[Leica] Re: New PC

[montoid at earthlink.net (Montie)]

Thanks a bunch Larry, I hadn't even considered a MAC, but
sounds like maybe I should...I think Leo sent over a link where
you can get them refurbished.  Incidentally, I get Bluetooth, but
what the hell is Wi-Fi 802.11g??  Thanks again for the help!

Montie
--------------------------

> On Dec 12, 2006, at 5:12 PM, Monte wrote:
> 
> > Need some IT help here...my 7 year old Compaq Presario 1200
> > is dying a slow and hideous death!  When I bought it, I knew a little
> > about the technology but I have not kept up and now, after looking
> > for a new one, I have no idea what they are talking about.Dual this...
> > Core that...Ram x 2 (bluetooth is wireless, right)?
> >
> > Anyway...I'm not too big on all the muti-media stuff so I'm not
> > looking for anything super teched out.  I also don't store hundreds
> > of photos on my hard drive...I want CD writng/reading capability
> > so I can store edited pics on CDs?  Enough memory to safely run
> > CS...is XP home edition cool?  I'm still running ME and recently
> > got a note from Microsoft stating that ME is no longer a supported
> > OS ;-(
> >
> > Help the analog man!  Suggestions greatly appreciated!  Thanks
> > in advance!
> >
> > Montie
> 
> You are fortunate in that you can buy an entirely new computer system  
> without trying to salvage the bits and pieces of your old stuff. A 7  
> year old Compaq is worth about $15 on the used market. You might even  
> have to pay to get someone to cart it away. Right now a low end to  
> moderate computer system would have a 2 GHz processor, at least 512  
> Mb of Ram, an 80 Gb disc, and a DVD burning capable optical drive.  
> Note that it will have no floppy drive or Zip drive. It will also  
> have a Wi-Fi 802.11g capability and probably will also have  
> Bluetooth, a short range relatively low speed RF system for  
> communicating with keyboards, printers, etc. With a 15" or 17" flat  
> panel display it will probably cost about $1000 at Staples or Office  
> Max. You might be able to buy one for less at WalMart or Best Buy. If  
> you opt for a laptop with the same capabilities, you will probably  
> spend a few hundred more. Stay away from the lowest price offerings  
> advertised heavily by Dell or Gateway. Not that they are bad  
> computers. In fact they are very good for use at the high school  
> level. Its just that you will want to upgrade them soon after you buy  
> them and the total price will be greater than if you bought what you  
> wanted at the beginning.
> 
> But if you are going to start afresh, why not switch to a Mac? Most  
> Luggers who own them swear by them.
> 
> Since Apple adopted the Intel processor in its new computers Mac and  
> PC systems have been converging. Using Apple's free Boot Camp  
> software or the modest priced Parallel software, any new Mac can run  
> Microsoft XP and all the PC programs just as with a dedicated PC.  
> Since the same processor is used, the running speeds are comparable.  
> But most Mac owners regard this capability just as a backup since Mac  
> software is available to perform just about any computer task. In  
> addition, the Mac comes with a suite of software (iLife) which makes  
> photographic work particularly easy. The sole software exception  
> seems to be gaming. PC games still seem to be in the lead.
> 
> I use both Macs and PCs at work. There is no comparison between the  
> Apple operating system and current Microsoft offerings. Apple's OS  
> 10.4.8 on my current computers makes anything on the PC seem clunky.  
> We have been using a beta test version of Vista for a number of  
> months and unless considerable changes are made before the consumer  
> release next year, Microsoft has a long way to go before it catches up.
> 
> As far as hardware goes, Apple computers cost about the same as PCs  
> with similar capabilities. The "premium" price for Mac computers no  
> longer exists but the quality remains high. Thank God for marketplace  
> competition. The Mac integrates Wi-Fi into the operating system  
> better than the PC through its Airport software. All Macs come with  
> built in ethernet for high speed plug in connection to the web.
> 
> Finally I like the Mac because it connects seamlessly with my iPod  
> and it is so cool.
> 
> Larry Z