Taking the Plunge

We don't like to upgrade very often. Bruce skipped Vista on his personal computers because it just didn't seem to have enough improvement to warrant a change. Unless you've got a lot of money to burn and want to have the latest and greatest thing, you should only upgrade if you really need to. He is also still using Windows 7 on his personal desktop and won't switch to Windows 11 unless he is dragged kicking and screaming to it.

But every once in a while you're going to upgrade your computer hardware. Why? Not because you want the latest thing, or fall in love with the newest fad, but because your needs will change. This is what drives new software designs. As programs change they need better hardware to perform well. Or as new hardware develops, programs are written to use it. You can save a little money if you wait a while, though. we call this "skipping a generation." We liked XP (but also resisted changing to it for a long time). Vista wasn't that big of a deal for us, but now we've got Windows 7. We skipped a generation. We didn't use Windows 8 when it came out in 2012, because Win 7 is pretty good. Windows 10 had a lot of problems when it came out in 2016 so we have avoided it on our personal machines to date. But we'll probably have to switch to it sooner or later. We have some of our shop computers on it at the moment. At this time (2022) Windows 10 has worked out the bugs (mostly) and it is actually a decent OS. Windows 11 is a good choice but many machines even two or three years old cannot upgrade to this without some internal modifications. We resist doing the bidding of Micrososft as long as we are able, and older operating systems are doing the job just fine unless you need newer software.

We've skipped upgrades with many application programs too, except we've skipped several generations. Bruce had Quickbooks 2000 and didn't buy another version until 2005. Then he waited until 2009 to get the next version. They just cost to much to be replacing them every year. We think the software manufacturers come out with new programs with a few improvements just to make money. So don't play their game. Wait until they develop new features that are really several steps better and that you really want to use. You can also save money by looking for slightly older copies of software. For instance, right after they came out with Quickbooks 2010 you could find copies of 2009 around for a lot less money. This website was made with an older version of Expression Web (2) instead of the slightly newer version 2 or even 3 (and now 4).

After hardware changes it takes time to get accepted, and as hardware gets accepted it takes more time to write software for the new hardware. As the new software gets developed you can wait a little longer for the bugs to get corrected. Make the time work for you.

If you give it time, software catches up to the new hardware, then prices start to come down. Software that used to cost $500.00 when it first came out is now worthless, unless it is still helping you. My first home computer (in the middle '80's) was an XT that cost about $1,500.00 (without the dot matrix printer) and within a few years was junk. Some people have ten year-old computers with Windows 98 still. I knew the owner of a computer repair business one time who was still using a DOS version of Quickbooks when XP came out!

But remember, everything is driven by the job the computer is supposed to do. The stupid machine (and it is a very stupid machine) does a job. And it has to be told every move to make for that job over and over again. It will make some things easier (if you can call it easier) sometimes. If an older computer is getting the job done, keep it as long as you can. The longer you keep it the cheaper the new stuff gets. You can take your time learning what new stuff will do the job for you and what won't, then make an educated choice.

However, the down side of waiting is that your machine is getting older and parts are getting harder to find. Older software doesn't do the job as well as some of the newer stuff. I know. I made this web site from a newer web design software (Microsoft Expression Web 2 in 2010) and the other version I had was Frontpage 2003. That shows you how much I wanted to upgrade. Sooner or later though, even if you try to make it as late as possible, you will probably want to upgrade. Try to be proactive about it wherever you can, though. Make a balance between getting the latest and greatest and having a system that is too old. Sometimes it's just cheaper to get a new machine or program.

You can save money, time, and frustration if you upgrade when you need to rather than waiting for your current machine to fail. Data is transferred easier and quicker. The old machine might still be usable for someone else, such as a child, or can be donated instead of deposited in the landfill. If you have a business, it makes more sense to upgrade on a regular basis to maintain or improve productivity. So wait to upgrade, but don't wait too long.

Multiple Monitors

In the ancient past (by computer years) or a couple years ago large monitors were expensive. Prices have been falling though, so now you have a choice between multiple smaller monitors or one or two big ones with multiple windows. Either option works, unless you don't want to go out and buy a big monitor because you have several small ones sitting around.

Adding a monitor can be a great boost for productivity, and maybe even help use up that old CRT monitor stuck in a closet somewhere. It doesn't have to be an expensive proposition, either. Another or second monitor can be as simple as plugging it in.

Check the back of your computer, where your existing monitor is plugged in. If the end of the monitor cable is blue (called D-sub or VGA), and next to it is a white receptacle (called DVI) then you can easily plug in another monitor. It could also be the other way around (the present monitor is the white one and the empty one is the VGA). Check the cable of the second monitor to make sure it's going to match.

If the first and second monitor both use blue cables, and you have both a blue and a white receptacle on the computer, you will have to buy a DVI-D male to VGA male adapter for the second monitor. It doesn't cost very much, depending on quality. They can be found on Amazon for about $5.00 or $10.00. The least expensive is okay.

After you plug in the second monitor, go to the Windows Control Panel and navigate to the Display settings. Find the tab that shows both monitors. In Windows 10 use the search bar (generally on the bottom left) and type in Control Panel. Choose which monitor will be your primary and which will be secondary.

For Windows 7  for instance it is Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display\Screen Resolution. There you can set the resolution and the primary monitor. Windows 8 and 10 do a pretty good job detecting and asking you what you want to do with the extra. Windows 10 and 11 are even better at handling multiple monitors.

If you want to add two monitors (total of three) it gets a little more complicated. But we recommend three monitors if you work with your computer for more than just checking the weather and your email. Or if you can afford a big screen and don't mind a bunch of windows open do that instead.

You will probably need to add a graphics card to handle at least one of the three monitors. And you will probably need a stand to hold all three if they are LCD (flat panel) monitors.

If you want to see how three monitors works, come down to our shop. We've got two workstations set up with three monitors each. One is Bruce's personal workstation and the other is a demo unit. You should try three monitors though. Some studies have shown that productivity can be improved by as much as 50%.

CLICK HERE for more information on multiple monitors and their effect on productivity from Tech Support.

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Quality versus Price

There are quality PC's, and there are PC's for which you just pay a lot of money. They are not the same. Generally you are going to pay more for quality, so price is a pretty decent guide. But there are PC's that cost a lot and don't deliver much of an increase in quality. You've got to ask yourself how long a machine is supposed to last. Eight to ten computer years is like a lifetime in human years.

Even though it is slowing down a little, computers are still developing at a very fast pace. Then there are devices such as the iPad and the smart phone, which have been putting a large dent in computer sales. It makes sense to spread your money out a little and try not to spend a bunch for the latest thing, in case there's another latest thing that comes along. But you still want to put enough into your desktop or laptop that it won't be obsolete next month. Right now about $600.00 dollars or so will get you a very nice desktop, or a decent laptop. Don't go overboard, but get something that will do the job for the foreseeable future.

Cables

Allow us to share with you our education on purchasing cables. We've been to every local big-box store, and all of them charge a lot for cables. Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Office Depot, Office Max, and even a locally owned store all had prices at least three time higher than can be found online.

Now remember, they have to guess what will sell, and they have to have shelf space for them, plus you don't have to pay freight. What you are paying for is convenience and lack of planning on your part. They probably sell other things very inexpensively, but they make it up on the cables you need to go along with that 'toaster' computer you just bought.

An example is a simple ten-foot VGA cable which is about $30.00 at Office Depot, and about $10.00 from a vendor through Amazon. An HDMI cable can cost upwards of $100.00 depending on size and store, but online I purchased a very good one for about $15.00.

Cable prices will affect a lot of decisions you make about your computer. All the cables that come with a computer are short. So you have to put the tower somewhere close to an electrical socket and next to the monitor or monitors, and within range of where you place the mouse and keyboard. Usually that means right on your desk or underneath where your feet are. Buying longer cables, or extension cables, means you can put the tower pretty much where you want it. I've got one tower about 12 feet away from the monitors.

But remember also, you have to route the cable down the desk and around corners. So your cable can't usually be in a straight line. When picking out cables get the shortest you need to follow the terrain to your tower. Look for manufacturers with good reviews. You don't have to get gold-plated expensive cables either. Most cables have similar performance characteristics and the less expensive is usually the better deal.

It will take a little research, but comparing apples to apples you get a much better cable price online. Many cables are in stock and if frequently you can get free freight and no tax. If you need some help picking out a cable, or want to see if we have something in stock, give us a call.

VGA versus SVGA Cables

Most newer monitors uses HDMI, so this section on VGA is getting more and more out of date. But many people still have VGA cable connections, which are the ones with the blue ends. Used to be very common for monitors and are still around but will fade out over time. For the old CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, these were the usual way to connect to a computer. For the CRT's they work fine. Newer digital monitors may have both a digital (white) and a VGA (blue) connection, and/or an HDMI connection. All these cables will work fine for short runs to a flat panel digital monitor

If you have VGA connections, a problem comes up when you have a long run (longer than maybe five or six feet). A regular VGA cable will not work very well at higher resolutions (say, above 1024 x 768 or so. The VGA cable just can't handle it. You need an SVGA cable. Yes, there is a difference, and yes the SVGA is better at handling the higher resolutions. Fortunately, you don't have to pay a lot for a better cable.

Comparing Video Cards

Poke around on the web for charts that compare video cards. It's a lot of information, but keep looking around a little and you'll get some great information. Then if you want to upgrade your video card, you'll know pretty much what you are looking for. It's a little technical, but worth it. Prices have come down a bunch and features are going up, as is usual with computer stuff.

Software for Checking Hardware

The link above will take you to a website that has free software for finding out what hardware is in your computer. It makes a report that tells you things such as your CPU name and number, cache, the motherboard brand name, model and revision; a couple things about your RAM; and Windows and Direct X version. Very nice for getting a handle on what you've got so you can figure out what you need to increase your computer's ability to handle data.

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Wireless

Wireless data transfer is not what it's cracked up to be yet. It's okay, but cables are still better for overall performance. Wireless is prone to signal weakness and security issues. It's great if you can't install network cables and you can stay close to the hotspot (where the signal is sent and received). And security is getting better. But for the performance difference, I'd stick with CAT 5 or CAT 6 wires, myself.

Cat 5, Cat 6 or Optical?

Category 6 cable, for hard wired computer networks, is intended to take higher data transfer rates than Category 5 (Cat 5). However, we are not even approaching the saturation point for Cat 5 cable with our present data transfer rates. Saturation means that the cable cannot handle any more data. This is because all electrical current tends to create waves that fight against the direction of current (or data in this instance) flow. If the flow goes really fast the opposing waves get bigger and stronger. Saturation is reached when there is so much data flowing back and forth it chokes itself.

If you are wiring a new building, by all means use Cat 6. The extra few dollars will be worth it later. But if someone is trying to convince you to rewire an existing building, you've got to get a better tech company. Like Tech Support. There's absolutely no reason in the foreseeable future to go to the expense of rewiring with Category 6 cable. Optical cables are expensive and way overbuilt for our present data speeds. It's like buying a Porsche to use for a golf cart. In our opinion it's just not worth the money yet.