Condensed Buying Guide for Windows Vista™
Desktop and Laptop Computers

by Allyn Perdue

October 27, 2008

I receive occasional requests regarding security software choices and recommendations for computer purchases. As briefly as possible, I will address those questions here.

Soon, a new Intel processor family will be introduced for high-end desktop systems. The Intel Core i7 Extreme and Core i7 Quad CPUs are the first of a new micro-architecture from Intel Corporation. They will appear in very expensive computers this Holiday Season and are not going to be good buys for the typical consumer. Next summer, mainstream models will be introduced at reasonable prices. Meanwhile, current technology processors are fine for most of us.

I have recently added the next section on computer usage categories to better explain what to look for in specific categories/for readers interested in those to explain the differences in performance.

Computer Usage

The choice of a computer whether laptop or desktop is determined by its intended usage. Most computer users will be well served with a properly configured basic system and do not need to spend substantial sums on a computer.

Desktop or Laptop/Notebook?

Component miniaturization and the increasing need to save space have made laptop/notebook computers an easier choice. I value my three years old Toshiba notebook with Windows XP far more than my relatively expensive gaming and multimedia desktop system. The laptop is a great spacesaver blessed with portability. And if I want to hear higher fidelity audio, it's a simple matter to plug in line-level audio into the headphone connector. This is the best of both worlds for most of what I do with a computer.

I strongly advise investigating a laptop. Further in this guide I have listed recommended laptop processors and configurations.

Basic Computer

A basic computer is suitable for word and spreadsheet processing, printing, occasional and simple photo manipulation, DVD and CD playback, online video playback, simple card games such as solitaire and poker, email, and web browsing or surfing. Basic computers today should have at least two gigabytes random access memory (RAM) for smoothest operation. While this amount may seem excessive for a simple system, it is not. Windows Vista runs best in that configuration and memory is cheap. Also, the additional RAM is one less step toward upgrading basic system components later for multimedia work.

Basic computers should ideally have at the minimum a low-end to mid-range dual core processor. Examples of dual core processors for basic desktop systems in order of increasing performance are the Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200, AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ or 5000B, and Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200, the latter an excellent new choice manufactured with the latest technology.

Most computers feature video, sound, and network interface devices integrated on the system board (motherboard). Unlike integrated video adapters of a few years ago, today's integrated video is quite good for basic and multimedia operations.

Basic computers typically have one hard disk drive and one CD-RW/DVD drive. Front panel audio jacks and USB 2.0 ports are generally standard. The latest models no longer offer parallel connections for hard drives and CD/DVD drives or offer a floppy drive interface. Their "header connections" are not needed for Windows Vista installations. Leaving them out lowers manufacturing costs.

Multimedia Computer

A multimedia computer performs the same functions as a basic computer but is optimized for home entertainment and amateur/professional audio, still image, and video editing/manipulation. Multimedia systems are typically configured with two or more CD/DVD RW drives and one or more high capacity hard drives. An advanced sound card may replace integrated audio and a mid-range video card with high definition (HD) video capability may be included. TV tuners may also be offered.

Multimedia computers usually have two to four gigabytes RAM and often have a faster processor than basic systems. Examples of mid-range and upper mid-range processors include the Intel Core 2 Duo E7200, E8300, and the quad-core (4 CPU cores) Q9400 and Q9550, all featuring the most recent micro-technology. For good lower cost alternatives, the Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 and the Core 2 Quad Q6600 are respectable performers at discounted prices manufactured with last year's technology. See Intel Processor Guide for additional information.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is Intel Corporation's primary competitor in the processor market). Their top-of-the line Phenom X4 and X3 processors are acceptable for multimedia and gaming and are often slightly less expensive than Intel equipped computers. Be aware that some Phenom processors such as the X4 9600 and X3 8400 are already obsolete and should be avoided. See AMD Processor Guide for additional information.

Gaming Computer

Gaming computers are multimedia computers on steroids. They feature the fastest processors plus advanced video cards for high-speed high-detail game play and typically have much higher capacity power supplies.

Some gaming computers have tweaked CPU multipliers. This means their core clock speed is set higher than what Intel or AMD officially sanction.  Examples include the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 offered by Dell with their XPS 730 series computers and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9700 with the Alienware boutique brand. In such configurations, the warranty is entirely supported by the computer assembler and not by the processor manufacturer.

Most gaming system motherboards offer enthusiast features such as AMD-ATI CrossfireX or Nvidia SLI, technologies that allow strapping multiple video cards in sync for the most rapid frame rates possible. This yields a much higher degree of realism and immersive experience whether flying a virtual jetliner or hunting terrorists.

Computer selection: Dell, Gateway, and Hewlett-Packard are all good choices.

In the pre-built arena, I lean toward Dell because of pricing, quality control, friendly web-based technical support, ease of online ordering, and quick delivery. To be fair, I do not care for Dell's telephone technical support because much has been outsourced to overseas locations where getting a good English speaking representative is a gamble.

Online or retail store?

Dell does online the best of any. In retail stores, I prefer buying Staples by a small margin over Best Buy. I like them all with Dell a favorite because of web-based support and easy setup once Norton, McAfee, and Trend Micro security suites are removed from the computer.

Online ordering or via telephone?

I do not order by telephone; it’s my experience that the odds of an ordering error when talking to a human on some other continent to be much higher than when dealing with a "machine." Ordering via Internet is the best route.

Tip: Check DealMeIn.net and other sources for Dell and other discount coupons. Apply coupon codes during checkout at the Dell website for potential savings.

For those who are not comfortable ordering online, Dell, Gateway, and Hewlett-Packard are available in retail stores such as Best Buy, Staples, and Wal-Mart.

System Memory (RAM)

Nearly all desktop computers now come with two gigabytes (2 GB) RAM. Any desktop or laptop/notebook system offered with less RAM should be upgraded to at least 2 GB for a much smoother Windows Vista experience and as a hedge against service pack and security software “creep.” Saving money by only getting one gigabyte of RAM is poor logic.

Remember that two gigabytes RAM should be considered the minimum for Windows Vista. If three gigabytes or more are offered at a reasonable price, do take the offer.

Processor (CPU) Selection

An important qualification for all computer shoppers: Choose a dual core or quad core processor.

Dual core is fine for most computer users. But if you are considering video editing or doing a great deal of music encoding (encoding means changing formats) or you simply want the most advanced technology, choose a quad-core processor. The additional processing cores are faster for multi-media and newer fast action games.

If your budget directs you to single core, be sure to streamline your new computer by uninstalling unneeded programs. This includes Norton Internet Security, one of the most difficult security products for single core systems to handle. Also, avoid using America Online with a single core system; AOL software can cause a severe performance penalty.

Recent technology achievements make Intel Corporation the leader at the very high end of the performance and price spectrum. That does not necessarily mean all of their products represent the best value. It is still important to consider competing processors from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

High performance at a reasonable price

If I was in the market for a high performance desktop processor today, I would choose either an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550, Q9400, or an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400. The Q9550 at 2.83 GHz is ideal for multi-threaded games, video and audio encoding and editing, and for photo manipulation. The Q9400 at 2.66 GHz is almost as quick.

Processors with very good to excellent performance

For basic home and business computing needs, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel offer suitable alternatives in their respective AMD Athlon 64 X2 and Intel Core 2 Duo and Pentium Dual Core lines.

For maximum efficiency in a basic to intermediate desktop computer, AMD processors are the best choice by a small margin if mated with the right integrated graphics package such as the AMD 780 Chipset used in the Dell Inspiron 519 computer. But if considering adding a video card instead of using integrated graphics, the best choice is to go with an Intel based system such as the Dell Inspiron 530. The same processor guidelines can be applied to Gateway and HP computers.

Choosing a laptop/notebook processor

Intel and AMD laptop computer processors are not the same as the desktop models. They are physically smaller and are modified for cooler operation. They fall a bit short of the performance potential of a desktop system.

The most common Intel model as of press time is the Core 2 Duo T5850 (2.00 GHz with 2 MB L2 Cache). This is a special deep-discounted release for OEMs (Dell, Gateway, HP) not offered for individual retail purchase. The T5850 is fine for most users.

For better performance and for a cooler and quieter running laptop/notebook computer, the Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 is ideal. Manufactured with 45 nanometer (nm) technology, the T8100 processor is what I recommend for most notebook buyers. Optionally, the T5670 is a good choice.

In the low end, the Intel Pentium Dual Core T2000 series is minimally acceptable for computers not getting heavy multimedia use. They perform acceptably well for Internet browsing, email, word processing and spreadsheets.

Entry-level laptops with single core processors (Intel Celeron and AMD Sempron) are suitable for email, basic word processing, and Internet browsing. However, they can quickly bog down with a resource hungry security suite. So do be careful when choosing a security suite. Norton Internet Security, Panda, and Trend Micro can severely impact entry level machines. I suggest products such as ESET Smart Security and the free avast! 4 Home Edition for entry level systems.

Note: I do not recommend using America Online (AOL) with any computer with a single core processor. Combined with security and imaging suites, AOL can bring such a computer to its figurative knees.

General Processor Tips

Tip #1: When shopping for a processor, look for Duo, Dual Core, X2, or Quad in the name; any other is single core and will not perform well with Windows Vista once saddled with today's imaging and security software suites.

Tip #2: Don’t choose a processor based strictly upon brand name recognition or referral. Learn about performance and make an informed choice.  See AMD and Intel Desktop CPU Guides for more detailed information. Visit Tom’s CPU Charts to compare desktop processor performance using multiple benchmarks.

Choosing an LCD Monitor

LCD monitors are predominantly widescreen to match the aspect ratios of high definition television and most movies. The most common sizes are 20” (okay), 22” (very nice), and 24” (much better and quite expensive!). Measure your desktop area and make your choice. Leave at least one inch on each side for maneuvering.

If a widescreen monitor is not needed or desired, I suggest a 19" 5:4 ratio LCD display. This familiar, nearly square style actually provides more viewing area than a 20” widescreen and is best for viewing documents.

I am highly impressed with Hewlett-Packard’s LCD monitors. Check them out at Staples and other stores.

Choosing a laptop/notebook computer

Increasingly, laptops are becoming the preferred choice of many users (including this author) due to their small physical footprint, recent performance improvements, wireless capabilities, and cable/wire reduction. Of course, their most prized feature is mobility with relatively light weight.

Equipment guidelines for laptops are the same as desktops except it is more important to specify at least two gigabytes RAM at the outset. This is because laptop manufacturers often install RAM DIMMs (or sticks) in all available slots (typically two). This means an upgrade usually involves full RAM replacement leaving the owner with one or two unneeded sticks of RAM. It also means upgrading may be more expensive later. Therefore, I strongly advise configuring new laptop computers with two gigabytes (2 GB) RAM pre-installed.

If the laptop is going to serve as a desktop replacement, either AMD or Intel mid-range dual core mobile processors will serve well. But if needing ultimate high end performance or maximum battery run time, only Intel Core 2 Duo fills the bill.

At the top end, I prefer Intel Core 2 Duo T8000 or T9000 processors for their superior performance and power management capabilities. In the lower price category, Intel Core 2 Duo Pentium Dual Core T5000 series processors are fine.

I do not recommend Intel Pentium Dual Core T2000 series for laptops with Windows Vista. Yes, this may sound like a contradiction. But why pay for locked-in low performance when for a few more dollars, one can get an Intel Core 2 Duo T57nn series computer.

I have recently evaluated an Acer Ultra-Low-Cost-PCs with an Intel Atom CPU and found that it handles Windows XP Home Edition quite well  These new mini-notebooks are satisfactory for basic computing including email, surfing, word processing, and simple spreadsheets. They should not be considered mainstream multimedia machines.

Preferred brands

I have no real preference for laptop brands; all seem to perform well. This leaves service after the sale as the big question. Frankly, I lean toward Gateway in that regard as they seem to be making improvements in their support system. Unfortunately, offshore support is now a fact of life in today’s global economy. So expect your service technician to be in India, Costa Rica, or almost any industrialized region on the globe. Just hope they speak decent English.

Laptop Tips

Tip #1: If able, try out several laptops in stores and see how the keyboard feels. Consider adding an external mouse and keyboard for easier typing.

Tip #2: A no-drink policy should be adopted in the workspace as spilling a drink into a laptop keyboard may require a service call. If the laptop is very expensive (~$1600+), a comprehensive service contract with accidental damage coverage should be considered.

Tip #3: Intel Centrino Duo and Centrino 2 are not processors; they are marketing platforms consisting of a Core 2 Duo processor plus an Intel 965 or later mobile chipset and a wireless transceiver. Ignore “Centrino” and look at the processor and RAM for the important specifications.

All-in-one PCs

With the burgeoning popularity of the iMac, Dell and Gateway have answered with new all-in-one computers. Gateway have had their moderately successful Profile series for many years. Previous versions typically required shipping to a service center for simple repairs. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue.

Today’s Gateway and Dell all-in-one systems are field serviceable by technicians and the owner. I would not hesitate to consider one as a desktop replacement.

Dell XPS One

Gateway One

Windows Vista 64-bit?

Sixty-four (64) bit processors and software have twice the data pathways to system RAM (Random Access Memory) of thirty-two (32) bit versions. They also can address or utilize a huge amount of memory whereas 32-bit systems are limited to a maximum of 3.5 GB.

All common versions of Windows Vista for consumers are 32-bit. 64-bit versions are included with Windows Vista Ultimate Edition retail package. Installation DVDs may be ordered from Microsoft in the other flavors of Windows Vista.

Windows Vista 32-bit operating systems cannot effectively utilize more than 3.50 gigabytes RAM. This is why 3 GB RAM configurations are offered in some systems. Note that even with 4 GB, .50 GB is generally wasted.

Due to cheap RAM and the 3.50 GB memory limit of 32-bit versions of Windows, 64-bit will rapidly grow in popularity and should become the predominant installed-base version by mid-2011. But for the remainder of 2008, 32-bit Windows is sufficient and recommended for most of us.

Microsoft Windows Operating System Support

Click here for Microsoft Windows operating system support information.

Interested in fast action or high detailed simulations and games? If so, a premium video card will be needed for your desktop computer.

New PCI-Express video cards from AMD-ATI and Nvidia have come on the market at sane prices. For high value, consider the ATI 3800 series or Nvidia 9600 GT. For high performance without breaking the bank, the Nvidia 9800 GT with 512 MB video RAM is a good choice.

Need more computer purchasing details?

Look at the Sun City Hilton Head Computer Club main page. Minimum recommendations for new computers have been posted there for months. Scroll down to find them.

For more detailed and technical information, check out Windows Vista Resources.

Antivirus and Security Suites

I strongly advise against buying a security suite from Dell, Gateway, or Hewlett-Packard. The pre-packaged suites can be a real pain to register and activate. Do so only with a trial version, then remove it at the end of the trial period via the uninstall applet in Control Panel - Programs and Features prior to installing a new suite.

My preferred security applications:

I prefer products from ESET, a relative unknown among U.S. consumers. I first used their NOD 32 antivirus over three years ago and was highly impressed. Now I’ve purchased a two user license for ESET Smart Security which includes full anti-spyware protection and a firewall. Windows Vista is very nimble and one cannot tell an antivirus or suite is installed except by an unobtrusive aquamarine icon in the lower right system tray.

My three years old Toshiba laptop features a low-end Intel Celeron M processor with 768 MB system RAM running Windows XP Home Edition. It is protected by ESET Smart Security, the same full suite I use on my desktop. I also use SuperAntiSpyware. Free Edition. The Toshiba starts quickly and runs acceptably for business and web page editing usage.

Other products I like in addition to ESET are ZoneAlarm Internet Security and Kaspersky Internet Security. If interested, be sure to check with Staples and Best Buy for promotions. Occasionally, Kaspersky products have been almost free after rebates.

What I will not use:

I have generally avoided Symantec/Norton products because of their history of peculiar LiveUpdate issues and because they can retard system performance even when the antivirus is disabled. I also avoid Spy Sweeper, McAfee, CA, Panda, and Trend Micro products for similar reasons and/or due to other concerns.

Norton Internet Security 2009 or Norton 360

For those of you who prefer Norton for whatever reason, online support forums report the 2009 versions to be much improved and not impacting system responsiveness as severely as older releases. So buying Norton for or with a new computer might not be a problem. However, I absolutely advise against installing any Norton product on an older Windows XP machine. I only mention that because inevitably, some reader will interpret my previous comments as a blanket approval for Norton. Truth is, I still don't want a Norton product on my computer.

McAfee Internet Security

McAfee is fine for Postini (which is only for email). But I don't want McAfee on my computers either. I remain convinced that McAfee is still a source of trouble with many systems.

The easiest to use free solutions

For the best overall low-cost (read free) antivirus program, I suggest avast! Home Edition combined with Windows Defender (already integrated with Windows Vista), SpywareBlaster, and common sense surfing. However, if you believe in online poker and high risk surfing, consider paying for ESET, Kaspersky, or ZoneAlarm Internet Security suites for comprehensive all-in-one solutions.

Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007

All of the major vendors offer Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 pre-installed as a trial version. Conversion to a full OEM license restricted to only the host computer is typically $150.00. I do not recommend purchasing such a license when for $130.00 one may purchase a retail version that can be transferred to another computer and simultaneously installed on up to three computers in one household.

Office Home and Student 2007 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. If Access or Outlook is required, users should purchase Office Small Business 2007 or Office Professional 2007.

Summary

11/09/2008