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Originally Posted by billybob_jcv /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I think the only software getting more and more graphics intensive is games - and it's always been that way. The vast majority of non-gamer machines are limited by their 'net connection or their RAM, not their CPU or graphics cards.
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Things like transparency and fancy menu effects are increasingly becoming the norm, both for operating systems and the software that runs on them. I think the widespread adoption of Windows 7 and the new Office programs is going to lead to an even greater trend of software companies revamping and modernizing their GUIs in a way that takes advantage of modern graphics processors. PCs are also increasingly performing a mobile media function that requires a properly designed graphics chipset to ensure that media is displayed lag-free and with good quality. Purchasing a computer requires deciding what kind of data will be processed, in what amount, and where software trends seem to be headed for the next 3-5 years. OP can always upgrade his internet connection independently of the computer, but what he's buying is
not an internet connection -- it's a tool for data processing that makes that internet connection useful.
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| In addition, paying now for HW you *might* need 3 or 4 years from now is a rookie move. 3 or 4 years from now, there will be faster and cheaper HW than what you are buying today. Buy what you need, not what you *might* need, then buy again when you need more. You'll buy again in 3 or 4 years either way, and my way is cheaper. |
Purchasing a laptop, which does not have easily interchangeable hardware, without looking to the immediate future regarding software trends and potential uses is setting yourself up for failure. The question of how long and for what purpose a machine is to be used defines the hardware required. While completely future-proofing the computer is impossible, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the machine will be sufficient for its application and most other applications for which it may be used over its lifetime. You don't have to buy the fancy 16-core computer with 20GB of RAM, but you
do want to make sure it's something that will still perform its functions within reasonable tolerances until you're ready to purchase new. Buying a bottom-of-the-barrel machine reduces useful lifespan and costs more money because you will have a more frequent purchase rate; over 20 years, you may end up buying six machines instead of four because you just wanted something that was super-cheap, and those extra two computers will cost more than the total of the higher specification options on the four higher-spec machines you could have purchased. In addition, you will probably be upgrading the hardware on those six low-end machines over the course of their lifetimes as well, meaning not only will you be spending more for the upgraded hardware, but you could have just purchased a machine with that hardware installed to begin with and saved yourself the headache.
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| Ok, another question. Is there a really big difference between vista basic and premium? Like is it worth getting the premium if I can? |
Home Basic is fine for most uses, but get Premium if you're using it on a college or enterprise network. Basic doesn't have some of the functionality required for proper networking in a high-security enterprise environment.
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