Need planning help for daughter's college computer

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

My daughter will be heading off to college this next year. Her present
computer is a 900mHz PIII, ASUS CUS2 mb with 256MB RAM running Win98.
She is not a gamer and runs basic types of programs that don't require
high end computer power: Word, Excel, Thumbs Plus for photo
manipulation. She is not a gamer.

I have lost touch with advances in memory and cpu's since building my
own system a year+ ago (ASUS P4PE, 2.5mHz cpu, 1GB PC3200 CAS2 RAM, 2
SATA hdd's, Win2K) I would like to set up a new computer for her over
the summer which would be powerful enough to run WinXP without being
over the top in capability, as she is not a gamer. Where I do see her
interest going is into photography so it should have enough capability
to do Photoshop without waiting interminably (I assume that memory and
decent CPU speed should help). I will build it from the ground up.
My positive experiences for my own computer equipment have been with
Antec (case and power supply), ASUS, Intel cpu's, Western Digital,
Plextor, Lite-On, Creative, Crucial. I would be interested in looking
at a Shuttle system if someone could help me navigate through the myriad
of choices.

Again, my interest is in building a system that will run WinXP with
relative ease, as well as whatever would run Photoshop. No games (not
her interest)

Thanks,
Ken K

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Ken K <psnwREMOVE@theREMOVEkrones.com> said:

> I would like to set up a new computer for her
> over the summer which would be powerful enough to <snip> do Photoshop
> without waiting interminably (I assume that memory and decent CPU
> speed should help). I will build it from the ground up. My
> positive experiences for my own computer equipment have been with
> Antec (case and power supply), ASUS, Intel cpu's, Western Digital,
> Plextor, Lite-On, Creative, Crucial.

Sounds good to me. Photoshop is going to be all about the CPU, so choose
your other components and then buy the fastest P4 you can afford. I have a
system similiar to yours and Photoshop snaps and pops. I would still buy a
separate video card, maybe a Radeon 9600.
--
Mac Cool

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

don't waste your time. Get her a laptop from a major retailer with a 3 year
warrenty. You can get one for under $800 after rebates and with integrated
wifi she'll get 10 times the use out of it on campus than she would with the
one you're planning to build.

Al

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

In article <LtednS3uoulXLUDdRVn-jw@comcast.com>,
-Alby Hewlet <bogus@nowhere.net> wrote:
>don't waste your time. Get her a laptop from a major retailer with a 3 year
>warrenty. You can get one for under $800 after rebates and with integrated
>wifi she'll get 10 times the use out of it on campus than she would with the
>one you're planning to build.
>
>Al
>
>


Get the warranty with the manufacturer. Check with the school to see if
they have any special deals, and what kind of support the can provide.
--
Al Dykes
-----------
adykes at p a n i x . c o m

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

-Alby Hewlet wrote:

>don't waste your time. Get her a laptop from a major retailer with a 3 year
>warrenty. You can get one for under $800 after rebates and with integrated
>wifi she'll get 10 times the use out of it on campus than she would with the
>one you're planning to build.
>
>Al
>
Not a bad suggestion. I have not looked at the manufacturers lately.
Any recos?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Ken K wrote:
> -Alby Hewlet wrote:
>
>> don't waste your time. Get her a laptop from a major retailer with a
>> 3 year
>> warrenty. You can get one for under $800 after rebates and with
>> integrated
>> wifi she'll get 10 times the use out of it on campus than she would
>> with the
>> one you're planning to build.
>>
>> Al
>>
> Not a bad suggestion. I have not looked at the manufacturers lately.
> Any recos?
>
The school where I teach has 2% discounts on Gateway and 10% on Dell.
You should go to her school's web site and see if there are any deals
from the school. I bought my daughter a Toshiba and it was fine until
it was stolen (on a trip to London -- don't ask). Then I got her a
Gateway from the GW store here so that I could send it to her quickly.
Dells seem popular with my students.

dick

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"-Alby Hewlet" <bogus@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:LtednS3uoulXLUDdRVn-jw@comcast.com...
> don't waste your time. Get her a laptop from a major retailer with a 3
year
> warrenty. You can get one for under $800 after rebates and with
integrated
> wifi she'll get 10 times the use out of it on campus than she would with
the
> one you're planning to build.
>
> Al
>
>
Agreed, laptop's are far more suited to a college / uni environment.

hamman

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Ken K" <psnwREMOVE@theREMOVEkrones.com> wrote in message
news:10dredfngv5huf8@corp.supernews.com...
> -Alby Hewlet wrote:
>
> >don't waste your time. Get her a laptop from a major retailer with a 3
year
> >warrenty. You can get one for under $800 after rebates and with
integrated
> >wifi she'll get 10 times the use out of it on campus than she would with
the
> >one you're planning to build.
> >
> >Al
> >
> Not a bad suggestion. I have not looked at the manufacturers lately.
> Any recos?
>
Check with University. Quite often you can buy through them at a substantial
discount. Also some Universities require a Laptop. My grand daughter's did.

PWY

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Ken K <psnwREMOVE@theREMOVEkrones.com> said:

>>Sounds good to me. Photoshop is going to be all about the CPU, so
>>choose your other components and then buy the fastest P4 you can
>>afford. I have a system similiar to yours and Photoshop snaps and
>>pops. I would still buy a separate video card, maybe a Radeon 9600.
>>
>
> What are your system components, Mac?

P4 2.53Ghz, 512MB RAM (soon to be doubled), Ti4200, XP

--
Mac Cool

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Ken K" <psnwREMOVE@theREMOVEkrones.com> wrote in message
news:10dr8onbphimk3a@corp.supernews.com...
> My daughter will be heading off to college this next year. Her present
> computer is a 900mHz PIII, ASUS CUS2 mb with 256MB RAM running Win98.
> She is not a gamer and runs basic types of programs that don't require
> high end computer power: Word, Excel, Thumbs Plus for photo
> manipulation. She is not a gamer.
>
> I have lost touch with advances in memory and cpu's since building my
> own system a year+ ago (ASUS P4PE, 2.5mHz cpu, 1GB PC3200 CAS2 RAM, 2
> SATA hdd's, Win2K) I would like to set up a new computer for her over
> the summer which would be powerful enough to run WinXP without being
> over the top in capability, as she is not a gamer. Where I do see her
> interest going is into photography so it should have enough capability
> to do Photoshop without waiting interminably (I assume that memory and
> decent CPU speed should help). I will build it from the ground up.
> My positive experiences for my own computer equipment have been with
> Antec (case and power supply), ASUS, Intel cpu's, Western Digital,
> Plextor, Lite-On, Creative, Crucial. I would be interested in looking
> at a Shuttle system if someone could help me navigate through the myriad
> of choices.
>
> Again, my interest is in building a system that will run WinXP with
> relative ease, as well as whatever would run Photoshop. No games (not
> her interest)
>
> Thanks,
> Ken K
>

Why does she need a newer, faster computer than her current PIII?

No reason she cannot continue her present computer. It is certainly powerful
enough to run XP!

If I were you, I would increase present installed RAM to 528mb by adding
another stick of 256mb memory.

I would then load XP over the existing Win98 OS.

Then I would convert to the NTFS (NT Filing System), and enjoy the much
greater stability, while avoiding the need to reinstall all software (which
you would have to do if a clean install had been used).

Don't worry about the possibility that she will not find enough other stuff
at college to spend your money on.

 

[jad]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

I agree with everything except, I would do a clean install of whatever
OS you choose. If you were going to spend money on a new
computer,instead buy a full version of an OS and 512 ram and keep the
old machine. Maybe a PSU swap.

My buck anda quarters worth. actually it would be yours. ;^)

"Panos Papadopolous" <Panos@athens.net> wrote in message
news:cbpjhh0ppk@enews3.newsguy.com...
>
> "Ken K" <psnwREMOVE@theREMOVEkrones.com> wrote in message
> news:10dr8onbphimk3a@corp.supernews.com...
> > My daughter will be heading off to college this next year. Her
present
> > computer is a 900mHz PIII, ASUS CUS2 mb with 256MB RAM running
Win98.
> > She is not a gamer and runs basic types of programs that don't
require
> > high end computer power: Word, Excel, Thumbs Plus for photo
> > manipulation. She is not a gamer.
> >
> > I have lost touch with advances in memory and cpu's since building
my
> > own system a year+ ago (ASUS P4PE, 2.5mHz cpu, 1GB PC3200 CAS2
RAM, 2
> > SATA hdd's, Win2K) I would like to set up a new computer for her
over
> > the summer which would be powerful enough to run WinXP without
being
> > over the top in capability, as she is not a gamer. Where I do see
her
> > interest going is into photography so it should have enough
capability
> > to do Photoshop without waiting interminably (I assume that memory
and
> > decent CPU speed should help). I will build it from the ground
up.
> > My positive experiences for my own computer equipment have been
with
> > Antec (case and power supply), ASUS, Intel cpu's, Western Digital,
> > Plextor, Lite-On, Creative, Crucial. I would be interested in
looking
> > at a Shuttle system if someone could help me navigate through the
myriad
> > of choices.
> >
> > Again, my interest is in building a system that will run WinXP
with
> > relative ease, as well as whatever would run Photoshop. No games
(not
> > her interest)
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ken K
> >
>
> Why does she need a newer, faster computer than her current PIII?
>
> No reason she cannot continue her present computer. It is certainly
powerful
> enough to run XP!
>
> If I were you, I would increase present installed RAM to 528mb by
adding
> another stick of 256mb memory.
>
> I would then load XP over the existing Win98 OS.
>
> Then I would convert to the NTFS (NT Filing System), and enjoy the
much
> greater stability, while avoiding the need to reinstall all software
(which
> you would have to do if a clean install had been used).
>
> Don't worry about the possibility that she will not find enough
other stuff
> at college to spend your money on.
>
>

 

[KK]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Thanks, all. I think that more memory and a full version XP sounds good
to me. I did not anticipate that the present cpu would be OK.

Thanks
Ken K

Ken K wrote:
> My daughter will be heading off to college this next year. Her present
> computer is a 900mHz PIII, ASUS CUS2 mb with 256MB RAM running Win98.
> She is not a gamer and runs basic types of programs that don't require
> high end computer power: Word, Excel, Thumbs Plus for photo
> manipulation. She is not a gamer.
>
> I have lost touch with advances in memory and cpu's since building my
> own system a year+ ago (ASUS P4PE, 2.5mHz cpu, 1GB PC3200 CAS2 RAM, 2
> SATA hdd's, Win2K) I would like to set up a new computer for her over
> the summer which would be powerful enough to run WinXP without being
> over the top in capability, as she is not a gamer. Where I do see her
> interest going is into photography so it should have enough capability
> to do Photoshop without waiting interminably (I assume that memory and
> decent CPU speed should help). I will build it from the ground up.
> My positive experiences for my own computer equipment have been with
> Antec (case and power supply), ASUS, Intel cpu's, Western Digital,
> Plextor, Lite-On, Creative, Crucial. I would be interested in looking
> at a Shuttle system if someone could help me navigate through the myriad
> of choices.
>
> Again, my interest is in building a system that will run WinXP with
> relative ease, as well as whatever would run Photoshop. No games (not
> her interest)
>
> Thanks,
> Ken K
>
>