New Laptop for Hoster- Please help ASAP

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by Stela

Thank you very much for the answers. I'll take a look on the sites you posted but would you please what should be "the bare essentials installed" if I am not ask to much. What can be considered the minimum and good configuration? I am not really in to computers and this will help me a lot!
Thank you all again.
Stela

What I mean by "bare essentials":
When you buy a system from a major vendor, they get kickbacks from software vendors to pre-install CRAP and I do mean CRAP on the system. This just uses up hard drive space and steals memory and clock cycles from your computer. In their defense, that is how they help maintain a profit margin on low end computers. Be prepared to pay extra, because it costs them to not have these subsidies on the system. The second thing is also a resource stealer. Windows itself. Things like UAC (user account control) Wifi, Aero, Sidebar,Remote Desktop Assistant, and other things that are not needed for your show but are loaded into memory when you boot up. These things are not necessary but are loaded when you boot unless you disable them. I have directed quite a few people to a web site called http://www.blackviper.com/ This is the single best resource I have ever found on the internet for getting an aging or underpowered computer to run smoother and faster. I refer to it every time I load an operating system.

As far as specs for a computer, MTU has a good one. They understand what is needed for their programs to run properly. If you decide to buy locally, I would look for at least a 2GHz for a laptop. In a desktop I would go for a dual core or better. More importantly is the video card and memory. Max out the memory, it doesn't cost that much and it will make a BIG difference. In video, look for a card with AT LEAST 128 mb of DEDICATED video memory on the card. Tell them what you are doing and why you need what you need. It is easier to spec a machine if you have them think of it as a gaming machine. The other thing is, I would strongly suggest you get it with XP on it. It is getting harder to find new systems with XP as an option but I would still insist on it. I prefer local only because it is easier and quicker to get service when things go wrong. It is much easier to ignore an email than it is to ignore someone standing in front of you. When I say local, I don't mean Geek Squad either. Mom and Pop operations that have been in business for a while usually are more knowledgeable and reliable. It will cost you a bit more money, but less in asprin

Lastly, think of this as your business. I don't use my show machine for anything but shows. It is only on the internet long enough to update windows and upgrade Hoster. I don't install any other programs on it. The risk is not worth the reward.