Submission + - The $2,500 Question - A New Computer 2
mdrebelx writes: For the first time in almost 30 years of computer use I am completely stymied about my next computer purchase.
This will be a personal home computer and I am prepared to spend around $2,500 for my rig. Right now I am currently using a dual-boot computer with Windows XP and Kubuntu Linux. I use the computer to Web surf, listen to music, photo-editing, create music, some light word processing and spreadsheets, finances, taxes, and playing World of Warcraft or Half-Life 2 mods. Were it not for the games my decision would be so much easier.
So my choices as I see it are:
Kubuntu only, using Wine for the games. I got the games to run on my current system but the load times were excessive (2-3 minutes) and my framerates were pitiful. I am hoping this is only a limitation of my current computer but I have to say the games run well when I boot XP.
Kubuntu/XP dual booting. I already have that and it gets bothersome to switch back and forth.
Microsoft XP only. Yes it works and has the fewest hassles but I was hoping for an experience that says this is 2007. Also this OS has been marked for elimination and that just doesn't seem like a good place to start.
Microsoft Vita. Everything tells me this would be a bad choice.
Mac OS X. This is the system I know the least about but I am the most intrigued by. Mac has a positive spin. It is sleek and sexy and the recent Unix certification gives it a good pedigree. But will I be satisfied, because this choice has the largest degree of lock-in or commitment as it costs the most and it seems silly to wipe the drive for another OS if I'm unsatisfied.
If someone would just make a virtual machine that could be allowed full access to the video card this would be a no-brainer.
Opinions? Suggestions? Alternatives I might have missed?