Advice: New Computer

[tulip]

I am really intrigued by open source such as linux. I'm not a computer science trained person, however, so I haven't taken the plunge. I only have so much time to read Linux for Dummies, as I also want to ride my bike and play (oh yeah, and run a small business in two states). I have learned alot since becoming the everything person for my business. I AM the IT department and webmaster, and although my needs are pretty basic at this time, the learning curve is huge for a person like me.

I have a Dell Latitude D830 that I got last fall. It runs XP professional. I like it alot, although it is heavier than I would like. I do have to use MS Office because openoffice only works if you are online, and there are alot of times when I'm not online and still need to work on projects.

I wouldn't mind going Mac (again, that's all I used from 1984 until 1997), but I run AutoCAD and have to be in sync with my two other coworkers (in another state). One does use Mac, and there are still issues with compatibility, although it's getting better. I love the look of those wafer-thin Mac ibooks, and basic niggling things that Dell just doesn't offer, like backlit keyboards.

Kat_h, got any advice for someone who really wants to go open source but just doesn't know where to begin?

[OakLeaf]

There's always BootCamp so you can run Windows for processor-hungry apps like AutoCad I'm not familiar with VMWare Fusion, but I understand that it integrates a BootCamp partition well.

DH just got a Mac - no one can believe it because he was always so disparaging toward them.

So far he's only using it for Photoshop, has yet to migrate all his other stuff over. Little by little

[kat_h]

openoffice only works if you are online, and there are alot of times when I'm not online and still need to work on projects.

I've used openoffice without a net connection lots of times. I think I know the product you're thinking of, but open office definitely works offline.

Kat_h, got any advice for someone who really wants to go open source but just doesn't know where to begin?

Go to http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download and download a disk image and burn it to a cd, or just order the free cd. Boot off the CD and play around a bit. If you like it then partition a drive and install it and play around more. Leave XP on your other partition so you can go back when you need to.

I started using Ubuntu when I inherited a laptop with a dead harddrive. I didn't want to buy a new drive until I was sure everything else worked so I booted off the Ubuntu disk image to test it out. The disk image has Firefox, Openoffice, and a few other programs already installed so I was able to work and just save files to a USB key. I did that for about a month before I finally bought a hardrive.

I still have trouble getting my wireless to work with it, and I have a Tascam USB interface that won't work with it unless I hack the firmware, which is why I still have Mac and Windows systems. Every 6 months there's a major update to Ubuntu so I'm just waiting for them to include the last couple of drivers I need. Everything else was completely intuitive. If you want to install software you just click on add/remove then browse through the list of available software until you find what you want, click on it, and it will download and install itself. 90% of everything I've needed has been completely idiot proof, and the other 10% has been next to impossible.

[Geonz]

I need to use this thing on a network ... run by a guy with finite time and technical knowledge, who's very maxed out by life right now. Getting a linux system to talk to the network... am I right, that would be a special challenge?

He's got Macs and always has, so going that route would mean ... hmmm... I s'pose it would mean I have access to the software on the network Hmmm... now, if I could get on my ocmputer just long enough to "deactivate" Dreamweaver so I could activate it somewhere else... like the Windows computer at work... 'cause I'd hate to have flushed that $300 down the toilet.

And... he's *got* a Token Windows Machine for the occasions when we need that...

[kat_h]

I'm only using linux at home, so the network only has 6 computers (1 mac, 1 linux, the rest XP) and there was no problem with it at all. I can't say if it would be as easy on a more complex network.

[boy in a kilt]

I just replaced my old laptop with a new one. Toshiba Satellite running Vista.

Things I didn't have to do with Vista that I had to do with XP:
1) Load 166mb of crap for our printer when all I wanted was the driver
2) Put a lot of work into installing my e-mail account. Outlook asked for the e-mail address and the pass word, then figured it out itself
3) Install the drivers for my Smart Card reader. I did have to install the DoD certificates but that's not bad.


Also, my MP3 player (actually, a Sony Minidisc player) seems to load much faster with the new computer. Probably because this thing has 2GB of RAM.

[emily_in_nc]

I read an article online that mentioned refurbished computers as a good choice if you want an XP system. Apparently they've been scrubbed, repaired (if needed), and are as good as new (possibly a few cosmetic blemishes). Any that are not "A" class are shipped for overseas sales, so the refurb units available in the US are all "A" class. Apparently all the big manufacturers (Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc) offer refurbished units.

I will definitely consider one for my next PC after reading the article...had never even thought of it before!

Emily

[motochick]

I have one thing to say..... MAC! My only regret is I didn't do it 10 years ago. I can't believe how long I put up with the PC junk.

Brenda

[guanajagirl]

MAC's all the way! The refurbs are pretty resasonable too

[tulip]

If you like it then partition a drive and install it and play around more. Leave XP on your other partition so you can go back when you need to.

Um, partition the hard drive...hmmm...I have no idea how to do that. My computer actually has two hard drives, so can I put Ubuntu on one of them?

It's been over 10 years since I had a Mac, and I'm glad to hear that they are compatible with the overwhelming PC world. Macs are the only computers I used for many years. I think my family got one of the first ones way back in 1984 (and my Dad probably still has it in the attic!) Then we got a Lisa--remember those?? I may look into going the Mac route again in the future, but for now, my PC works for me but I'm going to investigate the Ubuntu option.

[Kimmyt]

I use all kinds of computers, at work we have PCs with XP which isn't so bad. At my home pc which we rarely use I have Ubuntu Linux. I'm not too into computer stuff, and The Boy set it up for me, but it is used pretty similarly to XP. Then we have our lovely laptop, which is a Mac. We're currently lusting after a MacBook Pro, but haven't gotten it yet. The Boy is a Mac Fanboy so we have all things white and shiny. We just got Apple TV too which is sweet but the remote controls look like little ipods so it can get confusing.

Anyway, Macs are really user friendly, once you get past the initial learning phase. And you can get all your Microsoft-compatible programs for it so it would probably be ok to network into your work system. We have Excel and Word on our laptop, I'm still getting used to finding all my usual menu items, but it isn't so bad.

[Geonz]

I'm leaning towards the Mac-that-will-run-Windows. I've dabbled enough in the education and graphic arts world so I go both ways, though "user friendly" for most people simply often isn't for me. (Macs are always trying to tell me what I want to do, and if that's not it, there's no way to tell them "no! Do this!" HOwever, since that's what works for the rest of the world, PC's are pretty much designed that way, too... but not as intelligently so it's even more frustrating.)

[tulip]

In a generational twist, my Dad will ONLY use Macs; he's never used a PC! He has a MacBook Pro and, knowing him, will likely get an AirBook soon. He also has an iphone (and knows how to use it!)

I'm very systematic in my file structure, so I actually like the Windows folder setup. Dad has stuff all over his desktop, but somehow he finds it. He says it's like his desk--messy to others, but it makes sense to him.

We are in business together, and getting him to use the remote server for project files is a challenge, though.

[Susan126]

I have had four computers in 13 years. Windows 3.1, windows 98, xp (my current desktop) and now a vista laptop (hubby bought it for me this xmas). All of our computers DH built. No extra software just the programs I use and run. I have never had any issues in the 13 years (knock on wood) am I lucky?! YES! I still have all my software (I keep upgrading of course). When friends I know have issues with their computers it is usually due to all the crap software that is installed on the computer. My needs are simple. I have my word, power point, excel, adobe programs, capturing programs, web building software, email program (not outlook . . . I use incredimail and love it . . . have been using it since 2001), itunes, web browser IE, movie maker for creating my movies and burning to dvd, and basically that's about it. Maybe a few more I've missed but my xp desktop and my vista notebook are sweet and I love them! I'm set for another few years!

And connecting wirelessly is a breeze with my new vista laptop. I've signed up with vpn for a secure connection and it works like a charm.

VPN

You can find me in a bookstore or starbucks sometimes connected with my laptop!

Oh I do use a mac at work. I work in a school district that uses mainly pcs but a few of the older schools (mine) have macs and they are good too. Although currently we are having a few issues with them but our tech people are great.

[jesvetmed]

I'm yet another vote for Mac. We bought a desktop iMac (no processor box -- it's in the screen!), and a laptop 1.5 yrs ago. LOVE THEM. Never going back. For what it's worth... just looked over the June 2007 Consumer Reports, which goes over Vista vs. XP and discusses OS X Leopard (new Apple release); The Apple was listed as #1 Laptop, With the toshiba Satellite 2nd. For Desktop: Dell Dimension, then Apple iMac. That's about all I can tell you -- I'm no expert, I just use the stuff!