Comments on: Shopping for Basics and Saving Money on Your Next PC http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/ from The Wall Street Journal Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:56:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Derek Dodd http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-2161 Derek Dodd Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:28:19 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/#comment-2161 I have to agree with Mr. Prozzo, I use Windows Vista Ultimate on a single Core 2.13 Ghz Laptop with 2 Gigs of RAM - for music production - and it runs quite smoothly. I have to agree with Mr. Prozzo, I use Windows Vista Ultimate on a single Core 2.13 Ghz Laptop with 2 Gigs of RAM – for music production – and it runs quite smoothly.

]]> By: bill collins http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-2058 bill collins Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:52:39 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/#comment-2058 I need help with a Sony Vaio laptop (3 yrs old) that my daughter apparently dropped. Result was it would not boot. A friend extracted most of her files from the hard drive. The RAM size probably needs to be increased and the speed is relatively slow. Does it make any sense to repair it by getting a new hard drive installed? If the answer is yes, then would it still make sense to get faster and larger RAM? I need help with a Sony Vaio laptop (3 yrs old) that my daughter apparently dropped. Result was it would not boot. A friend extracted most of her files from the hard drive.

The RAM size probably needs to be increased and the speed is relatively slow. Does it make any sense to repair it by getting a new hard drive installed? If the answer is yes, then would it still make sense to get faster and larger RAM?

]]> By: Charles Thomas http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-2056 Charles Thomas Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:54:42 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/#comment-2056 I'm using Vista 64-bit on a Toshiba laptop with 4GB of RAM, but I've got several machines running Vista on AMD 2500's with 1.5GB of RAM. They are slower than XP but fine for everyday use. I just bought my daughter a Dell laptop (pink of course) with 3GB of RAM for about 600. She'll take it to college next year. Good values are out there. My first computer, a discounted 386 with 1MG of RAM, cost $900.00 in 1992. I’m using Vista 64-bit on a Toshiba laptop with 4GB of RAM, but I’ve got several machines running Vista on AMD 2500’s with 1.5GB of RAM. They are slower than XP but fine for everyday use. I just bought my daughter a Dell laptop (pink of course) with 3GB of RAM for about 600. She’ll take it to college next year. Good values are out there. My first computer, a discounted 386 with 1MG of RAM, cost $900.00 in 1992.

]]> By: David Prozzo http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-2052 David Prozzo Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:10:14 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/#comment-2052 Mark, sounds like you tried to UPGRADE from XP to Vista. I've no idea why you encountered problems, but often a clean install is much better - so I've heard. 64-bit interests me too, but since my 32-bit Vista runs so well, what's the point in going to 64-bit now? I'll just wait for 64-bit Windows 7. Mark, sounds like you tried to UPGRADE from XP to Vista. I’ve no idea why you encountered problems, but often a clean install is much better – so I’ve heard. 64-bit interests me too, but since my 32-bit Vista runs so well, what’s the point in going to 64-bit now? I’ll just wait for 64-bit Windows 7.

]]> By: Mark Ryan http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-2051 Mark Ryan Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:51:01 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/#comment-2051 I have found the migration to Vista making me wish I could start fresh. I have a brand new, custom built computer with all high-end components. WinXP runs great and very fast. When I tried to load Vista Business, the migration process started and appeared to process all my existing apps and data. Vista never fully loaded. Thankfully, there is a restore option which I used and went back to XP without amy damage. I'd love to use Vista but I will be waiting for a full move to 64-bit across the board. Being limited to 3GB of RAM is really irritating. Macs have had this for a long time. For now, XP isn't broken so why "fix" it. I have found the migration to Vista making me wish I could start fresh. I have a brand new, custom built computer with all high-end components. WinXP runs great and very fast. When I tried to load Vista Business, the migration process started and appeared to process all my existing apps and data. Vista never fully loaded. Thankfully, there is a restore option which I used and went back to XP without amy damage.

I’d love to use Vista but I will be waiting for a full move to 64-bit across the board. Being limited to 3GB of RAM is really irritating. Macs have had this for a long time.

For now, XP isn’t broken so why “fix” it.

]]> By: David Prozzo http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-2047 David Prozzo Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:40:05 +0000 http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20081029/shopping-for-basics-and-saving-money-on-your-next-pc/#comment-2047 Walt, with respect, why do you perpetuate this myth that Vista requires "beefy" hardware? It simply isn't true! It will run fine on any modern hardware, even hardware that is not cutting edge. Smooth and responsive. As you have said, it will run on any dual core processor. And you can stop advising people that 3GB of RAM is best; Vista runs just great on 2GB. Vista Home Premium (with Aero enabled) and productivity software run quite well on a computer with integrated graphics. Gamers would need a dedicated video card. Yes, some older peripherals like printers won't run on Vista, with the drivers/software that came out of the box, but it is a simple matter to check the printer mfg's website to see if Vista-compatible drivers are available. I checked the specs of the Dell Inspiron 530 available for $449, including monitor. This machine is plenty "beefy" enough to run Vista easily. To advise someone that they should downgrade this computer to XP because it isn't fast enough for Vista does them a disservice. Walt, with respect, why do you perpetuate this myth that Vista requires “beefy” hardware? It simply isn’t true!

It will run fine on any modern hardware, even hardware that is not cutting edge. Smooth and responsive.

As you have said, it will run on any dual core processor. And you can stop advising people that 3GB of RAM is best; Vista runs just great on 2GB.

Vista Home Premium (with Aero enabled) and productivity software run quite well on a computer with integrated graphics. Gamers would need a dedicated video card.

Yes, some older peripherals like printers won’t run on Vista, with the drivers/software that came out of the box, but it is a simple matter to check the printer mfg’s website to see if Vista-compatible drivers are available.

I checked the specs of the Dell Inspiron 530 available for $449, including monitor. This machine is plenty “beefy” enough to run Vista easily. To advise someone that they should downgrade this computer to XP because it isn’t fast enough for Vista does them a disservice.

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