7/27/2009

If we were purchasing a new desktop or laptop computer, here's what we would want on it:

SPECIFICATIONS FOR A NEW DESKTOP COMPUTER

Home/Small Business Desktop

(Mid-price/Mid-range)

CPU:  Intel Core i7-920 Processor  2.66 Gigahertz  (or 3.06 Gigahertz)

RAM:  8.0 Gigabytes DDR3 RAM  minimum (the more, the better) -- [4 Gigabytes max, if you order this system with Windows XP Home or Professional]

Hard Drive:  750 Gigabyte SATA Hard Drive  (or 300 Gigabyte Western Digital VelociRaptor SATA2 Hard Drive)

DVD±RW Drive (DVD and CD burner):  20X DVD±RW Drive (or 8X BluRay-RW Drive, which burns CDs, DVDs and BluRay disks)

AntiVirus Program:  Norton AntiVirus 2009  or  Norton Internet Security 2009

Anti-Spyware Program:  Spy Sweeper

Warranty:  1-Year Warranty  (unless you want to pay extra for something you probably won't ever need)

Monitor:  19" LCD Flat-Panel Monitor  (minimum)

Network Card: built-in  10/1000 Network Card  (you need this for High Speed Internet Service, such as a Cable Modem or DSL service, and if you want to share files in an office or home network)

Operating System:  Microsoft Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional, if you are a “power user”  (or Windows 7, if you can wait until Oct. 22, 2009)

Additional Software:  Microsoft Works 2003 Suite  or  Microsoft Office 2003 Professional  (w/ Microsoft Access, their database program), if you want to splurge, or if you need to create more professional documents, databases, slide shows, and so on, or Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (or Professional 2007), if you want the latest and greatest.

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SPECIFICATIONS FOR A NEW LAPTOP COMPUTER

Home/Small Business Laptop

(Mid-price/Mid-range)

CPU:  Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4 Gigahertz  (or faster)

LCD SCREEN:  15" High Definition WLED or WXGA LCD

WIRELESS NETWORK CARD:  Internal Intel PRO/Wireless-N 5100 (or equivalent)

RAM:  4 Gigabytes DDR3  (or more; the more the merrier)  [4 Gigabytes max, if you order this system with Windows XP Home or Professional]

HARD DRIVE:  500 Gigabyte Hard Drive  (or larger)

DVD±RW Drive:  20X Drive (or 8X BluRay Burner, which burns CDs, DVDs and BluRay disks)

LIMITED WARRANTY = 1-Year Ltd. warranty

OPERATING SYSTEM:  Microsoft Windows XP Home or XP Professional  (or Windows 7, if you can wait until October 22, 2009)

ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE (such as  Office,  AntiVirus, etc.):  See New Desktop Computer section above.