All Things Microsoft > Microsoft Software
Need advice/input on purchase
Martin:
Hi. I'm very concerned with Microsoft's practices and the new Windows XP. In particular, I'm concerned with the way XP and Office XP registration process is moving towards a more and more draconian process. I'm in the market for a new computer, possibly a laptop, but I'm on a budget. I am no computer guru and I'm unfamiliar with alternatives like linux, but i consider myself knowledeable enough. Right now, as I shop various vendors like dell or nutrend it's obvious i would have to buy a windows xp based system. When i turn to the Mac, unless i buy an iMac i'm getting into the high price range for a desktop. I'm concerned that the iMac has a too small monitor view, its the one thing that is holding me back from buyibng an iMac. Going the next step to a Power Mac 733 is tempting but combine that with a nice LCD and the price is not good for me. Too bad Mac doesn't upgrade the iMac to a bigger screen or bring a budget Power Mac that can rewrite CD's into the market. Is there any hope for this in the near future from Mac. Any advice on buying a new budget computer that does not require me to get Windows XP yet has the comparable power/features that these budget Windows systems have? I guess the iMac is the only mainstream alternative, it still may be worth it to avoid XP. Thanks for any input you all have
Note: I'm a college student interested in word processing, web surfing, and rewriting cd's only I'm NOT a gamer.
[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Martin ]
[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Martin ]
[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Martin ]
badkarma:
The best deals (and the best pc's) are allways made (imho) buy just buying the hardware and casing and building one yourself (or let someone you know with some knowledge about computers do it if you're not too sure of yourself, but it's not that hard if you know how to use a screwdriver and can read a manual )
If you're not a gamer then linux is highly reccomendable, take a distribution which is easy for beginners (I recommend SuSE, anyone with just the slightest knowledge of computers can install it, the documentation and support is excellent), seeing you only want to do basic stuff with it. There are some very good programs shipping with SuSE which get installed with the OS (SuSE professional ships with 3000+ software packages, at less cost then any microcrap os I believe) for your needs like:
KOffice (office suit which is free and rivals ms office (and in some aspects surpasses it))
Netscape/Mozilla/Konquerer
KOnCD
so my advice would be to just build/buy a pc (and clear it from win xp if you buy a complete system) and to just install SuSE (and if you do be sure to get a dvd drive with it cause it's a lot easier to install SuSE from 1 dvd then to do it from 5 cd's (or 7 if you install "everything"))
Hope this helped you with making your choice
[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: BadKarma ]
<Martin>:
BadKarma, thanks for the info. It sounds like Linux is very doable. My follow up questions are concerning the installation of, for example, SuSe 7.3 on a computer system that is shipped to me with Windows XP. Will the Linux software just erase the XP and install Linux, or does it mix together or what. Should I order a computer and ask for the manufacturer to not install Windows at all, is this possible??
CommonSense:
Martin: Just a quick reply to address the iMac portion of your e-mail . . .
There's a fair amount of rumor that the next iMac will be a totally new, redesigned product with an LCD screen instead of a CRT. MacWorld (in mid-January) is when it's rumored to be introduced. So if you can hang on until then, it may be worth it.
Of course, they're rumors, so . . . you never know.
<Martin>:
Thanks Webmaster for the info, it actually answers questions I posed under the Mac OS discussion group also.
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