Kill That Computer!!!: How Much Should a Computer Cost?
How Much Should a Computer Cost?
Vol. 8, #60 - Mar 3, 2009 - Issue #368
Will you be able to downgrade from Windows 7 to XP?
Install XP on a VAIO P
Watch popular TV programs on the web with Hulu
Laptop security software that gives thieves a verbal thrashing
How can I trim down the XP startup process?
Troubleshooting registry corruption (for advanced users)
Black screen when you start XP
Second Copy: Download it For Easy, Secure, Automatic Backups
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-VIPRE-for-Netbooks
Ever since small computer systems (at that time known as "microcomputers") became readily available to consumers back in the 1980s, prices have steadily fallen. The original IBM Personal Computer (PC), the 5100 model, was introduced in 1975 but it was very expensive, costing around $20,000. It boasted up to 64K of memory and a 204K capacity tape drive, with a built-in 5 inch monitor:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Computer-Closet
According to the Inflation Calculator, the value of $20,000 in 1975 translates to over $76,000 in today's money. Wow. Yet today you can buy a computer that is orders of magnitude more powerful. Dell's web site advertises an Inspiron with dual core 2.5 GHz processor, 3 GB of memory and a 320 GB hard drive, not to mention a 16X DVD player/writer, and a 17 inch flat panel widescreen monitor, for $499. That's by no means the best deal out there, just a typical one from a brand name vendor.
Even as the prices of the "entry level" systems continue to go down, though, I find it interesting that a "top of the line" system today still costs about what one did in the mid-1990s: around $3000-3500. When I configured my "dream" Dell desktop last night, an XPS with an i7-965 3.2 GHz processor, 12 GB of RAM and a 1.5 TB SATA hard drive, along with a 1 GB Radeon video card, it came in at $3469. That's pretty similar to the price of the highest end Acer with all the bells and whistles a little over ten years ago. Of course, with inflation today's Dell actually costs more in equivalent dollars (about $1000 more) than that Acer did.
So how much should a computer cost, anyway? Can we expect the costs for basic systems to keep going down as they have for the past decade? If it continues for much longer, it seems that soon the hardware vendors will be paying us to take their products. And although that might sound good, it doesn't seem very realistic.
Profit margins on those low cost systems are already pretty slim. We've all heard the joke about the company that loses money on every sale but hopes to make up for it in volume - but that doesn't work so well in the real world. Computer vendors are facing declining revenues; Dell reported profits down 5% compared to last year, and HP (which last year took over Dell's position as number one in the industry) saw profits drop 13% in the first quarter compared to last year.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Dell-Earnings
How do the vendors make money selling computers at such low prices? Both HP's and Dell's web sites advertise desktops as low as $279. Sure, that includes a Celeron processor and only 2 GB of memory - but the specs are close to those of a top-of-the-line machine only a few years ago and are good enough to run even resource-intensive Vista. If you start ordering one of those low-cost computers, though, you'll begin to see the vendors' strategies. Clicking through the pages to "customize" your system, you'll be given the opportunity to every turn to "upgrade" each component to something better and to add peripherals, software and services. These choices are presented one at a time, and the cost of each one, by itself, looks pretty low. You need only spend an extra $30 or $50 or $100 to go from the low-end component to one that's much more powerful, better or bigger. In fact, just for fun, I started out with Dell's $279 system and selected the highest end upgrade offered on each page. By the time I finished "customizing," even without adding a printer or any software, the price of my $279 system was up to almost $2000.
One way vendors and retailers make money on low-margin items is with those extended warranties that they try so hard to sell you. Has anyone here actually used one of those warranties? I'm sure some folks do, but I'd guess it's more likely that most people who buy them never get any benefit out of them. I've found that if a piece of electronics equipment is going to die, it usually happens early (during the standard warranty period) or it lasts beyond the extended warranty period. With computers, what's the point of a four year warranty when it will probably be outdated and you'll want to replace it two years from now? And if it does fail three years down the road, will you even remember where that warranty paperwork is?
The low upfront cost of today's computers is great, but when we talk about cost, we really ought to be talking about the total cost of ownership (TCO). That's a concept that is big in the business world, and for good reason. One place you really see it is when you buy a printer. Inkjets have gotten so cheap almost anyone can afford one - but can you afford to keep it "fed?" With some of them, it's sort of like having someone give you a gigantic dog; you might not have to pay for it, but you'll go broke buying dog food. If a printer costs $100 but you have to spend $50 for ink cartridges every few weeks, it might not be such a great deal after all. Remember: TANSTAAFR (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Rottweiler).
There are other costs that are even more hidden. For instance, what about the cost of "free" software? Have you ever spent hours or days trying to get your system working right again after installing a free program that seemed cool? If you lose important data because that free program messed up your file system, what was the real cost? If you rely on "free" security software to save money, is it really worth the risk that you may be more vulnerable to attack? Some free programs work fine, but there's something to that old adage that "you get what you pay for."
Or how about the free software that comes with your computer? The vendor may tell you that you're getting wonderful extras, but that free stuff often consumes up to 20% of your hard disk and slows down your system. Again, you pay the hidden cost.
Tell us what you think about the cost of computing. Has it really gone down, or are you paying as much for your new computer as you did for your old one once you figure in the hidden costs and allow for all those upgrades that you just have to have? Do you think computer prices have hit bottom yet, or will the cost for a basic system continue to plummet? Is the day of the $100 PC in sight? When you buy a computer, do you find yourself starting out to buy the low cost version and ending up with a much higher priced one? Have you ever been shocked to learn that a couple of ink cartridges for your printer were going to cost more than you paid for the printer itself? How do you cut costs when you buy a new system - or do you spend more to get what you want and what will last longer? Will you wait longer to upgrade your hardware because of the current economy? Do you think one of the major hardware vendors will fail? Tell us your thoughts and opinions at feedback@wxpnews.com
And please head over to the Sunbelt page and take the SunPoll in the right column to let us know how much you spent for your main home computer and peripherals.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-SunbeltSoftware
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-VistaNews
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-WServerNews
In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. - Laurence J. Peter (1919- 1988)
Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive. - William F. Buckley, Jr.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-SPF
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Optimize
New! PerfectDisk 10 released to rave reviews. MS-certified, true free space consolidation. Single pass, fast, automatic, low resource usage.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-PerfectDisk
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-WebCam-Monitor
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Cucusoft
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Vista-Optimizer
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-GoodSync
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-PowerSuite
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Print-Screen-Deluxe
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-RoboForm
Despite all the good press that Microsoft's newest operating system is getting during beta testing, some of those who resisted Vista are still reluctant to give up their tried-and-true XP OS. Now some analysts are speculating about whether Microsoft will allow "downgrade rights" for those who buy Windows 7 computers after its release. Will you be able to replace Win7 with XP (or Vista) without buying another license? Read the article here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Win7-Downgrade-to-XP
One of the most expensive but classiest looking of the netbook crowd (although the company doesn't want to call it that) is the new Sony VAIO P series laptop. It comes installed with Vista, but according to SlashGear, you can install XP on it - although getting the right drivers for the GPS and wireless WAN may prove challenging. If it's a challenge you want to take, make it easier by checking out this tutorial:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-XP-for-VAIO
With the economic downturn continuing and budgets tightening, some people are saving by ditching their cable or satellite TV subscriptions and turning to the web for their favorite TV programs. Many shows can be accessed on the networks' web sites. Another source for legally watching recent episodes of popular programs is Hulu. Check it out here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Hulu
If you share your home computer with little ones, you might be interested in how to protect the system form the damage that kids can do without even trying. There are built in protective mechanisms such as limited user accounts, free downloads such as Windows Steady State, even a web interface that limits a child's access to particular sites. Read more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Childproofing-Laptops
You probably already know that you can use the Task Manager in XP to kill a process. This may be necessary if a program won't close on its own. Just go to the Processes tab, right click the process you want to kill and select End Process. Learn more about how to use the command prompt to see and kill processes here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Kill-Process
Wish you could tell the person who stole your laptop exactly what a rotten person he/she is? Now there is a security program that will actually talk to the thief who tries to use that stolen computer. By default, the machine will call for help ("This laptop is lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, please report me now") or you can record your very own customized message. The talk feature is part of a program called Retriever that runs on XP or Vista and will also allow you to remotely throw a kill switch to erase your data or turn on a GPS beacon so it can be found. Read more about it here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Laptop-Security
It seems like it takes forever for my XP laptop to boot up, as opposed to my desktop computer. I think it's because the laptop starts all these extra programs that were installed by the hardware company (HP) that I don't even want to use. I know I can uninstall the programs with Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel but is there a way to keep them from starting up when I boot without uninstalling them? Thanks. - Tam R.
You can remove programs from the startup process. Here's how:
Click Start | Run and type: msconfig.exe
In the System Configuration utility, click the Startup tab and uncheck the programs in the list that you don't want to start when you boot the system. If you don't know what some of the listed items are, you may need to look them up in a web search. For example, I have Microsoft Groove installed as part of Office, but I rarely use it. GrooveMonitor starts automatically, but I can uncheck it to speed up the Startup process.
If you have many unnecessary programs starting up, you may see a significant decrease in bootup time when you uncheck several of them.
Corrupted registry files can cause all sorts of problems, even prevent your computer from starting. Why does it happen? It can be caused by a power failure or unexpected shutdown, defective hardware, or other reasons.There are a number of error messages that indicate a corrupted registry. KB article 822705 provides tips for troubleshooting registry corruption problems.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Registry-Troubleshooting
If you try to start your XP computer and just get a black screen after the POST (Power On Self Test) instead of the Windows logo, the cause might be as simple as having a CD or DVD in your drive - or you might have a corrupted boot sector, master boot record or other element of the boot sequence. To find out what to do, see KB article 314503 at
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Black-Screen
Inflation Calculator: how much would one of today's dollars have been worth back then?
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Inflation-Calculator
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Smugopedia
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Car-Door
Now even Legend of Zelda characters have a social network
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Zelda-Characters
Blackberry's anti-Apple ad: short, simple and sweet
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Blackberry-Ad
Hamburger thief (warning: mild bad language)
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Burger-Thief
A Volkswagen engineer must combat himself many times over in this Matrix- inspired TV ad. Warning, this -is- a little 'german' ;-D
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Volkswagen
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Time-Travel
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Practice
Second Copy® maintains updated copies of your hard work. As it runs in the background, this will be the software that you will forget about until it saves you! Second Copy will automatically backup your data files to any local fixed or removable disks, zip drives, CD-RW's, DVD's, as well as on storage devices on other computers across a network. WXPNews readers can download the Free Evaluation copy here.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Second-Copy
Posted by computerman at 11:52 PM
Kill That Computer!!!: How Much Should a Computer Cost?
How Much Should a Computer Cost?
Vol. 8, #60 - Mar 3, 2009 - Issue #368
Will you be able to downgrade from Windows 7 to XP?
Install XP on a VAIO P
Watch popular TV programs on the web with Hulu
Laptop security software that gives thieves a verbal thrashing
How can I trim down the XP startup process?
Troubleshooting registry corruption (for advanced users)
Black screen when you start XP
Second Copy: Download it For Easy, Secure, Automatic Backups
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-VIPRE-for-Netbooks
Ever since small computer systems (at that time known as "microcomputers") became readily available to consumers back in the 1980s, prices have steadily fallen. The original IBM Personal Computer (PC), the 5100 model, was introduced in 1975 but it was very expensive, costing around $20,000. It boasted up to 64K of memory and a 204K capacity tape drive, with a built-in 5 inch monitor:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Computer-Closet
According to the Inflation Calculator, the value of $20,000 in 1975 translates to over $76,000 in today's money. Wow. Yet today you can buy a computer that is orders of magnitude more powerful. Dell's web site advertises an Inspiron with dual core 2.5 GHz processor, 3 GB of memory and a 320 GB hard drive, not to mention a 16X DVD player/writer, and a 17 inch flat panel widescreen monitor, for $499. That's by no means the best deal out there, just a typical one from a brand name vendor.
Even as the prices of the "entry level" systems continue to go down, though, I find it interesting that a "top of the line" system today still costs about what one did in the mid-1990s: around $3000-3500. When I configured my "dream" Dell desktop last night, an XPS with an i7-965 3.2 GHz processor, 12 GB of RAM and a 1.5 TB SATA hard drive, along with a 1 GB Radeon video card, it came in at $3469. That's pretty similar to the price of the highest end Acer with all the bells and whistles a little over ten years ago. Of course, with inflation today's Dell actually costs more in equivalent dollars (about $1000 more) than that Acer did.
So how much should a computer cost, anyway? Can we expect the costs for basic systems to keep going down as they have for the past decade? If it continues for much longer, it seems that soon the hardware vendors will be paying us to take their products. And although that might sound good, it doesn't seem very realistic.
Profit margins on those low cost systems are already pretty slim. We've all heard the joke about the company that loses money on every sale but hopes to make up for it in volume - but that doesn't work so well in the real world. Computer vendors are facing declining revenues; Dell reported profits down 5% compared to last year, and HP (which last year took over Dell's position as number one in the industry) saw profits drop 13% in the first quarter compared to last year.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Dell-Earnings
How do the vendors make money selling computers at such low prices? Both HP's and Dell's web sites advertise desktops as low as $279. Sure, that includes a Celeron processor and only 2 GB of memory - but the specs are close to those of a top-of-the-line machine only a few years ago and are good enough to run even resource-intensive Vista. If you start ordering one of those low-cost computers, though, you'll begin to see the vendors' strategies. Clicking through the pages to "customize" your system, you'll be given the opportunity to every turn to "upgrade" each component to something better and to add peripherals, software and services. These choices are presented one at a time, and the cost of each one, by itself, looks pretty low. You need only spend an extra $30 or $50 or $100 to go from the low-end component to one that's much more powerful, better or bigger. In fact, just for fun, I started out with Dell's $279 system and selected the highest end upgrade offered on each page. By the time I finished "customizing," even without adding a printer or any software, the price of my $279 system was up to almost $2000.
One way vendors and retailers make money on low-margin items is with those extended warranties that they try so hard to sell you. Has anyone here actually used one of those warranties? I'm sure some folks do, but I'd guess it's more likely that most people who buy them never get any benefit out of them. I've found that if a piece of electronics equipment is going to die, it usually happens early (during the standard warranty period) or it lasts beyond the extended warranty period. With computers, what's the point of a four year warranty when it will probably be outdated and you'll want to replace it two years from now? And if it does fail three years down the road, will you even remember where that warranty paperwork is?
The low upfront cost of today's computers is great, but when we talk about cost, we really ought to be talking about the total cost of ownership (TCO). That's a concept that is big in the business world, and for good reason. One place you really see it is when you buy a printer. Inkjets have gotten so cheap almost anyone can afford one - but can you afford to keep it "fed?" With some of them, it's sort of like having someone give you a gigantic dog; you might not have to pay for it, but you'll go broke buying dog food. If a printer costs $100 but you have to spend $50 for ink cartridges every few weeks, it might not be such a great deal after all. Remember: TANSTAAFR (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Rottweiler).
There are other costs that are even more hidden. For instance, what about the cost of "free" software? Have you ever spent hours or days trying to get your system working right again after installing a free program that seemed cool? If you lose important data because that free program messed up your file system, what was the real cost? If you rely on "free" security software to save money, is it really worth the risk that you may be more vulnerable to attack? Some free programs work fine, but there's something to that old adage that "you get what you pay for."
Or how about the free software that comes with your computer? The vendor may tell you that you're getting wonderful extras, but that free stuff often consumes up to 20% of your hard disk and slows down your system. Again, you pay the hidden cost.
Tell us what you think about the cost of computing. Has it really gone down, or are you paying as much for your new computer as you did for your old one once you figure in the hidden costs and allow for all those upgrades that you just have to have? Do you think computer prices have hit bottom yet, or will the cost for a basic system continue to plummet? Is the day of the $100 PC in sight? When you buy a computer, do you find yourself starting out to buy the low cost version and ending up with a much higher priced one? Have you ever been shocked to learn that a couple of ink cartridges for your printer were going to cost more than you paid for the printer itself? How do you cut costs when you buy a new system - or do you spend more to get what you want and what will last longer? Will you wait longer to upgrade your hardware because of the current economy? Do you t
hink one of the major hardware vendors will fail? Tell us your thoughts and opinions at feedback@wxpnews.com
And please head over to the Sunbelt page and take the SunPoll in the right column to let us know how much you spent for your main home computer and peripherals.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-SunbeltSoftware
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-VistaNews
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-WServerNews
In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. - Laurence J. Peter (1919- 1988)
Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive. - William F. Buckley, Jr.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-SPF
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Optimize
New! PerfectDisk 10 released to rave reviews. MS-certified, true free space consolidation. Single pass, fast, automatic, low resource usage.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-PerfectDisk
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-WebCam-Monitor
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Cucusoft
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Vista-Optimizer
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-GoodSync
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-PowerSuite
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Print-Screen-Deluxe
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-RoboForm
Despite all the good press that Microsoft's newest operating system is getting during beta testing, some of those who resisted Vista are still reluctant to give up their tried-and-true XP OS. Now some analysts are speculating about whether Microsoft will allow "downgrade rights" for those who buy Windows 7 computers after its release. Will you be able to replace Win7 with XP (or Vista) without buying another license? Read the article here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Win7-Downgrade-to-XP
One of the most expensive but classiest looking of the netbook crowd (although the company doesn't want to call it that) is the new Sony VAIO P series laptop. It comes installed with Vista, but according to SlashGear, you can install XP on it - although getting the right drivers for the GPS and wireless WAN may prove challenging. If it's a challenge you want to take, make it easier by checking out this tutorial:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-XP-for-VAIO
With the economic downturn continuing and budgets tightening, some people are saving by ditching their cable or satellite TV subscriptions and turning to the web for their favorite TV programs. Many shows can be accessed on the networks' web sites. Another source for legally watching recent episodes of popular programs is Hulu. Check it out here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Hulu
If you share your home computer with little ones, you might be interested in how to protect the system form the damage that kids can do without even trying. There are built in protective mechanisms such as limited user accounts, free downloads such as Windows Steady State, even a web interface that limits a child's access to particular sites. Read more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Childproofing-Laptops
You probably already know that you can use the Task Manager in XP to kill a process. This may be necessary if a program won't close on its own. Just go to the Processes tab, right click the process you want to kill and select End Process. Learn more about how to use the command prompt to see and kill processes here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Kill-Process
Wish you could tell the person who stole your laptop exactly what a rotten person he/she is? Now there is a security program that will actually talk to the thief who tries to use that stolen computer. By default, the machine will call for help ("This laptop is lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, please report me now") or you can record your very own customized message. The talk feature is part of a program called Retriever that runs on XP or Vista and will also allow you to remotely throw a kill switch to erase your data or turn on a GPS beacon so it can be found. Read more about it here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Laptop-Security
It seems like it takes forever for my XP laptop to boot up, as opposed to my desktop computer. I think it's because the laptop starts all these extra programs that were installed by the hardware company (HP) that I don't even want to use. I know I can uninstall the programs with Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel but is there a way to keep them from starting up when I boot without uninstalling them? Thanks. - Tam R.
You can remove programs from the startup process. Here's how:
Click Start | Run and type: msconfig.exe
In the System Configuration utility, click the Startup tab and uncheck the programs in the list that you don't want to start when you boot the system. If you don't know what some of the listed items are, you may need to look them up in a web search. For example, I have Microsoft Groove installed as part of Office, but I rarely use it. GrooveMonitor starts automatically, but I can uncheck it to speed up the Startup process.
If you have many unnecessary programs starting up, you may see a significant decrease in bootup time when you uncheck several of them.
Corrupted registry files can cause all sorts of problems, even prevent your computer from starting. Why does it happen? It can be caused by a power failure or unexpected shutdown, defective hardware, or other reasons.There are a number of error messages that indicate a corrupted registry. KB article 822705 provides tips for troubleshooting registry corruption problems.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Registry-Troubleshooting
If you try to start your XP computer and just get a black screen after the POST (Power On Self Test) instead of the Windows logo, the cause might be as simple as having a CD or DVD in your drive - or you might have a corrupted boot sector, master boot record or other element of the boot sequence. To find out what to do, see KB article 314503 at
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Black-Screen
Inflation Calculator: how much would one of today's dollars have been worth back then?
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Inflation-Calculator
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Smugopedia
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Car-Door
Now even Legend of Zelda characters have a social network
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Zelda-Characters
Blackberry's anti-Apple ad: short, simple and sweet
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Blackberry-Ad
Hamburger thief (warning: mild bad language)
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Burger-Thief
A Volkswagen engineer must combat himself many times over in this Matrix- inspired TV ad. Warning, this -is- a little 'german' ;-D
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Volkswagen
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Time-Travel
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Practice
Second Copy® maintains updated copies of your hard work. As it runs in the background, this will be the software that you will forget about until it saves you! Second Copy will automatically backup your data files to any local fixed or removable disks, zip drives, CD-RW's, DVD's, as well as on storage devices on other computers across a network. WXPNews readers can download the Free Evaluation copy here.
http://www.wxpnews.com/MY5HU3/090302-Second-Copy
Posted by computerman at 11:52 PM