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Replacing the old pc and I hate it

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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 04:38 PM
  #31  
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I have a Dell desktop that serves as my photo server. I use a Dell laptop for work and have a Acer netbook for travel. I love the size and speed of the Acer. I agree with all that has been said about the wireless router. I am sitting in the living room with no wires connected to the Acer. I am lost when I go somewhere without wireless.
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 05:33 PM
  #32  
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Dave, many "wireless" routers are really both -- they just don't say that. It's easy to check, as the specs will be on the outside of the box (if there's more than one Cat-5 cable port on it, it's also wired). The wireless part comes with the capability to set a password to keep your neighbors and others off your router; this can be set or reset by talking to the router via a web browser. Once a computer gets successfully hooked to the router (wirelessly) it'll remember that for the next time. It's really a worthwhile convenience, if not for now then for the future.

And you can find out whether your devices have Win7 drivers by looking them up and seeing about drivers & software upgrades, and so on. In this regard, many Win Vista drivers also work on Win7 (but, mostly, x32 does not work with x64, so watch our if you're looking at x64). I've got Win7x64 on both home and work computers with all sorts of oddball devices, and there's not been a problem. However, none of these devices is more than a few years old. HPH
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 05:48 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by jukngene,Nov 30 2010, 09:30 PM
Guess you ignored my post.
Gene, I would never ignore your posts. I just have a short term memory problem. I'm sorry, what were you saying? Thanks for the link.
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 06:08 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by DrCloud,Nov 30 2010, 09:33 PM
Dave, many "wireless" routers are really both -- they just don't say that. It's easy to check, as the specs will be on the outside of the box (if there's more than one Cat-5 cable port on it, it's also wired). The wireless part comes with the capability to set a password to keep your neighbors and others off your router; this can be set or reset by talking to the router via a web browser. Once a computer gets successfully hooked to the router (wirelessly) it'll remember that for the next time. It's really a worthwhile convenience, if not for now then for the future.

And you can find out whether your devices have Win7 drivers by looking them up and seeing about drivers & software upgrades, and so on. In this regard, many Win Vista drivers also work on Win7 (but, mostly, x32 does not work with x64, so watch our if you're looking at x64). I've got Win7x64 on both home and work computers with all sorts of oddball devices, and there's not been a problem. However, none of these devices is more than a few years old. HPH
Very succicnt and on point for a weather guy.

But why bring Vista into the discussion?
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 06:09 PM
  #35  
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like doc said.

go to the manufacturers website of each device and click on support and/or drivers.

if they are more than 5 years old there's a good likelihood it's not directly available. there may be a vista version of the driver that will work, but it's not guaranteed.

as a side note, I really like win 7 btw.
I'm not saying it is a bad thing at all, just don't want you to get unpleasantly surprised.
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 06:10 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by dlq04,Nov 30 2010, 04:04 PM
I guess I have ruled out laptops:

* I am not one to sit bent over with a laptop on my knees watching tv. I prefer to sit at a desk and type in typewriter style.

* I find I do not like laptop keyboard's. I've got some busted fingers & arthritis and find them too flat and too small. I understand I can hook up a standard keyboard to a laptop at home but I'm not sure that makes sense.

* The docking station idea has merit but I won't be switching envirnments often enough for that.

I'm tempted to buy a netbook for future travel and as a second pc source around the house. If so, I thinking Toshiba Mini-NB255-N250. $330. 7hr battery, 2.8#, 250gb hard, and big keyboard for a small unit. Just 1gb memory.

For the desktop, I am considering Asus Essentio CM5671-05.

Pentium Dual-Core E5500 processor, 4GB of memory, a 1000GB hard disk, integrated graphics, a DVD burner. Approx $500. No speakers. And I don't think it's wireless.

CR's Take: Highs - Very good performance while running productivity applications. Loaded with a large 1000GB hard disk. Has an optical digital audio output. Comes with both DVI and HDMI video out. Lows - Does not have any FireWire ports. Does not come with any speakers. Does not come with a printed user guide. Power and CD eject buttons are hard to access. Case does not have hard disk or CD activity LED indicators.

Got'a do something soon; the noise (yah, it's back) is killing me!
Great, get an Apple desk top. You get a huge screen with the computer built in. It works right out of the box and has a minimum of problems. I got onw for my wife last Christmas. It is not perfect, but has far fewer issues than the dell it replaced AND my wife can use a much higher percentage of the functionality. Why? Because it is easy to use.
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 06:13 PM
  #37  
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bill,
dave owns an MGA if I recall correctly.
anyone who owns an MGA is not a candidate for some thing that works and is easy to use
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 07:05 PM
  #38  
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It would be refreshing. I love working on cars and absolutely hate working on computers. I want my computer to be a Toyota Camry. Just get me from here to there, every day, with no problems.
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 07:37 PM
  #39  
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We're on our second iMac (just purchased in last two months) with the old one still going for grandson. If we were going to buy something for traveling we would consider the iPad since I don't think we would need all the things a laptop does.

We both use PC's at work and have no issues going back & forth or sending documents, etc. home.

Didn't need a store close by since never needed assistance.
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Old Nov 30, 2010 | 09:43 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by boltonblue,Nov 30 2010, 11:13 PM
bill,
dave owns an MGA if I recall correctly.
anyone who owns an MGA is not a candidate for some thing that works and is easy to use
OMG, you are too right! I keep hearing my mind saying "What, because it's new you thought it should work!" *

* Anymore it seems 9 out of 10 new replacement parts for the MG don't fit without allowing for significant time to modify them to actually fit as they should or in some cases to even work as they were intended.

Honestly, you would not believe the number of times I've dug out an old, old part from a dusty box to replace a new part that would not or did not work. Thank god I knew the fist rule of restoration.................never throw out any old part, no matter what the condition.

I probably should be saving my old pc, shouldn't I?
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