Computer selection
Discussion
As you may have seen, I'm investigating the potential of establishing a bid-writing consultancy.
It may be an omen or divine intervention, but my personal PC has this morning decided to die, with the HDD potentially obliterated (although I'm hopeful data recovery may be possible).
Now the question is; what do I replace it with. Mobility-wise, I need to really go down the laptop route. I will need Office, PDF-maker, Photoshop/Paintshop Pro, DVD-writer and also to run Sage instant accounts (I think on the last one!).
Budget is really looking to be £1k tops (ideally including VAT) - if you think this figure isn't sensible please say so.
What other considerations should I factor in? When I took my desktop in to be looked at this morning, the chap reiterated the need for more regular back-ups (which as this will be a workhorse will be a must-have). As an ideal, I'd like to run Itunes otherwise I will lose my ability to play music, and one or two not-too-taxing-in-a-graphics-sense games. (I know I will need to be far more sensible in terms of downloading and playing games).
Also, if anyone can make suggestions as to where to look to procure said device other than PC World it would be most appreciated.
Thanks
It may be an omen or divine intervention, but my personal PC has this morning decided to die, with the HDD potentially obliterated (although I'm hopeful data recovery may be possible).
Now the question is; what do I replace it with. Mobility-wise, I need to really go down the laptop route. I will need Office, PDF-maker, Photoshop/Paintshop Pro, DVD-writer and also to run Sage instant accounts (I think on the last one!).
Budget is really looking to be £1k tops (ideally including VAT) - if you think this figure isn't sensible please say so.
What other considerations should I factor in? When I took my desktop in to be looked at this morning, the chap reiterated the need for more regular back-ups (which as this will be a workhorse will be a must-have). As an ideal, I'd like to run Itunes otherwise I will lose my ability to play music, and one or two not-too-taxing-in-a-graphics-sense games. (I know I will need to be far more sensible in terms of downloading and playing games).
Also, if anyone can make suggestions as to where to look to procure said device other than PC World it would be most appreciated.
Thanks
I assume permanent loss of business data would be a major disaster, and loss of use of the computer for a day or two would be a major pain, but not a catstrophe?
If so, I'd probably
(1) pick up a laptop either from e-bay or perhaps from Dell's outlet wotsit and use this as my primary machine
(2) get the knackered desktop running for use if the laptop explodes.
(3) buy two external hard discs and back up my business data to those discs every day.
(4) network the two machines courtesy of the ADSL router that also provides internet connectivity
If you are carrying your laptop with you, then this can be considered an "off-site" backup of sorts, so you'll be protected if your other machines and discs go up in smoke, so long as your aren't at home. If all of this kit is at home, all you have to do is remember to grab your laptop or a hard disc as your house burns down.
This is pretty much the setup I use. Each time I log into the laptop it runs a script that backs up all my business data to an external hard drive. At most, I am then exposed to losing 1 days worth of data (emails, documents, etc) as I tend to log in once a day. I have a much less frequently updated backup in a different building as a last resort, but things would be getting pretty desperate if I had to use it.
If so, I'd probably
(1) pick up a laptop either from e-bay or perhaps from Dell's outlet wotsit and use this as my primary machine
(2) get the knackered desktop running for use if the laptop explodes.
(3) buy two external hard discs and back up my business data to those discs every day.
(4) network the two machines courtesy of the ADSL router that also provides internet connectivity
If you are carrying your laptop with you, then this can be considered an "off-site" backup of sorts, so you'll be protected if your other machines and discs go up in smoke, so long as your aren't at home. If all of this kit is at home, all you have to do is remember to grab your laptop or a hard disc as your house burns down.
This is pretty much the setup I use. Each time I log into the laptop it runs a script that backs up all my business data to an external hard drive. At most, I am then exposed to losing 1 days worth of data (emails, documents, etc) as I tend to log in once a day. I have a much less frequently updated backup in a different building as a last resort, but things would be getting pretty desperate if I had to use it.
ATG said:
I assume permanent loss of business data would be a major disaster, and loss of use of the computer for a day or two would be a major pain, but not a catstrophe?
If so, I'd probably
(1) pick up a laptop either from e-bay or perhaps from Dell's outlet wotsit and use this as my primary machine
(2) get the knackered desktop running for use if the laptop explodes.
(3) buy two external hard discs and back up my business data to those discs every day.
(4) network the two machines courtesy of the ADSL router that also provides internet connectivity
If you are carrying your laptop with you, then this can be considered an "off-site" backup of sorts, so you'll be protected if your other machines and discs go up in smoke, so long as your aren't at home. If all of this kit is at home, all you have to do is remember to grab your laptop or a hard disc as your house burns down.
This is pretty much the setup I use. Each time I log into the laptop it runs a script that backs up all my business data to an external hard drive. At most, I am then exposed to losing 1 days worth of data (emails, documents, etc) as I tend to log in once a day. I have a much less frequently updated backup in a different building as a last resort, but things would be getting pretty desperate if I had to use it.
If so, I'd probably
(1) pick up a laptop either from e-bay or perhaps from Dell's outlet wotsit and use this as my primary machine
(2) get the knackered desktop running for use if the laptop explodes.
(3) buy two external hard discs and back up my business data to those discs every day.
(4) network the two machines courtesy of the ADSL router that also provides internet connectivity
If you are carrying your laptop with you, then this can be considered an "off-site" backup of sorts, so you'll be protected if your other machines and discs go up in smoke, so long as your aren't at home. If all of this kit is at home, all you have to do is remember to grab your laptop or a hard disc as your house burns down.
This is pretty much the setup I use. Each time I log into the laptop it runs a script that backs up all my business data to an external hard drive. At most, I am then exposed to losing 1 days worth of data (emails, documents, etc) as I tend to log in once a day. I have a much less frequently updated backup in a different building as a last resort, but things would be getting pretty desperate if I had to use it.
Cunning ploy methinks. Yes I would look to have some sort of daily backup routine (automated if possible). I'm not brilliant at the more technical side of running a PC (i.e. maintenance other than regular disk clean/defrag etc) - do you use an IT company to provide support or are you a bit better on PCs than me?
My stuff is all DIY. I do a fair bit of software development as part of my job, so it wasn't much of a jump to set up a basic network and script some backup routines. You could get an IT support firm to help you to set up such a system, or you could figure it out for yourself courtesy of googling and/or asking nerdy Pistonheaders. If you're familiar with how and why your IT stuff works, you're more likely to spot problems before they become disasters, so there's a benefit to doing most or all of it yourself if you have the time and inclination.
I use a HP Compaq NC6620 at work seems decent enough - you can pick up better models these days for well under £1k
www.laptopshop.co.uk/compaq_hp-laptops-n.htm
www.laptopshop.co.uk/compaq_hp-laptops-n.htm
muppetdave said:
I actually have this resolved - current spec Dell Latitude - £475 with current MS Office, so a good start. Quite pleased actually. Now I just need to sort the back-up processes etc!
Cheers guys
Cheers guys
One of the network-attached-storage (NAS) drives with backup software probably wouldn't be such a bad call here - Maxtor Shared Storage II or similar... Plug it into the Internet Router, install the software, and click on the folders you want backing up and the days you want it doing. Pretty much the same for most of those drives...
Edited to add: Oooh, my 5,000th post!
Edited by J_S_G on Sunday 14th January 18:04
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