The End of Windows XP - Part 2

This is the second article in the series The End of Windows XP and will deal with replacing, should you so wish, your XP Computer. I’ve put up a series of webpages dealing with how to secure your XP computer post April 8^th which you can find at www.reidyonline.com/endofxp.htm

Replacing Your PC

Before you rush out to the store and plonk down a wad of cash on a new desktop or laptop you should take the time to consider if this is really necessary. The end of XP support from Microsoft does not mean you have to replace your computer provided you take the steps to protect it correctly. Having said that if you decide it’s time for a new pc you need to proceed with caution.

What’s Available and What NOT To Buy.

In the shops you’ll find laptops and a few desktops all running Windows 8. I do not recommend buying a pc with windows 8 unless you like to get upset. As an operating system it is just dreadful. Windows 7 Professional is still available but you will have to buy online and it appears only to be available on the higher priced models.

Processors

A good solid processor is the intel I5 coupled with 8 gig or more of ram. Don’t skimp on ram as windows, in all it’s variants, needs lots of it to run efficiently.

Disk Space

For the vast majority of users a 500 gig drive is more than enough space unless you plan to store your entire movie collection on your pc. You can save a few bob by selecting a model with a 500 gig drive.

Laptop Desktop or Tablet

I’m still a fan of desktops and believe they offer the best roi (return on investment) for the consumer. Tablets are good at what they do but will not meet all the needs of a traditional xp computer user.

Software

If you are an office user you may need to figure in the cost of a new office system which is not cheap. Gone are the days of cd’s for office. You’ll have to download it from the website and if you’ve got a poor connection this can be very time consuming. If the download fails you can purchase a dvd from Microsoft but they will charge you extra for it.