Computer Issues

[Dave_S121]

Capt, With those specs have you thougth about a new computer?  WinXP will operate on a PIII  797mhz computer, but you should think about upgrading you RAM to at least 512MB.  Computers are soooo cheap now.  I wouldn't buy direct from Dell but check out some of the discount warehouses.  I like www.tigerdirect.com  Their website has a Gateway computer with a 3GHz processor and 512Mb RAM, 200Gb hard drive and dual DVD burner for $400.00.  If you went to Gateway or Dell they will try and sell you their latest line.  A company like Tigerdirect buys Gateway leftover 1 or 2 year old models which for most uses is perfectly acceptable.

No I'm not a tigerdirect.com sales rep, lol, I like their products and have had good success with their service.

Good luck. 

[Captain Deb]

Wow, Dave, you rawk, as Phyll would say!  Thanks for the info!
Capt Deb

Batty needs a new monitor--didja hear that Batty???

[Battyp]

Yeah I hear that Capt'n Deb. 

I have a Sony Pentium 4 w/ 512....but will def. check that place out for a new monitor.  Either way it's not money I have to spend right now but...can't lose you guys cause I can't see ya either!  LOL

[Dave_S121]

Batty, $40.00 for a 17" CRT monitor, can't beat that.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=166

[Battyp]

Now that I can handle )

[Larry]

Capt Deb,

Agree with Dave. Time for ya computer to walk the plank. I'm actually surprised you could get xp running at all. Toss it girl, toss it.

XP is a hungry blighter. you gotta have at least 1gb ram - 512 is toooooo little.


Laz

[ppearl214]

Dave, you read my AN mind!  Same sentiments to Capt'n Deb on the phone the other night!  Good call and may check into it myself. My 2 laptops at home are slowing down and mebbe a desktop is the way for me to go right now.  Great link! Thanks!

Deb, smack it!
xoxox

Capt, With those specs have you thougth about a new computer?  WinXP will operate on a PIII  797mhz computer, but you should think about upgrading you RAM to at least 512MB.  Computers are soooo cheap now.  I wouldn't buy direct from Dell but check out some of the discount warehouses.  I like www.tigerdirect.com  Their website has a Gateway computer with a 3GHz processor and 512Mb RAM, 200Gb hard drive and dual DVD burner for $400.00.  If you went to Gateway or Dell they will try and sell you their latest line.  A company like Tigerdirect buys Gateway leftover 1 or 2 year old models which for most uses is perfectly acceptable.

No I'm not a tigerdirect.com sales rep, lol, I like their products and have had good success with their service.

Good luck. 

[Dave_S121]

Deb, How old are your laptops?  As far as expense, desktops are much cheaper than laptops, but with so many hotels/resort offering Internet access I wouldn't ditch the laptop.  And if the hotel doesn't offer access a lot of restaurants are offering free wireless access.  I was in the Smokies last fall and, get this, I got free wireless access at a McDonalds in Pigeon Forge.  It came with the Happy Meal, lol.  It was great for checking emails and stuff.  Be careful with wireless access though, make sure you have some sort of security software or service, especially if you're accessing it from a public location.  If your laptop isn't too old you might be able to upgrade it for taking on the road or trips.

Dave aka geekwannabe

[Battyp]

Deb I'm thinking we best be taking dave with us on our maiden voyage just in case our navigational gizmo goes on the blink maybe he can fix it or heck at least buy some rounds   

[Captain Deb]

Dave--it's Phyll with all the laptops (all the cellphones, too!)  I just have a desktop. The monitor and keyboard are on a Lowe's rolly-aroundy-thingy so's I can scoot the monitor around my easel in my studio and I have lo-o-o-o-o-ong cords that reach the printer and boxy-thingy on my worktable.  Wheeee!
Capt Deb

[ppearl214]

hi Dave da Geek,

One laptop 5 yrs old, one 2 yrs old, both Compaq Presario's (yeah, I know, I know).. one is personal owned, one is work owned. Custom built desktop up in attic with monitor that is ready for the junkyard. Saw Dell's and Gateway's offerings... will not do other than Intel4 Pentium or AMD Athlon or better.  Forget Intel "celery" (if you are a true geek, you know which chip I speak!).  Use to work for AMD and still partial to them.  On the hunt now for desktop and still need my laptop for travels, so still debating.

Capt'n Deb.. just kick it, darn it! 

Deb, How old are your laptops?  As far as expense, desktops are much cheaper than laptops, but with so many hotels/resort offering Internet access I wouldn't ditch the laptop.  And if the hotel doesn't offer access a lot of restaurants are offering free wireless access.  I was in the Smokies last fall and, get this, I got free wireless access at a McDonalds in Pigeon Forge.  It came with the Happy Meal, lol.  It was great for checking emails and stuff.  Be careful with wireless access though, make sure you have some sort of security software or service, especially if you're accessing it from a public location.  If your laptop isn't too old you might be able to upgrade it for taking on the road or trips.

Dave aka geekwannabe

[Dave_S121]

Phylll, I am very partial to AMD, I have built all of my desktops and use only AMD chips and chipset.  More bang for less money.  Never heard the term "celery" but know exactly what your talking about, lol, the term fits for Intel celeron.  Nothing wrong with Compaq laptops, I'm writting this on a Compac Presario with an AMD chip, so if you still have stock in AMD I'm supporting it.  I love my laptop, take it every where, can get onto the Internet, download pictures from my digital camera.  But since HP bought out Compaq it remains to be seen.  The last desktop I bought 5 years ago was a Compaq.  I gave it to my stepson and it's still running fine.  Hold onto your 2 year old laptop, I'm assuming that is your work owned.  Maybe when work upgrades they will let you buy it.  If I could have only one computer it would be a laptop, but I understand they are much more expensive than desktops.  As for Dell and Gateway, I like both brands, and you can get good deals, but I still recommend a company like tigerdirect.com or Frys electronics, www.outpost.com.  Nothing wrong with a discontinued model for personal use, specially if there's a geek in the family who can upgrade it.

Dave

[Larry]

Dave,

Your are now officially our "thingymagizmo swashbuckler on the good ship PBW.

Capt Deb, I love your tech talk - "rolly-aroundy-thingy" - too much bird seed me reckons!

Laz

p.s Dave, i had a wireless network set up at home using a dlink router but found that interference from my fridge and other, to use Capt Deb's word, "thingies" caused fallout. I could only smack my computer so many times before I bit the bullet and hard wired all the machines up.

[Captain Deb]

OOPS! I made a mistake in my technical terminology!  I believe the technical term is "scootie -backy-and-forthy-thingy."  The thingy-that-makes-the-pitchurs-and lets-ya-see-yer-email-thingy has only taken one nose dive offa it.  Turned itself off and I just turned it right back on with the little onie-offie-thingy-button!

Captain Deb
Computer Genius

[Larry]

Bill Gates - eat ya heart out - we now have Captain Geek! or is it Captain Gawk!