Back-to-School Computers

I've received a number of emails recently asking me for my opinion of what computer(s) a family should get when its time to replace their existing one.  While there is no single answer, there are some basic things to keep in mind.

Laptop, Desktop, or Tablet?

Let's get tablets out of the way first.  These are fine companion devices, very handy when you want to quickly look something up, read an ebook, watch a video by yourself, or play a simple game.  With little exception however, they are not a real computer and can't replace what real computer can do.  Specific of tablets will require an entire blog post of its own so I'll leave that for later.

Laptops:

The primary reason for purchasing a laptop should be for portability only.  If you need to move from place to place, or take your computer with you when you leave the house, then a laptop is the right choice.  If you are able, or often find that you use your computer at a single location, then a laptop is probably not a good investment.

Laptops generate a lot of heat, and heat is the primary killer of electronics. The electrical components on the main board (and all other electronic boards inside) contain thousands of solder points.  These points are extremely close to each other (sometimes in the tenth of an inch range).  As the computer heats up the boards expand.  As they cool down, the boards contract.  This constant expansion and contraction weakens these boards over time until sooner or later two of those solder points collide and poof ... there goes your fancy laptop.  While the same is true for desktops, laptop parts and repair labor are about double what a standard desktop cost.  Also, the smaller parts required to fit into a laptop leaves less room between the solder points making them far more vulnerable to major problems.  The rule of thumb then, is to expect no more than 3 years out of a laptop, but don't cry if you only get two years.

Batteries are also problematic.  The average laptop battery will be able to hold most of its charge for about 12 months.  In the second year they will hold about half and be pretty much worthless in the 25th month.  Expect to spend $75.00 to $100.00 for a replacement or live with your laptop constantly plugged into a power source.

What to look for: The technical specifications are nearly the same for a laptop and a desktop so I'll detail those out below.  Specifically for laptops though, watch your weight.  6lbs may not sound like much, but after carrying it around for a few hours, or sitting it on your lap for an hour and that 6lbs will seem like a ton.  If possible, get something that is no heavier than 5lbs.  Ultralights are great (with a maximum of 3lbs) but you'll pay a premium for these.

Screen size is the next aspect to think about.  A normal desktop monitor these days is anywhere from 19" to 24".  The largest laptop screens are about 15".  This means that the font sizes, pictures, and other displayed items must be scaled down considerably in order to be viewable on a 15" screen.  They scale even smaller when you're dealing with a 12" or 13" screen size.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, but you should try doing normal computer work on the screen size you're looking at before you make the purchase.  You will very likely find yourself getting tired faster with the smaller screen sizes.  I highly recommend never using a laptop for more than 45 to 60 minutes without at least a 5 minute break.  Once you get smaller than a 12" screen, you might as well buy a tablet and forget about a real computer altogether.

The keyboard is still king when it comes to getting information into the computer.  While touch-screens help you navigate through your programs easier, you still need to type in order to enter data.  Too small of a keyboard will haunt you for the life of the computer and be very frustrating for younger kids.  Lenovo probably makes the best keyboards on the market but again, this is something you should physically use before making a purchase.  The good news is that keyboards don't typically change much between laptop models, so if you look at a Toshiba laptop at Best Buy, feel of the keyboard will probably be the same for all other Toshiba models.  Same goes for Dell, HP, etc., so find a brand with a keyboard you like.

Hard drives:  The only thing "new" in hard drive technology these days is the Solid State Drive, or SSD.  SSD drives have no moving parts and therefore are blazingly fast.  Its not unrealistic to go from power-on to ready-to-use in 20-25 seconds with a good SSD, even with Windows.  However, you pay for this performance at the cost of capacity.  Most SSD laptops will have a 128GB drive, or maybe a 256GB drive.  This isn't necessarily a problem, but be sure to know how much information you really save on your computer before choosing an SSD.  Look to see how much room you are currently using on your existing computer to help you decide if an SSD is an option.  SSD will not only be faster, but will cut down the heat inside the laptop by about 30%.  If you do need more storage space, you might be able to use an external USB drive if it doesn't cramp the portability too much for your needs.

If you need more storage than an SSD provides, then make sure the hard drive in your new laptop is at least 5400RPM.  7200RPM is best, but might add too much to the final cost.  The faster the drive, the faster your computer will operate.  Remember that reading and writing to the hard drive is the slowest process of the computer.

Desktops:

Desktops have all sorts of advantages over laptops.  Again, if portability isn't absolutely required, stay with the traditional desktop.  For starters, it is much easier to keep the inside of a desktop computer cool.  Most desktops have multiple fans that push the hot air out before it causes the main boards to expand much.  This adds greatly to its life expectancy.  A new desktop today will last 6 or more years, and unlike years past, its not too likely that it will become 'out-dated' in its life time.  New technology break-throughs are not in the desktop hardware any longer.  Minor improvements may happen, but those things can easily be added to a computer if you decide you really need it.

Desktops support larger and faster monitors.  The refresh rate of a monitor is important.  The faster it refreshes (which is constantly happening) the less eye strain you will have.  Also, larger monitors allow you to display things much larger without needing to scroll constantly.  A good 24" monitor can be had for under $150 these days.  In addition, dual or quad monitor set ups is not unreasonable any longer.  Many businesses and serious home users have two monitors which makes life a whole lot easier.  If and when you need a repair on a desktop, you have a wide choice of vendors.  There are 18 computer repair shops that I am aware of in St. Cloud alone.  Desktop parts are a commodity.  You don't need to buy parts specific to any one manufacturer like you do for laptops so parts are much less costly.  Labor is also cheaper mainly because repairs can be done faster and easier on desktops than laptops.  All-in-all, you'll get far more bang for the buck with a desktop.

What To Look For:

Regardless of desktop or laptop, the technical specifications are nearly identical.  First you'll want to decide between an Apple MACintosh computer, or a PC.  The MAC is generally considered easier to use but it comes with a premium price as well.  If you already have a MAC, then staying with one is possibly your best bet.  Otherwise your new computer will likely come installed with Windows 8.1.  Windows 8.1 is a major departure from its predecessors and will likely take awhile to get used to.  It is stable and faster than any previous version of Windows, but the "look and feel" is nothing like it was before.  There is the standard "desktop mode" that you are more accustom to, but it still takes some time to get used to.  There are some free add-on programs you can install to make Windows 8 look and operate more like Windows 7 (and to some extent XP) which I personally prefer.  Windows 9 will be released in the spring of 2015 and in all likelihood will be more Windows 7 like than Windows 8, but I wouldn't let that stop you from getting Windows 8 today.

Processor, or CPU:

Every company touts processor speed but in reality, most modern CPUs are faster than you can keep up with anyway.  You want at least a Dual-Core (somewhat like having 2 CPUs in one) but Quad-Cores really liven things up for gaming and heavy video.  If you use your computer for voice/picture calls over the Internet (like using Skype), watch a lot of videos, edit a lot of photos, or are into action PC games, then a quad-core or better is probably worth the cost.  The Intel line of Processors are currently referred to as the i3, i5, and i7 either as 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation.  The i3 is the dual-core where the i5 and i7 are quad-cores.  The main difference between an i5 and i7 is that each of the cores in the i7 can literally do two things at once (dual threaded) which is the only CPU in existence that can.  Of course, an i7 is probably over-kill for a home PC.  Stay away from 1st and 2nd generation processors as these are really old technology now.  In fact, the 1st and 2nd Gen i3 is a single-core and the i5 is the dual-core.

AMD is the alternative to an Intel Processor and will always be less expensive.  I have not had a problem with an AMD CPU for years.  Dollar for dollar, you will get more and probably be just as happy with an AMD CPU as you would an Intel.  However, AMD has always been "on the edge" business wise and may, or may not, still be in the CPU business next year.  Personally I look for the best deal between the Intel i5 or  the 6-core AMD processor and get that.

RAM: Until recently, Windows was a 32bit system meaning that it was able to use a maximum of around 3.2GB of RAM.  That's a lot of memory, but Windows 7 and Windows 8 are now 64bit allowing programs to use 4 times the amount of memory.  You probably will never notice or even care.  Suffice it to say that 64bit is more than just 2 times better than 32bit, and as always, the more RAM you can afford, the better.  Look for at least 4GB but if you can afford 8GB, go for it.

Hard Drives: Here is one place where the Solid State drive is nearly a must if your getting a desktop. Windows and probaly all of your programs will easily fit on a 256GB solid state drive.  You can (and should) get a second, traditional drive with 2tb or more storage.  This way, you can boot up and run your programs from the super-fast SSD drive and store your actual data (and LOTS of it) on the slower traditional drive.  While this is optimal. you will have to do some extra work to get this configuration 'out-of-the-box'.  Most manufacturers offer this type of setup in their on-line stores but few, if any, retailers do.

Anything else is pretty much 'as you please'.  If you get a Dual-Core i3, or a Quad-core i5/AMD, with 4GB RAM, Windows 8 and any new hard-drive (even the traditional type) you'll end up with an amazing computer that should last you ~3 years for a laptop, or ~6-7 for a desktop.  Everything else is an option.

One software package that you'll probably want is Office, or an Office-type suite.  IF you need your documents to be 90%-100% compatible with Microsoft Office (only necessary if you're sharing documents with others) then you'll need the genuine Office Suite.  The best deal for the boxed software is around $140 for the "Home Office and Student Edition".  You can also choose the new subscription model which will set you back $7 to $10 per month depending on how many people at home need to use it.  A complete breakdown of the various versions can be found here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/buy/compare-microsoft-office-products-FX102898564.aspx

If you don't need MSOffice compatibility, there are other cheaper or free alternatives:

• Kingsoft Office: http://www.kingsoftstore.com/index probably has the closest compatibility to Microsoft office of them all, and they also have versions for iPad/phone and Android devices.
• OpenOffice: https://www.openoffice.org/ Also free but not quite as compatible as Kingsoft.
• LibraOffice: http://www.libreoffice.org/
• Google Docs http://docs.google.com  An on-line office suite.

So, Any Suggestions?

Yes, I have a few. First, DON'T BUY RETAIL.  I'm truly sorry if this offends anyone, but the honest truth is retail computers are over-priced and full of problems.  Manufactures make two types of computers, even using the same model name and number.  One is for retail stores like Best Buy and the others are for every other seller.  The retail versions use less-er quality parts, not bad, just not as good.  Plus they come pre-loaded with a LOT of junk programs you don't need nor want.  These things are done to give the retailer some kind of profit.  Computers have less than a 1% markup cost so every corner is cut in order to squeeze any amount of profit out of each sale.  The retail sales clerk will also be very insistent on selling you extras, especially "extended guarantees".  Those are rarely a good idea and primarily offered because of the high profit margin. Sam's Club is probably the only 'retail' location that is the exception to this.  They deal with the true business class computer for the most part.

However, there is nothing wrong with going to a retail store to get a good feel for the computer first.  Check out those screen sizes, weight, and keyboads in person, then go get the better computer online.  Yes, I know, that just feels wrong, but if you want to maximize your purchase, its the best way to go.  Besides, you can buy a game or CD from them if it helps.

TigerDirect (www.tiger.com) often has some spectacular deals.  If your not in need of something 'right now', get on their daily mailing list.  Be careful though, because sometimes their sales are after rebate.  Not a problem, but you'll pay full price up front first.

I'm partial to Lenovo (http://lenovo.com) mainly because they often offer the best prices on the top-end specs....and you just can't beat their keyboards.

HP is the current "#1" selling brand.  Not sure if that means a lot, but they do have a number of good products.  You probably won't be disappointed with an HP

Dell: Once the leader, now they jump between number two and number 3.  However, the most innovation I've seen in a long time is coming out of Dell.  They have BY FAR the best customer support.

Don't want to do any real shopping, just tell me what to get?

Ok, best Laptop deals for a laptop under $500:

• Lenovo S415 at Tiger Direct:  $399.99
• HP Probook 4540 at Tiger Direct. $449.99  Heavy (5.4lbs) but lots of power AND Windows 7

Best Laptops from $500 - $1,000

• HP Probook 640: at Tiger Direct: $621.99
• Lenovo Flex 15: at Tiger Direct:  $749.99 The only one I've found with both SSD and traditional drive.  Speed and storage capacity

Desktops:

• HP ProDesk 405 at TigerDirect:  $299.99  Only has 2gb of RAM but great specs at twice the price!
• HP 6305 at Tiger Direct: $469.99 The workhorse, like the energizer rabbit, it just keeps working.

So there you have it, probably more than you really wanted to know :)  Feel free to comment/ask questions below.  Can't guarantee I'll be able to answer them all quickly, but I'll do my best.

So what about Vista?

Microsoft's newest operating system, Vista, is not readily available and is the only choice on most PCs purchased at the retail level.

Is Vista worth getting a new PC for? Well, that all depends. The short answer is no. The long answer is "probably not".

If you do want Vista though, you are likely to be better off buying a new PC with Vista pre-loaded. This is mainly true because of the enormous hardware requirements necessary to make Vista operate at tolerable levels. If you're PC is more than 2 years old, forget it. If its newer than that, you will probably have to double, or quadruple the RAM memory first. Vista really needs 2GB of RAM. 1gb is usable, but you'll notice right away that its slow. Don't even think about trying it with 512mb or less!

A new type of flash-drive called ReadyBoost can help some too. It looks and works just like a normal USB flash drive but it has special capabilities that allows Vista to use some or all of that memory as extended RAM (mostly for swap files and such). I noticed a slight performance boost on my test computer with a ReadyBoost drive, but you're far better off installing as much real RAM as you can.

While Vista has a nice, pretty look to it, Microsoft went over board trying to avoid any security issues. You will find out very quickly that you can't do anything beyond very basic tasks without Vista popping up a warning box asking for permission. Even opening your email program or web browser sets off all the alarms. It reminded me of the first motion detection car alarms in the 70s. Even a slight breeze or the rattle of a passing train would set the alarms off until your battery died!

Then there is a problem with compatibility. Every program needs to operate in a slightly different way that previous versions of Windows. Actually, programmers have been told for over a decade that they needed to change their habits, but previous Windows versions allowed for "sloppy" programming. Many developers didn't heed these warnings, mainly because Microsoft keep changing the rules and also because programmers who used development tools other than Microsoft products didn't get all the information all the time. This creates a problem for existing programs. Some will work without a problem, but many require updates and most of the time, those updates are not free. Before switching to Vista, you must check every program you use (or will use) with the manufacturer to verify that it will run under Vista. The day before Payroll is due is not the time to find out your accounting program doesn't have a Vista ready patch yet.

As with most new Operating System releases, hardware is also an issue. Its really only been the last few years that XP hardware drivers have been readily available. We're going to see another lag in hardware compatibility with Vista too. The biggest problems you're likely to find are modems (big surprise there, eh?), printers, scanners, and digital cameras. Some older NICs and some motherboards with integrated components will be problems too. ATI has not been real good about updating their video drivers, but slowly things are improving. Like software, you'll need to spend the appropriate time to investigate all of your hardware to be sure it will run under Vista.

With these short comings out of the way, Vista is not a bad operating system. Most Vista users will tell you that it closely resembles the MAC now. I don't know a lot about MACs so I can't comment for sure, but the graphics is truly a departure from previous versions.

MS introduced a new feature called "Gadgets" which are small, highly specific utilities that (can) sit on a special "menu bar" on the main desktop and interact with you in real time. For example, there is a nice clock, a weather indicator (outside weather, not your PCs temperature :D) and so on. I'm sure there will be a proliferation of 'gadgets' available as the Vista market increases but for now, most of what you'll find are those included with Vista.

Outlook Express has gotten a face lift although there really isn't a lot you can add to a simple email client. Internet Explorer version 7 is the standard release for the browser (which you can get for XP as well if you wish). For the most part however, the real changes seem to be security related, and visual which has been affectionately dubbed "eye candy".

Worth the upgrade price? That you'll need to decide for yourself, but like all previous releases of a Microsoft Operating System, I'll wait for the first service pack AT LEAST before I put a Vista computer into production.

Is there an option? If you purchase your computers at the retail stores (which you should NOT) you're probably stuck with Vista. You might still find an 'open box' item or something similar, but the retail chains have pretty much been forced into selling nothing but Vista. If you purchase your new computer directly from the manufacturer (like you should), you can still request XP. Some will even give you a coupon for a free upgrade to Vista for a future date.

Another possible option is Linux. Ok, I know most of you have heard of Linux and mainly not good things. Its not "user friendly", there's no support, and all of that. While some of that is true, there are a few version (called distributions) of Linux that might be worth looking into.

First of all, you need to clarify exactly what you need the computer for. If 95% of your needs are for email and Internet browsing, then Ubuntu might be a good choice. Ubuntu is a more "user friendly" version of Debian Linux. It doesn't require nearly as much hardware (I have it running on an 8 year old Compaq Deskpro EN with a Pentium 3/700MHz processor and 512mb of RAM...nicely) and it 'feels' a lot like Windows. It has an excellent email program and uses Firefox as the default Web browser. The installation is painless, even for a beginner (all menu driven with the default options being perfect for just about every need) and of course, its free. There seems to be very decent support for most digital cameras along with good photo editing and categorizing programs. You can burn CDs and DVDs without any fuss, and the Open Office word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation applications are very comparable to Microsoft Office. There are lots of other programs that come with Ubuntu but I really haven't tested them all. From all I've seen though, they look like real commercial quality applications. Linux however is not Windows. You won't be able to run to the local store and buy that neat new program your neighbor is talking about. If you run a small business, your accounting program selection is going to be a lot slimmer (although there is a decent looking accounting program built in). Your Quicken files might convert to another checkbook program but you may end up with a little bit of had entry. Otherwise, for most basic needs, Ubuntu is a realistic alternative.

I have no doubt that Microsoft will see to it that Vista replaces XP (and anything older) as soon as it can (within 24 months is my guess) and I'm equally certain that Vista will become a nice, stable operating system some day. But I also predict that the dominance of Windows will end with Vista. Linux is maturing far too quickly and there are already a number of 'open source' Windows replacements in the works. I never count Apple out of the picture either. If they can get their prices down, open their application development up so more programmers can write Apple programs, and take advantage of Microsoft's inevitable missteps, Apple could easily rival the Window/Intel cartel.

Little tools I can't live without

I'm always on the prowl for cool little utilities to either make my life easier, or help me keep my computers running faster. The down side to this is that I install so many terrible programs that I find I frequently need to reformat and start over :(

However, there are some utilities I always reinstall and depend on daily. I thought I'd start this blog by bring a few of those gems to you attention.

TypeItIn is one of those handy utilities that everyone ought to have. This is a little tray application (the icon sits in the lower tray near the clock) that you click when you need it. It holds all sorts of little bits of text that one would repeatedly have to type in while using the Web. For example, I store user names and passwords to a number of sites I frequent. I have my address listed in the way most web forms ask for it. You just position the mouse where you want to begin typing, click the appropriate button on TypeItIn and it enters all the necessary information for you. You can store just about any text you want and even group some of the buttons together for larger amounts of text. For $20.00 though, this is one of my favorites.

KeyNote is another must have, and best of all, ITS FREE! When you need to keep lots of dispersed notes, KeyNote lets you manage things with ease. You can create multiple 'groups' of topics or just stick everything under one heading. One thing I find really useful is to record all the serial numbers and purchase info for the programs I buy. This way, when I need to reinstall., or enter the registration info for upgrades, etc. I don't have to wade through years of emails looking for the right one.

When it comes to anti-virus, only one will do for me (actually I have a number of products but the one I rely on the most is) Avast For home use, the program is free, for commercial use, its a wise $40.00 investment.

Keeping the PC running smoothly is a never ending process. Two very important tools for this is Crap Cleaner to weed out the temp files and 'junk' that gets left behind, and RegSupreme. Crap cleaner is free while RegSupreme runs a whopping $12.00 Use both once a month and you're PC will love you for it.

Well, that's a good starting point. Come back often as I will expand this list as frequently as I can. I will also be posting a number of 'how-to' articles that hopefully will save you many hours of frustration and/or help you get the most from your PC.