My current desktop system is no slouch: a 2006 HP a1483w with dual-core AMD, two gigs of RAM, and built-in Nvidia graphics with 256 MB of shared memory. Hey, with two gigs, there's plenty to go around.
A gamer would sneer at it, but it's more than powerful enough to run Ubuntu Intrepid with a VMWare 2.0 Server XP machine running 24/7 in the background.
Sometimes, I run my 2K machine virtually, too. And all three systems coexist nicely with barely noticeable speed hits.
But I have decided to purchase a bare-bones system and build it up from scratch with Ubuntu.
I will probably buy through TigerDirect, since I've always had good luck with fast deliveries, getting what I expected, and no-hassle service on the lone order that I had to cancel.
I know that there is some scuttlebutt out there about their less-than-stellar handling of rebates, but I make it a point to never buy an item with a mail-in rebate attached.
I expect the process to go very smoothly. I have done some groundbreaking work by placing my home directory on a separate partition. In fact, it's on a separate SATA drive from my operating system, so I plan on taking it out of my existing machine and transferring it to my next one.
Looking over what TigerDirect has to offer, I found this Intel Quad system for $330. Add another hundred and fifty bucks for a DVD burner, a cooling kit, and a 512MB video card with dual outputs. A terabyte SATA drive will cost about 75 bucks. Now, two 22" wide monitors, about another $300. Shipping included, we're looking at less than 900 bucks for a system that is decidedly HOT.
Building it should go quickly. Put the O/S on the terabyte drive, leave the other intact. My VMachines are already there, so is my music collection. I'm guessing I'll go from a single 19" wide monitor to two spectacular 22" models in the course of a single day.
There will be tons of software to install, but I suspect that the whole process will take considerably less time to accomplish than building the same system from XP.
I plan on tackling this project in early March. Stay tuned, I'll document the whole thing here.
