Crosswords1 min ago
Buying a new computer?
Can anyone suggest any good packages/products? My family are rather clueless although we know what we want to be able to do! :
>use for internet browsing/email
>downloading music
>storing digital photos
>storage/playback of a few tv programs maybe a couple of films
>burning CDs
>burning DVDs? not essential
>Just generally be compatible with most things like mp3 players/mobile phones/digital cameras
Any help greatly appreciated- cheers!
>use for internet browsing/email
>downloading music
>storing digital photos
>storage/playback of a few tv programs maybe a couple of films
>burning CDs
>burning DVDs? not essential
>Just generally be compatible with most things like mp3 players/mobile phones/digital cameras
Any help greatly appreciated- cheers!
Answers
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Any modern computer would be able to do all the things you want to do.
Things to check.
I would definately have the option to burn DVDs. So make sure it has a DVD writer not just a CD writer.
If you are going to store TV programs and films make sure you have a large hard disk. 80Gb minimum, bigger if you can get it.
Some PCs come with a number of built in "slots" to take camera memory cards so look out for them.
All PCs come with a number of USB ports, this is where you plug digital cameras and mp3 players in.
Dont get one with a small monitor. Some of the cheap deals from places like PC world ofer a 15" monitor. Dont even think about it.
The standard monitor size is 17" but try to go for a 19" as this is better for watching movies and TV shows.
Your biggest choice may be if you go for a desktop PC or a laptop, but you may have already decided that.
Things to check.
I would definately have the option to burn DVDs. So make sure it has a DVD writer not just a CD writer.
If you are going to store TV programs and films make sure you have a large hard disk. 80Gb minimum, bigger if you can get it.
Some PCs come with a number of built in "slots" to take camera memory cards so look out for them.
All PCs come with a number of USB ports, this is where you plug digital cameras and mp3 players in.
Dont get one with a small monitor. Some of the cheap deals from places like PC world ofer a 15" monitor. Dont even think about it.
The standard monitor size is 17" but try to go for a 19" as this is better for watching movies and TV shows.
Your biggest choice may be if you go for a desktop PC or a laptop, but you may have already decided that.
About 3 weeks ago I bought my son a Dell PC. Total cost including delivery was �425.
It was a Dell Dimension 3100 model D10316b
It had a good Pentium CPU, 512Mb of memory, 80Gb hard drive, DVD writer, 19" TFT monitor, and a digital camera card reader.
It included keyboard, mouse, speakers.
For what you want that would be perfect, but they only sell over the web.
Go to the Dell web site and choose Desktops.
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/
They may have stopped doing the 3100. Try the Dimension E520.
It was a Dell Dimension 3100 model D10316b
It had a good Pentium CPU, 512Mb of memory, 80Gb hard drive, DVD writer, 19" TFT monitor, and a digital camera card reader.
It included keyboard, mouse, speakers.
For what you want that would be perfect, but they only sell over the web.
Go to the Dell web site and choose Desktops.
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/
They may have stopped doing the 3100. Try the Dimension E520.
Something to consider.
The main operating system that is sold on PCs at the moment is Windows XP. If you buy a PC with that on it then it should do you for years..... BUT
Microsoft are due to release a new operating system in the next month or so called Windows Vista.
This will replace Windows XP.
Probably from January onwards most PCs will be sold with Vista on them.
That means in future most hardware and software sold will have been tested on Vista and may even pre-req Vista.
Unless you have a pressing need for a computer NOW then I would wait until January and get a PC with Windows Vista on it.
(This is not to say Windows XP is bad, after years of updates it is now an excellent stable operating system. But Windows Vista will be the new kid on the block and overall it would probably be better to have a new PC with Vista on it).
The main operating system that is sold on PCs at the moment is Windows XP. If you buy a PC with that on it then it should do you for years..... BUT
Microsoft are due to release a new operating system in the next month or so called Windows Vista.
This will replace Windows XP.
Probably from January onwards most PCs will be sold with Vista on them.
That means in future most hardware and software sold will have been tested on Vista and may even pre-req Vista.
Unless you have a pressing need for a computer NOW then I would wait until January and get a PC with Windows Vista on it.
(This is not to say Windows XP is bad, after years of updates it is now an excellent stable operating system. But Windows Vista will be the new kid on the block and overall it would probably be better to have a new PC with Vista on it).
Thanks for all the answers!
A few queries though..
>Won't Windows Vista be ridiculously expensive when it first comes out?
>We're looking for a desktop PC, not a laptop =D
Struggling along with a Windows 98 atm, so looking to get one sooner rather than later as it can't manage digital photos and I have to get friends to update my ipod!
A few queries though..
>Won't Windows Vista be ridiculously expensive when it first comes out?
>We're looking for a desktop PC, not a laptop =D
Struggling along with a Windows 98 atm, so looking to get one sooner rather than later as it can't manage digital photos and I have to get friends to update my ipod!
Vista itself wont be any more expensive that XP is.
Large companies like Dell pay Microsoft a standard price for pre-installing each copy of Windows (XP or Vista) so the price wont change.
Vista does require a slightly more powerful PC than XP does, in the graphics area for example, but it is better to get a PC with Vista pre-installed rather than trying to install Vista at a later date on a PC that was built for XP.
Remember after Xmas there will be some post-Xmas sales, and I sure some of them will have PCs with Vista pre-installed.
There may also be a fire-sale with PCs with XP on them while they clear them out ready for Vista (after Vista comes out they may have trouble selling PCs with XP on them).
If you play any PC games then some games may pre-req Vista as Vista has some technology in it to help games play better.
It is up to you, buy a PC now with XP on it, or wait till after Xmas and get Vista.
If I were buying a PC I would wait for Vista, but it is up to you to make the choice.
Large companies like Dell pay Microsoft a standard price for pre-installing each copy of Windows (XP or Vista) so the price wont change.
Vista does require a slightly more powerful PC than XP does, in the graphics area for example, but it is better to get a PC with Vista pre-installed rather than trying to install Vista at a later date on a PC that was built for XP.
Remember after Xmas there will be some post-Xmas sales, and I sure some of them will have PCs with Vista pre-installed.
There may also be a fire-sale with PCs with XP on them while they clear them out ready for Vista (after Vista comes out they may have trouble selling PCs with XP on them).
If you play any PC games then some games may pre-req Vista as Vista has some technology in it to help games play better.
It is up to you, buy a PC now with XP on it, or wait till after Xmas and get Vista.
If I were buying a PC I would wait for Vista, but it is up to you to make the choice.
As the cost of pcs are continually falling, I would buy one now for around the �400 mark.
This will be perfectly adequate for all your needs. External hard drives can be bought for �60 if you need more storage later on.
Many people are still happily using Windows 2000.
XP will be fine for the next 3 years at least.
Card readers are excellent for uploading photos from the camera. My laptop has one built in, but I bought an external one for the desktop for around �4.
This will be perfectly adequate for all your needs. External hard drives can be bought for �60 if you need more storage later on.
Many people are still happily using Windows 2000.
XP will be fine for the next 3 years at least.
Card readers are excellent for uploading photos from the camera. My laptop has one built in, but I bought an external one for the desktop for around �4.
XP will only be adequate for 3 years?!! I don't think we plan to get another one in the next 3 yrs! This one has lasted about 9 years although we have pretty much run it into the ground..
Nobody plays computer games and the like so not worried about requirements for those. Are there any computers at the moment being advertised or online that have Windows Vista (obv not on sale now but for the future) so I could take a look at the kind of thing?
Nobody plays computer games and the like so not worried about requirements for those. Are there any computers at the moment being advertised or online that have Windows Vista (obv not on sale now but for the future) so I could take a look at the kind of thing?
Not sure there is any PCs being advertised with Vista, after all the last thing they want is for people to stop buying PCs now and all wait for Vista.
Many people are advertising PCs as "Vista ready" but to be honest I would avoid them, you do not want to buy one with XP on it then have to re-install Vista later.
If you plan to keep the PC for as long as you say then I would definately wait for Vista.
As Ethel says, XP will be fine for a few years, but Microsoft will stop building updates and fixes for it earlier than they do with Vista.
If you buy one with Vista on it then Microsoft will probably support it for 5 or 6 years or more, as they have done for XP.
Many people are advertising PCs as "Vista ready" but to be honest I would avoid them, you do not want to buy one with XP on it then have to re-install Vista later.
If you plan to keep the PC for as long as you say then I would definately wait for Vista.
As Ethel says, XP will be fine for a few years, but Microsoft will stop building updates and fixes for it earlier than they do with Vista.
If you buy one with Vista on it then Microsoft will probably support it for 5 or 6 years or more, as they have done for XP.
How many years of updates will Vista require to make it an excellent stable operating system?
I don't think he means that Windows XP was unstable when it was first out, but since five - six years of updates and Service Pack 2, Windows XP has become more stable, less bugs (No Operating System is bug-free), and general improvements has made Windows XP even better.
So for your answer, Vista will be quite stable when it first comes out.
If I were you, I'd hang on to XP. Vista won't do anything that XP can't already. The only really cool feature in Vista is a feature that randomises address memory space. Essentially, it protects you against viruses etc. Everything else, XP will be faster.
As for the price issue: to buy separately, Vista will be more expensive for a comparative version to XP home. Ignore the basic Vista packages that are crippled and shouldn't ever even be released. But if you buy from Dell etc., they'll just absorb the prices for you.
As for the price issue: to buy separately, Vista will be more expensive for a comparative version to XP home. Ignore the basic Vista packages that are crippled and shouldn't ever even be released. But if you buy from Dell etc., they'll just absorb the prices for you.
Vista doesn't really add anything that great except for some features. If your computer isn't capable, you'll get a bog standard interface look that's not too pretty. Their aero interface will only work for more capable computers, not all.
It'll be slower just like running XP on a machine bought with 98 will be slower,
It'll be slower just like running XP on a machine bought with 98 will be slower,
Because Vista will use substantially more of the PCs available resources than XP does.
Vista-ready simply means a high spec.PC, nothing magical or special about it.
I have been trialling the Beta release of Vista for about 6months and find nothing in it that would persuade me to fork out extra cash for it. I may be a cynic, but it seems to me that MS have to release a new OS every so often just to keep the money rolling in.
Personally, I wouldn't touch it anyway until it has been in the public domain for some months. Microsofts record to date with new releases hardly inspires confidence that they will get it right first time.
Vista-ready simply means a high spec.PC, nothing magical or special about it.
I have been trialling the Beta release of Vista for about 6months and find nothing in it that would persuade me to fork out extra cash for it. I may be a cynic, but it seems to me that MS have to release a new OS every so often just to keep the money rolling in.
Personally, I wouldn't touch it anyway until it has been in the public domain for some months. Microsofts record to date with new releases hardly inspires confidence that they will get it right first time.
"outdated" is a subjective term. If you just want wordprocessing, then a computer from 1993 would probably suffice. It's only with the increased stuff that you can now do with a computer that makes them out of date -- and that's more the computer and less the operating system anyway.
Depending on how much you want to spend, I'd personally tell you to go out and get an Apple iMac and just ignore Windows altogether. Unless there's a specific program you need that's on Windows and not Mac OS X, you'll be just as happy, if not happier.
Depending on how much you want to spend, I'd personally tell you to go out and get an Apple iMac and just ignore Windows altogether. Unless there's a specific program you need that's on Windows and not Mac OS X, you'll be just as happy, if not happier.
Oh god, lets not bring macs into this! It would probably take my family another 9 years to work it! Think we'll be sticking with nice,safe Windows! I have put what we're looking to use the computer for in my question, so do you think an XP (if so which addition) would be suitable for a good 5 years?
