Upgrading My Best Pal
A few weeks ago I decided to bite the bullet and finally upgrade my aging Dell desktop computer. Call me weird but I really dislike moving into a new computer, it always takes a full week to download all the programs I want and set everything up the way I like.
I’ve been making my living in the computer industry since 1990, so it’s not like getting a new computer is anything novel anymore. Yeah, the new one is always nicer and faster and better than the old one. But after having so many computers I’ve come to just wish that the industry would quit with all the technology improvements and slow the fuck down. Just let me buy a computer that will last for 10 years! I do that with cars and blue jeans and household appliances and I want to do that with computers too. Enough with this faster all the time stuff.
And from what I’ve seen new PCs are shipping with Vista, which I’m just not interested in switching to yet. I’m waiting until people stop bitching about Vista before I think about using it. I’ve used Microsoft Windows since version 2 (!), I’ve put up with a lot in that time and given that I’m perfectly happy with Windows XP for now, thank you.
Also, next time I buy a new computer for work I will have to buy some expensive software packages because the versions of them that I own now are so out of date that I can no longer get upgrades. So my next computer will be accompanied by at least $1500 USD in software purchases. Needless to say that dramatically increases the cost of a new machine. But to do my work I need those programs, so that’s what it is.
So anyway, I bought a new monitor. And some RAM and an adapter card to help my old machine keep up with modern times.
The monitor arrived today from Dell Mexico. And when I opened the box I began to get really happy. Everything in the box was perfectly packaged. The directions were in English and MADE SENSE. There were little bits of foam covering all the cable ends, and they were held on with cute little rubber bands. It was all so perfect and so logical and so, well just so perfect.
Then I set up the monitor and plugged it in, et voila, it was just yummy right out of the box! So now I’m writing to you from my yummy new monitor. And I feel like I have a whole new computer. Nice, nice.
October 11th, 2008 14:02
I held off replacing my desktop because of the Vista issue as well. I finally bought a “Reconditioned” PC from TigerDirect with XP Pro installed and was very happy with it. You can see some of them here: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=6&name=Desktop-PCs
Microsoft is working on a new OS as they too seem to have given up on Vista.
October 11th, 2008 14:58
Croft, I’ve bought from Tiger before, they are good. I’d heard that M$ was working on a new O/S, that figures. I’ll wait for things to settle out.
October 13th, 2008 09:48
Microsoft, and Apple et al, are always at work on the next OS before the present one is even released, so I wouldn’t assume too much from that.
I think Vista’s biggest issue was in the min specs they recommended being simply too low. As an upgrade it has proven troublesome for many. On new computers I haven’t heard anything negative from anyone who knows what they are doing, and isn’t simply jumping on a bandwagon of criticism.
News of companies like Intel deciding to forego the upgrade to Vista got more attention than it’s worth. What extra would Vista offer them over XP in productivity etc? Not a lot. Would it cause issues on any of their slightly older equipment? Probably. Are they going to go out and buy a new PC/laptop for all their employees to get the most out of Vista? Nope! Does this mean Vista is crap? It was a business decision, not a condemnation of Vista.
I bought a new laptop which inevitably came with Vista. It’s noticeably quicker than XP, doesn’t crash regularly, has a few handy extra features. It’s not revolutionary by any means, but it’s given me no reasons to miss XP.
If you’re looking to upgrade an older PC (and by older I mean just one or two years old!) then I would suggest it’s not worth the effort. But if you’re buying a new model, I think it’s daft to go for XP when Vista is a superior product, albeit marginally.
I’ve had no probs with peripherals either by the way.
Out of interest, what software are you planning on shelling out $1500 for that you couldn’t download on Bittorent? Or do you simply have more ethics than I!
And normally I would recommend anyone going to the US to buy a new PC, given that prices for electronics here are such a rip off….but my, have you seen the peso?!!!!
October 13th, 2008 10:05
Isn’t it fun getting new stuff to plug in and play with? I do this more with my job than at home. One good thing about that is, I don’t have to pay the bill. Enjoy your upgrade!
October 13th, 2008 12:02
Gary – Your points are right on. And they fit what I’ve noticed, upgrades to Vista are not great, you need more machine under you.