minimum spec for new pc

A

Alan m

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Aug 11, 2010
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3,318
hi there,
i need a new pc as this one is getting shook and needs scrapping. i fixed it last year and was told basically its not financially worth doing it again (ram cards went and ruined the harddrive  ??? ???)
anyway i think it need a re instale and needs more ram as its barely keepin going with web use (basic web pages and the fog etc)
its about 7 years old so the spec isnt good enough now.

im thinking a a laptop so that i can bring it around for job quotes, pricing jobs, job pics, general use.
basic browser and excell type programs. maybe a bit of cad
i can spend a fortune on it as money is tight ( all spent on tools) but still want one that will last a few years

any advice on what minium spec i should go for as i dont know a lot about this type of stuff

thanks alan
 
I am a big fan of Lenovo ThinkPads. Very solid build. I have had several that have spent lots of time on job sites. I replace them every few years to stay current.

If all you need to do is quotes, invoices, web and photos a core 2 duo would be fine. Light cad would be no problem. If you ever plan on using sketchup look for something other than an intel graphics card or just make sure its intel hd. You can get a  Thinkpad sl510 new for around $300 in US if you shop around. Very capable and rock solid laptop for the price.
 
since your asking about computers on a festool board i just have to say it... mac
 
Processor: if you want the absolute minimum I'd say get an Intel core 2 duo processor of 3 GHZ. This one has 2 cores and enough speed to be acceptable for another 3 or 4 years. You can extend that time a bit with a 4 core processor of the same speed.

Memory: 4 GigaByte. Plenty for most tasks. If you want to spend as little money as possible you could even get away with 2 GB, and perhaps later add some more.

These two things are the most important in determining how long a computer stays current. 
 
Mac.

It's worth the shift from PC ... you'll complain for a bout two weeks, then you won't look back.

Most of my time is on an iPad these days though ...

Kev.
 
Mac all the way. I started with a IIe. The only PC i've ever bought is an HP for some construction software years ago.
Ok, enough of the partisan BS. A couple more helpful thoughts...
- As far as the laptop being helpful bidding jobs or having it onsite, I'd have to say its a pipe dream. I've tried that and the idea tends to be far more efficient than reality. If I'm on a job I'm trying to actually get work done. If I'm looking at a job, the laptop doesn't help with the client. I think its perceived as impersonal and puts a barrier between connecting with the potential client and actually selling the job. I still use a clipboard or notepad.
- The only time I have found the laptop helpful on jobsites is if I know I will have a lot of down time that particular day but still need to be onsite. On those days I can get a ton of paperwork done.
- For word, excel, sketching, etc. you don't need the biggest fastest machine out there. Any machine will pretty much do that. However, I currently have a Macbook Pro as my laptop (along with a desktop). When the ibook died (one of the white ones, and one of the very few macs that actually died) I stepped up to the macbook. The ibook was fine for normal use, however, when I had multiple programs running such as word, excel, etc. (working on a bid) and the internet connection looking stuff up, the machine got slow and showed its limitations. So what I'm trying to say in way too many words is whatever type machine you buy, don't get the entry level unit. The macbook pro doesn't care how much stuff I have open.
- I'd get a desktop and add the laptop later when possible. I have had only one at various short times. Miss the laptop but really prefer the desktop. My current 27" imac really rocks.
Hope that helps.
 
Alan,

I am a Mac fan.  But based on what you are looking at doing and hearing your situation, buy a windows machine.  I am sure I will get some raspberries spewed my way, but there are a ton of less than $600 (US) laptops out there and I am sure you can find equivalents on that side of the water.  Later you can sell that machine for a couple of hundred and use that money to move to a better machine.

Buy a name brand and as suggested earlier, don't buy the cheapest.

Peter

 
I can tell you what not to buy!  

Laptops:

Don't buy Advent.  (owned 2. Both broke in the same way  screen started breaking of due to open and closing and Fans stopped working with in one year.

Dont buy HP. ( Owned 3 and my girlfriend and her sister have one each so total of 5!   All of them only last 1 year!  All failed with the same problems battery died.  All 5 now have to be plugged in all the time to work.

Don't buy prebuilt  DELL deal laptop ( owned 2.  Crash a lot they are sluggish slow and fans failed.). Owned 2 Dells before these 2 they where brilliant but they where bought over the phone custome made.

So that's ....... 9 laptops. Average life span  1year    Average price of laptops. £800 to £1200

Jmb

 
If you can't cost justify getting a Macbook Pro then I'd look for a solid PC laptop with Windows 7 on it. As was earlier stated Lenovo (ex. IBM) laptops are solidly built and when setup with the utilities provided by the manufacturer they actually work as well as Macs.

From experience at my daytime job I would steer clear of Dell's even though they are "cheap" -> there's a reason they are cheap... And the same goes for low-end Hewlett-Packard/Compaq laptops. All three are just a pain in the hiney to keep running.

Of course Macs are closer to Festools in the sense that you'll feel the pain in your wallet at purchase time, but it will feel good after the stinging subsides [tongue]
 
I'll jump in again.

A bit of back ground from me ... 30 years in IT, the last 12+ as a consulting IT technology architect for many global brand companies.

I won't steer you to a Mac lightly - there is solid reasoning behind a Mac for anyone that doesn't have a specific need to run a pice of Windows of linux software that's hostile to a virtualised host (e.g. VMware Fusion for Mac).

I'd seriously consider a combo like an iMac and an iPad ... versatility on the site and on the road, comfort at home.

Buying a computer because it's a "brand Name" is not a solid course of action - buy anything from IBM, HP, Dell and you still only get what you pay for and often less than you'd expect.

Apple has a very narrow range and although there's a slight premium, there is value - but hey ... this is a Festool forum, you'd think that concept and understanding would be clear.

Just don't go out and spend your money on what will be next years piece of garbage.
 
not what i wanted to here but the truth hurts (wallet in this case). i have to agree , iv got a dell laptop and pc. both were very good spec at the time but were a pain to keep running let alone fast
 
Since many have their opinions, I will offer my own. (also, I too have been in IT, since it was called DP)...

Determine what you want to use it for.  In other words, what are you attempting to accomplish with the new machine.  That should drive your configuration decision.

Portability?  That settles the type of machine. (i.e. no desktop)

If you need video resolution or extensive graphics, your machine needs either a high-end video card as standard, or it should be upgradebale prior to purchase. Driving an outboard monitor/TV could affect this decision. (this can be done on laptops)

High end graphics (especially if no dedicated GPU) or extensive multitasking, drive multi-core and memory. (there is no such thing as too much memory). Also, most laptops, and some desktops, support only two memory slots so if you need to upgrade your memory in the future, everthing you purchase originally must be discarded.

Extensive drive access?  Consider SDD.  If going with SSD, look for SLC, vs. MLC.  If that is too rich, then you need to consider drive speed.  Consider a minimum of 7200 RPMs.  Electronics are fast, mechanical devices are sloooooooow.

Obviously, the more externalizing you can do the better.  Think USB, HDMI, etc...  Again, the more the better.

If you decide on a laptop, do you have, or intend to acquire, external equipment/devices (TV, floppy (yes, some still need floppy access), backup drive, etc...), you want to hook your new machine to?  If so, you may want to consider some type of docking station.

Since "I" keep all my machines a minimum of 5 to 8 years, "my" original purchase price does weigh as heavily as it would otherwise.

But, that's me and YMMV.

Good luck.

 
Have to agree on the advice not to buy HP laptops. My wife used to be HP loyal. After the 3rd HP laptop that only lasted less than 2 years she woke up.
 
I forgot to add my voice to the HP issue.

As humans, we, mostly, base our opinions on our own experiences or that of others, especially if we trust them.

While "I" have never owned an HP PC, a client of mine once had a problem with their HP.  Windows, as is normal, crashed, quite hard, and the only solution was a complete reinstall, so I was called.  Unfortunately, the Windows crash also took out the hidden partition that contained the Windows install files.  So, we needed a CD to legally and properly install Windows.

I called HP and Best Buy, both told me, sure, I could get a CD and that would be $100.00, please.   [jawdrop] Really?  Well, F the both of you and KMA.  [mad]

I used one of my MS development licenses to install Windows on his machine and never looked back.  And never looked at HP for a PC.

Of course, others' mileage may vary.

 
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