Does it Take a New Intel 2 Dual Core Chip to Really Watch Video and Multi-Task?

Have you had your computer work life slow down to a crawl? It's more frustrating than the traffic around Washington, DC!

My Dell has been hanging up (E1505). I'd go get a cup of coffee or rather could go get lunch when it was downloading email from Outlook 2003 and resolving on some web pages. I was frustrated when a client or colleague would call me up and say - let's look at that file I just sent you. I'd have to make small talk or call back.

I'm a heavy heavy multitasker, and it gets rather annoying going to another computer (many folks who rely heavily on computers for their jobs may use an older laptop or another computer as their secondary computer or screen) to surf or process. Then, they may go back to the main computer to check emails, etc if things drag, and vice-versa.

That was just not convenient to me to have two screens everyplace I work, nor comfortable in my setting. I'm often traveling, and there's no way to really take two screens along, so I'd often resort to the one screen. If you do email on a couch in other rooms, it's just not practical. Now, maybe Mark Cuban has it set up so he has a number of screens in every room, on his private jet, and projecting from his mobile phone net connection, but it's just not practical for mainstream users.

I broke down and had to get (didn't have to)...but who wants to wait for a computer and waste an hour or two a day... when you already live half your life on it. I was estimating I was wasting at least 1 hour a day at least waiting for things on the computer. I tried all the techniques to speed up things, and read and tried many of the tips, and what other software might be dragging down my computer. I'm pretty redundant and daily on virus software, and online virus testing from some of the recommended online virus websites. Unfortunately, everybody should be these days.

Who wants to sit around and stare at a screen that is working for so long, you forget what you actually were waiting to do on the computer? Please tell me I'm not the only one who forgets what they were looking for while waiting for Outlook to do its deeds. Who wants to read the same paragraph twice, or get stuck on a webpage?

I got a rather close to top of the line notebook, a Dell XPS M1710. Those who get into this, the speed is quite high wirh Intel's new T7600 chips. You don't need to know any of this, nor the hard drive speed, and all other features UNTIL you want to really make sure you're getting the computer you want at the best price.

The best price I found anywhere was from online power sellers at EBAY Express. Many recommend to just buy from power sellers with great reviews if you're doing a purchase over $1000.00. I heartily agree. There was one guy I had to report to Ebay that they have now banned since he had hacked into someone else's ebay account and was trying to get folks to send them checks, or payment. I don't wait for the auctions, I use the buy it now selection. Do talk to or email the buyer before you buy and verify information. Reputable power sellers are more than glad to do so, and send you their address and other identifying information. I'd highly recommend buying a computer from someone that is selling multiple computers and has sold some in the last couple of weeks. A guy selling tire rims by the dozens who then comes up and is selling one top of the line computer may not be able to transfer the warranty, nor really know what they are selling, or even have the device yet.

So...My goal is to be able to do outlook, leave a video or audio running, browse the net, maybe check a PowerPoint or Excel and not have Outlook stop everything including the browser when the system just couldn't handle all the activities. (The old Dell did have 2 Gigs of Ram.)

I selected a 17 inch screen (weighs more) but staring at computers for way too long and trying to figure out some of the small text in PDF documents (without zooming) was getting way too old. I want to have a web browser on the right and outlook on the left of the screen.

In essence, my new processor should be about twice as fast as my old processor on the computer, although I'm sure someone who really knows computers will tell me the exact speed increase (and relative percentage) from this and the (older) Dell.

So..after spending two hours downloading updates from Microsoft Updates, Dell Updates, McAfee updates, and having to reboot a total of 15 times, I'm on the new computer. I think the first update I did from Microsoft was 47 updates. Then, I had to update Office programs, and numerous security fixes, virus updates, and the like. Plan on spending about 3 or 4 hours getting your new computer up to speed just on updates, no matter what you purchase. You can skip some of the updates, but who wants a new computer to collect viruses, have software or hardware conflicts right out of the box.

To Be Continued. Peg

When my coputer arrived, a friend of mine says why aren't you excited about your new computer and running to open it up immediately? Alas, I was dreading the hours of updates necessary to just keep your computer safe before you even use it.

I still have a lot of work to do. I have to configure all my email accounts and move over some software and programs and data. That's another day or so to do. I have a faster usb pc to pc link on order which should be dropped off in the mail in a day or so to speed things up. If you have any tips, please let me know.