Computer Addict

Okay, I admit it. I'm a computer addict. Personally, I don't think this is a problem. I view it as more of a personality trait. Nevertheless, the hours I'm awake in my apartment and the hours during the day that my computer is on are roughly equal. And so when the university I work for announced it was having a lunch time seminar about computer addiction, my curiosity was piqued.

Granted, I didn't really want to attend. After all, it was being held during my lunch hour when I normally surf the net. I'm too busy then to go to some stupid computer addiction seminar. I've got web sites to check out and e-mail to send. But then I thought about the bigger picture. Maybe the seminar would be good for me, I thought. Maybe I could learn how to depend less on my computer. And, hey, I could always goof off later in the day and surf the net then.

The day before, I called to register. "That's great. I'll sign you right up." The woman said. "By the way, we have an e-mail list to notify people about our other self-help seminars. Would you like to be placed on that?"

"Hell yes!" I thought. "Give me all the e-mail you've got. I'm a computer addict."

It certainly seemed an ominous start to my computer addiction treatment. The same people also offer drug addiction seminars. I wonder what they must be like. "Great. We'll sign you right up. By the way, we just got a new shipment of heroin. Would you like to try some?"

When I eventually arrived at the seminar, only five people were there. Either this meant that few on campus were affected by the problem, or it was a sign that most employees were wired to the net for lunch and couldn't break away from their computers. I'm still not sure.

The seminar mainly consisted of a speech by a doctor who was a computer addiction specialist. This doctor began by reviewing typical stories of children whose grades had dropped from playing computer games too much, about marriages destroyed by affairs started in Internet chat rooms, and about people whose lives were ruined by "inappropriate use of the computer." I assume she meant pornography by this, but I was never entirely sure. In fact, she threw the word "inappropriate" around so much that I felt like I was at a presidential press conference.

Then, she discussed some of the symptoms of computer addiction which include:

Lying to family members, co-workers, fellow students, therapists, and others about the amount of time spent on the computer. "Look, you're wrong! I was only on my computer 22 hours yesterday, not 23. Jeez!"
Engaging in computer activities to experience pleasure, gratification, or relief. "Aaaargh! Minesweeper!"
Feeling preoccupied with computers by thinking about the experience, planning a return to the computer or buying the newest or latest hardware or software. "Hey, thanks for the info about computer addiction, Doc, but I was wondering if you think I should upgrade to a 450 processor now or wait a few months."
Needing to spend more and more time or money on computer activities in order to change moods. "Uh, oh, I lost my Prozac. Somebody turn my computer on quick!"
Showing physical signs, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, backaches, dry eyes, neglect of personal hygiene or eating irregularities. "Um, personal hygiene?"

Next, she actually said, "If you're interested, there's more information on my web site." No, this wasn't working at all.

"Hi, Doctor, I just can't stop myself from going on the Internet. I think about the net all time. What can I do?"

"Well, have you checked out my web site?"

To her credit, she didn't actually give out the web address during the seminar, but that night I entered her name into a search engine. (It's not like I have a problem or anything.) It turns out she even has her own domain name -- computeraddiction.com. I'm not joking. It's just a text- based site with almost no links. Frankly, it's a bit disappointing, because you'd think that being surrounded by computer addicts all day would have at least improved her HTML skills.

As for solutions, she doesn't advice abstaining from computers completely. She feels that would be impossible since computers play such a prevalent role in our lives. Instead, one must gradually reduce one's dependency on the computer. How do you do this? Well, she didn't exactly say. I guess that's probably revealed once the check clears.

At any rate, I'd like to write more about this important subject, but I can't. I have to go play Minesweeper now. I'm sure you understand.

Ok, listen. When your a computer geek you dont have to worry about personal hygene.. computer geeks dont move enough to need it more than once or twice a week.,.


Muahahah!!!

Yeah that's a great story, and I can't believe the user name Security Admin wasn't taken yet astonishing! . Evilseed does actually have a point.

In my opinion it's good to be addicted to computers, sure it may have bad side effects, like your eyesight and carpultunnel. But it's alot healthier then being addicted to other things, and besides it's keeping me off the streets and I'm absorbing alot more information then a so called normal person. Besides will all be rich on day from our addiction to computers and Are brains will be worshipped by really sexy women, and life will be good.

Nice story...I usually hate reading long threads, but this was good to read.

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The same people also offer drug addiction seminars. I wonder what they must be like. "Great. We'll sign you right up. By the way, we just got a new shipment of heroin. Would you like to try some?"

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Cracked me up mate - HEHE!!!!!!! :D

Greg

Yes my friends my addiction is getting worse wife wants to leave said I spend too much time on this thing but hey it's my job and I am going to school can't a guy catch a break... Anyways I just finished my ultimate system hey if she's leavin I need to surf more right? I built with an asus motherboard 2.2ghz intel I wanted AMD but cant have everything, 2 80GB HDD 7200rpm, 8 USB,DVDR,CDR CDRW,ZIp,Digital IQ sweet sorry if it sounds like I am bragging I am just showin off my new baby:D I need help I know

wow - sounds like a sweet system you got there. I'm planning on making one too, but I haven't got the money for all those extras you got.

How much it set you back?

Greg

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Originally posted by SecurityAdmin
Yes my friends my addiction is getting worse wife wants to leave said I spend too much time on this thing but hey it's my job and I am going to school can't a guy catch a break... Anyways I just finished my ultimate system hey if she's leavin I need to surf more right? I built with an asus motherboard 2.2ghz intel I wanted AMD but cant have everything, 2 80GB HDD 7200rpm, 8 USB,DVDR,CDR CDRW,ZIp,Digital IQ sweet sorry if it sounds like I am bragging I am just showin off my new baby:D I need help I know

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This system sounds very good, still I have a remark if you really want a fast and stable system, I would advice to purchase a Workstation... a real workstation...
let's say: Dual Xenon Processors, silent Quantum/Maxtor 73.4 GB 10krpm fast Ultra320 SCSI Harddisks, 4X AGP Pro110 graphics, 3D Labs Wildcat 5110 128MB AGP Pro4, PC800 ECC dual-channel RDRAM memory...
So you could still keep on dreaming...

Hehe, not to be picky, but here goes...

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This system sounds very good, still I have a remark if you really want a fast and stable system, I would advice to purchase a Workstation... a real workstation...
let's say: Dual Xenon Processors, silent Quantum/Maxtor 73.4 GB 10krpm fast Ultra320 SCSI Harddisks, 4X AGP Pro110 graphics, 3D Labs Wildcat 5110 128MB AGP Pro4, PC800 ECC dual-channel RDRAM memory...

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Xenon processors are very expensive and dual procs are useless unless your OS handles multiprocessing to individual processors or there's some utility to bind certain programs to certain procs. Keypoint: Sun, HP, and IBM all have unix servers that do this. Unix is the only OS that has efficiently handled true multiprocessing to multiple processors. Linux is getting there and I might've forgotten some things, but working with unix every day, and knowing it's been around the longest in comparison with Winblows and Linux, it's by far more ahead.

As for SCSI drives, a scsi setup for home use isn't really good. Unless you really know what you're doing, having a 73 gb scsi drive (which only affects load/access time of programs, not CDROM) isn't the best way to go. I'd go the more affordable route by getting a MB that supports ATA100 (80 (40/40) pin rounded cables for 100 mb/s traffic instead of 66), and get dual WD 40/60gb disks. This way your master and slave off the primary is of a good size (at the cost of about 350 bucks for both HDs bought together), you've got 100 mb/s speed, rounded cables helps ventilate easier, and you've got plenty of room for a DVD ROM and super-fast burner (which is master to the DVD off the secondary IDE channel). Using rounded cables for those two devices as well ensures your "cool" factor. Last but not least, RDRAM isn't as good as slated and your replacement cost is higher than if you went the route of a DDR 2100 solution. Video cards are the user's choice.

All of this is MHO, and I've got a working system right now with everything I just said. AMD XP 1800+ on an Epox 8HKA mb with silver rounded cables from www.plycon.com (those guys rock) running at 100mb/s @ 266mhz FSB. 2x256mb DDR2100 RAM completes the base system and I've got a fast-ass machine.

This is all once again my personal preferences for a machine. AMD has Intel hands down on pricing and efficiency for gaming machines. Intel *probably* has slightly more stable procs for servers and such, but then again, if I pay 800 bucks for a proc, it damned well better stay up for days with NO glitches. Intel also has the track record for floating point errors in a lot of their procs so that tells me someone's trying to ship out the door a faulty product. To each their own...competition breeds better products, so I support someone on whatever they want to do.

Besides, a great system is ruined when you install Windows anyways, so it's all a moot point. Let's go back to those K6's and P54C's...

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So you could still keep on dreaming...

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Ah yes, I'll always dream of a better system...

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dual procs are useless unless your OS handles multiprocessing

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Yep, this is true, but I never mentioned Windows...

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@ 266mhz FSB

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Vorlin, with the right MB and RDRAM you could gain 400mhz FSB

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As for SCSI drives, a scsi setup for home use isn't really good. Unless you really know what you're doing

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I know what I'am doing... SCSI is more reliable and faster especially when it comes to big amounts of data SCSI Ultra320 is definitly a better choice. For instance when you have a music studio or something similar I would go for SCSI... especially cause many samplers also use SCSI to interconnect between devices.

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pin rounded cables

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this is definitly true... rounding flat cables is very good for better air circulation.

Conclusion:

When you need an alround/gaming/low multimedia box Vorlin's choice is best.

But when it comes to advanced 3D rendering, Audio Mastering or server tasks, I would definitly go for my setup.

Hehe, back to the computer drawing boards! :D (this is all in good humor, not bad at all)

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Yep, this is true, but I never mentioned Windows...

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This is true...anyone running that setup would be a f3wl to run winblows. It wouldn't know what to do with 2+ procs and would find some way to break the memory efficiency.

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Vorlin, with the right MB and RDRAM you could gain 400mhz FSB

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Ahem, hehe, that's Intel's way of saying "Yeah, we took two 200mhz FSB and run them in parallel. That's 2x200 = 400mhz FSB.". That 400 mhz is not a true speed. If it were, nobody'd be on 266, which is also 2x133mhz (I think).

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Conclusion:

When you need an alround/gaming/low multimedia box Vorlin's choice is best.

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90% of your machines out there are less than what I said, being bought-off-the-shelf machines where people are afraid to build their own and want the "comfort" of a warranty or someone else to fix it when it breaks. Less than 20% of the hardcore machines are built by people who want better products, can manage their own troubleshooting (or know someone who can), and overall don't like companies like Compaq/Dell/GW/etc. I know I don't go for those companies and I don't recommend anyone to buy a machine built by any of them. I put faith in a product I open myself and add to a system (motherboards, etc). It's all in how you do your homework when shopping for PCs.

But if you want to get technical, an all-around/gaming/low multimedia box would be one bought at a store, not home built. Having built every pc I've ever owned for over 8 years now, I can safely say that a machine is built based on the needs of whoever's building it. I play a lot of RTCW, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (demo, comes out in less than a week, woohoo!), and other 3d-based games where on-the-fly is needed much more than anything a CAD/CAM card could do. Take a low/mid-range CAD/CAM card that costs 900 bucks and RTCW will HATE it. We're probably talking single-digit or low double-digit frame per second counts in comparison to my nVidia Geforce3 ti500 running around 90 fps with 2x FSAA on. Now take my geforce3 card to do your video editing or whatnot and it'll throw up all over the place. Why? It's not made for it.

Your system is great for hardcore performance and doing heavy-duty processor/memory intensive editing of sound and multimedia. I'm a hardcore gamer who's got his system tweaked out so that he could get that extra 10 fps to break 100. There's an entire world between our goals. :D

But that doesn't mean I wouldn't mind having an HP T500 or L2000 4 proc w/ 2gb RAM and dual gigabit ethernet cards on a fc60 (fiber channel) array with 400gb of hd space. One can dream...

"Alright punk, just keep both hands on the keyboard!"
"Yeah,but.."
"You got a license for this thing? Didn't think so.
I'm gonna have to give you a citation..."
:cool:

Wow, Lots of Ideas. Yes I will always strive for the best technolgy and the ultimate system hell I even have a 17" LCD Monitor on this baby and yes I do have round cables as well as dolby 5.1 sound and firewire. I will look at everything when I decide to change my current system but I already have spent over 4K on this toy so I will have to wait a bit to play more but I will keep those blueprints rolling.

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Originally posted by Vorlin
Hehe, back to the computer drawing boards! :D (this is all in good humor, not bad at all)

This is true...anyone running that setup would be a f3wl to run winblows. It wouldn't know what to do with 2+ procs and would find some way to break the memory efficiency.

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That's the point I made... :)

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90% of your machines out there are less than what I said, being bought-off-the-shelf machines where people are afraid to build their own and want the "comfort" of a warranty or someone else to fix it when it breaks. Less than 20% of the hardcore machines are built by people who want better products, can manage their own troubleshooting (or know someone who can), and overall don't like companies like Compaq/Dell/GW/etc. I know I don't go for those companies and I don't recommend anyone to buy a machine built by any of them. I put faith in a product I open myself and add to a system (motherboards, etc). It's all in how you do your homework when shopping for PCs.

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I agree, I built my pc's myself since I'am 7 years and indeed, My friends with bought-off-the-shelf machines have troubles all the time, while I have not cause I do my homework when building a pc. (Nevertheless I'am very satisfied with the recent DELL workstations too, their TCO is very low) (the company I work for in vacations uses those)

My preference for SCSI (and Quantum) comes from the time era when IDE sucked (slower, unreliable) and could only reach 512MB... those times SCSI definitly ruled... but now with the cheap Ultra DMA 100 drives? For the price of one high end 10krpm SCSI you get 2 good EIDE 7200rpm drives... ;)

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But if you want to get technical, an all-around/gaming/low multimedia box would be one bought at a store, not home built. Having built every pc I've ever owned for over 8 years now, I can safely say that a machine is built based on the needs of whoever's building it. I play a lot of RTCW, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (demo, comes out in less than a week, woohoo!), and other 3d-based games where on-the-fly is needed much more than anything a CAD/CAM card could do. Take a low/mid-range CAD/CAM card that costs 900 bucks and RTCW will HATE it. We're probably talking single-digit or low double-digit frame per second counts in comparison to my nVidia Geforce3 ti500 running around 90 fps with 2x FSAA on. Now take my geforce3 card to do your video editing or whatnot and it'll throw up all over the place. Why? It's not made for it.

Your system is great for hardcore performance and doing heavy-duty processor/memory intensive editing of sound and multimedia. I'm a hardcore gamer who's got his system tweaked out so that he could get that extra 10 fps to break 100. There's an entire world between our goals. :D

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Yep, Vorlin your right again, btw: I also prefer a GeForce for gaming.

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But that doesn't mean I wouldn't mind having an HP T500 or L2000 4 proc w/ 2gb RAM and dual gigabit ethernet cards on a fc60 (fiber channel) array with 400gb of hd space. One can dream...

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Here you admit that such a setup is the ultimate dream...
but not affordable :(

So Vorlin finally after some 'tech talk' we agree: the main point when bying or building a pc is: What do I need / what do I want to do with it.


greetz V

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..btw: I also prefer a GeForce for gaming

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Right on, just what I'm talking about. Gamer chicks rule! GeForces are the best to get out on the market right now as far as DirectX8.1 integration (although there has yet to be total integration between DX8.1 and games). GF3 ti500 is marginally better than the regular GF3, but it's the best high-end retail card to buy. Although, if ATI gets their asses in gear for driver support, the 8500 would definitely be giving the GF3 a run for it's money. If only...if only...

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Here you admit that such a setup is the ultimate dream...
but not affordable

So Vorlin finally after some 'tech talk' we agree: the main point when bying or building a pc is: What do I need / what do I want to do with it.

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Ah yes, it is a dream...but think of the power bill?! Holy crap, the city lights would dim when you crank that thing up. And yes, the main point when buying is what you're going to do with it. Although my main piece of advice when buying something and you come across a product slightly better/more expensive:

Buy the better product now if it's reasonable to your budget, you won't regret it...

Nothing's worse than 'settling' and then going back to buy the better product which you could've had to begin with. This goes for anything really, but it REALLY shows in the computer product field.

Sorry but as far as price and performance goes the GeForce3 Ti200 is tops. At $150 or so it beats the crap out spending $300+ for only a smidgin more performance. And as far as ATI competing: there are gonna have to come out with somethign way better than that afterbirth they call the 8500.

Remember the Kyro chipset. What a joke.

Reading this post I realised two points:
1) I am thick
2) I know very little about my actual computer
Oh wait there's a sticker on the side:
AMD Duron 750MHZ (I take it this is speed)
64MB RAM
30 GB Hard Drive (even though it says it has a max. cap. of 28)
DVD-ROM
CD-RW
56kb ITU v.90 modem (my modem i suppose)
something long about grahpics
Includes Millenium Edition. Wow lucky me.

God bless the man who paid for this... "Dad" I think his name is.

I don't know if I am an addict. I think I would know more if I was an addict. I can program fairly well, that's about it.
Before I started getting interested in security I thought I was pretty advanced for a 14-year-old. Then I saw all these smart-ass uber-hacking 10-year-olds. Very bad for the old ego.

Then I hear of a guy called Ankit Fadia, who when I was just learning what the Hell a "unix" is :) he was writing a best-seller about computer hacking. Smug sonofabitch.

You'll all be sorry when I publish my best-selling book about a futuristic theme park with dinasours. I'm calling it "Jurrasic Land"