Tags:

Share:
Twitter
Facebook

Missing comments
July 28, 2012 7:48 PM Subscribe

Why are there comments (presumably undeleted) missing from this post?

I clicked into this post while searching for some laptop recommendations. It seems that a couple of the comments are missing, based on the OP's reference to them. What happened to the comments by Cool Papa Bell, at least one of which seemed to be helpful since the OP said thanks?

posted by whalebreath to Bugs at 7:48 PM (71 comments total)

There was one by CPB that recommended a Mac rather than a PC (as was specified) and was also out of the OP's price range. Presumably Jessamyn left the comment referring to it to make sure future answerers were clear that Macs were not a desired response. It does read a little confusingly now.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 7:50 PM on July 28, 2012

Deleted for not answering the question; AskMe answers must answer the specific question asked. In that case it appears CPB was recommending Mac laptops when the asker specified PC.
posted by axiom at 7:51 PM on July 28, 2012

There is one comment missing which seemed on first glance to be ignoring the OPs stated guidelines and saying "get a Mac" It looks like it was deleted before the OPs two follow-up comments, so it's a little odd-reading. No big deal if you're saying "Hey I think a Mac will actually solve your problem but I've totally read and seen your requirements" and it wasn't clear that CPB was doing that. We have enough people saying "get a mac" or "get a PC" in threads where it's totally not on topic that it's a bit of a problem.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:53 PM on July 28, 2012

There doesn't seem to be a way to state clearly and forcefully enough that you're looking for a Windows PC to prevent someone from chiming in that "you should get a Mac".
posted by octothorpe at 8:35 PM on July 28, 2012 [12 favorites]

I'm not actually convinced that issue lies with the way that this desire is expressed, octothorpe.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 9:01 PM on July 28, 2012

There doesn't seem to be a way to state clearly and forcefully enough that you're looking for a Windows PC to prevent someone from chiming in that "you should get a Mac".

It happens in Mac AskMe threads, where someone pops in to suggest buying a Windows machine. Perhaps the larger issue is people generally not reading AskMe q's as carefully as they could, regardless of subject.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:24 PM on July 28, 2012 [2 favorites]

Get a Mac.
posted by cjorgensen at 9:50 PM on July 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

Get an Emacs.
posted by facetious at 10:04 PM on July 28, 2012 [9 favorites]

Met a Gac.
posted by subbes at 10:17 PM on July 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

Get The Knack
posted by mintcake! at 10:23 PM on July 28, 2012 [5 favorites]

at least one of which seemed to be helpful since the OP said thanks?

That was actually a really classy 'thanks but no thanks.' Kudos, OP.
posted by mintcake! at 10:28 PM on July 28, 2012

Pet a Yak
posted by Scientist at 11:30 PM on July 28, 2012 [3 favorites]

I'd love to see a rule that someone saying "Get a Mac" to someone specifically asking for PC recommendations would be on the hook for the difference in price.

Question: "I'm looking for a PC that does X, Y, and Z under $700"

Answerer N: "Hurf durf get a Mac."

System: Answerer N has volunteered to donate $500 so that the OP can actually afford to "Get a Mac" that meets their specifications.
posted by chimaera at 11:56 PM on July 28, 2012 [20 favorites]

Hurf durf "hurf durf"
posted by fleacircus at 12:11 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Get a shack.
posted by pompomtom at 12:44 AM on July 29, 2012

DTPCA
posted by iotic at 12:52 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

I need a computer and will totally get a Mac if someone covers the price difference. Thanks in advance!
posted by msalt at 1:19 AM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

Try downing a drink every time someone writes "get a Mac". Won't last a day, you won't.

[we considered doing the same during the European song contest, every time a song shifted a semitone up. Decided against it for some reason, though...]
posted by Namlit at 1:24 AM on July 29, 2012

Yeah; where's all the comments that are missing in this post, where all those people said all those things. (I hate to miss all that stuff.)
posted by DaddyNewt at 2:56 AM on July 29, 2012

You should really wait if you're thinking about getting a Mac Mini since it's due for a refresh. I hope the next iteration is exciting.
posted by Burhanistan at 3:16 AM on July 29, 2012

Get a snack.
posted by likeso at 3:47 AM on July 29, 2012

Meta Gack.
posted by Decani at 4:06 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Get The Knack

The Knack: And How To Get It.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:31 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

That was a ridiculous deletion. A mac IS a PC. The OP doesn't say he's running Windows. He says he runs some PC only software. Newsflash: a Mac will happily run Windows, either booting directly or virtualized.

Nowhere in the post does he say he's not open to Macs.
posted by unSane at 6:56 AM on July 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

That's unsane!
posted by Obscure Reference at 7:03 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Newsflash: a Mac will happily run Windows, either booting directly or virtualized

And all for just twice the cost of a comparable PC, plus you have to buy Windows separately. I'm sure that would fit in the OP's $700 budget.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:04 AM on July 29, 2012 [6 favorites]

Well, the cheapest Mac laptop currently on sale is the lowest-priced MacBook Air, at $999, which has 64GB of SSD memory storage. TheGoodBlood wants to store 2000 albums - let's assume for now that "store" here means store locally. Let's further assume that each album has 10 tracks, each track is an average of three minutes long and there are encoded as MP3s, with a minute of music taking up roughly 1MB of space. That makes 60GB of music. The operating system takes up more than 4GB, especially if you are running Boot Camp. And that $999 get

So, you'd be recommending s/he pay 30% more than s/he wants to spend, in order to get a machine which won't actually meet his/her needs, or more if s/he wants one that actually will. Plus the cost of a Windows disc, so another $100+ on top of that.
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:06 AM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

A mac IS a PC.

Justin Long: I'm a MAC!

John Hodgman: I'm a PC!

Justin Long: I guess we're the same, then?

Director: Cut!
posted by mountmccabe at 7:07 AM on July 29, 2012 [5 favorites]

This is not to say that the MacBook Air is not a fine machine, but its benefits - portability and battery life - are benefits which the OP specifically said were not important to him or her. A MacBook Pro would be a better idea, in many ways, but would start at $1199. Add the cost of a Windows disc, and you're looking at nearly twice the OP's upper spending limit.
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:08 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Get some Zac.
posted by jquinby at 7:10 AM on July 29, 2012

Perhaps the larger issue is people generally not reading AskMe q's as carefully as they could, regardless of subject.

No, people also come in to say "Get a Mac" if someone is asking for the solution to a problem with their PC and isn't even ASKING for new computer recommendations.

I don't think it's people not reading the AskMe's, I think it's some Mac owners wanting to boast about how "Macs are better than PC's so neener".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:26 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Boom Shack a Lak.
posted by Splunge at 7:32 AM on July 29, 2012

Nowhere in the post does he say he's not open to Macs.

Except by listing his specs and then in a comment later he specifically states it.

I am a Mac fan personally but saying "I need a new machine that will run PC-only software and I have about $700" is pretty much saying "Not open to Macs" It's always helpful if the OP specifically states what general type of computer they're interested in, but if you're going to leave a comment that ignores or downplays a few of the OPs listed requirements, you need to leave a comment that makes clear why you are doing that.

It's fine to gently challenge the assumptions of the asker, but you need to have a fairly clearly stated reason for doing so and that should probably be in your comment instead of just "This costs more but it's worth it"
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:39 AM on July 29, 2012

Well, the cheapest Mac laptop currently on sale is the lowest-priced MacBook Air, at $999...

I haven't bought a new Mac in years. The Apple refurbished store works great, as does EBay. Currently I'm on 2009 laptop, got off ebay for around $450. Spent about another $175 on Ram (2gb to 4gb) and a larger hard drive. Works for print and web design, with a bit of video editing through in. Presumably the user already had Windows install disks, so they could be good to go with the above.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:12 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Justin Long: I'm a MAC!

John Hodgman: I'm a PC!

Justin Long: I guess we're the same, then?

Director: Cut!

Sherlock: "I'm like you."
Moriarty: "I'm really like you. Easy-peasy, booring, etc."
[Shoots himself [or so we think]. Sherlock jumps [to his death [or so we think]]]

Director: now you all have to wait till 2013 to see what they meant.
posted by Namlit at 8:22 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

I haven't bought a new Mac in years. The Apple refurbished store works great, as does EBay. Currently I'm on 2009 laptop, got off ebay for around $450.

The OP specified that they wanted a new laptop, although that could simply mean "new to them". So, with that in mind, the cheapest product in the Apple refurbished store that would anywhere near meet TheGoodBlood's needs as stated is $789 - although I'm not sure I'd want to do too much Photoshop or illustrator work on an 11.6" screen, so a new monitor would probably be needed as well.

If that's your recommendation - buy whichever refurbished or second-hand Apple product fits your price range and then install whatever Windows operating system you happen to have around (probably an OEM copy of XP or Vista) onto it - then I think you should probably post it in the AskMe. If they could get a 2009 13" Macbook Pro for $450, plus Windows 7 Professional would be about $700 and it would meet their needs. Warranty might be an issue as well, of course. And the OP has said that they are not interested in buying a Mac. But they could, surely, be persuaded...
posted by running order squabble fest at 8:33 AM on July 29, 2012

Works for print and web design, with a bit of video editing through in.

I think you meant throne.
posted by heyho at 8:55 AM on July 29, 2012

Vet a hack.

(or this happens)
posted by Flunkie at 9:23 AM on July 29, 2012

It's fine to gently challenge the assumptions of the asker, but you need to have a fairly clearly stated reason for doing so and that should probably be in your comment instead of just "This costs more but it's worth it"

This person is just going to go buy a PC when they could have had a Mac. Now all of those mac users who read that question are going to feel inferior and invalidated.

It's like you don't even care about what is important here. I bet you're a shill for Micro$oft!
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:01 AM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Deleted for not answering the question; AskMe answers must answer the specific question asked. In that case it appears CPB was recommending Mac laptops when the asker specified PC.

This doesn't always happen. On an old post asking where's good to go in Europe for £500 for two, the answer 'go to Asia' which was pretty useless given that the flights alone would have cost £2000 for two. (This is why I haven't been to Cambodia yet.)

In a computer post on a different forum, I both set a below-Mac price budget, had someone suggest NewEgg despite saying 'I am in the UK so I can only buy from places that ship here' and although specifically saying that I didn't want a Mac because I'm dyspraxic and it would take me too long to learn a completely new system, I was told at length why they're better than PCs. (They're not if you end up throwing it out the window because they won't do what you expect them to and you don't knwo where the button is.)
posted by mippy at 10:15 AM on July 29, 2012

Is this what it's like to be, say, a European, and make a post about Europe, and have someone say how it would work out in American, and when it's noted that the post was about Europe, they go on to argue about how America is actually very important to this issue?
posted by benito.strauss at 10:17 AM on July 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

Why is everyobe assuming he wanted a computer at all. A Pet Chinchilla can easily do all the things he needs and after cage, lava dust and a Windows disc will be only slightly more expensive. Plus, he doesn't need to buy a new one. I've been doing all my computing on a refurbished chinchilla I got through Craigslist and couldn't be happier.
posted by griphus at 10:20 AM on July 29, 2012 [23 favorites]

Dude, you're getting a Viscacha.
posted by mintcake! at 10:50 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

This baby chinchilla meets all of my needs.
posted by running order squabble fest at 10:50 AM on July 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

Chilly chinchilla still has a retina optical drive... that seems so dated; Compubeaver has usb 3.0, firewire and replaces the optical unit with (diy).
posted by infinite intimation at 11:02 AM on July 29, 2012

I linked that silly ol' beaver years ago!
posted by Burhanistan at 11:04 AM on July 29, 2012

And why the hell did vronsky link anime boobs at the bottom of that? Truly, it was a boyzone.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:06 AM on July 29, 2012

Nice beaver!
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:25 AM on July 29, 2012

(now I am full of shame realizing people made that reference 100 times in the original post. Ah well, free Leslie Nielsen.)
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:35 AM on July 29, 2012

You'll need to get a Chupacabra if you want room to upgrade for Mountain ~~Lion~~ Goat.
posted by arcticseal at 11:57 AM on July 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

You'll need to get a Chupacabra if you want room to upgrade for Mountain ~~Lion~~ Goat.

Your favorite goat sucks.
posted by zamboni at 12:57 PM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

What with the weather we've been having here in the UK this summer, my wife decided she needed a new mac. She bought one in a sale at less than half the original price, but it was still close to £100. £100 for a mac! I was both disgruntled and secretly pleased at her profligacy; I went out the next day and bought a rather nice recurve bow.
posted by pipeski at 1:42 PM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

At our house we play out back.
We play a game called ping the Mac.
Would you like to play this game? It's down.
We'll ping a Mac across the town.
posted by ~ at 3:39 PM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

Why is everyobe assuming he wanted a computer at all. A Pet Chinchilla can easily do all the things he needs and after cage, lava dust and a Windows disc will be only slightly more expensive. Plus, he doesn't need to buy a new one. I've been doing all my computing on a refurbished chinchilla I got through Craigslist and couldn't be happier.

Animal based computing is cruel and environmentally unsound. I use about a pound and a half of extra firm tofu.
posted by nebulawindphone at 3:46 PM on July 29, 2012 [5 favorites]

I presume you charge it up with a nice strong cup of tea.
posted by arcticseal at 4:48 PM on July 29, 2012

likeso: "Get a snack."

All I can afford are these generic chips! Are you gonna pay the difference for your fancy schmancy potato chips?! Well, are you, ~~punk~~ likeso?!
posted by deborah at 5:56 PM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Hell yeah! If you'll pay the shipping to get some of those fancy schmancy potato chips flown across the Atlantic to me! You feeling lucky now?!

(I long for these chips. I dream of them. I pine, staring melodramatically out of windows streaked with raindrops. Or are they tears? Those chips are crispy, tangy, crunchy, salty, dilly darlings. They are snack perfection in a bag. I WANT THEM. I CANNOT HAVE THEM.)
posted by likeso at 6:11 PM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Also, I would now like to have a Generic Human t-shirt.
posted by likeso at 6:28 PM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh, you poor, deprived non-Americans. Those are not "fancy potato chips", they are pickle chips. What you do is you get a bunch of those flat-cut "sandwich stacker" pickles and you bread them and deep-fry them. They are incredibly savory, almost overpoweringly salty, and mouthwateringly delicious.

Man, I could really go for a plate of pickle chips right now.
posted by Scientist at 11:12 PM on July 29, 2012

Wow. I... wow. I meant the Lay's potato chips, glimpsed the pics, saw the beloved bag, clicked "copy" and linked.

Chips made of actual pickles? My life may have just been changed.
posted by likeso at 4:57 AM on July 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

The Lays Dill Pickle chips are just salt and vinegar chips with a dusting of dill powder.

Fried Pickles are their own thing, and one of the cornerstones of southern cuisine, along with Hubig's Pies, sweet tea, and pecan logs.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:39 AM on July 30, 2012

Is this what it's like to be, say, a European, and make a post about Europe, and have someone say how it would work out in American, and when it's noted that the post was about Europe, they go on to argue about how America is actually very important to this issue?

Oh no, in that case half the thread would be edited as not being tailored for US audiences.
posted by infini at 8:01 AM on July 30, 2012

You can actually make your own Foo Chips at home out of anything that's got enough structural integrity to hold up as like one-eighth inch slices. Mileage will vary of course, but you just slice your whatever thin, brush on some oil, shake on some salt and whatever else, and slow cook that stuff in the oven for a while.

They're even better if you slice them even thinner and deep-fry them. I did that as a quick appetizer when I had a couple potatoes, a sweet potato, a beet, and a couple carrots in the house; I had to do the chips in stages, but after bringing the first batch out to my living room and going back in to do the next wave I had everyone coming into the kitchen to stand in a circle around me so they could immediately have some of the amazing chips as soon as they come out of the fryer oh my god these are good.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:38 AM on July 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Well, all I can say is that it's a damned good thing my gym routine starts up again on Thursday. I am so gonna need it. "MetaFilter made me fat" will not fly as an excuse for my mirror-self. She takes no crap.
posted by likeso at 10:48 AM on July 30, 2012

Mmm. Foo chips.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:05 PM on July 30, 2012

Oh great, now I'm craving Pickled Onion Monster Munch.
posted by subbes at 7:47 AM on August 2, 2012

Plantain chips...now there's a snack.
posted by jquinby at 7:57 AM on August 2, 2012

Cassava chips are pretty great also.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2012

I chipped a tooth eating a Monster Munch. True story.
posted by arcticseal at 9:17 AM on August 2, 2012

« Older I just wanted to say to all US... | It looks like <blockquote&g... Newer »

You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments

Missing comments July 28, 2012 7:48 PM Subscribe

Missing comments
July 28, 2012 7:48 PM Subscribe