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DEL.ICIO.USSave your money when it comes to these upgrades
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I lived in Oregon my friend Jim was on a “hot shot” forest fire team. These hot shots parachuted into remote areas and did their best to put out a fire or contain it until land-based crews could reach the scene.
One hot summer day Jim and his crew were working to build a fire line. They were almost out of water and radioed for more supplies. Finally the supply chopper arrived and everyone raced toward the package - only to find luke warm chocolate milk but no water.
What does this have to do with computers? Well, in the computer world you may buy something expecting it to be the perfect fix or upgrade, only to find out it’s the equivalent of warm chocolate milk. You can drink it to quench a thirst, but it’s not very satisfying. Knowing when that might be the case can prevent disappointment and save you money. Today we’ll look at some risk areas:
RAM memory
Especially with the arrival of Windows Vista, you’ll see the benefit of having up to 2 gigabytes of RAM. But if you still have XP, 1 gigabyte does nicely for most uses. While adding more RAM than this may speed up a computer slightly, you run into the law of diminishing returns. In most cases, adding still more RAM is a waste of money.
Hard disks
My 200 gigabyte hard disk has about 115 gigabytes free. Replacing that disk with a larger one would offer no benefit at all. If your disk is less than halfway full, there’s no point in replacing it. Instead, if you have the cash on hand, consider adding a second external hard disk. That will give you room to grow as well as providing a handy way to store back-up copies of your data.
Computer monitors
I love the way flat panel LCD monitors look. They take up less space on the desk than a tube monitor, and prices have come way down. But if you have the wrong expectations, they can be a waste of money.
Sure, there’s plenty to recommend about them these days - for one thing, the response time is vastly improved from the first generation of these monitors. In the early days LCD had trouble handling fast action, like video or video games.
But if you have a top notch tube-type monitor, don’t expect even the best LCD monitors to offer better color or sharper images. Replace your monitor if you want a more modern look, or think a wide screen flat panel would make life easier. Otherwise, avoid the expense and disappointment.
Routers
America has always been fascinated by speed. Me too. I still remember the way the early Pontiac GTOs pushed you back in your seat when you pressed hard on the accelerator. To take advantage of this craving, you’ll see all sorts of speed claims on the packaging for both wired and wireless routers. I expect those claims are true. But even the slowest router is faster than your Internet connection. So if you expect to get faster response on the Net based on your router, you are heading for disppointment.
Computer tune-up programs
They promise to fix problems, speed up your computer - if you believe the ads they’ll do almost everything but cook scrambled eggs for breakfast.
I’ve found these programs to only do a so-so job of fixing problems. And they seem so eager to find and report problems that I suspect they end up fixing things that aren’t really broken at times, dangerous habit.
My advice: Use one when - and only when - a problem is hurting the performance of your computer. Don’t use them on a computer that is working just fine. Ironically, my favorite of these tools is free for the download. You can find Ccleaner here
Unlike some of the commercial products it’s very simple and has no annoying pop-ups.
New PCs
When you spend several hundred, or even several thousand dollars, on a new computer you expect to experience a real difference.
But if you have a relatively modern PC - with a processor rated at 2 gigahertz or higher, XP installed and 1 gigabyte of RAM - replacing it with a new computer with Vista installed isn’t going to be a life changing experience.
That’s especially true if most of your computing involves surfing the Web, using e-mail, writing some documents and doing some spreadsheets. Even a hot new PC using a chip with multiple processors won’t give you much - if any - improvement that you will notice. Sure it’ll be faster but not in ways the average user would notice.
I hope I’ve saved some of you a few bucks today by steering you toward a cool drink of water.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment | Categories: Columns
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Comments
By Dennis
April 27, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
Thank you! This was just in time as I am almost out the door to look at computers.
And thanks for your column period. It’s always interesting and informative.
Have a great day.
Dennis
By C. Henry Adams & BIE
April 27, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
Bill,
I would definitely have to concur with your advice. As technology improves computing, don’t be so quick to jump at items without utilizing a little due diligence with research.
Although, your story about the firefighter slash paratrooper threw me for a loop…I think I would interpret you saying don’t give me apples when I ask for and expect oranges.
By C. Henry Adams & BIE
April 27, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Bill,
I would definitely have to concur with your advice. As technology improves computing, don’t be so quick to jump at items without utilizing a little due diligence with research.
Although, your story about the firefighter slash paratrooper threw me for a loop…I think I would interpret you saying don’t give me apples when I ask for and expect oranges.
Just a thought.
C. Henry Adams & BIE http://www.networkingmenu.com
By Bill
April 27, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
Hey Henry, sometimes I think I have stories that I want to tell and then sort of force them into the column. With the big fire down in south Georgia I started thinking about the folks I knew in Oregon who fought fires.
Glad you agree with the advice. I’m taking today off and enjoying the pretty weather.
By Gary
April 27, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
A few things of interest you should have also mentioned. Although it’s not advisable to jump on the latest and greatest technology bandwagon every time something new comes out. It is advisable and at one point or another and necessary to either purchase a new system or upgrade. Basically because technology forces the upgrade and changes in the marketplace. For example, new motherboards no longer are AGP compatible for graphics adapters they are now implementing PCI Express. Also most new PC Games are requiring more on board graphics memory as well most need at least 256MB on the card. For systems with older PC133 SDRAM (one example) the RAM is double the cost of what the latest DDR RAM is. You fall into the same issue with the CPU as well, the newer boards are never backwards compatible. The latest CPU prices are comparable with the older ones still on the market. CRT Monitors, they are becoming harder and harder to find, especially anything bigger than 15 inches. The newer LCD HD Monitors are just as good when it gets down to it. Technology does move forward and not in reverse in the marketplace and eventually upgrades become not only a wanted change but a necessity.
By Bill
April 27, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Hey Gary, yeah I don’t have any trouble forcing myself to buy new computers or to upgrade. My wife wishes it was not so.
However, it’s smart to go into any purchase with realistic expectations - to not expect miracles when you, say, bump up a PC running XP to 2 gigs and believe it’ll bring on real changes.
And my anniversary present will be a new LCD monitor - mostly because I want one, grin.
So you’re right - technology does move on. And your points are well taken. I don’t think, however, that even the best LCD monitors measure up to the very best cathode ray tube monitors. I know I spend time in editing suites - including places that edit high def - and believe me the studio monitors are still CRTs (I’ll admit that they are $20,000 CRTs) … but every time I talk to studio engineers they tell me that CRTs still rule for true color and response.
By the way, most of these studios do have huge plasma sets but those are used to show off the work to clients.
By Roy Paul
April 27, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
I do have one reason to upgrade to an LCD, at least when you’re forced to replace your screen. CRT are considered hazardous waste, though I doubt the home owner would be as concerned with that. When I had to get rid of about a dozen of them, it wound up costing about $50 each. The same size LCDs, which should also be treated as hazardous waste, would cost me more like $10 each. Something to be concerned with if you’re dealing with a lot of these monsters.
By georage
April 27, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
Routers have never had anything to do with making connections to the Internet faster.
But a faster router means you can listen to music or watch video across the local wireless network, something I would consider worth a $40 purchase.
By Jere
April 27, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
I’m really sad. Got DSL which works great. Set up a router and wireless net so both computers could use DSL. Worked great for one day and quit. Bellsouth won’t troubleshoot a third party vendor and the router manufacturer tech support is offshore and I can’t understand their speech or their e-mail “English”.
By C. Henry Adams & BIE
April 27, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Speaking of offshore technical support- Jere…that is another discussion or blog within itself. If Bill has not written about it, I would definitely like to hear other people’s nightmares with Outsourcing.
Speaking of compatibility issues as to how a product could work one moment and suddenly stop; I remember installing Cable Modems for a certain company I once worked for when the DOSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) Standard did not exist; it was a pretty ugly situation at times. You may be dealing with an electronic device that does not meet certian standards to operate correctly.
I believe that many issues with various technological advance products will continue to exist in the future until enough people like yourself stand up and speak out.
Then again, part of the reason individuals get “hood winked” in this Industry is because “they want a product to work -now” and don’t care how; thus, some manufacturers are racing to get products out on the market without testing its usage for a longer period of time.
Which goes back to my own personal saying at certain restaurants. “I paid for service, therefore I expect service.” Unforunately, I don’t always get it the way I want it, so I have several choices- complain, shut-up or leave a small tip.
Q: So, how do you tell a software company that makes mega bucks off? A: “Hey, you need to stop selling this product until you are absolutely sure that it works with other products.”
Warning: By yourself, it may not work, with others its a possibility that they may listen to you.
Disclaimer: This is an opinionated statement, not to be misunderstood as advice, although based on true experience, comments have been restricted to pay the bills.
Just a thought. C. Henry Adams & BIE http://www.networkingmenu.com
By Michael
April 27, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this
Lost in all of this discussion is the Mac point of view.
I have a 2-year-old Dell PC that was near the top of the line when I bought it (1.5 Ghz Pentium something with the Centrino hoopla, 512MB of memory), but even with a memory upgrade to 1GB, it was still slow. Why? Well, have you ever known Microsoft to do upgrades to Windows or IE without making it run slower?
After one of those random updates kept me from accessing any Web sites for 30 minutes at a VERY bad time, I had had it with Windows.
I order a MacBook Pro. It’s a costly beast, but it’s got so many hidden features and it works so darn well (read: you don’t have to be a genius) that it’s well worth it.
The same goes with routers. The AirPort Extreme is the best router I have ever seen. Sure it’ll cost you $180, but the setup software is simple enough for a monkey and it has a built-in USB port for printer and hard drive sharing.
I could go on and on about the Mac benefits, but you really don’t understand until you use one for about a month. I assume it’s like paying the extra bucks for a Lexus, but we’re only talking a couple hundred extra for a comporable computer.
By the way, you WILL notice a huge difference with a Core 2 Duo processor on things like Web browsing. If something is loaded with video or big graphic content, it will speed up tremendously.
By Sped Teacher
April 27, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
I love my MacBook Pro. It runs circles around the cheap HP laptop CCPS issued to their teachers this Spring.
By willie bright
April 28, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this
thanks for the advice bill.i always read your column in the paper.now i can get you on the pc too.i think that’s just great.keep up the good work brother.i really enjoy your column.thanks agin.willie
By Paul in Atlanta
April 28, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
Bill:
I just bought a new PC & monitor and want to know who I can contact to donate it to a worthy cause. It is a Pentium/870MHz with 384 MB RAM and a 40 GB hard drive. Any ideas?
By Bill
April 28, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
Hi Paul, I’ll paste in a link for a place that accepts donated computers:
It’s called TechForce
I was a real fan of an outfit called FreeBytes - and TechForce has sort of absorbed that group. So let me know, if you try them, what sort of an experience you have with them. I haven’t had many dealings with this group and would appreciate hearing about your experiences. (As far as I know the group is a good one and I do know one of the people on the board - but it’s good to get a first hand evaluation)
Bill
By Rich
April 29, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
Bill, I read your column today relative to writing on disks. I wanted to offer another way to label disks without corrupting the data.
I have a LG External Multi DVD Writer, model GSA-E10L that employs lightscribe technology to label disks. In effect it writes on both sides of the disk. The data is on one side and the label is etched on the other by the writer.
Bye the way, you have to use a special lightscribe disk by Verbatim for this purpose.
Rich
By smartguy
April 29, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
I used to be a moderately advanced windows user, but like many others, I simply got fed up with all of the little crap required to deal with using a windows computer. Spent a little extra on a plain MacBook and an AirPort router, and have been extremely happy for about a year now. It ain’t perfect, but I’m guessing my satisfaction is at least twice as high as any Dell, Sony, Hp, or Toshiba that I have ever owned or used.
This is 2007, and computers should be getting easier to use. My MacBook has been smooth sailing.
By Neil Griffin
April 29, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this
Another good organization that accepts computer donations is Reboot, a program that uses the recycled parts to build computers for people with disabilities. Reboot also provides computer repair training for people with disabilities, and those students are a significant part of the volunteers that run the program.
Check it out at http://www.gatfl.org/reboot. There are similar organizations in other states.
By Neil Griffin
April 29, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
correct URL for above:
http://www.gatfl.org/reboot
By Dave
April 29, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
RE: Gary. Bill wrote a pretty good column. He said, “…That’s especially true if most of your computing involves surfing the Web, using e-mail, writing some documents and doing some spreadsheets. Even a hot new PC …Sure it’ll be faster but not in ways the average user would notice…”
One can go on and on making exceptions to what he said. Key words: average user. If you’re doing basic stuff and your puter is performing basically, don’t expect an expensive upgrade to blow you away. He’s written several times about exceptions, EG if your puter is several years old and is slow as molasses; or you’re about to be a graphics designer and …etc etc etc.
By Gary
April 30, 2007 2:04 AM | Link to this
RE: Dave,
My point, which obviously needed to be more specific and explained in more detail, was not that Bill wrote a bad column, he wrote a great one as usual. It was to bring to light the fact that regardless of what you currently have or want to keep…the companies\manufacturers of all the peripherals, chips, monitors, printers and every other possible PC part and extra you can think of. These companies force the hand of the consumer to upgrade, regardless of the point if your an average user or an experienced one. The technology changes rapidly and the equipment and it’s compatibility with everything changes just as fast. That’s basically what I was trying to say, sorry for the confusion.