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  2. if you were getting a new computer.

moderated Re: if you were getting a new computer.

Joseph Lee
 

Hi,

I concur with Brian and others who pointed out that it is important to think about purposes of getting a new computer and choose specs based on them. I myself have settled on a ThinkPad for the next laptop due to the reputation of its keyboard, as I sought a writer’s machine with decent specs (not the top of the line).

If I read Jim’s initial request correctly, he wants a machine for music production and related tasks. For these, I think a decent Intel I5 or I7 would suffice (four to six cores), or a cheaper alternative being a mid-range AMD Ryzen (3 or 5 should be enough). Apart from RAM (8 to 16 GB should be enough for music production needs), what’s more important for music professionals is the quality of the sound card (internal sound cards may work, but if one wants to get into heavy music production, add-on cards (PCI Express) or mixers are preferred, and you must factor that when purchasing this particular system).

Cheers,

Joseph

 

From: main@jfw.groups.io <main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of Brian Vogel
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2021 6:59 AM
To: main@jfw.groups.io
Subject: Re: if you were getting a new computer.

 

On Fri, Apr 16, 2021 at 09:39 AM, Steve Matzura wrote:

What on earth do you plan on doing with this thing?

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This is the first and primary question anyone planning to purchase a computer should be asking.  I have seen far too many of my clients who were sold grossly overspecced systems for what they intend to do with them.  You match your tool to your task(s) and give yourself a bit of growing room.

From my business webpage:  "Unless you have very demanding computing needs it's unlikely you need or want a computer with every available bell and whistle."

People, even screen reader users, who are doing little more than web browsing, emailing, and using various typical office suite programs do not need a machine that's tricked out to the degree that it would work for multi-player realtime online gamers or professionals who use 3D modeling or animation software.  And unused processing power and/or memory is just a dead asset and waste of money.

I haven't seen even an intense business user need more than 16GB of RAM, and very few home users will ever benefit from that much, though if they've got it this will give most of them plenty of breathing room in the RAM department.
 
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Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 20H2, Build 19042  

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.

           ~ André Gide
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