Sounds interesting - can you show us an example on ebay? I'd like something like that....

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Dual-AMD-Opteron-...QQcmdZViewItem

This one’s a buy it now, but there are always lots of servers coming on sale, and if you bargain hunt and are prepared to wait and hunt some more then you can get some amazing hardware at knock down prices.

As I wanted a whole house server a rack case wasn’t an issue when its going to live in a corner of the basement
I ended up getting a blade unit from a render farm that was being upgraded to newer technology
With some minor modifications and a new OS and one new drive (one was showing signs of ageing which is why I think it was up for sale) I now have a very powerful machine that supports an (internal) internet radio station which streams the entire contents of mine and my wife’s music collection 24/7, supports four thin clients around the house (silent small computers are much less intrusive) and now holds most of our DVD movies for instant retrieval via the media player

I had a Lacie NAS doing similar till it died a death recently - fortunately managed to recover the data (just!), even though it was stored on a XFS file system!

How noisy is the blade - when I've heard one running outside of a server room, it sounds like there's a helicopter is circling above the building?

thanks for this thread peeps, just found out laptop and new desktop are compatible when i'd read saying don't bring electrical items.

I brought out my PC, it is about 4 years old, all I had to do was change the power pack. The old PP was 230v, I bought a new one from London Drugs for about $50 and fitted it myself. It took about 5 mins to fit, and the new one has a switch so it can be changed from 110v to 230v.

I also brought my printer, which is 110-230v and use it no probs with a travel plug adaptor.

I did however buy a laptop when I arrived as the PC was being shipped with our outher stuff and took 8 weeks to arrive.

That's why I said 'at most $500'.
The problem with ubuntu is that it's not to everyone's taste. Many are used to Windows and would rather have it instead of Linux.

When I was desktop-less during the move, I used an EEE-PC as my main computer. I can recommend it highly. It's cheap, does all the basic stuff and is ultra portable. I now take it with me wherever I go as it fits in the backpack nicely. Having it also meant that I didn't have to rush out and build myself a computer after I landed just so I could check emails.

Maybe Ubuntu (linux) isn't everybody’s taste, but I find it worth it in its versatility and flexibility

But I'd aways suggest they try it if cost is a factor
my wife was a big windows user but it took her less than a week to get used to it, I don't think she'd ever give up her multiple desktops now
My father in law is next....

As an example I now have Unbuntu on USB stick, and don't tend carry the laptop around anymore, I've taken to just hitching a ride on somebody elses machine and make it boot from the stick rather than its hardrive

The minor modification was to take out the huge cooling fans in the case and put in new quieter heatsink/fan combo's

I'd say it was more like an industrial vacuum cleaner than a helicopter when i got it

When I moved over here I took the PC apart into its components and then left the case and power supply in the UK as they are the heaviest parts. I then wrapped up the parts in bubblewrap and put them in my suitcase with clothes for extra padding. Stuck them on my goods list of what I was bringing in with me and et voila just bought a new case with power supply when I got here and saved buying a whole new computer as I didn't have any money.

I was working in an office and thought, "what the hell is that?" - sounded like aliens had come to visit - took a walk around the office and found someone running a HP blade on their desk!

I kept the fans just in case my air-conditioning should fail