New Computer time

[jassanja]

I think my "spontanous" trip to London is canceled in favor of getting a new computer
This one is 5 years old, and is moaning and groaning a bit more every day - (not to mention that simple things are getting slooooooooooow)

Anyone having a clue what to look out these days when buying a new computer?
Laptop or stationary?
Vista or Windows 7?
and are 3GB RAM enough for a new computer? (That is like 6 times of what I have now, and still I saw machines in the store going up to 7GB)

Comments

[hatman]

Laptop or stationary?

What's more important? Portability or flexibility? Laptop can come with you day to day or on vacation. Desktop gives you more options, more expansion ability, possibly longer life, and can be cheaper.

Vista or Windows 7?

From the reviews I've seen, including Cnet (who generally know what they're talking about with this stuff)... 7. No question. Vista was a big mistake. 7 may have bugs and issues yet to come to light, but all reports say that it's a trimmer, more capable, reimagined, and very much fixed successor to Vista.

and are 3GB RAM enough for a new computer?

Technically, yes. But in all likelyhood you'll want at least 4. Especially if you plan to keep it for a few years.

[archersangel]

i asked my semi-computer geek brother & here's what he said;

1. it depends on if you want to take the computer with you. like for work or school or just to go sit on the couch & still be on the internet. if you get a laptop & can afford it, go for apple. they are generaly rated the best. but if you're going to do heavy stuff, like making videos, go for the desk-top.
you don't have to worry about battery life with a desk-top & more than likely will have a hard-line connection to the internet. if you do get a desk-top, he recomends getting a UPS (battery back-up) that way if there's a power intruption, you still have a few minutes of power & time to shut down.

2. widows 7

3. depends on what you're going to be doing. if you're doing light stuff like e-mail, surfing the 'net & document writing you probably get by with a little bit above what the operating system requires (varies according to OS). 3GB should be good, if you can afford it get 4GB.
if you're going to make videos & do haevy image prossing, get at least 8GB.


hope that helps.