Dude, I'm Gettin' a Dell

John Biltz wrote:

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:08:07 -0700, Cheryl wrote
(in article ):

itty (Sherry ) dumped this in
on 13 Apr 2004:

Does anyone know, is there any reason I should buy the upgrade and get
Windows XP Professional instead of Windows XP home?

Congrats! I just got a new Dell laptop and I paid the extra for XP pro.
That said, I'm familiar with both Pro and Home and you really don't need
pro. I only got it so I'd be consistent with my work computer and anything
I can do there, I can do here.

I would put the extra money into ram instead. Before you plug your new
computer into the internet make sure you install a firewall or turn on
the firewall inside XP. Its not the best one, only blocks incoming not
outgoing, but it will do until you can download a free one. You can get a
free antivirus as well. I did not like XP. In fact it drove me to Macs
but I haven't used it in a long time. A lot of people do and I am sure
it is better now than when it first came out. I doubt one is more stable
than the other, if it was they certainly would not admit it. But they
are the same platform and I can't imagine they would leave something out
that would hurt stability. XP has more features mainly for high end
users. You are going to be amazed how fast it is if you are using
something from 95.

I notice that there are several Anti-virus/anti-spam/anti-spyware
software packages available. I have NAV, because it came with my
computer (but only the anti-virus, not the whole works). Is Norton's
package the best? What about McAfee, which seems to offer more for a
bit less money?

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in
message ...


JoJo wrote:

Sherry,

I have XP home edition, no problems works fine. Not sure what the
difference is in professional - except more $$. You can probably get
away
w/home edition.

Be prepared, you'll be in for a bit of a shock getting used to XP
compared
to 95. It is completely different than most upgrades microsoft has come
out
with. You can set XP up for different users which is kinda cool if more
than one of you uses the pc. (it saves your settings - thing such as
your
background etc).

Welcome to the *new millenium* My desktop is in desperate need of an
upgrade - getting new motherboard, memory and processor - I want SPEED!


Guess I'm not the only one that's discovering an upgrade is necessary!
More and more, when I try to do things like ordering merchandise from
web-sites, I've been getting "Javascript error" and my screen freezes.
Someone told me it's because my browser is too old (I'm using Netscape
4.79). Only thing is, when I tried to download Netscape 7.1, I
discovered that most of the new software requires a minimum of 64MB RAM,
and mine computer has only 32MB! (Of course, that was a lot more than I
had before, but things in the computer wolrd change fast, and I bought
my Gateway in November, 1999.)

I've been thinking about a Dell - mainly because they claim they build
them for each individual. How do those of you who have one like it?
The guy at Fry's tried to talk me into one of their "built to order"
models, but what he recommended was over $1,000, and then he told me the
software was all in addition to that! Also, it came with a much fancier
keyboard than I want, a "laser" mouse instead of the standard kind, and
big fancy speakers when I never USE my computer for listening to
anything - so I would be paying for a lot of fancy hardware I don't
really need or want.

We've got two Dells. Mine's a Dimension 4100 desktop model and DW's is a
laptop with a wireless network card (so she can use it in the living room,
kitchen, bedroom, wherever. Both worked perfectly out of the box and
continued to do so with one exception (mine started having floppy disk
problems just before it turned 3 (and my service contract ran out). They
wanted to send a tech out to replace it but I talked them into sending me a
replacement and I replaced it myself).

You can get a faster one for the same money, but Dell pretests all of the
configurations they sell and you can count on them.

Disclaimer: I am not now nor have ever been associated with Dell Computers
in any way other than as a satisfied customer, but YMMV.
Sam

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in
message ...


JoJo wrote:

Sherry,

I have XP home edition, no problems works fine. Not sure what the
difference is in professional - except more $$. You can probably get
away
w/home edition.

Be prepared, you'll be in for a bit of a shock getting used to XP
compared
to 95. It is completely different than most upgrades microsoft has come
out
with. You can set XP up for different users which is kinda cool if more
than one of you uses the pc. (it saves your settings - thing such as
your
background etc).

Welcome to the *new millenium* My desktop is in desperate need of an
upgrade - getting new motherboard, memory and processor - I want SPEED!


Guess I'm not the only one that's discovering an upgrade is necessary!
More and more, when I try to do things like ordering merchandise from
web-sites, I've been getting "Javascript error" and my screen freezes.
Someone told me it's because my browser is too old (I'm using Netscape
4.79). Only thing is, when I tried to download Netscape 7.1, I
discovered that most of the new software requires a minimum of 64MB RAM,
and mine computer has only 32MB! (Of course, that was a lot more than I
had before, but things in the computer wolrd change fast, and I bought
my Gateway in November, 1999.)

I've been thinking about a Dell - mainly because they claim they build
them for each individual. How do those of you who have one like it?
The guy at Fry's tried to talk me into one of their "built to order"
models, but what he recommended was over $1,000, and then he told me the
software was all in addition to that! Also, it came with a much fancier
keyboard than I want, a "laser" mouse instead of the standard kind, and
big fancy speakers when I never USE my computer for listening to
anything - so I would be paying for a lot of fancy hardware I don't
really need or want.

We've got two Dells. Mine's a Dimension 4100 desktop model and DW's is a
laptop with a wireless network card (so she can use it in the living room,
kitchen, bedroom, wherever. Both worked perfectly out of the box and
continued to do so with one exception (mine started having floppy disk
problems just before it turned 3 (and my service contract ran out). They
wanted to send a tech out to replace it but I talked them into sending me a
replacement and I replaced it myself).

You can get a faster one for the same money, but Dell pretests all of the
configurations they sell and you can count on them.

Disclaimer: I am not now nor have ever been associated with Dell Computers
in any way other than as a satisfied customer, but YMMV.
Sam

the most important thing about Xp is that it requires MEMORY (ie RAM) you
will need at the minimum 128mb Ram and preferable 256mb Ram.

also to stop the viruses and such i would recommend Norton Internet Security

Thanks for the info. This computer comes with 128 mb of ram, I hope it will be
enough? It has "McAfee" Security Center (virus scan, firewall).. It's the
Dimension 2400 computer (the bottom of the line one they advertise on TV for
$499, w/ free shipping). After you add the CD burner, and the software you
need, etc. it adds up the price of course, but still really economical. Since
it's basically just a toy for me, I was trying to keep the cost down. Hope I
didn't scrimp so much I won't like it. (But then again, I'll think I'm in tall
cotton after using this old one so long)

Sherry

the most important thing about Xp is that it requires MEMORY (ie RAM) you
will need at the minimum 128mb Ram and preferable 256mb Ram.

also to stop the viruses and such i would recommend Norton Internet Security

Thanks for the info. This computer comes with 128 mb of ram, I hope it will be
enough? It has "McAfee" Security Center (virus scan, firewall).. It's the
Dimension 2400 computer (the bottom of the line one they advertise on TV for
$499, w/ free shipping). After you add the CD burner, and the software you
need, etc. it adds up the price of course, but still really economical. Since
it's basically just a toy for me, I was trying to keep the cost down. Hope I
didn't scrimp so much I won't like it. (But then again, I'll think I'm in tall
cotton after using this old one so long)

Sherry

itty (Sherry ) wrote in message ...
I did not like XP. In fact it drove me to Macs
but I haven't used it in a long time. A lot of people do and I am sure
it is better now than when it first came out.

I have always used Macs at work. Beginning with the old SE, and ending with a
G4.. (I finally gave up because of health reasons & quit my job). If I were
still working, or working with design & graphics,,, I'd have sprung for a Mac.
Thanks for the firewall tip. Yeah, I bet I will be amazed. I used to joke that
new continents would form before web sites open on this thing.
So...look out. April 23 you all will eitther see a much faster me, or no me at
all if I can't manage to figure out setting the thing up.

Ssherry

Sherry


April 23? My brother's is April 24. :-)

I don't know jack about computers or their programs, but I wanted to
say Happy Early Birthday and Congratulations on the new addition! I
have the cheapest Dell laptop and XP Home, and am perfectly happy with
them both. All I do with them is play on the internet. My computer
at work, on the other hand, which I am *extremely* attached to (in
fact when I left my old job in December I took it with me), is not so
much a computer as a word processor, and boots up with a default date
of January 1, 1980. 24 years later, it's still going strong. They
don't make 'em like they used to.

------
Krista

itty (Sherry ) wrote in message ...
I did not like XP. In fact it drove me to Macs
but I haven't used it in a long time. A lot of people do and I am sure
it is better now than when it first came out.

I have always used Macs at work. Beginning with the old SE, and ending with a
G4.. (I finally gave up because of health reasons & quit my job). If I were
still working, or working with design & graphics,,, I'd have sprung for a Mac.
Thanks for the firewall tip. Yeah, I bet I will be amazed. I used to joke that
new continents would form before web sites open on this thing.
So...look out. April 23 you all will eitther see a much faster me, or no me at
all if I can't manage to figure out setting the thing up.

Ssherry

Sherry


April 23? My brother's is April 24. :-)

I don't know jack about computers or their programs, but I wanted to
say Happy Early Birthday and Congratulations on the new addition! I
have the cheapest Dell laptop and XP Home, and am perfectly happy with
them both. All I do with them is play on the internet. My computer
at work, on the other hand, which I am *extremely* attached to (in
fact when I left my old job in December I took it with me), is not so
much a computer as a word processor, and boots up with a default date
of January 1, 1980. 24 years later, it's still going strong. They
don't make 'em like they used to.

------
Krista

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 20:00:28 -0700, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote
(in article ):



John Biltz wrote:

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:08:07 -0700, Cheryl wrote
(in article ):

itty (Sherry ) dumped this in
on 13 Apr 2004:

Does anyone know, is there any reason I should buy the upgrade and get
Windows XP Professional instead of Windows XP home?

Congrats! I just got a new Dell laptop and I paid the extra for XP pro.
That said, I'm familiar with both Pro and Home and you really don't need
pro. I only got it so I'd be consistent with my work computer and anything
I can do there, I can do here.

I would put the extra money into ram instead. Before you plug your new
computer into the internet make sure you install a firewall or turn on
the firewall inside XP. Its not the best one, only blocks incoming not
outgoing, but it will do until you can download a free one. You can get a
free antivirus as well. I did not like XP. In fact it drove me to Macs
but I haven't used it in a long time. A lot of people do and I am sure
it is better now than when it first came out. I doubt one is more stable
than the other, if it was they certainly would not admit it. But they
are the same platform and I can't imagine they would leave something out
that would hurt stability. XP has more features mainly for high end
users. You are going to be amazed how fast it is if you are using
something from 95.

I notice that there are several Anti-virus/anti-spam/anti-spyware
software packages available. I have NAV, because it came with my
computer (but only the anti-virus, not the whole works). Is Norton's
package the best? What about McAfee, which seems to offer more for a
bit less money?

I think Norton has really slipped and is too intrusive and controlling.
McAfee beat it for the firewall. I've used both and preferred the
McAfee. AVG is free antivirus software for home use. They sell a
commercial product for business so their always up to date its highly
regarded and free.

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 20:00:28 -0700, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote
(in article ):



John Biltz wrote:

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:08:07 -0700, Cheryl wrote
(in article ):

itty (Sherry ) dumped this in
on 13 Apr 2004:

Does anyone know, is there any reason I should buy the upgrade and get
Windows XP Professional instead of Windows XP home?

Congrats! I just got a new Dell laptop and I paid the extra for XP pro.
That said, I'm familiar with both Pro and Home and you really don't need
pro. I only got it so I'd be consistent with my work computer and anything
I can do there, I can do here.

I would put the extra money into ram instead. Before you plug your new
computer into the internet make sure you install a firewall or turn on
the firewall inside XP. Its not the best one, only blocks incoming not
outgoing, but it will do until you can download a free one. You can get a
free antivirus as well. I did not like XP. In fact it drove me to Macs
but I haven't used it in a long time. A lot of people do and I am sure
it is better now than when it first came out. I doubt one is more stable
than the other, if it was they certainly would not admit it. But they
are the same platform and I can't imagine they would leave something out
that would hurt stability. XP has more features mainly for high end
users. You are going to be amazed how fast it is if you are using
something from 95.

I notice that there are several Anti-virus/anti-spam/anti-spyware
software packages available. I have NAV, because it came with my
computer (but only the anti-virus, not the whole works). Is Norton's
package the best? What about McAfee, which seems to offer more for a
bit less money?

I think Norton has really slipped and is too intrusive and controlling.
McAfee beat it for the firewall. I've used both and preferred the
McAfee. AVG is free antivirus software for home use. They sell a
commercial product for business so their always up to date its highly
regarded and free.

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 19:50:09 -0700, Sherry wrote
(in article ):

I did not like XP. In fact it drove me to Macs
but I haven't used it in a long time. A lot of people do and I am sure
it is better now than when it first came out.

I have always used Macs at work. Beginning with the old SE, and ending with a
G4.. (I finally gave up because of health reasons & quit my job). If I were
still working, or working with design & graphics,,, I'd have sprung for a
Mac.
Thanks for the firewall tip. Yeah, I bet I will be amazed. I used to joke
that
new continents would form before web sites open on this thing.
So...look out. April 23 you all will eitther see a much faster me, or no me
at
all if I can't manage to figure out setting the thing up.

Ssherry

Sherry

Just don't tear the other down and copy the settings from the old one