New computer or reconnect old?

[loops]

i'm posting this for Wandabe....she's having trouble getting on the site...but will check for answers during her lunchtime from the public library.

employers [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad2.gif[/img]

ennyways....many thanks in advance if you could offer her some advice

Computer Question



I have a computer that is about 8 years old. Do not presently have it connected. I am considering getting onto the internet at home.



Should I:

1. Buy a new computer or hook up the old one?

2. What’s a “decent” price for a new computer?

3. What would be the best way to connect? I do not have landline phone service at home.



Any ideas, suggestions or comments?

[R00TS]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

my advise would be to wash your hands after leavin the pubic library [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

[loops]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

great advice Rootsie....very technofied. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[kia027]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> have a computer that is about 8 years old</div></div>


from that statement alone I would recommend getting a new computer.. Connections will be out of date on the existing, operating systems, bus, i/o devices etc.. thinngs would be more hassle than it is worth.

[loops]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

ok...but keep in mind....she really only wants to use it for email and surfing the net...oh...but she does have photos...they may take up a considerable amount of room.

[halfwaytree]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

Hi Wandabe:

It all depends on certain factors.

The old computer should still work. However if it does not have an ethernet card then you may find yourself connecting to the internet by the old dial up method which is too slow for most peoples standards these days. (This will also mean you will have to get a phone line connected.)

If you are just using the computer for surfing a few sites and checking email etc... then dial up may be fine for you but most people now a days (compared with 8 years ago want to use a broadband connection). My computer at home is approx 8 years old and it does have an ethernet card which enables me to use a broadband connection to the internet. So perhaps your 8 year old computer does as well, check it out.

New computers range in price, it all depends on what features you want on it and what you are going to do with it. Notebook? Desktop? I would visit a good local reputable computer store in your area and explain to them what you are going to be using your computer for and let them quote you some prices. I will say that computers in general have significantly been reduced in price over the last 8 years so expect to pay approx 1/3 of what you paid 8 years ago for a new computer.

I'm not sure about your area but at the moment here in my neck of the woods we are limited to either a landline or cable connection. There are Satellite internet connections but I don't know much about them other than they do not require a connection to any kind of line or cable system. Perhaps someone else can help you there. I doubt your old computer could be equipped to handle a satellite connection but again, I'm not too up on that areas so I'm not positive. But my gut tells me probably not!

So you have options.

For me, I will continue to use my old clunker until it craps out on me and then I'll go shopping for a new computer. Hopefully by then they are only going to cost a couple of hundred dollars. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]

[kia027]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> 2. What’s a “decent” price for a new computer?

3. What would be the best way to connect? I do not have landline phone service at home.</div></div>


2- dont know it depends on what you want to do with the computer and whether you want desktop or laptop

3- options are:
get dsl -- which requires a sort of landline
or

get cable internet --

or
get a wifi card for a laptop (if you buy a laptop) and you and laptop can go & connect anywhere .. even at the library

[kia027]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: loops</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ok...but keep in mind....she really only wants to use it for email and surfing the net...oh...but she does have photos...they may take up a considerable amount of room. </div></div>


photos can be stored on a portable hard drive device .. can all get 160 GB fi less than $100

[halfwaytree]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

I have a friend that just got her first computer (second hand). It runs windows 98 [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek2.gif[/img]

She had no problems hooking up to a braodband connection. She is also just using her computer to check email and do some mild surfing. Her's also has USB ports so she could plug in a portable device to store pictures if she wanted.

[kia027]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Milo Man*</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a friend that just got her first computer (second hand). It runs windows 98 [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek2.gif[/img]

She had no problems hooking up to a braodband connection. She is also just using her computer to check email and do some mild surfing. Her's also has USB ports so she could plug in a portable device to store pictures if she wanted. </div></div>

how long does it take to boot up? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bubble.gif[/img]


her usb ports are 1.0 or 2.0?

[loops]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

i have an old computer hooked up to DSL...it works fine.

[halfwaytree]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Milo Man*</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a friend that just got her first computer (second hand). It runs windows 98 [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek2.gif[/img]

She had no problems hooking up to a braodband connection. She is also just using her computer to check email and do some mild surfing. Her's also has USB ports so she could plug in a portable device to store pictures if she wanted. </div></div>

how long does it take to boot up? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bubble.gif[/img]


her usb ports are 1.0 or 2.0?

</div></div>

It takes about the same as my old clunker. Maybe a minute or a little more.

The USB 1.0 or 2.0 question is a good one. She has not had the need to use them yet so I have not checked. Yes that would also be a consideration for Wandabe.

[loops]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

keep coming with the advice Kia...but keep in mind...she's looking for the least expensive way to accomplish this.

[Gen]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: R00TS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my advise would be to wash your hands after leavin the pubic library [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] </div></div>

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] a gwine dead

[kia027]

Re: New computer or reconnect old?

she could buy a used computer so it is newer than 8 yrs old but will have the more current input/output devices for a fraction of the cost of a new one. A gently used computer comes with software on it (so there are additional savings) eg MS Word, Photoshop, etc..

as for the internet connection stuff. It depends on what is offered in her area.

Personally I like the idea of a laptop with wifi card because of the mobility offered but dont know that would work for her