Comments for What computer should I get? - Part II

Comment from Carlos R Coquet on 2011-03-08

2011-03-09T05:47:15Z

I have been asked the very same question many times and my answer focuses a lot less on memory and processor: I always say

"It depends on what you want to do and what you want to spend."

For many businesses, most computers will do. Surprisingly, machines for "non business" uses tend to require more "horsepower".

If you came to me and asked me "What car should I buy?", I would say "It depends on your situation. If you are single and have a good job, a Corvette might be a good option. If you have a family of 6, an SUV might be more appropriate."

For example, kids always say they need a machine to do their "homework". But, in reality, they will be mostly playing games and downloading movies and music. So, these "homework" machines will need very fast video cards and tons of storage space. As opposed to most business machines for which video speed will be less important (graphic arts excepted) and storage will probably be on a server.

Many of my clients run only a couple of applications. Nowadays, another aspect is important. Are you ready to relearn this and that? If you don't want to relearn Windows, don't get a brand new machine unless it available with whatever operating system you are already used to. Probably Windows XP.

Children always want "laptops" because they don't care what anything costs and "laptops" are "fashionable". However, notebook computers are not just more expensive to purchase, they are more expensive to own. Period. If you spill something on a desktop computer keyboard, you can replace it for $20 or less and you are back in business. If you do the same to a notebook computer it might damage the entire machine. Additionally, they are much more susceptible to theft and damage, such as if dropped. So, unless money is no object, consider carefully whether or not you or your child really need a portable machine.

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A comment on: What computer should I get? - Part II

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Comment from bill kennedy on 2011-02-24

2011-02-25T01:00:49Z

I am a very green new user with a lot to learn.
that is why this PGM is so valuable to me.
thank you.

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Comment from Snert on 2011-02-23

2011-02-23T17:20:14Z

Any computer will do what it's designed to do, compute. You, supposedly, get what you pay for. I max out my RAM first and refuse to worry much about dual core, quad core, and, in the future, octo-core CPUs.
I'm not a gamer, a high-tech fanatic or a 'gots-ta-have-the latest-greatest', I'm just an average keyboard Joe.

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Comment from Jim H on 2011-02-23

2011-02-23T17:00:17Z

@ Ron. It's 4 GB, not 3 GB for the 32 bit limit. and you are wrong about multi core processing, especially in gaming. Most new games are written for multi core and suffer without it. I don't even think single cores are made any more except in bargain basement machines.

And as to "Windoze"- it's precisely stuff like that and the infamous "M$" that Apple fans delight in tossing about which turns me totally off to anything they make. In my years of PC experience -I've been in it since ASR 33 teletypes, 16 platter 500 MB drives, and 8" floppies- 90% of problems are created, enabled, or fall squarely on the humans operating the system. I have never had 99% of the problems that get parroted about Windows. I've been a biker all my life and I'm now approaching 60. I used to think Harley owners were the most arrogant people on the planet when it came to attitudes about their product of choice and their denigration of everything else. Now I believe it's most Apple people withtoo many linux users a close second. But that's just my opinion...

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Comment from Ron on 2011-02-22

2011-02-23T03:38:44Z

RAM, more is always better, but don't forget 32bit Windoze is limited to 3gb

Multicore is nice, but again, for "average user" they rarely do enough parallel processing to need more than a dual core machine. OS and Apps are not yet written to take best advantage of multiprocessing. Give it a few more years, 5 or so, before app code is optimized for parallel processing.

HD, I basically agree with your position. One new technology that is just coming into play now is SSD. Price of SSD is starting to reach point where it is reasonable for an OS/Apps only drive.

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Comment from Jim H on 2011-02-22

2011-02-23T00:59:18Z

Oh- I forgot Home Premium- the 64 bit has a RAM max of 16 GB!

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Comment from Jim H on 2011-02-22

2011-02-23T00:54:03Z

When upgrading RAM in a PC with Windows 7 ALL 32 bit versions of Windows 7 have a 4 GB RAM limit. The 64 bit version of Starter and home Basic is 8 GB. 64 bit Professional/Enterprise/Ultimate can go up to 192 GB of RAM. Of course, that's if your computer can accomodate it!

BTW: the information is from the manual Windows 7 Inside Out

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Comment from GREG JACKSON on 2011-02-22

2011-02-22T23:46:23Z

Passing comment: And once you get the "perfect" pc as I did, there's always a cummy external factor that mucks it up. My wireless IP provider ($30mo 3Gbps) has growing pains and suffers bandwith problems. A Ferrari in a congested highway. Now I must go to cable at 3 times the price. Who could have known?

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Comment from Lester on 2011-02-22

2011-02-22T16:48:33Z

Cheap isn't better. My last computer came with 8 gb of memory, but it was DDR2, which slows it down. It had a Q8200 CPU, again on the slow side today. It has a motherboard that only supports 3 gig transfer rate for the HDD controller, and I recently installed one that supports 6, hoping for a speed increase. I also installed a better video card only to discover that they had only included a 280 watt power supply. So by the time I upgraded that, I could have bought a better computer. I'll probably upgrade the motherboard, memory, and cpy someday. In the end I'll have a good computer, but it will have cost me substantially more than if I'd went for the better one in the first place. I've used Dell a lot and also other online services, but I'd almost rather pay more locally and know for sure what I'm getting in these areas.

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A comment on: What computer should I get? - Part II

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Comment from Greg Bulmash on 2011-02-17

2011-02-17T17:46:48Z

The part you left out is the graphics adapter. Besides being able to drive various screen resolutions, you have two types of adapters -- onboard & discreet -- with two types of RAM -- shared and discreet. Depending on whether you want to do any 3D, high-end videography, etc., you need to consider which kind.

I'll leave it to Leo to explain the difference and why (or why not) to pick one over the other.

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Comment from Jim Green on 2011-02-17

2011-02-17T13:19:36Z

For PC's, My rule of thumb for amount of memory is to get at least TWICE what Microsoft says is minimum for the versions of windows you choose. I currently run 6GB in my desktop, and 4GB in my laptop. I rely on the CPU meter gadget in WIN 7 Pro to monitor how much memory is being used...so far, haven't even approached 100%. But, like you, I made sure there was room for more. Oh, and you might remind people that anything over 4GB is just "preinstalled spare memory" unless you are running the 64bit version of your windows OS.

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Comment from Kyle on 2009-08-15

2009-08-15T20:08:21Z

i would recommend the 13.3 inch Apple MacBook Pro they are at a reduced price now, even though they might be a little pricey they last for 7 hours on a full charge, they last for approximately 5 years, they are energy efficient, they can't get any viruses, they are very light-weighted even on the largest screen, the memory can be customized up to 4Gb and 8Gb, the hard drive space can be customized up to 500Gb, everything is very organized and they easily synchronize with other devices in a network, such as, printers and stereos, they can run both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, they can come with iWork and iLife which can run Microsoft files easily and they have up to 2.8 GHz of processing power.

Apple has legendary customer service as in they make their own computers so they don't send you to another company for a certain part.

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Comment from Paul Treneary on 2009-04-16

2009-04-16T13:52:53Z

Some great info on your website (I've just tweaked my TEMP folders to my newly partitioned T: drive - simple enough but I'd forgotten how!).

I hate to point it out, but whilst you cleverly worded some advice (ie the bit about how much memory to go for), I reckon it's time to take a look at some of those more specific figures.
Thinking about what I've needed to know recently, you could add details (or external links to save replication) as to how to build your own Windows XP install disc from the i386 folder for the very keen (I was very surprised it worked).
Anyway, an excellent, well worded, site that I'll be recommending to those people that keep asking me these sort of questions.

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Comment from Matt on 2007-07-22

2007-07-22T16:36:18Z

I am thinking of purchasing an Apple iMAC. Is it worth the $1600 i am willing to spend or can i use my money better elsewhere?

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A comment on: What computer should I get? - Part II

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Comment from AVELIN MALAMSHA on 2006-12-14

2006-12-14T13:23:45Z

You did a good job but still it seems as if you are not advising us to buy any pentium one,two,three etc.Shouldnt we?

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Comment from Larry Osterman on 2004-11-29

2004-11-30T00:59:34Z

One caveat about processor speed for laptops.

Intel offers two lines of processors that appear in laptops, the centrino line and the P4 line.

Some laptops come with P4 processors, and are marked as significantly faster than the Centrino processor. Unfortunately, the faster processor comes at a significant battery-life cost. A non-centrino processor will suck a battery dry faster than a centrino processor.

So if you're buying a laptop, stick with the centrino processors.

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