Dear Husband and I are contemplating the purchase of a new personal computer. We have unlimited access to the computer we use for business, but I'd like to be able to blog at night while I sit in the living room with DH.
We've been lost in a maze of choices that have to be made: how fast a processor, how much RAM and what kind, what kind of screen, speakers, sound card, operating system, memory, software, ethernet, and on and on and on....
It seems to me that we purchase a computer for the office about every three years, and in that period, they manage to change the entire world of how to order. I can remember the first time they started talking about megahertz. What the heck is that??? Now we toss it off with aplomb!
Gigahertz. Good God, what is a GIGA?? (I know. That was rhetorical. I counted on my fingers and toes to figure it out!) How could things have changed so fast?? Dear Husband wants to buy the most adaptable computer he can, thinking that it's going to have to last us a while. The next younger generation look at him and shake their heads knowingly. It will be outdated before we open the cartons and get it set up.
I can't believe that we are now debating a DVD player and burner! Who the heck has time to watch movies on their computers? And I have to make a point of ordering a floppy disk player now.
I have to make a call to our cable company to confirm that we are eligible for a cable hook up. We hope to be joining the world of faster communication. We live in an area that has such old infrastructure that gerbils run up and down the lines carrying messages. And with that change, we'll be leaving AOL as our service provider. (Listening to RedEagle shouting YEA!!!! in the background.)
So, if you have any advice on what is a necessity on a computer these days, leave me a note, won't you?
Comments (11)
Hmph! Don't ask an old woman who still talks about cycles per second. They had to go honor good old Hertz, didn't they? A Gigahertz is where you giggle until it hurts? Of course, I was in school (college, that is) when the diode was developed and the earth was cooling. Good luck, Buffy. Perhaps one of your readers can give you some serious advice (where is Bogie when you need her?)
Posted by Cop Car | March 8, 2004 5:33 PM
Posted on March 8, 2004 17:33
Hey, happy shopping! Are you gettin' a DELL dudette?
Posted by Dr. D. | March 9, 2004 8:00 AM
Posted on March 9, 2004 08:00
Bogie is desperately trying to hang on to her internet connection!
A DVD player/burner is good. Many computer programs now come on DVD (the ones that have grown to 3 or more CD's worth). So I would go with a DVD player at the very least. The burner will do CD's too for easy backups.
Other than that, I would get the biggest hard drive, most RAM and fastest CPU that I could afford, that way it won't be outdated for at least 2 days after you open the carton. This also helps in that it can actually last 5 years or so as long as you don't blow it up.
I almost never turn on my speakers, so unless there is a specific reason you need a good set, just a cheap set of speakers will do.
Be careful with the cable company; some won't support a hookup with a Gateway or Dell - something about their configuration can make it a real pain in the butt. My Gateway (from many moons ago) took 2 1/2 hours for the serviceman to get hooked up. Fortunately at that time they did support Gateways.
Posted by bogie | March 9, 2004 8:17 AM
Posted on March 9, 2004 08:17
well, I can agree with bogie on all that, get the biggest and best you can, can't help you with who to buy from however, because I build my own computers so I know exactly what they will and won't do...
Posted by Redeagle | March 9, 2004 10:19 AM
Posted on March 9, 2004 10:19
Cop Car, I love your definition of Gigahertz! lol
Doc...yup...Dell it is, I think.
Bogie, thanks for your thoughts. We will probably get at least a DVD player. We'll have to see about the burner. I know we'll add a CD burner.
You're right....obsolete before the credit card is processed, and if we get five years out of it, I'll be happy. By then things may be cheaper yet.
T...maybe one day we'll get to the stage where we build our own. One of DH's kids did that last year. There have to be a LOT of advantages, but we're not ready yet.
Posted by Buffy | March 9, 2004 3:46 PM
Posted on March 9, 2004 15:46
Bogie is right on, on most all the stuff she mentioned. I have a Gateway and had no problems hooking up to cable. My biggest issue was a bad wireless router that kept dropping our IP. The new one hasn't given us any trouble.
The geeks I work with say that if you are going to go with a DVD burner, get one that support BOTH + and - RW as the standard hasn't been set yet. The additional cost isn't that much and from what I've heard, if you need LARGE data storage to disk, go DVD. It holds a LOT more and the +, - means you can read it on almost any machine.
Posted by Wichi Dude | March 9, 2004 6:55 PM
Posted on March 9, 2004 18:55
Five years? FIVE YEARS?? We're talking miracle here, aren't we? At work I've used a kazillion different PCs; but, at home my progression has been: 1989 - Sharp 286 DOS luggable (14.x lbs)
1998 - Toshiba 486(?) Windows 98 laptop
2003 - HP x86 Windows XP tower
The trend shows that my next leap will be in 2005.
Posted by Cop Car | March 9, 2004 9:16 PM
Posted on March 9, 2004 21:16
5 Years is what my Gateway 133 lasted (actually someone else is now using it). My last computer only lasted 2 years but that was my fault for blowing it up.
I fully expect to use my current computer 4-5 years unless there is some pressing need to upgrade because I can't live without a program that has higher requirements (not very likely).
Hell, even my first x386 (bought used) lasted me 3 years. Yes, I upgraded the memmory (to 32MB - massive back then), but that was all I added. The only reason I got the Gateway was so that I could go online (research) and do homework at the same time.
Posted by bogie | March 10, 2004 8:26 AM
Posted on March 10, 2004 08:26
Please notice that T didn't say YEAH about ditching AOL ~ why don't you ask her why *big grin* ~ you'll get a kick out of this Buffy!!!! As far as computer's go I don't worry about them, I just lodge a complaint in hubby's direction and walah things are fixed.
Posted by Jamie | March 10, 2004 11:03 AM
Posted on March 10, 2004 11:03
Buffy... if I may interject my 2 cents --- I'd say since you already have a desk computer for the company, why not a laptop for the 2nd? You can take it with you if you travel, the DVD player can then also be used in a hotel or vehicle on a long road trip, if you like. I have a laptop as my 2nd pc, and I find I use it for everything -- they are amazing, size and convenience and the screens are great too -- easy to see/read on. Many hotels offer highspeed internet, so you can read a few blogs before going to bed when you find yourself in a hotel!! In the summer you can hang out on the deck with the laptop too if you like, as you would likely get a wireless adapter that feeds off your main web connection. Just a 'thought'!
Posted by Desiree | March 10, 2004 10:20 PM
Posted on March 10, 2004 22:20
WichiDude, I'll have to run that past our resident geek. I have never heard about the different DVD burners, but I bet he has, and he can help us sort through what's available at Dell and a few other sites. Thanks for the advice!
Cop Car, give me a break here! Dear Husband rarely uses the computer. He sees the HARDware and thinks it should last two decades or more. You and I understand how quickly the software changes. I suspect we can actually eke out five years on a computer, but not much more. And remember....this is a personal computer for someone who is not heavily into music or movie or game downloads. I need a word processor and access to the internet. Those things won't go out of date too badly.
Bogie...our experiences are pretty similar, except I haven't "blown up" a computer! *G*
Jamie.....I suspect I know the answer, and I'm afraid to ask!
Good point, Desiree! I seriously considered a laptop. It was my first choice, but DH and I figured we'd get more bang for our buck with a desktop, and I don't expect to be traveling a great deal in the next five years. I hope the computer we buy as I get ready to retire is a laptop, though!
Thank you, one and all for all your suggestions!
Posted by Buffy | March 11, 2004 12:05 AM
Posted on March 11, 2004 00:05