fulkersonm Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 You can use your current monitor, add a monitor to your order, or buy a monitor separately... Oh, and folks, if you are getting the desktop, I strongly suggest either adding a video card to your order or adding one after you get the desktop. It would be a cryin' shame http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileypad/Sad%20Upset/cry1.gif to saddle a great processor like the Quad-Core Q6600 to onboard Intel graphics. Talk about a bottleneck. http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileypad/Alcohol/bot.gifSo would you add the one Dell recommends or would you buy another and install it yourself? I need some guidance here. I'm not a game player but my DH is and he is at work so I cannot ask him what to do. We don't get new computers often and I want to be sure this one will be good enough for a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 So would you add the one Dell recommends or would you buy another and install it yourself? I need some guidance here. I'm not a game player but my DH is and he is at work so I cannot ask him what to do. We don't get new computers often and I want to be sure this one will be good enough for a few years.You will likely get a much better deal by buying one somewhere else. But to be honest, if you don't play the latest games and mainly use the computer for internet/e-mail/office type things, the included video is probably good enough as long as you don't have a really high resolution monitor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcster Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 It's cheaper to buy a video card for a desktop elsewhere (Newegg.com, ClubIT.com, etc.), and they are very easy to install. For instance, Dell wants $150 for a 256MB 8600GT video card. Here is the same thing for $60 after a $30 MIR:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085(and EVGA makes a nice card). Just make sure to download the latest graphics drivers from the nVidia (or AMD, as appropriate) web site. The drivers on any included CD are always dated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulkersonm Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Now I am trying to make up my mind between the desk top and the laptop. Is there anything you would upgrade to on the laptop? It will be used for routine bookkeeping, internet, e-mail, and photo editing. Maybe I can keep the DH and DS away from it so it won't have any games on it. Solitaire is my limit as far as games go. But I do use lots of spreadsheets, etc. and will probably have to spring for Office 2007 soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonghornMomma Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Now I am trying to make up my mind between the desk top and the laptop. Is there anything you would upgrade to on the laptop? It will be used for routine bookkeeping, internet, e-mail, and photo editing. Maybe I can keep the DH and DS away from it so it won't have any games on it. Solitaire is my limit as far as games go. But I do use lots of spreadsheets, etc. and will probably have to spring for Office 2007 soon.How intense is your photo editing? Laptops are convienent and I wouldn't want to give mine up for the world. That being said, I will never again try to do intense photo editing on a laptop again. It was just kind of nerve wracking for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulkersonm Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 It's not intense at all at this point because we are just learning. We just bought a Canon Rebel with a zoom lens and hubby is taking lots of pictures of birds and other wildlife. Actually I don't even know what his intentions are with the pictures. I just know it is in his plans to learn more about his picture taking and photo editing, but I don't really know how involved he actually will become. We have a decent desk top that he can use. I use a laptop for church work, volunteer work, and home stuff. The laptop I have is several years old and cannot be used more than 30 min. on battery. It has become so slow that I've been about ready to give up on it so I thought this would be the best way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonghornMomma Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 It's not intense at all at this point because we are just learning. We just bought a Canon Rebel with a zoom lens and hubby is taking lots of pictures of birds and other wildlife. Actually I don't even know what his intentions are with the pictures. I just know it is in his plans to learn more about his picture taking and photo editing, but I don't really know how involved he actually will become. We have a decent desk top that he can use. I use a laptop for church work, volunteer work, and home stuff. The laptop I have is several years old and cannot be used more than 30 min. on battery. It has become so slow that I've been about ready to give up on it so I thought this would be the best way to go.You're probably right. From my experience (and it could be way off base) a good deal on GOOD laptop is fewer and further between than one on a desktop. If your laptop is hobbling I'd go with that. And FYI.. if your husband is anything like everyone else who buys a DSLR you're going to be in for ALOT of purchases. "Gotta have a new Lens." "Oh, it HAS to be an L lens!" "This computer is just not going to run Lightroom and CS3 effectively, which are programs I HAVE to have." Things like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fulkersonm Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 You're probably right. From my experience (and it could be way off base) a good deal on GOOD laptop is fewer and further between than one on a desktop. If your laptop is hobbling I'd go with that. And FYI.. if your husband is anything like everyone else who buys a DSLR you're going to be in for ALOT of purchases. "Gotta have a new Lens." "Oh, it HAS to be an L lens!" "This computer is just not going to run Lightroom and CS3 effectively, which are programs I HAVE to have." Things like that. Thanks for the encouragement about getting myself the laptop. And I am afraid you are right about the camera. He's already pointing out things that he "thinks" he needs. I told him to learn to use what he has first. Do you use Vista? I haven't and would be glad to have XP on the laptop, but it doesn't seem to be available like that. I guess I better be sure my Quickbooks will work with Vista. There's lots of things to think about when deciding about a new computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonghornMomma Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Thanks for the encouragement about getting myself the laptop. And I am afraid you are right about the camera. He's already pointing out things that he "thinks" he needs. I told him to learn to use what he has first. Do you use Vista? I haven't and would be glad to have XP on the laptop, but it doesn't seem to be available like that. I guess I better be sure my Quickbooks will work with Vista. There's lots of things to think about when deciding about a new computer.LOL... Sounds like he is in the first stages of L'coholism. It's a slippery slope from there, I tell ya! Well, I'm not even going to pretend I know much about computers except for the photography angle on it. I fought against Vista for a long time because I heard nothing but bad things about it. My husband ended up getting a desktop with Vista on it and I've used it a couple times. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it seems pretty slick to me. I'd just really check all your components like your printer and things like that to make sure that Vista drivers are available. I just purchased the Dell $329 deal (supposed to get here today) and I put Vista on it. Everything I have though works with Vista. Good luck and I"m sure no matter which you choose you'll just be happy to have newer computer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gezzmom70 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 (edited) How intense is your photo editing? Laptops are convienent and I wouldn't want to give mine up for the world. That being said, I will never again try to do intense photo editing on a laptop again. It was just kind of nerve wracking for me. I think it depends on the laptop. I use mine for intensive photo editing and have had no problems. You just need to make sure you have enough RAM and a decent video resolution. I run CS3 on my laptop. Edited March 21, 2008 by gezzmom70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonghornMomma Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I think it depends on the laptop. I use mine for intensive photo editing and have had no problems. You just need to make sure you have enough RAM and a decent video resolution. I run CS3 on my laptop.Oh yeah, it's possible. I guess it's just my personal preference. I run Lightroom and CS3 on mine but I just seem to get a better feel on a huge screen. It's alot easier for me using my tablet that way too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share Posted March 21, 2008 FYI, the desktop deal is supposed to end at midnight CT tonight (less than an hour) and the laptop deal will end at 6am CT tomorrow morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pikapikapi Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Dang it! just missed the quad core deal. anymore quad deals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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