Where can I go to choose a new Computer

[sheilajim]

Hi All

I am so fed up with my old and tired Dell 4600. It has served me well but it is time to move on. My husband knows this and has offered to buy me a new computer for my birthday. My birthday isn't until November but I think that I should start looking now.

The problem that I am having is that I really don't know what I need in a new computer to support my various hobbies. I don't only use my computer to go online and get e-mail, but also to write, color and manipulate photos, do some artwork, and of course genealogy. My hardware needs are all so confusing to a non techie like me.

I want a computer to do many things. Right now I have 3 different word processing programs (and I need every one of them), 2 spreadsheets, Paint ShopPro Ultimate (which uses a lot of memory), PSP Essentials, Photoshop Elements and a number of other related programs. I also have Family Tree Maker and a Bamboo Pen which I can't use very well on my current computer. I will probably add more programs in the future.

Another thing is that I don't want the computer to run too hot as I don't have A/C. I would also like to keep the cost under $1000. I am thinking of a Dell PC or an HP PC. I don't believe that notebooks or laptops will have enough power for my needs. I think that I might need a Pentium i5 of i7 processor and about 1tb memory. I hope that I am not asking for too much.

Does anyone know where I can find good information to buy what I need?

Sheila

P.S. I just got Family Tree Maker 2011, but won't install it until I get the new computer.

[AndrewP]

Hi Sheila,

I cannot advise on the type of computer you should be buying, but have some things for you to think about while you are contemplating your purchase.

1. Do you have the software (probably CDs or DVDs) for all of the programs that you would want to install?
2. Does that software run on the current operating systems? (probably Windows 7 if a PC is your choice)
3. Are there drivers available for your hardware (printer, scanner and the like) for the current operating systems?

Food for thought,

AndrewP

[Tracey]

I was in your position a short while ago and i spent a good two months researching what i should buy. By research mean going into the shops and talking to staff. I thought i needed some super dooper computer for all my needs too. Everyone i spoke to all assumed i wanted a PC (which i did also) but everytime, once they had finished speaking i asked them why wouldnt i want a Mac. They all agreed that if i was going to spend that sort of money i should opt for a Mac so i did even though i had no intention of buying one to begin with.
The purpose of this also is for business and will easily handle all my needs.
Mac will transfer everything for you but there was some work i lost that couldnt be transfered but that has also happened to people i know who have gone from Windows XP to the newer version.
Anyway i made the leap and am just begining to enjoy it and the technical support that comes with owning a Mac.
My cousin in your neck of the woods just bought one the same time as me and told me how much they are there £s for $s
Old dogs, new tricks an 'all

[Ina]

I don't think you can use the Family Tree Maker on a Mac.

Ina

[Tracey]

I don't think you can use the Family Tree Maker on a Mac.

Ina

No, as far as i know it doesnt neither does it support Legacy so i had to change.

[john.mitchell6]

I made the change about 3 years ago & moved from Windows to Apple 'Mac''s. Now have iMac & MacBook linked with wi-fi . Absolutely no regrets, no viruses & no problems. Very happy with the whole experience & am impressed with knowledge base offered at local Apple store including their 'Genius' bar. My main uses other than email & internet are photography, video & of course family history. If you really wish to use some Windows based programmes you can install software such as VMware 'Fusion' to accomplish this which would allow you to continue with your current software for family history. I had not started with my family history when I made the move to 'Mac's" therefore bought the genealogy software 'Reunion'. Some may argue that Apple is too expensive but you get what you pay for.

[Alcluith]

My only advise is keep away from HP, great printers shame about their computer/laptops, they just do not perform the same as Del or most others - yet Compaq was a world leader at one point.
Macs are great machines if you are a graphic designer or play a lot of games but you will get a lot more for your money with a Windows machine, Not that I am a lover of Microsoft. I have a laptop that only uses Free open source programmes but for Genealogy I still need Windows

Don't throw out your old Dell, change the operating system to say Ubuntu and it will open a whole new world of free software and it will start to perform as good as the latest Windows, if not better.

Its a pity that Legacy has not produced a Linux version of it's software, then it would be goodbye Microsoft forever.

Alcluith

[Currie]

Hello Sheila,

Take particular note of what Andrew has said about software, compatibility, and hardware drivers. This looks like Bamboo. http://www.wacom.com/downloads/drivers.php

Your current computer is a Dell 4600. Specifications for these vary, but it’s probably about a 2.8GHZ processor with 512MB of DDR memory, 80GB of storage and about 6 years old. If you still have 512MB then that is probably your main problem. It’s still a good computer, with potential for significant upgrade, especially to memory, but with an operating system, windows XP that probably needs reinstalling so it can start afresh.

Nevertheless, you now have the opportunity to advance from the old but reliable XP to Windows 7 and buying a new computer is probably the most economical way to do so.

Generally speaking, the smaller is the case the more likely that a given set of components will have heat problems. It’s more likely in a laptop, more likely in a miniature desktop. The standard size name brand desktops you see in the shops would probably be suitable, although these boxes are small compared to those used by the gamers who have real heat problems.

Desktop computers, even brand name ones, are just a bucket of bits, sourced from wherever, and assembled into a case. Standard size desktop computers are usually more upgradeable and easier to do than the smaller variety.

Better the Devil you know? If you have been happy with the Dell maybe you will be better off sticking to that brand. The range will be smaller and the decision will be made easier.

You’ probably don’t need what is generally known as a gaming computer unless you’re playing the very latest and sophisticated games or editing a great deal of video. Gaming computers are more expensive. There’s usually a sweet spot between the cheap and nasty and the top of the line. What it is for an individual depends on what they can afford to spend.

You are probably looking for a ‘multimedia’ computer rather than ‘basic’ or ‘gaming’. Whether an i5 or an i7 processor will be better for your purposes is probably irrelevant unless you’re a geek. Go to the main Dell and HP sites and they probably have some sort of guide or wizard there that will help.

4GB of Memory seems to be a fairly normal thing for a new computer nowadays. If the computer has integrated video rather than a separate video card then it will consume part of that system memory, Depending on price a separate video card may be preferable to integrated video.

You may currently have an 80GD hard drive. Think about how much data you currently have on that and what your future plans are. Very large hard drives are usually most useful for storing huge amounts of video, in particular full length movies. A 500GB drive may be just as suitable as a 1TB, especially if there is a big difference in price.

Consider that overpriced Microsoft Office is not the only kid on the block. There’s OpenOffice which works equally well for most people and is absolutely FREE. http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/OpenOf ... ffice.html

Mac’s are very nice, they don’t have the wide range of software that is available to Windows users, but what they do have is usually excellent. Prices tend to be higher for desktops, but they really have style. They don’t suffer from Window’s viruses. But you can’t pull them to pieces the way you can a PC.

I couldn’t agree more with what Alcluith says about Ubuntu. Linux is a beautiful thing and it and its programs are all free. I would switch to it completely if there was a Genealogy program I liked, and a good OCR program, that would run on Linux without resorting to tricks, and if GIMP would bring in the single window interface that is planned.

Hope that’s useful,
Alan

[sheilajim]

Hi All

Thanks to everyone for their input. Alan you are right on re my Dell 4600. It also has a pentium 4 processor, which was fine for 6 years ago but not so great now.

I have spent the whole day researching Dell computers, ( the devil that you know). I was looking at the Dell Inspiron 580. The price starts out very reasonable but tends to go up quickly when you upgrade to i5 processor, 1tb memory, and discrete video cards, but is still affordable ,under $1000.00, for computer only.

The only software programs that I have bought are a specialty word processor, Family Tree Maker, and PaintShop Pro Ultimate. The other two WP programs are freebees, as is Photoshop Elements, my spreadsheet program, Paintshop Essentials and some other art programs.

Paintshop Pro takes up the biggest memory followed by Photoshop. They take a long time to load and there are occasions when Paintshop freezes up. Family tree Maker doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

I will continue to do more research on computers. I am really getting quite excited about the prospect of a new one. I can hardly wait until November.

[BritishPower]

C'mon, Sheila, the suspense is killing ..... what did you get?

Manufacturer : ?
Processor : ?
Memory : ?

Have you commissioned it yet and if so are you happy with your choice ?

Good luck and enjoy =D>