Looking For A New Computer

[Mary Carol]

We have a used Compaq Presario 92.0MB, running Windows 98. We'll keep the old computer for completing homework assignments.

I want something new and fast.

My 13-year-old wants an I-Mac, but can you run Microsoft applications on one?

And is it worth the extra $100 to get more memory than is offered with some of the deals that I've seen advertised?

[baba]

Yes, you can get Microsoft Office on the iMac.

Please bear in mind that you are eligible for a discount on the iMac, and an extremely huge discount on Microsoft Office, if you are buying it for your son. You just need to tell the Apple Store which school your son goes to.

It is always worth getting extra memory.

[Details]

i'm a PC user for a long time ... but i'm tempted to pick up a new apple g5 myself. Some MS apps will work on it, but not many. there is a MS office for wrtten for the Mac, but for windows apps that arent rewritten for the mac, you'll have to buy a third party program that acts as a kind of shell. (you take your chances with that) one upside for the mac, is there are less virii designed specifically for the Mac. So you'll have less security problems than your windows-using friends.

as for memory, buy as much as you can afford. you'll end up utilizing it quite quickly.

[baba]

Remember that Mac OS X is based on Unix and so can run all Unix applications. So there'll be no shortage of applications for doing stuff. In addition to Microsoft Office, you can get all the Adobe and Macromedia software on the Mac too.

[frank chu]

Someone should note that "new and fast" quickly becomes "old and slow" due to advancing standards and capabilities, but if you've been running on 92 MB and Win 98 (probably 300 mhz or so), you'll be quite pleased with performance on a new machine for quite some time.

I say your purchase largely depends on your desires and needs. Top of the line machines are needed for the newest games and highend graphics work (as with some of the Adobe software baba mentioned). A middle of the road machine is decent for amateur video production (I've done some on my Toshiba 1.4 ghz Centrino laptop with acceptable performance). However, if you're only looking for a email or websurfing station (Do you spend much time online? ;) ), you can get buy with a lot less than top of the line and probably buy two computers over the next 5 years (the second outperforming the top of the line one you could buy today) for the same amount of money (inflation adjusted, of course).

My top of the line reccommendation in a laptop would be something from Sager (http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.html) via PCTorque (http://pctorque.com/). PCTorque's forums, Notebook Forums (http://notebookforums.com/), has a wealth of information about the laptops. (I got my Toshiba from CompUSA because of a timecrunch and the unsuspectedness of my purchase, but I have referred 2 other people to Sager and they are pleased.)

But, you seem to be pining for a desktop. I can't comment on Macs because I refuse to use them (1 mouse button?). Don't get me wrong. I used *nix a lot as a Comp Sci major for 2.5 years, heard all the M$ bashing, and talked with devout followers of all OS camps. I'm just not convinced and I think windows gets a bit of a bad rap. I haven't researched top of the line desktops because I'd rather build my own, but PCTorque has a couple of customizable models. They're taylored for gaming.

My last desktop was a Dell. It was pretty reliable and good enough to get me through 3.5 years of college (my laptop took over the last semester). I still use it to post on the forums once in a while, keep my AIM name online so folks can leave me messages, and serve up my archived CD collection so that the house network can access songs.

Ditto on the memory remarks. Ram is much more important than Ghz these days. Also, I think the larger L2 cache on Macs and Centrinos is a big plus (I think AMD's newest is going with a 1 MB cache, and perhaps the new Pentium too.)

[Mary Carol]

Do you spend much time online? ;)

I resemble that remark. :)

Thanks everyone for all the advice, now I have to check out the ads and have a consult with my son...he craves the newest technological gizmos, I simply think of them as appliances.

Luckily for our budget, I control the pursestrings.

[baba]

I agree with Frank Chu about Windows, it's not as bad as the anti-M$ guys make out. I'm on Windows 2000 and (usually) have no problems with crashes. And with student pricing, the applications won't cost a bomb.

However, I do like the Mac and enjoy using them lol.