Looking at computer options

[Slaninar]

[quote author=Slaninar link=topic=13727.msg155287#msg155287 date=1403522339]
I would also recommend avoiding the SSD and just getting a good old regular Hard Drive.

Both is better 


Really though. I bought a 64gb SSD about a year or so ago and just installed Windows on it. I then had a regular 1TB hard drive for storage. Which i've managed to fill so put in another 1TB last week. The great part about it is having Windows on the SSD means everything is super quick from booting up to browsing forums.


If I had to recommend just one computer upgrade to anyone, a SSD would be it. The prices are becoming more reasonable by the day, there is no reason not to buy one. In terms of value the performance boost per £ is unrivalled.
[/quote]


For everyday use, there is no need for super fast SSD. Not with these prices still. My computer with a regular HDD still boots up faster than I can make cofee. 

[HarryHornby]

Hey Nick, just throwing it out there, I have an NUS student card, if you do decide to go apple, give me a shout, we can get it cheap between us 

[rustyrider]

For everyday use, there is no need for super fast SSD. Not with these prices still. My computer with a regular HDD still boots up faster than I can make cofee. 

and with an SSD it would be booted before you've filled the kettle.  Prices aren't bad these days, not over here anyway, 250Gb for well under £100 for an internal 2.5" laptop drive.  Plenty big enough for a laptop.

[nick crisp]

Cant help on the technical front but.....

You say how great the shop was, spending time with you, making sure you get what you want, but you'll probably buy it elsewhere, more than likely one of those places that "know bugger all about it" to quote your own words    :rolleyes

Just think who's going to be the most helpful if you have a little teething trouble

Yeah, I know, and they also offer various extended support packages that are appealing for a dimwit like me. So I could end up paying the extra to get the extra - might be worth it to me.

Hey Nick, just throwing it out there, I have an NUS student card, if you do decide to go apple, give me a shout, we can get it cheap between us 

Cheers Harry, might take you up on that (this isn't immediately imminent - maybe in a few months time, but my computer does seem to have some problems, possible virus, so I'm mostly using my Dad's, not ideal).

It has occurred to me that an iMac coupled with an iphone for when out and about on the bike would be a good way to go, as the compatibility of the two might make for an efficient overall system. And it has been pointed out to me that I could get the phone off ebay for about £100. (iphone 4).

Still no word as to why laptops are crap then?  :rolleyes

[HarryHornby]

modern laptops aren't crap to be honest.  They are mainly the computer of choice now so components are much better than they used to be.  Processor speed is good and they come with a good sized hard drive.  The main downside with a laptop (mac or PC) is that they can't really be upgraded, extra memory, yes and a bigger hard drive yes but nothing else.


A desk mounted PC, you can change the motherboard, graphics card, sound card, add additional ports etc etc BUT the amount of people who really need to do this are very few.


For what you need a windows (or mac) laptop would be spot on.


With regards to syncing your iPhone to the machine, the Mac uses iTunes to do this, the same as a PC, so the phone will sync fine to the PC as well as the Mac.


With regards to getting a second hand I phone, I did this last year, there are some good ones out there, just need to be a little patient :-)


Let me ask around at work (I work for a University, in the IT department) and see what the options are for not too expensive graphics packages for a PC.

[Fazerider]

Feature-wise, laptops are fine... they're just crap from an ergonomics point of view. I don't get on with trackpads and having the (pokey) keyboard right under the screen is a real pain in the neck/back and wrists for me after a very short period. So far as computing power goes, the Mac mini is effectively a laptop, just one without a built in screen or keyboard.

[VNA]

95 - Not that great
98 - Awesome
ME - Crap
XP - Awesome
Vista - Crap
7 - Awesome
8 - Not that great

Weird.  98 was still a business OS, it was pretty shite for hame use as it just didn't do multi-media stuff.  It wasn't very stable either.  That when the mac really was king.  Windows was a business machine, mac was everything else.

XP was when they levelled the playing field, it was a full multi-media OS, now anything you could do on a mac could be done on a PC.

Vista - crap?  In 2008 I had to upgrade my 2003 XP machine, it just wasn't coping with basic tasks like photo editing any more.  I was feart, everybody said VISTA was a nightmare but at the same time I didn't see any point in buying a new PC with an old OS and not when I could have a 64 bit OS.  I still don't know what all the fuss was about, VISTA is a far better OS than XP, it's smarter and more stable than XP.  But it looks like a lot of software developers no longer think it's worth supporting, so at some point I'll be pushed onto 8 or whatever is on the go at the time.

I would also recommend avoiding the SSD and just getting a good old regular Hard Drive.

A matter of price I guess.  I'm thinking it's the way to go.  Not only is it way faster but it should be far more reliable.  Hard drives are much better than they used to be, but they all go pop eventually which can be a real pain in the butt.

Anyway technology, I kinda felt that up to and around the mid 00's I was keeping up with all this stuff, I could understand things and fix any issues or problems I came across.  Now I just feel old.  I just can't keep up and am totally lost when there's a problem.

[Buzz]

I'd do something like this, the portability of a laptop with the looks of a proper desktop: -

i5 Laptop with no Operating system- £460
Win7 OS - £0 (ahem, ahem)
Photoshop - £0 (cough, cough)
24 inch - Monitor - £120
Wireless keyboard/Mouse - £17

Don't buy a Mac, you're paying treble for the flawless form and an equal function.

[nick crisp]

Interesting Buzz, can you explain that lot a bit more?

Win7 and Photoshop = £0?
How would you set that system up?

Win7 now outdated with no support? Any problems here?

[Slaninar]

Interesting Buzz, can you explain that lot a bit more?

Win7 and Photoshop = £0?
How would you set that system up?

Win7 now outdated with no support? Any problems here?

In my country no one pays for software at home. Just when you have some business. No one comes to your house to see if you have genuine software.


Win7 still has regular updates. Though some new laptops don't come with Win7 drivers... but on some Win7 works OK with "Win8" drivers..

[Exupnut]

After readin all the posts and knowin wot ur like with phones u shud get this...

[nick crisp]

After readin all the posts and knowin wot ur like with phones u shud get this...

Wow, that looks foccin fast.... :rollin

Blue keys'll slow it down though 

[kawasutra]

This?
[smg id=2018 type=preview align=center caption="51 A computer ad 1980s"]

[Slaninar]

DDR2 RAM, and ancient video card for start....

http://www.hwcompare.com/15567/radeon-hd...n-r7-260x/