Tips Wanted on Buying a New Computer

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Tips Wanted on Buying a New Computer
Topic Started: Oct 23 2011, 06:20 AM (625 Views)
Deleted User	Oct 25 2011, 01:32 PM Post #31
Deleted User	wildie Oct 25 2011, 01:21 PM Christine Oct 25 2011, 01:10 PM Quoting limited to 2 levels deep You picked up on that right away, didn't you! I must learn to be more subtle, methinks! biggrin 04 If you ever come to London, I'll buy you a BIG MAC to make up! Maybe even number one, on the menu! biggrin2.gif what about the fries and coffee? laugh123 (oh yes, and i love their hot carmel sundays)
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Dialtone	Oct 25 2011, 01:36 PM Post #32
Gold Star Member Posts: 7,190 Group: Member Member #721 Joined: April 1, 2010	Tipacanoe Oct 25 2011, 12:41 PM This may be of interest to some of you although it is mostly gobbletygook to me: http://i.techrepublic.com.com/downloads/Gilbert/adl_10_cool_techs.pdf?tag=mantle_skin;content Thanks for that link, I found it extremely interesting, and the last comment (the bottom line) basically says it all from my point of view. Most PCs and Laptops on the everyday users desk wouldn't be able to benefit much from the upcoming improvements, since most of the push is for speed. Speedier attachements are only as good as the box it's connected to, and most PCs couldn't handle the faster data transfer rates. One of the first computers I bought had USB1, not many things used USB back in the 90s. I didn't have anything that used USB until I bought my first digital camera and then I bought a 512 meg flash drive for $60. Now everything uses USB, parallel and serial ports are almost non-existant, USB2 was a great speed improvement over USB1, USB3 rates sound almost unreal. I suspect the computers I have now will do me for a couple more years, by then I should be eager to copy a 4.6 Gig movie to a USB drive in 5 seconds. 023 Edited by Dialtone, Oct 25 2011, 01:38 PM.



wildie	Oct 25 2011, 02:56 PM Post #33
Veteran Member Posts: 12,173 Group: Member Member #442 Joined: October 11, 2006	Christine Oct 25 2011, 01:32 PM wildie Oct 25 2011, 01:21 PM Quoting limited to 2 levels deep what about the fries and coffee? laugh123 (oh yes, and i love their hot carmel sundays) Now, you know there is a limit..........................



campy	Oct 25 2011, 06:10 PM Post #34
Handyman Extraordinaire Posts: 28,720 Group: no politics Member #204 Joined: February 2, 2006	wildie Oct 25 2011, 01:32 PM haili Oct 25 2011, 01:09 PM If you just had one computer would a laptop be best? What about cost per month for wireless internet or whatever you need for a laptop? My brother bought a laptop but when he found out the monthly fee is planning to give it away to a grandchild. A friend also bought one and hasn't been able to get her email working yet. Halli, you don't need wireless to use a laptop on the net. Although I always do! I don't pay a monthly fee for wireless. Its the same fee for laptops as for desktops. Getting email setup on a laptop is exactly the same as with a desktop. If your friend is having a problem, it would be the same with a desktop. We are used to using Outlook Express but if your new computer comes with Win7, it won't be available. You have to use Windows Live Mail which is a bit different. I have an Acer and I just love it. No hardware problems. It's about 8 years old. What I like about it is that it has 3 USB ports on the front and one USB port on the back. Also support for XD cards which is on my camera. And support for other cards as well. I just bought an Acer monitor and just plugged it in and away it went. Parallel port on the back and USB ports means I can use either type of printer. All the printers now only work on the USB ports. The old parallel port printer I have is a black and white workhorse. I can refill the huge ink tank myself as well which is convenient as well as cost savings. If I was buying a new computer the only criterion I would use is the service and support I would be getting. Trying to set up a wireless connection is a nightmare if you don't know much about computers. I wouldn't worry about the hardware because I am sure it would match or surpass the present unit or one wouldn't need to upgrade. It's tough switching to something new and trying to work out things on your own.



Deleted User	Oct 26 2011, 03:27 AM Post #35
Deleted User	wildie Oct 25 2011, 02:56 PM Christine Oct 25 2011, 01:32 PM Quoting limited to 2 levels deep Now, you know there is a limit.......................... No carmel sunday, I ain't coming...... biggrin 04
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wildie	Oct 26 2011, 12:48 PM Post #36
Veteran Member Posts: 12,173 Group: Member Member #442 Joined: October 11, 2006	Christine Oct 26 2011, 03:27 AM wildie Oct 25 2011, 02:56 PM Quoting limited to 2 levels deep No carmel sunday, I ain't coming...... biggrin 04 Well, OK if you will settle for the drive thru! My dog likes to share the sundae! 527



Deleted User	Oct 26 2011, 05:33 PM Post #37
Deleted User	dogleg Oct 25 2011, 09:41 AM Well I am properly discombobulated now. So what do I do , spruce up my present desktop and buy a new to get the spatial freedom I want ? I did know a girl whose name was Mackenzie commonly called Mac ; she was slim and trim but faded from contact for years. Saw her at a reunion ; now I would call her Big Mac. Very sad. ( I ,of course, haven't changed a bit . Trimmer and better looking maybe.) I have an old custom built desktop [dual hard-drive] and it is still going like a house on fire. It has a Serial Port. oooh 02 I need a serial port to program a computerized Men's wrist watch I purchased at the Bay for $2.63 on an original cost of over $150.00. However, it is basically now only good for email and some surfing & I need the serial port. I custom built my next desktop which I call "the workhorse". By having it custom built I installed what I need and anything such as a gaming graphics card I would never use, did not instal thus bringing the price down - it does however, have the DVI and other stuff to stay updated plus a nice 24" wide screen monitor. Then I have a Toshiba laptop with Windows 7 which I use for travel mostly [business and personal]. Just purchased a Canon MX970 Printer/Scanner/Fax Wireless Printer. The Fax has a dial on the printer and done directly from there. It's even got an alarm on it .. haven't figured out what it's for but probably to wake me up when I fall asleep at the keyboard. I have this printer networked to service all the computers including the Notebook that my grandkid has. As for bandwidth, I am not limited that I know of and I use the computer a lot as does the grandkid. All is good. My purchases were based on need and lifestyle. Decide what you want to do with it and how much you will use it. I use DVD's & CD's a fair amount along with the flash & USB stick. Each has a need for specific things I do. One example is that I did a musical slideshow of hubby's motorbike trips with his buddies. Well over a dozen guys wanted a copy. To hand out a DVD is approx. $2.00 each but not so with a USB sdtick or Flash card. My new printer handles both including a camera. I recommend doing some online comparisons ... go to a store and get the model numbers & makes and do a comparison ... from there you should be able to make an informed decision.
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dogleg	Oct 27 2011, 05:07 AM Post #38
Super Poster Posts: 434 Group: Member Member #731 Joined: April 2, 2010	Thanks for all the ideas. By spatial freedom I just meant I would like to be able to move my computer around the house sometimes and maybe take it with me when away. Some of the new desktops are practically as portable as the laptops. I don't, however, want to sacrifice too much speed . I haven't done much with memory sticks but for saving pictures they will likely do what I presently do with the discs. Now if someone will just loan me the money!



campy	Oct 27 2011, 05:15 AM Post #39
Handyman Extraordinaire Posts: 28,720 Group: no politics Member #204 Joined: February 2, 2006	dogleg Oct 27 2011, 05:07 AM Thanks for all the ideas. By spatial freedom I just meant I would like to be able to move my computer around the house sometimes and maybe take it with me when away. Some of the new desktops are practically as portable as the laptops. I don't, however, want to sacrifice too much speed . I haven't done much with memory sticks but for saving pictures they will likely do what I presently do with the discs. Now if someone will just loan me the money! I am thinking of just leasing a laptop or taking it on payment plan per month. That way I can turn it back to them if it's not working properly.



FuzzyO	Oct 27 2011, 05:37 AM Post #40
Posts: 16,968 Group: Administration Member #710 Joined: March 30, 2010	The laptop I ought this summer cost less than $400.00. The type of modem I have is wireless, so I can use the laptop outside, or upstairs, or wherever I like in the house. I am sure there is a way of making it commuincate with the printer when it is not hooked up to it, but I haven't bohere as I usually use it at my desk.



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