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To: JenB; RosieCotton; HairOfTheDog; ecurbh; Rose in RoseBear; Bear_in_RoseBear; Ramius; 300winmag
What precisely do you want the computer for?

school and games fer thekidz, werd processin', digital photos...

what is the advantage of a DVD burner?... despite the obvious piratin' stuff... if'n we want to send digital video from our camera to the grandparents, can we use a CD/RW, or do we need a DVD burner?...

is 512 good fer RAM, or do we go with a GIG...

plan on this system lastin' a good while...

260 posted on 01/28/2005 3:20:54 PM PST by g'nad
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To: g'nad

get this. the latest proposal is a high-speed train running from MEXICO to Dallas and on to Oklahoma.


EGADS. I am phobic concerning reconquista in the first place. This thing, if it ever gets approved would make it complete. Wonder if there is a thread on it yet...

searching


261 posted on 01/28/2005 3:25:46 PM PST by msdrby (Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen and defended by its citizens.)
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To: g'nad; Ramius
I'll defer to Ramius and the others on buying hardware... I've loved my Dell and customer service came to my house to replace my Video card when it was under warranty... doesn't get better than that.
264 posted on 01/28/2005 3:28:41 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life!)
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To: g'nad

512 is pretty powerful for RAM. I'd think it's enough for you.

DVD burners are good if you want to store lots and lots on fewer disks. It's a matter of size, mostly; cds max out at 700mb, while depending on the dvd format you get several gigs.


267 posted on 01/28/2005 3:37:25 PM PST by JenB
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To: g'nad
is 512 good fer RAM, or do we go with a GIG...

Well, you can't have too much RAM, but it can be easily and cheaply added later, if'n you're so inclined.

268 posted on 01/28/2005 3:40:43 PM PST by ecurbh (.. .-.. --- ...- . .... .- .. .-. --- ..-. - .... . -.. --- --.)
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To: g'nad

Hey there...

Fer computers: I'd say the money should go, in order, to RAM, then Video card, then processor, then Monitor. Peripherals like DVD burners can always be picked up later and plugged in as external devices if you come up with a need for it. It's a good idea to make sure that the CD drive is a CD (RW) burner though.

512MB of Ram is good, but 1GB is better and pretty cheap power these days. Video card should be at least 64Mb and 128 is better.

Once the processor is over 2Ghz you're just not going to be able to see the difference from one to the next. The biggest stressor you'll have on the system will be the games that the kids (or you) will wanna play. Games are generally very RAM and video intensive, moreso than processor. Processor matters, but todays CPUs are so unfathomably fast that the bottlenecks are really more in RAM and video rendering.

Dell refurbished is an excellent way to go. Probably the best bang fer the buck out there.

Dell new stuff is getting cheaper all the time, and they have some pretty good values.

Dell has about the best support there is, too... (Hi Rose!).


282 posted on 01/28/2005 5:52:08 PM PST by Ramius (Gregoirovich Nyet!)
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To: g'nad

Check your freepmail.

If your're serious about "games fer thekidz", the video card is critical. You may need a larger, tower-type just so you can install high-end video cards for the latest games.

A higher-end Dell usually comes with some brand name known for hot video, like Nvidia.


305 posted on 01/28/2005 6:47:00 PM PST by 300winmag (FR's Hobbit Hole supports America's troops)
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