Re: Dell Desktop PC Selection
- From: Ben Myers <ben_myers@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:42:16 -0400
cranheim wrote:
"Ben Myers" <ben_myers@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:h03e17$g14$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBen Myers wrote:cranheim wrote:One more thing... If you have an inexpensive router between your computers and the internet, you can enable file sharing and easily access files on one computer from the other. With certain models of DSL and cable modems, the router feature is already built in, so you would then need only an even more inexpensive 4-port switch to connect all the computers together... Ben Myers"S.Lewis" <Gossamer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:a0WTl.48097$qa.42251@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxIn this modern era, an inexpensive USB floppy drive would seem to be the only choice. Does the Studio XPS even have a floppy connector on the motherboard? The documentation on the Dell web site shows a Studio XPS motherboard without an internal floppy connector. No matter. USB floppy drives sell for $25 or less. Check your local craigslist or try eBay for one."cranheim" <caranheim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:HPSTl.17919$%54.17425@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThanks to all who responded to my questions. I was looking at a Dell Studio XPS machine, mainly because I heard it used better components, and had a better tech support system. If this is true, it might be worth it, because I usually keep the same PC for about 5 years. One simple option that is no longer available is a floppy drive. I still use a floppy drive to quickly save a small file for later use, for backup, or a quick transfer to another machine. I was in a chat session with Dell about this and was told I could "Probably " get an aftermarket floppy drive for it. This may or may not be true. I was unable to determine if the mother board would even have a place to attach the necessary cable for a floppy drive. This is one of my questions that Dell will not answer with any certainty. The person I chatted with was just expressing his opinion. I sure miss the old days when you could call Dell and get good reliable answers. I will look at the Optiplex next. Thanks again for your suggestion. Charles RanheimMy 5 year old Dell desktop needs replacing, so I came to this newsgroup to see how the new Dell Pc's were performing. This newsgroup seems to have changed a lot, with many entries being cancelled. I am trying to get a feel as to what PC's are best liked and recommended. I have two older machines. A Gateway, and my Dell. Can anyone recommend what might be a better newsgroup or forum place to help select a new PC? I would like a PC with good technical support if that is still available. Thanks, Charles RanheimIf you're staying with a desktop, I'd recommend the Optiplex 360 mini-tower. Here's a base bundle w/22" LCD monitor and 3 year onsite warranty for $499 as an example:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=bpde3fm&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&kc=productdetails~desktop-optiplex-360
Honestly, you would be better off buying a USB flash memory stick to use to move data back and forth between computers. If you look for flash sticks on sale, you should be able to find 8GB for around $25 at one of the big box retailers. Or buy 4GB at the same current retail price of around $25. Just think how many floppy drive you would need to fill up even 4GB of capacity... Ben Myers
One advantage of floppy disk is that I can store a couple of TurboTax backup files on a floppy , and store it with the CD for that tax year. Also, there are times when I copy a file to give to a friend, instead of loaning a Flash Memory Stick containing other files. Staples has a Stand Alone Floppy drive for about $40.00 that runs on a USB port without needing additional power. That seems hard to believe, especially with a drive motor for the disk.
A new Issue surfaced while looking at the configuration of the Dell Studio XP machine. The suggested operating system would be Windows Vista Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bit. I heard there are many older programs that will not run with a 64-bit operating system. I don't know where I could find a list of supported programs running at this OS level. Perhaps I should think smaller and use a 32-bit OS. I wanted to get this second (new) PC up and running before I install IE8 on my existing PC running Windows XP Home Edition, that I use every day. I am just being careful not to be without a running PC. What did we do before PC's?
Charles Ranheim
Yes, be thankful to Bill Gates & Co for providing all of us with a software environment that needs regular care, feeding, fixing, repairing and updating, sort of like a pet, but less personable. What DID we all do before we had computers???
The Staples price of $40 for a USB floppy is a little high. You can probably get a very servicable one from eBay for half as much. The USB floppy drives are slim notebook floppy drives put into a USB enclosure. They are noticeably slower than floppy drives connected directly to the motherboard, but you don't have that option with the newer "legacy-free" computers. Buy a USB floppy elsewhere, not Staples, and spend what you save on a USB memory stick of at least 1GB capacity. A USB memory stick might change your thinking about TurboTax backups. Or maybe not. I just fine USB memory sticks handy to have around... Ben Myers
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