Computer Technology - What's out there?
My um... 'computer' of 14 years is about to die.. the mouse is refusing to move and my coffee-hol... oops sorry, I mean my disc drive is stuck so I need to go get a new one but quite honestly.... I don't have a clue what's out there anymore (mainly due to being a technophobe!) ... and it's taken 45 minutes to type this! What's out there? = anyone recently bought a computer? Or, seen something you like the look of ... or can recommend the one you already own ???? All I need it for is storage / games / music / TV and DVDs + some video phoning across the globe so does it help to have all the Biz? - HD/ Blu-ray? / dual/triple? core etc etc or will it be obsolete by the time I reload my internet? (I know I need lots of USB ports !!!! :lol: ) ...would prefer XP over Vista mainly because Vista eats memory in order to run (so I hear?) plus can't be bothered to relearn where to find everything (like 'save' and the 'underline' ! etc :D ) but am open to suggestions! - would also be fab if everything was already pre=loaded - but I don't think that is possible even in this day and age! Did buy an 'Acer' in spring but it's hard drive crashed twice! so that went back and I hope to be getting a new one at the end of August so all ideas / sugge3stions / recommendations gratefully accepted! THANKS! :)
Thanks LeM - This is extremely helpful!...
(You realise that you are now going to be one of the Forum's Techno Nerd Kings don't you? :P )
:( I thought I could still get XP! OK so which Vista is the best then ? - are there 3 different ones arn't there?... - Home/ Premium and....something else?- (sounds like people didn't like the completely different layout then?)
...Avoid PC World at all costs; Aldi sometimes have good deals (though Medion's tech support sucks the big one). Most computers do come pre-loaded with stuff like anti-virus, some sort of burning software, some sort of office software, DVD software etc but check - often these are time-limited or cut-down versions. Also McAfee and Nortaon are usually the free A/V offering, both are resource hogs.
AWW! :o What's wrong with PC World? - I was going to take all my suggestions there - that narrows the field down a lot !
...Don't forget to budget for any extras you may need: ...... external hard disc (worth getting for back-ups), printer, software (though there are generally good and legally free equivalents of most programs).That said - is your machine really 14 years old? Is it really Windows 95? If you're exaggerating and it's XP then borrow a new mouse and test it or (if yours is still a "ball" mouse) pop out the ball and give the innards a clean. If your drive just doesn't eject, live with using "right click + eject" on the drive on "My Computer" if that still works (or try the "straightened paperclip in the emergency eject hole" trick. If those are your only problems, a new optical drive is pretty cheap these days!
I got an optical and ball mouse... they are both on strike... might be my leaking memory as not sure where it keeps going but the next day it's back... (all part of age..)
I have a Buffalo external hard drive waiting for 'when-I-get-a-new-computer' it is for 500gb (I know, - I know it will prob back up the whole street, but I'm planning more photos see... :P - I also have a Clickfree, for a now deceased work laptop so ok for backup, but I prefer AVG over Norton and McAfee as AVG is less complicated (?)
I will check out all your points from 1 to 4 above as it's good advice and glad I checked - and I 'supose I'd better get the Vista handbook out on how to find my way around the desktop then...
Yep - my PC (a Fujitsu) is 14 - started as W95, then 98 / then Millenium then XP - I have beat it up a bit over the years but to its credit has lasted really well...
Any ideas about the different makes?
- Suppose should go for another Fujitsu (if still around) but want a change - love a Toshiba - or LG if they made PC's and Dell - well we had them at work and didn't think much of them then, but maybe the stuff you get in companies is different from outside??? Then there is Samsun(g)? which I have heard is supposed to be the best in the world (?) - as the insides of all the computers on the market are apparently made by them, But I've never actually seen any for sale? ... There is just too much out there really, and for an uninformed person it would be like taking a pin and blindfold to the shop.... :(
By the way I am now camping with my torch inside my desk compartment and looking at my PC drive and can't see any 'emergency eject hole'....
:lol: :lol:
Unless you've pretty much replaced everything but the case, I'm amazed that it runs at all if you're using a Windows 95 machine to run XP!
If you're going for Vista Home Premium is the best value - avoid Home Basic (slightly too basic), and what you get extra in "Ultimate" isn't worth the dosh (and you obviously don't need the Business version). Vista's layout isn't as different as some make out, especially if you don't go delving "under the hood" and looks prettier IMHO.
PC World: over-priced and their warranties aren't worth the paper they're written on.
Mouse problems - have you tried a different port?
Memory leaking - have you run an anti-spyware scan (e.g. Spybot), an antivirus scan and (this one may be a bit "techie") checked your startup programs (msconfig)? There's probably a bunch of programs that are unnecessarily starting with Windows - Adobe Reader and Quicktime are prime culprits for this. Also, if you have ever had Norton or McAfee installed, did you use their own removal tools to get rid of them, or just Add/Remove programs? Both tend to leave rubbish behind that only the (freely downloadable) tools on their sites completely remove. If you get a PC with either installed and decide to use AVG (perfectly fine, and free!) then make sure you use these to completely shift them. How much RAM do you have and do you ever get "Windows needs to increase your virtual memory" notices? Check your device drivers are up-to-date and make sure you have all "important" Windows updates in place (XP should be on SP3, too).
Fujitsu are still going, as are Toshiba, HPs are generally OK, I quite like Dells as they tend to be easy to work on internally and their (business) support is generally very good - their "home" support is reputedly lousy, though. If you like a model, check the company's website for driver support. Last time I had to find some Acer drivers (for instance) their site was almost unusable, whereas HP, Dell and Tosh all have easy-to-use sites.
500Gb sounds a lot, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is to fill - especially with video files!
Oh - normally there's a small hole near the eject button on an optical drive: stick a pin/paperclip in there and it will generally eject (might need to wiggle it).
On the subject of Vista and W7, most retailers are offering free W7 upgrades for those who buy Vista machines now, so you would only have to put up with Vista for 2-3 months. If you are dead set on having XP some online retailers still allow for you to pick what operating system you can install on a new rig.
I'm about as techie as you Lexa! I've got a Dell laptop that's done me really well. It only cost about Ј300 and it seems to be almost indestructible - I spilt a glass of wine over it the other day and it's still soldiering on. I think with Dell so long as you only do the basics the computers are pretty good, but if you want to use it for gaming then you should probably go for something else.
Was in a branch of Morrisons earlier: Compaq w. XP Home, 160GB HD, 1GB RAM + 19" monitor for Ј299.
Thanks guys - really appreciate being able to pick your brains! ... Keep it coming as I'm making a really long list!
Unless you've pretty much replaced everything but the case, I'm amazed that it runs at all if you're using a Windows 95 machine to run XP!
:lol: :lol: I'm just amazed that you're amazed - I thought it was normal!
(It actually just goes to show how long things do last for and what a 'throwaway' society we live in! )
But about 10 years ago I put in a soundcard, some extra memory and a DVD rewriter on top of the CD and Floppy drives (that's the one that's jammed by the way and has no eject hole!) - It only has around 200MB at the mo which yo-=yo's every day, - so can't affort to load any thing on as it's running on bare bones... God A new PC will be like Heaven!.. I think you are right, I am sure there are lots of start up things on there (although it's showing up as empty..) I do have a 'Window Washer' and a 'Reg Cure' which helps a bit - I also had System Mechanic 8 but that was a bit of a dodgy version and tended to bung it up after it sorted everything out.. Apparently System Mec 9 has it now sorted, sounds brilliant and will try it out (unless everyone says not to) (you can tell I like easy things!_) plus can't do the 'eject' thing on the stuck drive as it's now not even showing up, but will check out the antivirus uninstall stuff..?)
On the subject of Vista and W7, most retailers are offering free W7 upgrades for those who buy Vista machines now, so you would only have to put up with Vista for 2-3 months. If you are dead set on having XP some online retailers still allow for you to pick what operating system you can install on a new rig.
Thanks Exelion - it's a shame but on hearing what you are all saying it would be unrealistic to keep going for XP - with the onset of Vista, XP sounds like they are winding down anyway? ...
( and Lem mentioned a word that convinced me.... ' DOWNgrade' to XP!' ... :lol: )
I'm about as techie as you Lexa! I've got a Dell laptop that's done me really well. It only cost about Ј300 and it seems to be almost indestructible - I spilt a glass of wine over it the other day and it's still soldiering on. I think with Dell so long as you only do the basics the computers are pretty good, but if you want to use it for gaming then you should probably go for something else.
Idoru ! another kindred spirit (although I reckon you know more about it all than me!).. and on thinking back to my work 'Dell' laptop, it used to break down a lot, and all the keyes on my keyboard fell off...!! :unsure: ( but that could be me?) but it actually wasn't that bad - we could only keep them for 3/4 years and then had to get a new one - probably because it was put through 'industrial' strength useage?
(I like technology - infact I love it... I just don't knopw how it works! :D )
Was in a branch of Morrisons earlier: Compaq w. XP Home, 160GB HD, 1GB RAM + 19" monitor for Ј299.
I shall go have a look! but staying with the supermarket thing, my Dad and I were browsing in Sainsburys the other day and I could not believe how much they were selling their 35" flat screen TV's for!! (around Ј300!) unbelievable!
PS: Any idea when W7 is coming out?
You'll be hard pressed to find a new XP machine unless you get a netbook or something that comes with Vista but has an XP downgrade disc (if you're up to doing that). Yes, Vista does need a lot more memory than XP, but then XP needed a lot more memory than earlier versions of Windows. My home machine runs Vista very comfortably with 2GB of RAM. Despite the many complaints on the net, Vista isn't that much different to XP in how you "get around" though the security nags are annoying (but can be turned off - at your own peril!).
If you can possibly hold on, I'd wait until later in the year when the new version of Windows is out. Windows 7 seems to be less demanding on the hardware (I had it running on a not-brilliant laptop with 512Mb of RAM), or Vista machines should see a drop in price then. Some Vista machines now should come with a free W7 upgrade (for when it's out) but (unless the rules are different in such cases) W7 in the Eu is "full install" only, so not a job for a technophobe!
Unless you want Blu-Ray (or it's in a machine you want anyway), I wouldn't bother as you'll need a huge monitor or the ability to hook it up to your TV to get full use out of it. I've stated on another thread that I am trying to avoid Blu-Ray as I think it's another way of getting us to fork out for the same media again.
Get a dual-core machine - quad is probably over-specced for your requirements.
RAM: XP>1GB, Vista>2GB, W7>2GB(possibly less, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Make sure that you have a dedicated graphics card for games - look at the specs of games you are interested in and make sure whatever you buy has a suitable card. Built-in card readers are very useful.
Avoid PC World at all costs; Aldi sometimes have good deals (though Medion's tech support sucks the big one). Most computers do come pre-loaded with stuff like anti-virus, some sort of burning software, some sort of office software, DVD software etc but check - often these are time-limited or cut-down versions. Also McAfee and Nortaon are usually the free A/V offering, both are resource hogs.
Don't forget to budget for any extras you may need: keyboard/mouse/monitor, USB hub(!), external hard disc (worth getting for back-ups), printer, software (though there are generally good and legally free equivalents of most programs).
I would recommend (in order):
1) Waiting and getting a W7 machine (though there may be problems with older games)
2) Getting and waiting to see if Vista machines drop in price after W7 is out
3) Getting a Vista machine
4) Going for XP (if you have to!)
That said - is your machine really 14 years old? Is it really Windows 95? If you're exaggerating and it's XP then borrow a new mouse and test it or (if yours is still a "ball" mouse) pop out the ball and give the innards a clean. If your drive just doesn't eject, live with using "right click + eject" on the drive on "My Computer" if that still works (or try the "straightened paperclip in the emergency eject hole" trick. If those are your only problems, a new optical drive is pretty cheap these days!