Windows 10???

[perc-o-prince]

I'm really thinking about buying a new laptop. Looks like I can get a good deal on a Win 10 laptop with 500G hard drive and 8G ram for $300. It has an i3 processor (won't go Celeron). Any comments? I'd like a VGA port, but I can get an HDMI/VGA adaptor for $5 on eBay. http://www.staples.com/c55+c5379/directory_c55-c5379

Chuck

p.s.- Our Win 7 laptop has been bogging down lately. I haven't done a save/wipe/reload ever on this machine, so maybe that's all I need. Thoughts?

 

[washer111]

If your present machine is bogging, do a reinstall after backing up your data. Seriously: it will be like a new machine, and on the plus side, you won't have to deal with a new OS, new problems (seems most new software these days are "public betas," and can only be trusted as such) and turning off all the "spying" features Windows 10 is so famous for...

Window bogs down over time, sadly. But a reinstall really is the cure-all.
No use wasting money in-necessarily either, Windows 7 is still supported to 2019 IIRC and is the best the modern
Microsoft will ever achieve IMO(!). I will probably switch to Linux once it gets too old, but I still use Windows 2000, XP and OS X Snow Leopard and find all do everything just fine for me.
W2K has a server role here at home too and it does just fine.

As you can see, "value-oriented" is a big part of computing for me. I am of the opinion that if it works, it's paid for, then replacement is pointless. I am savvy enough not to catch infections too, which helps a bit too with older stuff.

 

[sudsmaster]

That actually looks like a fair deal. $300 for a Toshiba notebook with plenty of memory (8 GB), 500 MB drive, and a reasonably fast processor (I3). I happen to like Toshiba notebooks because I think they are higher quality than most of the rest (like Dell or HP). Haven't used Win10 but I understand it's an improvement over Vista and Win8. I have used Win7 and it's ok.

 

As  for the processor... interesting tidbit. As I understand it, you'll never get the same performance out of a notebook computer, say with an I7 processor, that you will get out of a desktop system with an I7 processor. That's because, again as I've read, the notebook processor halves the number of simultaneous processes that can be run, vs. the desktop. So while an I3 won't be a  screamer it likely will be faster than a Pentium or a Celeron. And for most productivity work, it won't matter. Now, if you've running complex games or math intensive software, there may be a difference between an I3 and I5 and I7. But for web browsing and word processing, probably not.

 

Regarding earlier OS... I finally had to dump W2K pro on my desktop because it was not able to handle video and music smoothly. I went to XP and there was an immediate improvement. And XP runs my old CAD/CAM software better than Vista or Win7. So there is that. On the other hand, I have some new CAD/CAM software that won't run on my XP system. It also requires a 64bit system, so I may be notebook shopping just for that. This one *might* be 64 bit and fit the bill. Who knows?

 

Thanks for posting that link.

 

 

[cleanteamofny]

This Win10 PC is fine for non gaming entertainment and the hard drive is great for most photo's and music storage.
Dump the VGA and use the HDMI for sharper images on monitors and this Laptop can be hooked up to any TV's that has an HDMI open port.

For more detail of the unit, click on link and scroll down.
I would buy this unit just for the HDMI port!!

(Personally, windows 10 upgrade on an widows 8.1 machine reminds me of the Windows M.E. upgrade from windows 98 second edition: all eye candy with very few new features)!

http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/c50/C55-C5379

 

[kb0nes]

Win 10 is what you should get if you get a new computer today. You are likely to curse the changes in the user interface, but remember every old pair of comfy shoes was once stiff and new. Personally I am still a Luddite clinging to Win 7 because I don't want to adapt, but I have 3 really gifted IT computer guys that have embraced it and actually tout its virtues now.

Other then that the Laptop looks pretty decent, especially considering the cost. The i3 is an amazing little processor for a BOL device. My work desktop was bought as an i3 and I thought I'd put in a faster upper version proc later. Nope still an i3, it doesn't need to be any faster then it is! I second abandoning the VGA depending on what you plug it into. Newer/larger higher resolution flat LCD monitors are dirt cheap today and HDMI makes them so easy to connect.

As for the old laptop slowing down, remember that with the exception of throttling due to thermal issues, a processor never gets slower. Performance issues are generally due to too many processes running in the background or having newer software "updates" that are far more resource hungry then prior versions. I'd go through the computer and uninstall anything I didn't use, download and run Ccleaner to help get rid of junk. I'd probably do an online Trend Micro "Housecall" scan too to make sure your anti-virus software hasn't missed anything.

 

[wayupnorth]

Windows 10 is what you WILL get with a new PC today. Mine came with 8.1 and I hated it because they hid everything in these stupid "charms" you had no idea what they were or how they worked. It would have been nice to include a user guide but I guess Microsoft figures that you'll figure it out. I have 10 now and at least it is easier to shut it off but still is not anywhere as user friendly as XP or 7. Things do seem to run faster with 10 though.

 

[kb0nes]

You can still get brand new machines from Dell loaded with Win 7, so Windows 10 isn't a 100% given just yet...

I too agree I don't really like the look and feel of the new Tiled user interface that came in with Win 8 and was greatly improved with Win 10. But most of the reason I may not like it is probably more of a personal failure with me, then a failing of the OS design. I admit I don't like change. I'm comfortable for the most part with Win 7 (and Server 2008 and OSx).

As a general rule I skip every other Microsoft OS release. I skipped 95, ME and Vista. I passed over Win 8 so I think I'm due lol

 

[wayupnorth]

I went back to the regular screen, not the tiled screen, so it is somewhat easier. I have a desktop, not a laptop, tablet or whatever they dream up for the next smaller one with a touch screen. I want a big monitor and a regular size keyboard. I refuse to do internet with my thumbs on a screen my old eyes cant see without a magnifying glass.

 

[gusherb]

I have a 2011 model Gateway desktop that came with Windows 7. I loved Windows 7 on it and thought I'd never give it up. My mother bought a Windows 10 laptop and I set it up for her and liked 10 a lot. So much that I installed it on my desktop and so far it is by far the best version of Windows I've ever used. It is well polished and so far runs very well. For me getting used to it has been rather intuitive, in fact I have found the learning curve to be much better than any previous version of Windows I've used.

My advice to anyone thinking about changing, but is apprehensive, is to do it and do your best to approach it with an open mind and be willing to learn some new tricks.
My mom has been having so much trouble with any new OS because she expects, and wants it to work like the old one did, and refuses to even look at it differently and learn how to operate the new system.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Have you de-fragged your disk lately? If not, do so.

I also like ShouldIRemoveIt as it goes through your computer and pulls up every program you have and lets you individually delete items.

Maxxing out RAM on your current computer is also the most cost-effective way to upgrade an older computer to handle newer, more memory intensive programs.

I cast another vote for CCleaner.

For the most part I use Ubuntu 14.04 LTS on all my computers:
All Lenovo: x200s, x301, & x100e as well as a Dell 6510. None of these are even vaguely close to current and I've no problems at all.

Jim

 

[sudsmaster]

Thanks Perc-o-Prince (Rich)

After checking the Staples and Toshiba websites, and some other sites on this particular notebook and processor, and I went out to Staples on Sunday and picked up one. I also signed up for a Staples credit card because it gives $50 off with first purchase. So this notebook came out o $249 before tax (about $280 with tax). Not too shabby.

 

It runs circles around my XP desktop and Vista notebook. Both are a bit hamstrung with only 2 GB Ram, and slower processors. The Vista notebook is supposed to be dual core Pentium, although I doubt it has the hyperthreading that the i series processors have.

 

The reviews say this particular machine uses the Broadwell processor architecture, which apparently handles graphics better than the earlier Hasswell iX series. In any case, so far, so good. I'm able to stream video much more smoothly and with higher resolution than with any of my other machines (including a quad core smartphone). Haven't tried Chromecasting from it yet, but that's in the works. It will take a while, probably, to get all my software loaded and find out what does and doesn't work. For my sporadic consulting work it's going to need to be able to run a USB floppy drive and some old DOS based programs in a DOS window. But  since I was able to get them to work on Vista this machine should be OK with them. We'll see... the Vista box is 32 bit which might affect hardware like that. If not, I still have the old notebook for work.

 

I like the keyboard has a 10-key number pad - the lack of which makes the Vista notebook (also a Toshiba) a PITA. On the other hand, still getting used to the weird placement of the PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End keys. I'm not too fond of the mousepad either, but I stole the wireless (Logitech) mouse off the Vista box and that's working well from the armchair to control videos... LOL...

 

For serious wordsmithing I still demand a full size keyboard, but for what I need it looks like this unit will be fine.

 

As for Windows 10, it's "OK". Probably better than Vista. W7 is ok but I don't have it installed on any home machines as yet.

 

I also have a 1.5 Terabyte Western Digital "MyBook" hooked up to the router, so it's available to all computers on the home network. It's where I'm storing my music and video files, and anything else that's a space hog.

 

So anyway, I'm happy so far with this machine and again, thanks Perc-O-Prince for posting about it.

 

 

[cleanteamofny]

Congrats on the upgrade Rich, if you have any problem loading old programs, try running compatibility program under properties within the software!

One thing that Microsoft has done is to preloaded the OS with things that needed to be downloaded individually that we the consumers had to do manually!
The glory of today's integration....., finally they done somethings right!
The list of software we must add to get the PC running is time consuming and the list is long...

Now I will have to buy a copy Win 10 for my old/new water cool tower build that been on hold since July 2008.
I'm still connecting wires and about to add plastic tubing to the pump, radiator, CPU and memory cards and I hope to be up and running in January for my Birthday!

Anyway, Win 10 is nice on new machines, but glitches viewing videos and DVD played on upgraded units are a horror story!
No matter updating Realtec drives, Adobe flash, Air, Shockwave and Microsoft Silverlight just didn't correct the choppy video viewing and sounds!

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Maxxing out RAM on your current computer is also the most cost-effective way to upgrade an older computer to handle newer, more memory intensive programs.</blockquote> Keep in mind that a 32-bit Windows OS can make use of 4 GB of RAM maximum, anything more is ignored.  64-bit OS has a MUCH higher capability on RAM utilization.

I have to stick with 32-bit OS on at least two machines because the ancient DOS accounting package at work won't run on 64-bit.  It also requires a "hack" on a little-known Win OS configuration file for number of allowed open file handles.

 

[kb0nes]

If a person has an older PC they are looking to breath a little spark back into replacing a spinning hard drive with a new Solid State drive makes a BIG world of difference. I have slowly been changing computers over to SSD drives (at least for the boot drive) and now they all boot from cold in less then 20 seconds and just do everything with a "spring in their step". I've done 2 Apples and 6 PC's now and the difference is astonishing.

I just bought my last SSD a couple weeks ago, it is a 500Gb Samsung 850EVO model and I paid $149 for it from Micro Center. The pricing has really dropped from what they started at. The Samsung models are high quality with great warranties and their migration software even makes cloning onto the new drive pretty simple. Of course it is a move involved process then adding memory but I think it makes WAY more difference.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Interesting!

 

[sudsmaster]

SSD vs HD.

 

It depends.

 

SSD can be faster, but one would need to rule out the difference between booting a clean OS install vs. one that's been in use for a few years and become encumbered with lots of extra stuff to load.

 

Hard drive mfg's recognize that SSD can be faster accessing data, so they've come out with hybrid drives: hard drives with lots of capacity with SSD cache built-in to improve performance with frequently accessed data, or to pre-fetch data as the hard drive spins up. This can provide overall performance close to that of a pure SSD drive while still lowering the cost per GB far below that of SSD's.

 

However for most productivity applications the speed of a regular hard drive is more than sufficient.

 

 

 

 

[kb0nes]

I've never installed an SSD with a new 'clean' OS install, they have all been an intact copy of all files and all the registry junk intact. The overall operation and feel is nothing short of amazing. My IT friends were touting the swap and I thought they were nuts, then I did my Mac Mini and wow I was converted! All the PC's I have done have proved to be equally snappy in their performance increase. In general I have never seen such an overall performance increase from adding RAM.

In theory the SSD's do write slower then a magnetic drive, but that is handled by caching in RAM. The read speed is generally faster since the mechanical seek times are removed by not having moving heads, electrons are a lot quicker

So when I did my first swap I ran benchmarks on the original Toshiba 500Gb spinning drive vs a Samsung 500Gb 850EVO SSD. Depending on the block size the average read speed increase was was between 120 to 400% with the SSD. The funny thing is that the write speed increase was even greater, but I attribute that to the caching...

I am a little leery of durability. Even though the SSD drives don't have moving parts, they still have a similar MTBF. The memory "cells" that the data is written into have a finite number of writes before they basically wear out. The firmware in the drive controller tries to distribute the wear to not wright to the same block all the time for longevity. Time will tell I suppose. I have always been someone that was reluctant to spin down drives since I don't like the start up wear. With SSD's this isn't a concern and power consumption and heat in the case is reduced too.

I don't disagree that a standard spinning drive is just fine for most all uses, can't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. I only took the left-turn at Albuquerque into offtopicville when the idea of adding RAM to increase performance was raised. An SSD swap can make as much or more difference in overall performance with an older machine as adding RAM.

 

[foraloysius]

I changed from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. Actually after a very short time of adaption I really liked the new style. But I thought it was wise to change to Windows 10 to keep the system updated. No problems with stuff not working, but somehow I can't get the color scheme back that I used with Windows 8.1. I selected the use of the tiled screen, but there are fewer color options available. Not a big thing, but I liked the personalized design I had chosen.

 

[logixx]

If you don't like the tiles and apps and all that stuff, download Classic Shell. It brings the start menu back and the tiles are automatically skipped when Windows starts. If have used it for a long time and won't be without it - those tiles drove me crazy.

www.classicshell.net/