Need new desktop PC advice - Page 3

tw · 07-03-2013, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbpark

I have not seen a single Surface in any of my classes.

Surface is a perfect example. Did you know there are two different types of surface? Nothing in the advertising says anything useful about Surface. So why would I want one? Isn't advertising suppose to make you need something you do not yet have or did not know you needed?

Well in using it, I found a few nice features I have not seen work right on other tablets. How would anyone know? Microsoft's advertising reflects the Ballmer attitude - little grasp of what the product should actually do.

The expression "There's an app for that" said what the product can do. And why I would want it. And what was relevant in a better product. It said top management was concerned about the product - not about finance or profits.

mbpark · 07-05-2013, 02:13 PM

TW,

I know there are two types of Surface. One that only runs "new" apps, and one that costs more and runs all the legacy ones I care about. The "New Apps" one has a much slower processor than my iPad 4. The other one is more expensive.

The only app they've advertised as working is Office. I can get QuickOffice for my iPads and use that instead (and do).

So far, my MBA professors have said two things right on the money:

1. The iPad, smartphones, and tablets are going to cause Intel issues, because their chips don't run in them.
2. Microsoft is losing the race, because their apps do not run on the iPad or Android. It's no longer about the desktop PCs.

Perry Winkle · 07-05-2013, 03:46 PM

(I deleted my longer analysis because this thread is jacked-enough as it is.)

I would not count Intel out, with its new ATOM processors. There is a lot of competition in low-power mobile chips, and Intel has a history of falling behind and coming back to dominate competition.

Microsoft also is broadening its offerings and might stay relevant in two ways. To consumers by becoming more of a general media company (think Sony) and to business by deepening their already strong infrastructure and development offerings (I don't use them, but they aren't bad).

I'm pretty bearish on Apple long remaining the powerhouse it became under Jobs' second round.

glatt · 07-11-2013, 08:48 AM

Thanks for all your input on this topic. It was all very helpful and I was able to make an informed decision.

At first I was looking at the systems Directron was offering. Specifically the i5 processors, but then I remembered that through work I can get a special deal on Dell machines through some sort of employee discount thing. So I looked in to that and learned that I could actually get slightly more machine for the buck if I went with Dell. Plus then, I would get the Dell support and warrantee. (I'm getting basically an identical machine but with a 1TB drive instead of a 500GB drive for $9 more. Plus it comes with a new keyboard and mouse.)

My only regret is that I didn't go with a SSD. With both Directron and Dell, I didn't see any way to have them build me a machine with a SSD, and I didn't feel like building one myself. Maybe I'll try doing that in the future, or maybe my next machine in 5+ years will come with a SSD.

Anyway, I ended up ordering this for $549 plus 2 day shipping and tax:

Quote:

Module Description Show Details
Inspiron 660 INSPIRON 660
Operating System: Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English
Processors: 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3330 processor (6M Cache, up to 3.2 GHz)
Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz - 2 DIMMs
Keyboard: Dell KB113 USB Wired Entry Keyboard - US
Monitor: If accessories are purchased, they may ship separately
Video Card: Intel® HD Integrated Graphics
Driver: Dell SRV Software 1506
Hard Drive: 1TB Hard Drive, 3.5", 7200rpm, SATA
Chassis: Inspiron660Chassis,MT,Blackw/8:1mediacardreader
Color: Bezels Black Bezel
Mouse: Dell USB Optical Mouse MS111
Network Card: Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
Adobe Software: No Adobe Reader Selected
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW Tray Load Drive, 16X, SATA
Sound: Integrated 5.1 audio
Speakers: No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Wireless: Dell DW1506 (802.11 b/g/n) WLAN half mini-Card
Power Cord: US Power Cord
Documentation: Documents,Inspiron 660,English
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) Microsoft® Office Trial
Ship Material: Shipping material for DAO, Inspiron 660
Security Software: McAfee LiveSafe 12 Month Subscription
2nd Software: Additional Software
Option 2: No PDVD
Support: 90 days Premium Phone Support + 1 Year In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis
Retail Software: Dell.com Order
Miscellaneous: PCmover Home – Free
FGA Module: MHMT1403_009/BTO/C3

TOTAL: $548.79

Oh, this is also going to come with some bloatware installed, which is a bit of an annoyance, but I can go through and clean it up a bit.

I also discovered that I can get a legal copy of Microsoft Office Professional through my work for only $9.99, so I'll get that once the PC arrives.

It there anything I should do first with it? With past PCs I've just plugged them in and started playing, but should I perform any maintenance on it before I get started?

BigV · 07-11-2013, 12:22 PM

Are you sure about the 64-bit version of the OS?

I have heard some reports about the paucity of drivers for devices and applications for the 64-bit version where they were easily available for the 32-bit version.

However, these complaints are now kind of old, and perhaps the things you want to use or connect don't have this problem.

Things to keep in mind: your protective software is on a subscription basis, you'll need to keep paying for it if you want it to keep protecting you. Now might be a good time to make an entry in your tickler file to renew or replace your software BEFORE it expires. Also, you might want to add other things that make your life on the computer easier. One small example of this is WizMouse, it lets me scroll the contents of the window under the cursor, even if it is not the window on top. I am kind of touting WizMouse, a little, but my point is that you might be accustomed to having some (non built in) piece of software that you use all the time, and now you'll be working without it. Do you use Picasa for your photo management? You'll need to download it. Adobe Reader, come on, you'll be dealing with pdf files, right? Browser of choice? Stuff like that.

I see you have no speakers. Important?... I don't know what else to say (and I am afraid to bring up the subject of p o w e r s t r i p s / s u r g e p r o t e c t o r s).

Undertoad · 07-11-2013, 01:47 PM

ninite.com

single download / install for all the free software you need

that is all

glatt · 07-11-2013, 01:54 PM

that's helpful. Thanks!

BigV · 07-11-2013, 01:59 PM

w h o a

thank you!

glatt · 07-21-2013, 05:15 PM

I get my new windows 7 PC tomorrow. I've heard other people talk about partitioning hard drives. Should I partition this hard drive? It's 1 TB. What's the benefit? I've never partition a drive before.

If I do partition it, when should I do that? I plan to delete unwanted bundled programs first, then load programs that I want. Do I do the partitioning first?

Undertoad · 07-21-2013, 05:58 PM

If it's installed, it'll already be partitioned and you can safely just let it go. Partitioning was more important when there were smaller address spaces and more need to separate one thing from t'other. Nowadays everybody just has one big C drive, or sometimes a C drive and a small recovery partition as D.

Perry Winkle · 07-21-2013, 10:43 PM

I usually partition off my data from the operating system. That way I can blow away the OS partition any time without losing anything important. I usually exclude the OS from my backup scheme.

You probably want to do it early, if you're going to bother. As, IIRC, the Windows 7 partition (split & resize) tool will take a long time, if you let the disk get too fragmented.

tw · 07-23-2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perry Winkle

I usually partition off my data from the operating system. That way I can blow away the OS partition any time without losing anything important. I usually exclude the OS from my backup scheme.

That separation already exists without separate partitions. The data is in the "My Documents" directory (or folder). The OS is in the Windows directory. Partitioning only creates additional complications.

Perry Winkle · 07-23-2013, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw

That separation already exists without separate partitions. The data is in the "My Documents" directory (or folder). The OS is in the Windows directory. Partitioning only creates additional complications.

Those complications are benefits to my mind. But I am not the average computer user. I tend to trash lots of OS installations (trying out betas and such) and like to have a firmer separation between system and user-space, especially when I'm being lax about backup.

These days I tend to use completely separate devices for the OS and user data. In the old days that only happened when I filled a disk, and the extra devices became a mishmash of things.

07-11-2013, 12:22 PM	#35
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Are you sure about the 64-bit version of the OS? I have heard some reports about the paucity of drivers for devices and applications for the 64-bit version where they were easily available for the 32-bit version. However, these complaints are now kind of old, and perhaps the things you want to use or connect don't have this problem. Things to keep in mind: your protective software is on a subscription basis, you'll need to keep paying for it if you want it to keep protecting you. Now might be a good time to make an entry in your tickler file to renew or replace your software BEFORE it expires. Also, you might want to add other things that make your life on the computer easier. One small example of this is WizMouse, it lets me scroll the contents of the window under the cursor, even if it is not the window on top. I am kind of touting WizMouse, a little, but my point is that you might be accustomed to having some (non built in) piece of software that you use all the time, and now you'll be working without it. Do you use Picasa for your photo management? You'll need to download it. Adobe Reader, come on, you'll be dealing with pdf files, right? Browser of choice? Stuff like that. I see you have no speakers. Important?... I don't know what else to say (and I am afraid to bring up the subject of p o w e r s t r i p s / s u r g e p r o t e c t o r s). __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

07-11-2013, 01:59 PM	#38
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	w h o a thank you! __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

07-05-2013, 02:13 PM	#32
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	TW, I know there are two types of Surface. One that only runs "new" apps, and one that costs more and runs all the legacy ones I care about. The "New Apps" one has a much slower processor than my iPad 4. The other one is more expensive. The only app they've advertised as working is Office. I can get QuickOffice for my iPads and use that instead (and do). So far, my MBA professors have said two things right on the money: 1. The iPad, smartphones, and tablets are going to cause Intel issues, because their chips don't run in them. 2. Microsoft is losing the race, because their apps do not run on the iPad or Android. It's no longer about the desktop PCs.

07-05-2013, 03:46 PM	#33
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	(I deleted my longer analysis because this thread is jacked-enough as it is.) I would not count Intel out, with its new ATOM processors. There is a lot of competition in low-power mobile chips, and Intel has a history of falling behind and coming back to dominate competition. Microsoft also is broadening its offerings and might stay relevant in two ways. To consumers by becoming more of a general media company (think Sony) and to business by deepening their already strong infrastructure and development offerings (I don't use them, but they aren't bad). I'm pretty bearish on Apple long remaining the powerhouse it became under Jobs' second round.

07-11-2013, 01:47 PM	#36
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	ninite.com single download / install for all the free software you need that is all

07-11-2013, 01:54 PM	#37
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	that's helpful. Thanks!

07-21-2013, 05:15 PM	#39
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I get my new windows 7 PC tomorrow. I've heard other people talk about partitioning hard drives. Should I partition this hard drive? It's 1 TB. What's the benefit? I've never partition a drive before. If I do partition it, when should I do that? I plan to delete unwanted bundled programs first, then load programs that I want. Do I do the partitioning first?

07-21-2013, 05:58 PM	#40
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	If it's installed, it'll already be partitioned and you can safely just let it go. Partitioning was more important when there were smaller address spaces and more need to separate one thing from t'other. Nowadays everybody just has one big C drive, or sometimes a C drive and a small recovery partition as D.

07-21-2013, 10:43 PM	#41
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	I usually partition off my data from the operating system. That way I can blow away the OS partition any time without losing anything important. I usually exclude the OS from my backup scheme. You probably want to do it early, if you're going to bother. As, IIRC, the Windows 7 partition (split & resize) tool will take a long time, if you let the disk get too fragmented.

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