Hello computer people. I need a new computer. Can you help me spec one up. Actually, can you spec one up for me, without my help.
I mean from computer planet or somewhere like that.
I will use it for:
- Work. - Not much else. A bit of audio sequencing and fun with Reason and Logic, but hardly any. - A fair amount of Lightroom and Photoshop processing, actually, now I think about it. But, y'know, nothing really mental. Just dicking about.
I need:
- Big big hard drive - No monitor/keyboard/mouse - No software (I will load XP myself, unless you think I'm in danger of not being able to do that) - Lots and lots of RAM (well, the standard "a lot" amount) - A moderate graphics card (I suppose) - Lots and lots of USB ports - Not bothered about a DVD burner, but hey if they're cheap - I don't know what's good and what's not
Budget: I don't know. A few hundred quid.
Any help? In return I offer my gratitude.
[ 22.09.2009, 09:29: Message edited by: mart ]
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Do you want a desktop or a laptop?
If you don't know what you're doing, you're supposed to go for a basic Dell. I can't spec one up for you right now, but have a look at the Inspiron or Studio models under the home section or the more basic Vostro models under the business section. You can still buy these even if you aren't a business. Expect to pay £3-400
I'd recommend 3 or 4GB of RAM (4GB is the most you can install with a 32-bit operating system). Get a dual core processor. Core2Duo is good. Pentium Dual Core is less good. Celeron Dual Core is less good again, but might be okay for what you want to do. Everything will have a DVD writer these days.
Edited to add: I don't think you particularly need a graphics card unless you're going to play 3D games.
[ 22.09.2009, 09:42: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by mart: Hello computer people. I need a new computer. Can you help me spec one up. Actually, can you spec one up for me, without my help.
This should do it. Anything less than that probably isn't worth bothering with.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Sorry, a desktop. Not Dell, please. They're overpriced, aren't they?
And no, I'm not going to play any games, but I thought a goodish graphics card took some of the burden away from the rest of the computer, or something like that.
[ 22.09.2009, 10:09: Message edited by: mart ]
Posted by Keef (Member # 27) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis:
quote:Originally posted by mart: Hello computer people. I need a new computer. Can you help me spec one up. Actually, can you spec one up for me, without my help.
This should do it. Anything less than that probably isn't worth bothering with.
It's ok, but the mouse is a bit shit.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
Yeah, mart. Make sure you supplement it with one of these or you may as well not even bother turning it on. That's the minimum acceptable level equipment
Posted by Keef (Member # 27) on :
while we're talking about buying stuff, anyone had any experience of this kind of thing?
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
*Two dimensional mice are for pussies.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
What do you think of this from eBuyer?
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
The one I linked to is better.
Posted by Kanye West (Member # 837) on :
keef i've been using a single bay nas for around a year now - a qnap109-ii and i find it useful. it backs up all my photos and mp3s, stays connected to a couple of sharing sites 24/7, has an itunes server which can be picked up by any laptops in the house, and has been serving media to the 360.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
So we all agree that the eBuyer one is a snazzy deal then?
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Right?
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Jesus on a horse.
Posted by Kanye West (Member # 837) on :
i haven't clicked on the link, so I can't really say.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Maybe you could click on the link, and then say.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Just buy it.
I mean how bad can it be?
Posted by Kanye West (Member # 837) on :
looks fine. no OS though.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Well, that's the question. How bad do you think it could be?
I have my own XP that I can just load up and rock the house with.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
It could be bad, but probably won't be that bad. Should be okay, but you can never be sure of anything really, can you?
[ 23.09.2009, 09:38: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by Kanye West (Member # 837) on :
if you can load up xp yourself then you'll be fine. it should be able to take win 7 as well, which is a nice OS.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
I'm assuming loading XP myself involves putting the CD in the slot and just watching it install before my eyes. Or is there some other cleverness involved?
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
You might need to tweak the BIOS to set the boot priority to CD-ROM then HDD-0, but that'll be easy enough for an intelligent gent like yourself.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
ah ok yes i understand
well i might just flippin' well go and blummin' buy the darn thing, i might
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Well I bought it. It'll probably be really shit.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Well it was pretty cheap.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
I know. I 've made a terrible, horrible mistake, haven't I.
Posted by Waynster (Member # 56) on :
quote:Originally posted by mart: I know. I 've made a terrible, horrible mistake, haven't I.
Probably. Computers may in fact be obsolete by next week and you will have wasted pouns.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Should've got an iPhone.
Posted by Keef (Member # 27) on :
quote:Originally posted by Waynster:
quote:Originally posted by mart: I know. I 've made a terrible, horrible mistake, haven't I.
Probably. Computers may in fact be obsolete by next week and you will have wasted pouns.
Should have gone with Thorn's reccommendation - that'll be future proof for about a month - double the eBuyer option.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Amazingly, I've already got an iPhone. My girlfriend unblocked her old one for me, and now it works with my Tesco pay as you go SIM.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Well kudos to you for not harping on about it all the time. I'm so tired of hearing...
"Have I shown you this app yet?" "S'really cool, no hang on, it just takes a minute to load..." "Yeah, you can't see it properly in the sunlight. Turn around this way, look." "You should really get one, mate!"
[ 24.09.2009, 08:12: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
I've downloaded two things -- a Tube map, and a flashlight. I'd like to delete almost all of the other stuff on it, but you can't, apparently.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Quick work question -- what would you call areas of, say, a house, that don't get a WiFi signal?
In the Spanish doc I'm translating they're called zonas de sombra -- literally 'areas of shade', and I can't find the right phrase to express that in English.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
cold spots?
Posted by Kanye West (Member # 837) on :
'clarity clouds'
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)