which branded computer do you prefer and which operating system?

Answer 1

I refuse to buy "branded" pc's on the grounds of shoddy technical support when windows desides not to work. (Please use your preset cd to fix your computer)... Which becomes incredibly restrictive when you wish to upgrade your pc at a later date. Seeing as I have some experience in working with computers, I tend to build my own.

In terms of gear, I tend to use "Shuttles" because tehy are light, small, and dont require a massive PSU.. This is because the motherboard is smaller, and does not have hundreds of slots. I prefer smaller cases because I do take my pc to my friends house, and use his network now and again

Motherboards, I am swayed to the Nvidia Nforce series just now, because of the chipset support, and additional features on it.

Graphics, Im definately a fan of ATI just now, some of the mid-top range cards they are offering appear to be better than Nvidias, which to me are a little overpriced.

As for Operating system, Im an avid XP user. Sure, other OS's have quirks about them that make them useful, but I feel XP is currently the most stable of them out there just now (Though, Vista will surpass this in a few years time, when several patches/updates have been released)

Answer 2

You can only use an XP disk to install XP on one computer. If you try to install it on a second computer (illegally) you will not be able to validate it with Microsoft. If you uninstalled XP from the first computer Microsoft may allow you to install it after you call Microsoft using the phone number you will be given when the validation is rejected. As of January 1 Microsoft will no longer sell OEM versions of XP to computer makers. Dell will not sell a computer without an operating system. Dell no longer even sells and XP systems at Dell Outlet. Since you will need to reformat the computer to install XP it makes no difference if the hard drive is blank or has Vista pre-installed. Get Vista Home Premium and get all the disks. This way if you want to install Vista at some future date, and you will, you will have the software for free. When you format and install XP you will need to install the XP drivers for your modem; computer/motherboard; video card; sound card; network card; mouse; web cam; etc. It is likely if this is a new computer model, that there are no XP drivers available for your computer. Without the XP drivers the computer will run slow, if at all.

Answer 3

Apple, Mac OS X.

I have a PowerBook G4 from 5 years ago and it still runs as fast as it did when I first got it. Haven't reinstalled the OS since I bought it. Runs just as fast as I need for movie editing and photo stuff. Compare that to a PC Windoze desktop I built around the same time (Athlon Thunderbird 1400Ghz 1 GB RAM all that jazz was top of the line when I built it) Windows was just crap, had to update stuff all the time drivers galore, and the system would slow after a certain amount of time with out clean up. Got hit with some viruses... Vista was good, but at the time a lot of stuff wasn't supported. I ended up tossing that and bought a Mac Pro Desktop 8-core. Running Mac OS X and Vista on that machine. Runs sooo sweetly. Case is beautifully engineered. Vista runs at index of 5.9.

With all the time dealing with trying to fix the Windoze machine from slow downs and virus attacks and trying to figure out what went wrong with plugging in a simple device and it doesn't work even with the supplied drivers CD really was not productive. Now productivity for me is actually working on what I want to work on, and not dealing with the computer itself.

Answer 4

I went to a four month class. now I prefer to build my own computer. Retail providers put things on a computer you may not want. Determine the needs of your computing habits. Determine what kind of computer will fit those needs. Determine what kind of Internet access will provide you with the best internet experience. Then after installation, of computer and Internet service provider.... install Antivirus, Antispy, Antimalware, and aftermarket firewall. I use WinXp because Vista has not been on the market that long to work out all the bugs in it. Xp will be provided support and program writing until the year 2012. Then will I upgrade to vista. I built my 'puter myself. New at the retail level you can only receive Vista. Goodluck.

Answer 5

Dell Desktop loaded with Windows XP Service Pack 3

Answer 6

Asus PC's , Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Answer 7

A nicely loaded Dell with Debian or Ubuntu linux.

Answer 8

IBM, Windows

Answer 9

Dell, I really have been liking linux lately.

Answer 10

a decent HP with XP will do great in my book.