Well, I don't understand all of what you asked for (don't know what a stat file is, for example) but I routinely do some of the things you want i.e. running multiple large files in separate programs. Right now I have Outlook Express, Adobe Pagemaker, and Opera (web browser) open on my computer - and this is a quiet afternoon and it's only been ten minutes since I turned it on. Typically I have two email programs, a web browser, an Access Database, and a Word document open, am often online, and am often copying things to zip disks or running files directly from the zip drive (I don't have a CD burner). I do this on my computers both at work and at home, usually without a problem. Every now and then (not often) I get too much running and the next thing I ask it to open won't - so then I just shut things down and start over. After awhile I get a feel for what it can handle - If I have two Adobe programs open (i.e. Pagemaker and Photoshop) I'm best not to ask it to also run Micrsoft Access, but Word won't choke it. I think it is a function of the RAM memory -which you already know is a totally different animal from your hard-drive memory.
The computer I am on right now (work) has an AMD-K6 3D Processor, and 64 MB of RAM. The one at home (a laptop) has been upgraded from 64 to 128 MB of RAM. My hardrive at home is 4Gig, the one here I think is 20 Gig, but I'm not sure. This probably isn't very difinitive info for you, but just thought my experience might be helpful. -cynthia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Schroeder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 12:10 PM Subject: [folkschool-list] Cashing in some chips ... advice in buying a computer > Thanks for the replies on my previous question regarding ghost images on > the screen. Here's another one that came from a third-party source. I > checked the HelpNet "Answer pages" first, and advice was not there, and I > put the question "advice on buying a computer" to Google - and got only 10 > returns, none relevant, so here goes: > A person wants to buy a PC (not a Mac) and has a budget of $1500. > Here are the rest of the uses and requirements: > >-Capacity of running large files (up to 1 MG) simultaneously in separate > >programs. Examples: > >-Word+Excel+Adobe > >Ability to view Bitmaps and other large pic files (not jpegs) on same screen > >(obviously with switching between the two or more) and burn to CD wile > >making notes in Word > >-Ability to remain on-line while running Word and burning CD's > >-Capability for stat packages that can run in background while performing > >ordinary word-processing and/or Excel > > > >I believe what I want is speed and memory. I have never been crazy about > >huge hard drives (< 40 GB) because of my tendency of storing too much and > >not always backing it up. I would rather have two hard drives, one for > >storage and one for OS. I am on the verge of doing that now with my hand > >built system, but since its ~800 kHz slot A, I am now thinking of investing > >in a new machine that I don't have to tinker with and lose time. A Pentium 4 > >with much memory, CD-RW, Floppy, DVD possibly, 40 GB HD. Also expandability > >(adding another hard drive, etc..). Expandability is important. > > > >I know that these days $1500.00 is rather high end these days. I gave it to > >simply have a limit. Lower price with quality performance is my aim. I am > >always wondering about Gateways vs Vision vs HP vs IBM etc. > > Thanks for any advice. > Paul S. > > **Folkschool-list archives are at: > <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> > Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School > > > > **Folkschool-list archives are at: <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84vzQ.a9gqS3.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
