Do you Really Need a New Computer? Everything you need to know to decide. Hank Feinberg and Jim Anderson Rockland PC Users Group Rockland PC Users Group.

Do you Really Need a Do you Really Need a New Computer? New Computer?

Everything you need to Everything you need to know to decide.know to decide.

Do you Really Need a Do you Really Need a New Computer? New Computer?

Everything you need to Everything you need to know to decide.know to decide.

Hank Feinberg and Jim AndersonHank Feinberg and Jim Anderson

Rockland PC Users GroupRockland PC Users Group

Is your computer running very slow?

Are you thinking of buying a Are you thinking of buying a new computer for the new computer for the

holidays?holidays?

What do you really need today and what will you need 3 years

from now?

How do you get the most computer

for the least amount of money?

Get free software to tell you everything in your computer

Including

HardwareMemory

Licenses, Software

Learn how easy it is to transfer your files from your

old computer to the new one.

Have you considered what you will do with your old computer?

What will you do about your personal and confidential information

on it?

Find out how to protect yourselffrom identity theft,

how to properly and where to dispose of your

old computer.

Step 1Step 1Step 1Step 1

What is in your What is in your computer?computer?

To find out what is in your computerDownload and use this Free Program

SIWSystem Information for Windows

"Everything you want to know about your PC".

http://www.gtopala.com/http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html

Back up your data on to a portable hard drive.

Back up programs

Memeo

http://www.memeo.com/

What do you want to do with your computer

1. Personal use

E-mailWord Processing

Financials Spread SheetsTaxes

Stock Trading, ResearchPicture Editing

Internet - Research

2. Business Use

3. Graphics

4. Gaming

Have you done the following to tweak your computer

and clean your hard drive and registry?

Back up before you do anythingBack up before you do anything.

Registry cleaning – CCleaner

Old program fragments

De Frag Hard Drive

Delete unused programs – Use control panel

Clean up your start up menu

Archive old files not used

Sources - Internet or Direct

Fry’s- OutpostGeeks

Tiger DirectNewegg

Abes of Maine Comp u plus

DellGateway

Wholesale Clubs

Costco

Sam’s Club

BJ’s

Stores

Circuit City

Office Depot

Staples Best Buy

Micro Center Wal Mart

$199 Linux PC from Walmart

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754614

It looks like their second batch has sold out

Minimum Specs from Microsoft forWindows XP

800 MHz CPU512 MB RAM

10-20 gig Hard DriveCD drive

Minimum Specs from Microsoft

Windows Vista

2 GHz CPU2 GB RAMDVD drive

Add-in DirectX 9, 256MB RAM Aero-capable video card

(to use Aero 3-Ddesktop)

Minimum Specs forLinux (Ubuntu, SUSE, RedHat)

800 MHz CPU512 RAM RAM

CD drive10- 20 Gig Hard Drive

10/100 Ethernet Network Card (broadband Internet service)

current ATI or nVidia video card and drivers

(for 3D desktop effects)

Free Operating System and Software

Ubuntu Linuxhttp://www.ubuntu.com/

Free Open Software for Windowshttp://theopendisc.com/

  MinimumAcceptable

Better Best

Processor: Intel Pentium III (or

equivalent)1.5 GHz or

faster

Intel Pentium IV (or

equivalent)2.5 GHz or

faster

Intel Core 2 (or equivalent)

2.5 GHz or faster

RAM: 256 MB 512 MB 1 GB or 2 GB or more

Free (Unused) Hard Disk Space:1

20 GB 40 GB 80 GB or more

OperatingSystem:

Windows 2000

Professional

Windows XP Home

Windows XP Professional

Windows Vista3

Office Software:4 MicrosoftOffice 2000

MicrosoftOffice XP

Microsoft Office2003 Microsoft Office 2007

You should have at least 120 GB of hard drive space as a minimum.

If recording and/or editing digital video, you need at least

200 GB of hard drive space

All Operating Systems should have all critical updates and security patches..

Several Additional points

• Clean out unused files

• Update and run your virus and malware programs first

• Back up before doing anything after steps 1&2

Buy from a long established business in case you have to return it. Be careful about service contracts. Not always what they seem to be.

• If you dispose of your computer give it to PC ReNew so we can give it a second life with a needy Rockland family.

For Additional Information

• Check our Website www.rpcug.org• Come down to our meetings the

second Tuesday of each month at the Palisades Center Mall 4th floor Rasso Room at 7:00PM

• Go to our Windows workshop for expert advice

Available September 24, 2007

Buy a Laptop for a Child, Get Another 2 for $400Linux OS

http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/ways-to-donate.php

Happy Chanukah!

Merry Christmas!

Greetings of the Season to all

and have a Great 2008!