Thread: Computer Suggestions for My Lifestyle?

Okay, so I am looking for a new computer. Here is what I will need it for:

- Essential typing
- Frequent internet usage
- Some games (ie. Total War)
- Desktop preferred.

What are your suggestions...? I am thinking HP, Core Duo, 1GB Ram, Vista...?

I am an amateur with computers so any advice will be well taken here.

PS. I hate MAC's for the simple fact that it seems to be a fad to have one. Plus, I just don't want to ever say to anyone, "I own a mac". Somehow, I just couldn't live with myself.
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Any computer can do basic word processing, that doesn't require any power at all. Since you mentioned games I would recommend XP to Vista. Vista has a lot of problems, and from what I've heard most games require twice the horsepower on Vista than XP. Vista also uses DirectX 10, which has little backwards compatibility so Direct 9 games won't work. More and more games are going to OpenGL so make sure your card can handle that as well as DirectX.

If you want really want Vista then I'd backtrack on your Mac statement. PC World stated that Macs run Vista faster than any PC, but again, I'd rethink Vista.

1GB of RAM seems kind of low and won't be fast for very long. 2 would probably be the minimum that I would suggest, especially if you play games.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Any computer can do basic word processing, that doesn't require any power at all. Since you mentioned games I would recommend XP to Vista. Vista has a lot of problems, and from what I've heard most games require twice the horsepower on Vista than XP. Vista also uses DirectX 10, which has little backwards compatibility so Direct 9 games won't work. More and more games are going to OpenGL so make sure your card can handle that as well as DirectX.

If you want really want Vista then I'd backtrack on your Mac statement. PC World stated that Macs run Vista faster than any PC, but again, I'd rethink Vista.

1GB of RAM seems kind of low and won't be fast for very long. 2 would probably be the minimum that I would suggest, especially if you play games.

lol - testament to what I know about computers; I thought 1GB Ram was a lot.

So, since I fervently want to avoid the mac until it has a monopoly on computers, I should go for a new comp with XP, hrm?

HP..? Compaq..? Toshiba..? Asus..?
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I think IBM sells exclusively XP and Linux computers, Dell sells Vista, XP, and Linux. I think most other retailers require that you downgrade.

Whatever you do -- don't get any form of Linux. The users even more arrogant and annoying then Mac fanboys.

Probably in the next couple of years games will be Vista only, but everyone here will tell you don't get Vista but XP would be fine (now).

Note that Vista is a lot easier to use and simpler for the average person.

In terms of Asus, Compaq and all that, they are all basically the same.

Yes, definitely get above 1 gig of Ram, if you go with Vista I think at least 2 gigs are required.

Aah, nice to see near-religious evangelism still going strong in the OS wars....

Originally Posted by Grod

Whatever you do -- don't get any form of Linux. The users even more arrogant and annoying then Mac fanboys.

Of all the legitimate reasons not to go Linux, annoying users is probably the least important


I wouldn't advice Linux either (not as the main OS in any case),
because you want a gaming machine


Linux (via Wine) can play ~80% of all windows games, but it can be fiddly
so I wouldn't advice it


Go XP

Originally Posted by Grod

Probably in the next couple of years games will be Vista only, but everyone here will tell you don't get Vista but XP would be fine (now).

Highly unlikely


Game companies are not stupid,
they are not going to drop support for the largest market share (XP)
use your head
it's the same reason they're not actively supporting Linux – Market share


Btw, the only game to be released “Vista Only” to date is Shadowrun
and it sold so badly the game studio went bust


Also, as a side note,
Any “Vista Only” functionality is artificial
DirectX-10 has already been backported to XP
(funnily enough, by the Wine guys, but I'd show my prejudice if I expanded on this point)

Originally Posted by Grod

Note that Vista is a lot easier to use and simpler for the average person.

personal preference
I'd say it's always “easier” to use a system you already know, rather than a new system




anyway, I'll leave with this....


dual booting & virtualisation
marvelous stuff, really


Go XP as your main OS
and you can try any other OS you want as a secondary OS
(hell, get a big enough disk, and give 2 or 3 different OS's a try)