THEXXXXXXXNEW DREAM XXXXXXXX MACHINE

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX EMAIL was in my freshman year of college in 1988. I attended Dartmouth, and we had a system named BlitzMail. DREAM MACHINE is back, and this year

Every student was granted an email it’s literally gargantuan outside, as

address and access to the system. it is on the inside. Never before has

Like most students, I didn’t use it at Dream Machine been this big at the

all. It’s hard for even me to believe, micro level. Of course, I’m talking about

but back then I was in the habit of cores—10 of them, in fact. Powered

writing letters and postcards. by Intel’s behemoth Core i9-7900X,

I vividly recall the tipping point, Dream Machine 2017 is mammoth by

though. In 1re years and my first job pretty much all measurements. And so

in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually is everything else about this tower of

start using it. Like a lot of corporate ludicrous power. workplaces, email was commonly

The premise behind Dream Machine used for interoffice communications. is a simple one: Put together the purest,

But the volume wa989 in the middle most audacious computer we can,

of my sophomore year, I was eating with no limits in mind. This means all

lunch with a few freshmen who were components are up for consideration,

talking about how great email was regardless of their price. Think a high

for chatting up women. I remember end system costs $5,000? Think again.

being shocked at the notion that $10,000? Weak. these guys didn’t have the courage to

Every issue we put out is a celebration pick up the phone. Little did I know. of the PC in every aspect. From the

I’d be lying if I said that I took to hardware to the software, the platform

email the next day. I didn’t. It took is a Mecca if you want value and

three more years and my first job performance. You can have things your

in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually way, to your own specs, and on your own

start using it. Like a lot of corporate terms. So our terms were to gather the

workplaces, email was commonly best and most hard-edged gear we could

used for interoffice communications. find, and put together a system that would

But the volume was manageable; I be formidable in gaming, productivity,

remember going two or three hours and daily general use. without new email. That sounds

But it wasn’t easy. Last year’s Dreamm absolutely crazy now, but this was Machine was already a hard beast to

the era before SPAM even existed. tame, and by any standard still rocks ks

As more friends started working even high-end systems today. Besting ng

and came online, the postcard- and last year’s machine came down to

letter- writing days ended forever. delicate choices: CPU, GPU, and storage. e.

( That lab job was also awesome The first two are always difficult because

because after four years of using AMD, Intel, and Nvidia tend to start

a Mac in college, I was able to get talking about new products at around

back to PC gaming— after hours, of course.)

I’ll be honest; I still love checking my inbox and discovering email— from friends, family, writers, the same time our Dream Machine issue

readers, PR people, whomever— even goes to print. if it has become a bit overwhelming.

I always advise people to just get on Between re years and my first job with it, though. If you keep waiting for

in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually the next great component, it’ll never

start usingaccounts, I’ve never had come. As soon as you’re ready to make

trouble keeping up. Until now. This is a purchase on the part you’ve been

partially what inspired this month’s waiting for, news will come out about

cover story. Over the last 18 months, the next-generation product. It’ll be a

I’ve begun to notice that my ability to vicious cycle—the endless waiting game.

quickly parse, read, and respond to Rather than waiting around, we decided

email just isn’t fast enough anymore. that Dream Machine would be built on

I need to develop new systems and products you can buy today. shortcuts. I need to change my ways. While I realize that MaximumPC’s

I’m curious— are you finding Dream Machine is obscene, it doesn’t

yourself in the same boat as I am? diminish your dream machine or anyone

If so, what have you done to better else’s. Everyone has different specs in

manage your email life? Let me know mind for what they want their individual

at George@ maximumpc. com. PC to be, and what makes this possible is the very essence of the builds we put together. It comes down to the

Finally, the winners of last month’s total experience, and the joy of putting

challenge to identify the fake Google together a kick-ass rig for your own

app icon. For those scoring at home, needs is irreplaceable. the correct answer was Google

Back in 2015, I built Dream Machine Storage. Here are the winners: Keith for the magazine, then that system sat on

Lucas ( who was the first correct an empty desk for a really long time, and

response), Andy Man, Chris Brush went to waste. Frustrating, I know. Zak, Alan—if that happens again this year, I’ll gladly take it off your hands!