New desktop needed- recommended specs?

ucsd_ucla_dad
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:33:42 +0000

A laptop will generally cost more than an equivalent desktop. If he’s happy to be chained to one spot, a desktop makes more sense. A laptop with a docking station is about the same as being chained with the desktop although you can usually plug in a keyboard without needing a docking station. With a desktop the keboards are usually better, the mouse is usually better since it’s permanent, and the displays nowadays are usually really nice - 22-24 inch LCDs. I even have a tuner card in mine that allows one to watch and DVR TV on it. A desktop is usually best for gaming.

Given that, I have both a desktop and a laptop. My wife mostly uses the desktop and is happy with its placement and I like the laptop for its portability since I use it in lots of places. It’s nice to be able to use the laptop in the LR and be with everyone else while still using the laptop. There are times when me and both Ds are lined up in the LR all on our laptops (they’re CS people).

It’ll be a while before the Vista replacement comes out and then if it’s like the other OSs, most people will want to wait until a little while after it comes out to get it. I think you should just go ahead and get Vista. I use it on several differnt desktops/laptops and it works mostly fine (mostly - I get occasional bluescreens only when Remote Desktopped into a desktop). According to Microsoft, one of the big complaints they plan to accommodate in the next OS is to make it more downward compatible with drivers and devices than Vista was. This should make it easier to upgrade to.

For a desktop, consider a quad-core with 3G of memory, Vista, 22-24" display, multi-card reader (so you can plug you camera memeory card straight in), Writeable DVD drive, decent KB and mouse. It s/b upgradeable to the next OS.

For a laptop consider the size firstmost. A lot of peope tend to get a larger one than they probably should and have some regrets as to the bulk and weight. I’ve decided the weight of an item is directly proportional to the distance one needs to carry it and increases in weight with the square of the distance! I like around a 14 inch inch widescreen and think the 15.4" models are too big. If I never moved it much then I might be willing to go as high as around a 17" model. I think a 14" model is a good compromise. With the laptop also make sure you get adequate disk space, a built-in DVD drive, and reasonable memory - at least 2G.

For brands - Stick with the name brands - Dell, HP, Lenovo, and some others or Apple if you’re into those.

I got my last desktop (quad-core, 3G, 22" monitor, etc.) as a bundled Gateway at Costco for a reasonable deal. My current laptop is a Lenovo but I’ve had Dell laptops for years. My D has a Dell Vostro laptop which is nicely built, has a metal case, is quiet and cool, and was a reasonable price.