-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Specs for Dell 8300 and Justification Of Same
- From: "Kathy Ferrell" <fnkdf@xxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 15:55:50 -0900
Hi Jean,
Let's see. I picked 2 drives because some of the larger drives have a
higher failure rate than smaller drives. It really doesn't matter, however.
Whatever you choose, definitely partition the drive and then point your
documents, desktop, favorites and e-mail folder to a different partition
than your system partition. That way, if (when) your OS fails you and
you're at the point of having to reinstall, you can do so without hosing all
of your data. Reinstall system and apps, point things back to the folders
on D, or whatever drive letter you have other than C, and viola, you're off
and going again. Sounds like you need to make your C partition a lot bigger
than you have now so you don't run into no space problems in the future. If
you need help with doing the pointing of things, holler when you're ready
and I'll walk you through it.
The one advantage 2 drives would have is if one failed completely. The
other is still intact and you haven't lost everything.
Dell has recently caved in and moved their tech support for enterprises,
commercial and education users back to the US because we all bitched so much
to them about it. They know where their bread is buttered from and it's not
the home user so they will continue to put the home user at the bottom of
the tech support food chain. That's a bummer but it's not only Dell doing
it. There are a ton of major companies that have laid off plenty thousands
of US workers because they can get cheap labor overseas, especially in third
world countries. They are even moving out of Mexico because the labor is
cheaper in Malaysia, China, etc. Pretty hard to believe they can't make a
huge profit by staying Mexico where the wages are below poverty level to
begin with. They are even trying to teach them to speak with an American
accent so the user has no idea where they are connected to. I think the
state of business in the USA sucks pretty good right now and we all suffer
for it. Of course, nothing will change unless we all stand up and scream,
"Enough!", and back it up with our wallets as well. It's a tough one.
I often call the education support line and force them to give me support
for a home user's machine I am working on. It works pretty well and is much
faster but they know I do lots of buying for the University I work for so
they bend the rules for me I guess.
As far as specs...you probably will not notice one iota of difference in the
3 GB versus the 3.2 and for the price difference I would stick with the 3.0.
I don't know of one user that could honestly differentiate between the two
if they were using both right next to each other.
Ram is something one can never have too much of, in my opinion. Nor hard
drive space. The more you have the more you'll use so you may as well think
big. 1 GB of RAM is GREAT! If you can afford it, go for it.
All the video cards listed for this machine support 2 monitors. The only
thing you will need is the DVI adapter only if you choose a flat panel
monitor to be one of the two. If both are CRT displays, you won't need the
adapter. May as well grab another CRT 20 incher and go crazy if you have
the space for two of them.
And that's the end of another episode of Rants by Kat. Hope some of it is
useful. Kat
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of greatest
moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. --- Dante 1265-1321
-----Original Message-----
From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of J
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 12:09 AM
To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Kathy Ferrell
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Specs for Dell 8300 and Justification Of Same
Present computer operating as if mired in taffy ............. :)
C drive now says about 550 mg free space............
So it took me a while to get mail downloaded and some read.................
Thanks SO MUCH for this message, Kat.............
Some feedback from here.............
First let me say - you are right about Dell and India.............. :) I am
sure everyone means well but I tried calling for support in making a
purchase choice and it was just a disaster. (picture a senior lady with
minor hearing loss trying to communicate with someone with a minor
English loss) :) The young man meant well - but I was never sure I
understood exactly what he was saying.
I have been thinking of either 3.0 GHz - or 3.2 as far as the processor is
concerned (but considering the price difference was not sure the 3.2 was
worth it)
As far as memory - have 256MB RAM now - and it is NOT
enough.................so had been thinking of 1012. Again - not sure this
computer might not work properly at 256 if I just cleaned out the
underbrush.
Had been thinking of choosing the 200 GB HD - wondering now about the
advantages of two separate HD's - rather than one large one. Would I
put all programmes on one of them and saved files on the 2nd? Belarc
tells me I have 55.35 GB usable HD capacity now........(total of the 2
drives).... I installed and set up the 2nd HD myself (not knowing
what I was doing). Somewhere I lost about 20 % of the capacity I
thought I would have............but I was too grateful to have it work at
all to question this... :)
But there must have been a reason you suggested two - rather than one large
one?
(I have no understanding at all of Dell's choices - DDR SD RAM vs Dual
Channel DDR SD RAM.......) or whatever else appears in the fine print on
the site..............
This is as far as I have gotten with your feedback.
Except for the monitor. The one I am using - a DELL Trinitron P1110 is
just over 2 years old (a replacement from Dell since the original expired
just about the time the 3 year warranty was up). I thought I would be able
to use it for one monitor on the new system - and use the
monitor that came with the new sysem as a second? This one is a 20
inch and I suspect I would find a smaller one too difficult to read.
Which means I would be looking for a 20 in. monitor to come with the new
system. And how would I know the video card would support two
monitors?
Agree with what you were saying re Dell vs unknowns.................
I am sure there would be cheaper ways to go ...............
but I am sure I do not know enough to be sure of what I am buying..........
Jean
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