PCs for dummies

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

I use Common Sense 2014. As long as you auto-update it the program stays great.

 

[staySICK]

I used Eset Nod32 for a couple of years but it expired a month ago and I'm using CS14 like FDS.  

[CorgiShinobi]

I have Common Sense 2014 too, but in the past having an antivirus has helped. In the last fifteen years I've only had three viruses, but all those instances it was completely unexpected.

 

Still, I've gotten by for a long time without the need of "antivirus," but I did like the tune-up stuff that was a part of Norton 360. Thing is you usually have to pay out the butt for the suites that have basic optimization options (at least from what I've seen).

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Then just download CCleaner

[Mal]

So. I've been doing the sleep instead of shutting down thing. Kind of is moot but I suppose it is nice to just jump straight to my browser and have music playing. Now if only my computer can read my mind and start a new window with tabs and play whatever music that I'm in the mood for. If only.

 

Anyways, 2 TB HDD... is pretty nice. When it goes inactive it does take a bit longer to spin back up to get to where I want it to go. Especially true with playing my music.

 

I also got my T100 today. Purely initial impressions...

Physical impressions

I feel that screen estate wise it feels a bit larger than the netbooks I have used before. It also feels a bit heavier too, of which it is surprisingly heavy for its size but nothing unworkable. Personally I wish all the buttons were at the top wide edge. The Start and volume buttons are to the left side and can be kind of awkward to reach for. I also realize that I have quite greasy fingers...

The USB power cable length is a joke. If it had at least about 6 inches it would of been fine but as of now it is too short. Right now it just barely reaches to the top of my desk.

Built wise, it feels pretty solid. I don't think I'll be punching it so it should be fine. A case for just the tablet might be needed. As with a netbook, a wireless mouse and number pad might be a good idea too (Especially the mouse). I also might have to invest in a micro-HDMI cable with an adapter for presentations.

Software Impressions

This is my first real foray with Windows 8. When I really played with it, it really wasn't that much different. Desktop view is desktop and while Metro looks a whole lot different but the Start menu has everything there. The only thing is that using touch while with the desktop is awkward and conversely using the touch pad (By extension, the mouse) with Metro is awkward. Since I can switch between the two, it can feel pretty damn odd. This part is for sure the learning curve part of this experience. With a desktop/laptop or a tablet, it is one or another but with this I can switch between the two quite often.

 

Not to say that I am regretting my purchase but this setup will take a bit to get used to. I got to figure out how I am going to use this as in am I going to carry the keyboard with me all the time or go with a tablet w/ cover?  This is kind of odd bro. I'm only just getting used to all the extra things my Note 2 (Great multimedia device) can do and now I got this to deal with.

 

I'll have to use it for a week or two to finalize my impressions.

Edited February 18, 2014 by MaliciousH

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

What browser are you using that doesn't remember your tabs?

[Mal]

Oh, Firefox do remember them. I just want a magical computer that can read my mind and intent where it would autoplay the music that I'm feeling for and auto load up the front pages of all the sites I go to.

[TheMightyEthan]

Back to the antivirus: I'm with dean, use Microsoft Security Essentials.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Oh, Firefox do remember them. I just want a magical computer that can read my mind and intent where it would autoplay the music that I'm feeling for and auto load up the front pages of all the sites I go to.

 

You can set multiple home pages.

[TheMightyEthan]

Yeah, I've got Chrome set to open to all the sites I normally visit.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

"continue where I left off", FTW.

[Mal]

Prompted by the survey I just took for ASUS for my purchase...

 

In ways I feel like I jumped the gun on the T100 (I'm liking it) when I look at the other products in the Transformer line. There are the relatively beastly (In size) T300LA and TX300. They're the bigger and badder brothers to the T100. Imagine snapping off the screen from your laptop. Kind of big, too big but I can see the appeal. Not for me though.Then there is the odd TX201LA. It has a dual OS of Windows 8 while in laptop mode and then Android 4.3 while in tablet. It confused me when I saw this while taking the survey but this is when it gets interesting (to me)... you can use both separate. You can hook up and/or perhaps stream your Windows 8 system to a monitor. I know plenty of professors who hook up their laptops to a separate monitor in their offices and I know that they need to read tons of papers (for research) and junk. If they can pull off doing their regular desktop stuff while having a freedom of reading a paper on a tablet on what is one device then man, I think they might like it.

 

As you can see and imagine, I could see myself getting the TX201LA. It is the most intriguing of the bunch and it would seal all the niches I could have computer wise. Work computer, laptop and tablet. My T100 is that too (It got HDMI out) but the TX201LA takes it a step further with two usable devices in one. Give me the option of replacing the HDD (For Windows 8) for a SSD before or after purchase and I'll be sold on the concept. I'm sure at this point it'll be sodding expensive so I hope this concept doesn't die so it may improve and evolve.

 

With that all said, I suppose you can look at my T100 as a glorified netbook since profile wise it is one. Specs wise, not really. Its a snappy little machine. For the record, I loath netbooks. This is what the netbooks from the early to mid 2000s should of been like but only now technology has finally caught up. I'm liking this 2-in-1 concept a lot. Recently in class my professor couldn't make enough copies of a handout for everyone. No problem for me since I downloaded the electronic copy while in laptop mode (for ease of access via typing), popped out the screen and rotated the screen so the handout will be in portrait view at easily readable resolution.

 

It fulfilled it purpose then and when I had no other computer to use to type up a paper. Success. Motherfucker I am happy. 

[madbassman39]

So I'm looking at replacing my laptop with one that isn't as big or as hot. Currently my laptop sits with the following specs:

 

i5 m 460 @ 2.53 GHz

6.00 GB of ram

some ATI Mobility HD shitty graphics card that was not worth the extra money I spent on it.

Windows 7

 

I'm looking at something smaller, and now that I have an actual gaming desktop I don't really worry about power as much, but I do want the computer to turn on and feel snappy (hell this thing takes a while to load everything up when I restart it).

 

I've priced out a sub $400 laptop with

 

AMD A6-5345M Accelerated Processor 2.20GHz(2.80Ghz with AMD Turbo Core Technology) 1MB L2 Cache   

6gb of ram

And what every graphics card that comes with (not mentioned because its not really anything special)

Windows 8.1

 

My question is, what is the comparison of processors? For stuff like outlook/gmail/movies/hulu am I going to feel like I'm downgrading? Is this PC going to feel equally as snappy using Windows 8.1 or is it going to feel slower? Im not particularly impressed with my current computers speed and with the recent random spurts of bluescreen I want to replace it, but I don't really feel like I have a need anymore and its more of a want.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

The biggest difference you'll make for "snappiness" with those specs is buying a SSD. Overall Windows 8 does run a bit better than Windows 7 and has much nicer animations so it feels a lot nicer to use. I would recommend just getting a laptop with an APU instead of anything with a dedicated mobile card. Save money and the laptop should be thinner.

 

Also check RAM compatibility. You might just be able to pop out the RAM of your old laptop to use in the new one so you can go for lower and save some money.

[CorgiShinobi]

For the last few days I've been considering upgrading to a SSD in my current desktop. However, I wanted to run this by you guys as I'm sure someone will know more about the process I'm thinking of.

 

I'll probably get a Samsung 840 Evo SSD (either 120GB or 250GB), but I would want it as the Windows system drive, but my 1TB HDD is already acting as the lone drive in my desktop. So I've found a few methods of swapping between two drives, but overall most of them include cloning the HDD to the new SSD. Kingston has an upgrade kit with their own SSD and cloning software, but I've always been aiming for a Samsung SSD. So Corsair has their own cloning software that I could get separately.

 

Seems like a lot of people have done this kind of process, but I've noticed a few (online) say cloning isn't good for the drive. They were in favor of reinstalling the OS type of methods when upgrading to a SSD. What are your guys thoughts? Heck, should I just stick with my lone 1TB HDD until I find myself building a whole new desktop?

[deanb]

I can't see why cloning would be bad, it's just reading and writing to a disk, which is the main and only job of storage. Also it's worth pointing out there's plenty of cloning software out there you don't need to use the manufacturers (which are likely built on top of the free software available anyway).

 

Assuming you're wanting to move 1TB of data onto a 250GB drive you might have issues and I'd hope your maths skills might tell you why, so in your case a fresh install might be good. It really depends on your time and if you're up for doing a fresh install (which I personally find therapeutic).

[TheMightyEthan]

I agree that fresh installs can be therapeutic.

[CorgiShinobi]

I probably don't have more than 250GB on my drive right now as I don't have a lot of media stored on it. If I had to loosen up a bit of space for the cloning process, I know a few games that I could remove temporarily.

 

Though, a quick question. I plan on using both the SSD (whatever size) and 1TB HDD together. The HDD would be for documents and media, and Windows would be on the SSD. So, with anyone else with a similar setup, what else do you put on the SSD? I've heard it's a good idea to install programs to the SSD and use the HDD for games and files.

[Mal]

Pretty much what you're planning. SSD is for OS, programs, browser downloads and anything else that I want to come up fast or survive a HDD failure since I don't expect my SDD to randomly die anytime soon.  My storage drive is everything else.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

I probably don't have more than 250GB on my drive right now as I don't have a lot of media stored on it. If I had to loosen up a bit of space for the cloning process, I know a few games that I could remove temporarily.

 

Though, a quick question. I plan on using both the SSD (whatever size) and 1TB HDD together. The HDD would be for documents and media, and Windows would be on the SSD. So, with anyone else with a similar setup, what else do you put on the SSD? I've heard it's a good idea to install programs to the SSD and use the HDD for games and files.

 

Games that benefit from the SSD like Battlefield 4. I have 256gb SSD and I actually have 100gb dedicated to Linux so I'm happy with what 256 offers when used next to a HDD.

[Eleven]

AAAAAGH.

 

My keyboard's U J M 6 keys don't work. It's an apple keyboard (i know i know). It's the best one I've used since ever, I really like it, but it's also the only one that died on me. Everything else I replaced (after >1 year) to get a better one. So I really want to get another one but I'm torn.

 

Dammit.

 

Any good keyboard suggestions? Nothing fancy, I just really like this since I can type really fast with it. Plus, hey, I use a mac so the built in shortcuts are great too.

 

 

I guess these things die easily. So after almost a year, the keyboard died again. This time, the lower keys on the keypad as well as the down and right arrow died, if only the down and right arrow survived I could have used it without the keypad. I love it, but I'm going to have to get something else.

[deanb]

I've got same keyboard at work, the right arrow and 0 on numpad don't work. Bit of a pain given my work involves frequent use of spreadsheets and photoshop.

[Eleven]

Fuck this keyboard. I was content using it with remapped keys. But then the middle keys died, just like the last one.

 

Currently using my logitech k400r, my wireless one that I connect to any other PC I need a keyboard on. Thinking of getting one of those mechanical keyboards. The Razer BlackWidow Stealth seems to be the cheapest among my options. I know Razer doesn't have that good of a reputation but I've liked their mice a lot. Either that, or just go big with the Das Model S Pro, which apparently seems to be the best. There are other cool choices like the CM Storm ones, too.

 

Then there's the apple keyboard like Logitech K750. It has the same layout, with keypad, but it's wireless and solar powered.

 

Or maybe I should just get one of those normal keyboards for around ~$10. I'll do that anyway temporarily tomorrow, as I still don't know what to get. Maybe in a few weeks I'll forget all about this and stick with that.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

Why not stick with the k400r until you decide rather than spend $10 on a temporary one?

[Eleven]

this does not have an "End" and "Home" key, which I really need to use a lot. I was gonna put that info in I forgot cause I pressed the wrong keys because this doesn't have an End/Home key so after I fixed the typos I... just forgot!