 i think and two 20GB and one 10GB hard drives... its out of date by comparison.. but was once the top of the line among my friends.. What makes it special to me is the color... Martian Red... Soon Im buying either this one or this one.. for obvious reasons.. I know they are way expensive and i could build for cheaper... but im one of those dumb consumers who likes brand names...

[turtle]

Dude! The Star Wars Alienwares look sweet!

[Mad78]

But have you seen the price of the thing!!! could get it 1000$ by building it yourself.

[turtle]

I am broke and even if I tried couldn't get a computer more expensive than $800!

[Paul]

Mine is a Dell I use mostly for gaming and internet stuff. I have no idea what the specs are and I bought it a couple of years ago. It came with XP Home Edition but I have Darth Vader and other Imperial sounds installed. I use the Classic setup as I prefer it. I have Number Six (Tricia Helfer) wallpaper - Battlestar Galactica. I have messed with things to get it to do things in my fashion. Thats about it folks. - Grand Moff Conway

[General_Crespin]

What makes my computer personal?

 

The hardware- custom built- and the software tweaking.

 

That, and no one else uses it.

 

EDIT: At my site (sig link) in the Downloads section, there are several very good utilities and a screensaver.

 

Also, instead of Alienware, check out Velocity Micro, they're supposed to be very, very good. Quite a few people from the company are active at http://www.hardforum.com , check out the Computers & Gadgets Forum.

[JediHunter]

Velocity Micro looks like they may have good machines... but nothing beats the slick case of any alienware... well.. nothing ive seen... recently.. and im sorry.. but if there is a star wars computer out... im dumb enough to buy it..

[Mad78]

But just look at the price of the thing!!!!

[Mitth_raw_nuruodo]

The price was one of the bigger reasons I didn't buy it.

[General_Crespin]

Velocity Micro looks like they may have good machines... but nothing beats the slick case of any alienware... well.. nothing ive seen... recently.. and im sorry.. but if there is a star wars computer out... im dumb enough to buy it..

 

Aluminum > plastic. 'Nuf said.

[Krytos]

Wow, a thread of mine that's actually lasted more than one page

 

Umm, yes - nice respoces as well

 

It's nice to see that there's still a very strong force in building your own computers as well.

 

@JH: Out of curiosity - do you have a job that needs that sort of computer, or is it just because you can have it? Oh, and it looks bloody awesome

[JediHunter]

nah.. i just want it... cuz i can have it.. hehe.. you called it.. but my computer i have now.. at home that is.. is a decent Alienware from 5 years ago that has the old style case... the very box-y one.. i think it was called a dragon full tower case or something like that.. anyways.. when that thing arrived and i openned her up.. it was the neatest most organized inside of a computer i had ever seen... these guys.. at least before they sold out to Dell.. these guys were really making quality machines.. and they give you all the information on everything in your system along with their building and quality control check sheets.. none of my computers have ever lasted this long without having serious issues or in need of some repair.. or major upgrade... so.. Alienware definately found a loyal customer in me...

[DarthTex]

... so.. Alienware definately found a loyal customer in me...

But now that Alienware is owned by Dell, the question is: Are you still an Alienware loyal customer?

[Mad78]

Just to change the subject who has a side window on their PC?

I have one and am going to add a few lights on the inside.