Buying A Computer :: essays research papers

NeedsThis reckoner would be used for mainly writing papers, surfing the Internet, a microscopical desktop create, and playing some 3d sports games. Softw atomic number 18The packet I would get would have to include a word mainframe, and desktop publishing program. The standard programs for this atomic number 18 Microsofts. They are Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Publisher. Using a student discount, I can get them both for under $200. (See http//www.edu.com/software/ ) I withal need to decide which operating system I want. The main choices are Windows ME/2000 or an Apple Macintosh OS. (OS 9.1/X) All the important productivity software is available on both operating systems, but Windows machines have a lot more games. I would probably use Windows ME instead of 2000 because it runs sure-enough(a) software better. I can get Windows ME for about $80 victimisation a student discount.HardwareSince I am using Windows ME, I cannot buy an Apple. Here are the parts I need to buy to bu ild a machine that lead run my software well. I need a motherboard, processor, video card, sound card, case, monitor, memory,hard drive, floppy drive, modem, and CD or DVD drive. Some of the choices I make will determine others. For example, the processor (aka the CPU) I pick will determine what motherboard I will get. To jumpProcessorThere are three processors that make up the market, The Intel Pentium 4, Intel Pentium , and the Amd Athlon. The Pentium is the newest, and has lonesome(prenominal) been out for a few months, the Pentium and Amd Athlon have been available for about ii course of instructions. There are two criteria here for me. One is how fast the bridle is for a given price (bang for the buck) and the second is upgradability. That is, whether I would easily be able to take out the rate of flow CPU, and easily slip something instantaneous in when needed in a few years. The Pentium 4 will be changing to a slightly different configuration in a few months, that wi ll not be compatible with the current motherboards. The Pentium is pretty much at the end of its life, and not many upgrades are planned. This leaves the Athlon, which is expected to be selling compatibe versions for at least another year or so. Current Athlons prices are AMD Athlon Processor for DesktopPrice1333MHz (266MHz Front-side Bus)$2531300MHz (200MHz Front-side Bus) $2301200MHz (266MHz Front-side Bus)$2191200MHz (200MHz Front-side Bus)$1991133MHz (266MHz Front-side Bus)$197