Dell Computer - Dell Printers

We are a big fan of Dell Computers. I have assisted scores of people in purchasing and setting up a Dell. They make good machines and their support is one of the best of the major manufacturers.

Dell printers are probably real good too, but there is a problem. You just about have to order your ink cartridges from Dell. That's a lot harder than running down to your local post office or office supply shop. Plus without competition the prices are whatever Dell wants them to be.

Our Advice: Dell Computer Great ..................... Dell Printer - not so great.

Windows Vista and the Bargain Computer - There is Hope

Computer manufactures play in a competitive environment. They want to sell computers today and one way to do that is to sell them cheaply.
Windows Vista, an operating system with promise, requires more grunt than previous Windows Operating Systems.
Put the two together and you have one of the reasons that many users and IT pros bad mouth Vista.

To see if there was hope for those with basic computers we decided to do some testing. We bought an Acer Aspire 5315 Notebook. A good computer but the specs are a bit on the light side for Vista.

Acer Aspire 5315
Intel Celeron 540@1.86GHz
512 DDR2 RAM, shared with video
80 Gig Hard Drive
Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit operating system

Our test wasn't very scientific, just a couple of techs with a stop watch. Firstly we were amazed that the untouched computer did as well as it did. It was passable, although a bit slow. The software was the standard fare that comes with big name computers.

We did some slight tweaking and that made things a bit better but then we added some RAM and it was like having a new computer. From 512 MB to 1 GB made a big difference, and going to 1.5 GIG made it even better.

If you have a bargain machine and are unhappy with it don't despair; add some RAM. Unless you are a gamer or plan to work with video editing, major photo editing or graphic programs you will have a more than adequate computer. Good for surfing the net, email, viewing photos, burning CDs and typing letters.

We still recommend buying a computer with a dual core processor, 2 GIG of RAM and an adequate video card, but if you have the bargain computer the punch of some extra RAM will help.

RAM isn't expensive (you could probably have a GIG installed for $100 in a notebook, less in a desktop) and it will give you a more than usable general purpose computer.

Future post will contain some of the test results, and some reports of the Aspire in action.

Happy New Year
Larry

Merry Christmas! Did you get a new computer?

If you were one of the lucky people that got a new computer for Christmas, read on. In fact if you received or purchased a new computer in the past 2 years read on. It could save you some heartache.

Most of the big name computers no longer come with CDs or DVDs. Your operating system (Windows) and other programs are pre-installed. Makes it easy to start using it right away and saves the computer manufacturer some money. All is well until your computer crashes.

You call a help line or have a computer tech come to your place. Things are pretty bad and you will have to reinstall Windows.... Pretty hard to do when you don't have a CD to install from. You could borrow a CD but then you won't have the drivers (software) to run your sound, video, network or modem.

You ring the computer company they say "you were supposed to create restore disc", sure enough, you read the manual and amongst the fine print is tells you how to create restore disc.

Now you have a couple of options. You can order the disc from the manufacturer - pay heaps- and wait a couple of weeks, or you can buy a new Operating System for heaps and have a tech dig up all the drivers for video, sound, network and modem. It will cost a bit more but you won't have to be computerless for a a couple of weeks.

Now the good news
You can prevent the problem
But
You have to do this before you have a problem

Read you manual, or look through the programs on your computer. Find out how to create recovery disc, and do it. Now when you have a problem you have the disc and you can be up and running in a short while.

If you are lucky enough to live in the Redland Shire in Queensland you can have Mango Computer Tuition take care of this for you.

Now some of the big companies only allow you to make one set of restore disc so make a copy of them and keep both sets in a safe place.

Hope you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.