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Upgrading vs. Buying a new computer
So you are thinking of upgrading your computer... Maybe you're at that point where you think an upgrade will add new life to your computer, or you just have to have that latest piece of hardware that came on the market. Or maybe you are lusting after that "shiny new computer" on display at your favorite computer store. The decision to either upgrade or purchase a new system isn't that complicated. The most important aspect you must look at is the end result you wish to achieve. Are you looking for a faster system, or more storage space? Or maybe you would like to run more programs at the same time. First off, the best upgrade you can do to your system is add additional RAM. This will increase the apparent speed of your programs and allow you to run more programs at the same time. If you have 128MB RAM or less, consider adding memory. Personally, I wouldn't have less than 256MB RAM in any computer system. If you are thinking of adding more storage space, think about swapping out your hard drive or adding a rewritable drive. Another alternative is adding in a second hard drive to be used to store more programs or data files. A rewritable drive makes an excellent storage device for data files you don't use frequently or for pictures and music files. In addition, a rewritable drive can be used as your primary backup method. If you are looking to do more that one of these, with the price of low-end systems at the $500-$750 price range, you might want to consider purchasing a newer system. Figuring the cost of parts, time spent installing and troubleshooting, this is often a more effective solution.
Shopping for a new computer Let's face it, a new computer design is available nearly every week! Looking for one to fit your needs can be very confusing.
What is it you are looking for in a new computer? Before you even step out your door to visit your favorite computer store, you should have a basic idea of what you want your new computer to be able to do for you. You will need to do some "wool gathering". Do you want your programs to run faster? Do you want more storage space? Is a bigger monitor what you need? Do you want to take pictures and store them on your computer? Do you want to make movies? Or are you just looking for better speed on the internet? These questions are the start of your quest for finding out what system would be best for your needs.
A basic check list Creating a check list of your wants and needs is a good place to start.
By answering basic questions like these, you will get an idea of what you should be looking for. By the way, your salesman should be asking you these questions if he is worth anything. OK, you have an idea on what your new computer should do for you. Now we come to comparing one system to another. Right now there are several microprocessor types on the market, AMD Athlon series, and the Intel Pentium series. Which is best for you? Take your pick. (Personally, I prefer Intel to AMD, but that's just an opinion). Here is a list of minimums you should look for in a new machine. Keep in mind this is a starting point, not a personalized list of shopping features for your personal system.
OPTIONS
Of these features, the most important are the monitor and keyboard. Face it, you will be in constant contact with the keyboard so it better be comfortable for you to use, and the monitor will be your window to the world, so it better be easy to read. Without these you will be cursing your purchase in the not too distant future.
An easy backup strategy Your backup strategy will depend upon how valuable your information and programs are to you. Do you keep the companies tax records or just your collection of MP3 music files? Here are some basic guidelines:
Storing your files
Backing up your files
You notice how simple this plan is? Store all your files in the folder called My Documents and just backup that directory. Everything in it will be saved including all the subfolders you have created to organize your files. Here is an example of a well organized My Documents folder:
For information on what type of backup program to use, see my Hints page.
Firewalls You can probably guess what a firewall does just from its name. The idea is a simple one, which is why it works so well: A firewall absolutely isolates your computer from the Internet using a "wall of code" that inspects each individual "packet" of data as it arrives at either side of the firewall — inbound to or outbound from your computer — to determine whether it should be allowed to pass or be blocked. A firewall is a super cool idea. This is so true, that someday firewalls will be standard equipment on all PC's. There's no question about it. But today, firewalls need to be added where needed — which is pretty much everywhere. The firewall concept is so exactly correct that the term "firewall" has been badly abused by many weak "firewall wanna-be" products in an attempt to trade on the power of the concept. Many, if not most, of the Evil Port Monitors I discussed on the prior page try to pass themselves off as "high security firewalls", yet not one of them is. Also, many "Application-Based" firewalls provide poor protection against malicious spyware.
How does a Firewall work? All internet communication is accomplished by the exchange of individual "packets" of data. Each packet is transmitted by its source machine toward its destination machine. Packets are the fundamental unit of information flow across the Internet. Even though we refer to "connections" between computers, this "connection" is actually comprised of individual packets traveling between those two "connected" machines. Essentially, they "agree" that they're connected and each machine sends back "acknowledgement packets" to let the sending machine know that the data was received. In order to reach its destination — whether it's another computer two feet away or two continents distant — every Internet packet must contain a destination address and port number. And, so that the receiving computer knows who sent the packet, every packet must also contain the IP address and a port number of the originating machine. In other words, any packet traveling the net contains — first and foremost — its complete source and destination addresses. An IP address always identifies a single machine on the Internet and the port is associated with a particular service or conversation happening on the machine.
Do I need a Firewall? If you have a DSL or cable modem, I highly recommend installing a firewall as your connection to the internet is constant. If you are using a phone modem and need to dial in to get an internet connection, then you don't need one as your IP address is constantly changing and there is only a very small chance anyone would be able to "hack" into your computer.
Recommended Firewalls
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