To help narrow down your choices for the correct version of Vista for your system, use the chart shown below to see which Vista Version is right for you. Here's the versions available:

Features Basic Home Premium Business Ultimate Windows Defender and Windows Firewall Included Instant Search and Internet Explorer 7 Windows Flip 3D & Live Thumbnails . Laptop Choice - Windows Mobility and Tablet PC Support . Windows Meeting Space . Windows Side Show (additional displays and device support . Entertainment/Photos includes Media Center . . Media Center Extenders . . Backup and Restore PC - includes software . . Fax and Scan documents . . Scheduled Backup . Remote Desktop Connection . . Network Sharing facilities BitLocker Drive Encryption (protect your valuable data) . . . Windows DVD Maker . . New Games Additions, Chess, Titans, Mahjong Titans, and Inkball . . High Definition Movie Maker Included . . Windows Vista Enterprise - Available for the corporate environment and offers Desktop Management and Deployment. Hosted and virtualized desktop licensing, with software assurance. Please contact your Authorized computer vendor to see if you qualify. For additional information on Windows Vista Enterprise please Click here
Windows XP Solutions	Windows XP Home - A very popular operating system. It prevents your applications from accidentally changing the core operating system files, and prevents applications from accessing the code kernel.  Problem applications will not cause the operating system to crash, this in itself is a major strong point. Multiple versions of Windows components can run side by side, so the old worry of applications conflicting with each other or causing system instability are no longer a major concern.  Built in internet connection with firewall protection, helps guard against intrusions while connected to the internet.  Another major (not just for business portion is the Credential manager which is a secured store for password information. The feature provides the ability to control access to Network Resources, EMAIL once then have the system automatically provide that information for future uses.  Dynamic updates, which keeps the OS current and provides driver updates, emergency fixes and security changes. These updates can be set to upload on a predetermined basis with several options.  Quick User switching, ability for each user to have their own set of programs without having to close each others applications each time. System Restore feature enables you to restore your pc in the event of a system failure.  If you are running an older application Windows XP includes what's called a Compatibility Mode which can enable your application to run in a simulated older version of Windows.  Remote assistance, this is a long awaited feature of Windows that provides the ability to invite other Windows XP computers to connect to yours and actually take control of your computer.  This is a godsend for many people who have a desktop at home and a notebook computer on the road.    Windows XP Professional - An absolute must for anyone wanting to connect to a Windows domain. Designed for businesses of all sizes and for home users who demand the most from their computing experience, Windows XP Professional delivers the  reliability and performance that businesses require. It includes all the  of Windows XP Home Edition, plus many security and privacy features, advanced recovery options, improved ability to connect to large networks, many other features required in operating a business network reliably. Windows XP Media Center Edition Computers running Windows XP Media Center Edition are ready to experience video, audio, pictures, and TV through a user interface that makes it easier to work with digital media. It provides easy to use menus to comfortably enjoy video, audio, pictures, and television on your computer monitor or TV display.  A cool feature is the new remote control for Windows XP.   SUPPORT SINGLE OR DUAL PROCESSOR SYSTEMS In addition to meeting the minimum system requirements of Windows XP Professional, each new Media Center PC may include the following components to enhance your entertainment experience: A Media Center compatible remote control that keeps all of the entertainment on your computer within easy reach, and complements the keyboard and mouse. A remote infrared (IR) sensor that enables the remote control to communicate with the computer, and also controls your cable or satellite set-top box. An advanced graphics card for displaying the best TV experience on your computer monitor. A TV tuner that captures your television signal from a cable, satellite, or antenna source. A hardware encoder that enables you to record TV shows from cable, satellite, or antenna to your computer's hard disk. A TV output that allows you to display Media Center content on a television connected to your computer. A digital audio output that allows you to integrate digital audio from your computer into an existing home entertainment system. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition -  is designed to provide faster performance, increased reliability, and flexibility to today’s most demanding users, Applications specifically designed for the 64-bit environment perform best. Although Microsoft states that 32-bit works as well, it does have some drawbacks.  The strong points of running x64 with an application designed to use x64 power include; Virtual memory usage of up to 16 terabytes, 512 terabyte Paging file, 128GB Paged Pool, 128GB non-paged pool, and up to 1 terabyte of system cache, supports up to two single or multicore x64 processors for maximum performance and scalability.. Indeed, these are impressive numbers to work with.  This os was designed to aid oil and gas exploration, seismic analysis, computational fluid dynamics, and scientific visualization, among other applications.   SUPPORT SINGLE OR DUAL PROCESSOR SYSTEMS
RedHat Professional Workstation	Home/Business Use Overview Red Hat offers desktop and workstation solutions These solutions are based on  Red Hat Enterprise Linux technology. Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS supports large-memory client systems with up to two CPUs. subscriptions are available on a per-system annual basis. As of October 2006 there are two subscription Enterprise Linux WS editions: Basic and Standard and three Desktop editions: Proxy Starter Pack with 10 Desktops, Satellite Starter Pack with 50 Desktops and a 50-Desktop Extension Pack*. Each comes with varying support levels and delivery options. Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS Red Hat Desktop   Standard Edition Basic Edition Proxy Starter Pack Satellite Starter Pack Extension Pack*   $299 $179 call call call For details on product features etc: http://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/client/ Supports X86 systems (Intel Pentium Pro, AMD Athlon, or compatible), Intel EM64T, and AMD64 systems.

Desktop Processor &  Speed ; The CPU (central processing unit) is the brains of the computer. performance of the processor,  is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz), GHZ being the faster of the two.

X6800 2.93GHZ, 1066MHz FSB The Intel®Core™2 Extreme processor X6800∆ and Intel® Core™2 Duo desktop processor E6000∆ sequence combine the performance of the previous generation of desktop products with the power efficiencies of a low-power microarchitecture to enable smaller, quieter systems. These processors are 64-bit processors that maintain compatibility with IA-32 software. The processors support several Advanced Technologies including the Execute Disable Bit, Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel® EM64T), and Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology. In addition, the Intel Core™2 Duo desktop processor E6000∆ Sequence and Intel Core™2 Extreme processor X6800∆ support Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel VT). For extreme computing. Enjoy revolutionary levels of performance powering vivid, high-definition experiences and multi-tasking responsiveness from state-of-the-art Intel dual-core technology. as of 10/2006 Intel Brief	E6700, 2.66GHZ, E6600 2.40GHZ,E6400 2.13GHZ, E6300 1.86GHZ, all have 1066MHz FSB on 65 nm Process in the 775-land LGA Package and supporting Intel® Extended Memory 64 TechnologyΦ and supporting Intel® Virtualization Technology± The Intel® Core™2 Extreme processor X6800∆ and Intel® Core™2 Duo desktop processor E6000∆ sequence combine the performance of the previous generation of desktop products with the power efficiencies of a low-power microarchitecture to enable smaller, quieter systems. These processors are 64-bit processors that maintain compatibility with IA-32 software. The processors support several Advanced Technologies including the Execute Disable Bit, Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel® EM64T), and Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology. In addition, the Intel Core™2 Duo desktop processor E6000∆ Sequence and Intel Core™2 Extreme processor X6800∆ support Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel VT). The power to perform. With power-optimized dual-core technology and exceptional energy efficiency, the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor excels running the most intense applications as of 10/2006	Intel® Core™2 Quad processor Intel® Core™2 Quad processor Multimedia enthusiasts, prepare to enthuse. Bring quad-core performance to your desktop with the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor. It's the ideal engine for highly threaded entertainment applications and highly productive multitasking.eaders of the pack seeking monster performance, look no further. With four execution cores, the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. Whether you're creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, new quad-core processing will change the way you do everything. Pioneer the new world of quad-core and unleash the power of multithreading.
Xeon and Itanium Processors - Workhorses to Corporate America
Intel® Xeon® processor 7000 sequence: Large-scale enterprise computing & server consolidation Intel® Xeon® Processor 7000 Sequence Enterprise databases, ERP, CRM, decision support Scales up to 32 dual-core processors per server Large 16MB cache for very high throughput. The Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 7300 series, based on the Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, offers leading scalable performance and best-in-class virtualization for server consolidation. Experience up to 2x greater scalable performance¹ 2.5x greater virtualization performance², and 3x performance per watt³ than the industry-leading Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor in the same power envelope. These quad-core-based servers enable you to be more productive and reduce data center space, power and administration/operation costs by consolidating your data center onto fewer servers. 80-watt Intel Xeon processors set new standards in energy efficiency. The E7340, E7330, E7320 processors provide 15 percent up to 47 percent decreases in power.? For ultradense deployments the 50-watt Intel Xeon processor L7345 provides 47 percent up to 67 percent decrease in power§ from Intel® dual-core 95- and 150-watt processors.	Intel Xeon processor 5000 sequence: Intel's most widely deployed server processor Intel® Xeon® Processor 5000 Sequence E-mail, database, and web servers, high-performance computing Quad-core leading-edge performance or robust dual-core option scales out with two processors per server High-density, low-power options are available.The breakthrough performance, energy efficiency, and reliability of Intel® Xeon® processor-based server systems make them the ideal choice for all of your data demanding or standard enterprise infrastructure applications. Intel® processor-based servers enable businesses worldwide to do more and spend less—with outstanding price/performance and broad 64-bit choice across OEMs, operating systems, and applications. Supported by a single stable mainstream 2P server platform supporting a range of CPU options for IT flexibility, investment protection and easy migration from dual core to quad-core technology. Reliable, efficient, proven performance. Why would you depend on anything else? Intel® Xeon® processor-based servers deliver it all. Put Intel® server technology to work in your datacenter.	Intel Xeon processor 3000 sequence: Economical servers for small business & clusters Intel® Xeon® Processor 3000 Sequence Mail, file/print services Quad-core advanced performance or dual-core mainstream processor scales out with one processor per server High-density entry-level configurations and HPC The Quad-Core and Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 3000 sequence-based pla These servers are ideal for small business owners looking for ways to grow business, manage operation more effectively and efficiently, and protect and secure one of their most important assets - information.	Intel® Itanium® processor 9000 sequence: Massive, mission-critical computing & RISC replacement Intel® Itanium® Processor 9000 Sequence Large-scale databases, data warehouses, ERP, business intelligence, and data analytics Scales up to 512 dual-core processors and an incredible 1000TB (1 Petabyte) RAM Ultimate scalable performance, flexibility, and reliability Dual-Core Itanium®-based servers deliver the scalable performance, reliability, and headroom for your most compute-intensive workloads, including direct replacement for RISC and mainframe platforms. Because Itanium processors are available in commercial off-the-shelf hardware from a rich ecosystem of system and solution providers, they can quickly meet mission-critical needs. Itanium-based servers are incredibly scalable, allowing configuration in systems of as many as 512 processors and a full petabyte (1024TB) of RAM. Together with full support for both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, that capacity provides unmatched flexibility in tailoring systems to your enterprise needs.

 

Monitors; Two types of monitors are available the tube or CRT (cathode ray tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display). The up and coming favorite for most people is the LCD type display.  LCD displays are generally lighter weight, easier to view, but does cost more than CRT based monitors.  

15" and 17" monitors are the most popular, with 19" and up sizes for high-end word processing video editing, and programming work.  My favorite monitors are the LCD type.

Ram; Random Access Memory is used by the operating system and programs. RAM stores the data and allows the processor to manipulate it.  The more RAM you have the the quicker your programs will perform.  Aside from processor speed RAM is the second most important component of you desktop computer.  Generally when costs are a big concern specifying systems, you should opt for a slower processor and specify higher memory for better operation.  Additional memory can make the difference between a problem free system and a nightmare.  For most workstations 2.0GB should be considered the Base memory for Windows Vista operating systems and 1.0GB for the Windows XP Based os's. 

Hard Drive; Hard drive storage has increasingly become more important due to media files such as MP3, digital photos, programs that store huge amounts of data, and operating systems that seem to have no end for storage needs.  Network desktop computers can generally get by with 20-40GB hard drives, that is of course if the network user is saving most of the data to the network.  For power users where MP3 , digital photos, or HTML work are used just belly up to the table and get a 120 - 200GB + hard drive.  

Specify SATA DRIVES instead of ATA for the power user with a REMOVABLE DRIVE CARRIER.  Increasingly recovering from a crashed or damaged data drive has become quite expensive.  To be sure your not singing the blues get two hard drives, two drive carriers, and a copy of NORTON GHOST.  Norton ghost will allow you to GHOST and image of your main drive to the backup drive, and if you have a problem just pull out the damaged one, reboot and your up and running within minutes instead of hours.

SATA DRIVES:Generally 150MB/s per channel, virtually no configuration required. One drive one connection with lengths up to 1 meter. Potential comparison to SCSI however not quite up to U320 performance.

Sound, Graphics & Storage
Video Graphics: Many of today's computers have built in video and sound.  My favorite lines of video cards are JATON, ATI and NVIDIA based chipset cards. Look for the 8x AGP type video cards if your system board does not have video built in. 64MB - 256MB cards can help the system display graphics quickly.  For the CAD and GAMER type users 128-256MB or higher video cards should be considered. 

Sound Cards
The sound card is either attached or built in to your PC's motherboard. Intel generally uses the AC'97 controller which supports Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound delivery six channels of sound quality. Other system boards may have on board Creative Labs sound cards which has developed quite a name over the years. Be sure to invest in the proper speakers if sound is important.

 

CD-ROM/CD-R/DVD/Data Storage
Goodbye CD-ROM/rw based drives and hello multi-function DVD+RW and DVD-r/rw drives. With so many changes in this market, your best bet is to invest in a DVD/RW type drive. Here are just a few of the benefits of using DVD over CD type drives:

• DVD drives hold 4.6GB+ of  data versus a cd with 650-700MB of  data
• A single side of a DVD is approximately half the thickness of a CD, this allows manufacturers to create double sided discs which holds twice the data. 

Currently my favorite standards in DVD technology is the DVD+RW and DVD-RW technologies.  DVD-RAM is backed by the DVD Forum.  You can view pricing on DVD item by clicking here.

 

HTML and Desktop Publishing

Printers Today's printer technology is nothing short of amazing.  Communicating today has never been more important, using color in the printed message is a prerequisite.  In addition having a the ability to SCAN, FAX, COPY and PRINT from the same unit has made life much simpler for the SOHO (small office home office) environment.

My favorite printer company has to be HP.  HP has the technology, performance, and price for the Laser and Inkjet type printer technology that other companies can only dream about.

To help you decide what printer to choose we have listed several types:

Printer Type
Laser Printers
Black and White Laser Printers	from $ 200up
Color Laser Printers	from $700 up
Multifunction Laser Printers	From $500 up
Deskjet / Inkjet Printers
Color Inkjet Printers	from $40 - up
Color Multifunction Inkjet	from $100 - up
Photo Printers
Color Photo Quality Printers	from $100 - up

Be forewarned, a good rule of thumb is "The cheaper the color printer, the higher the print cost". It's not unusual to spend more on the color printing supplies than you did on the actual printer.  The most economical form of color printing is generally the color laser.  

 

Page Scanners Highly recommend the Microtek line of scanners. Many of the scanners are throw-away scanners meaning, "When the bulb burns out, it's cheaper to buy new than to repair".  Some scanners sell for as little as $39.00. This beats the old way of spending at least a thousand or maybe more for a slow-poke SCSI based scanner.

Look for USB type scanners, these scanners are the easiest to configure and do not require the placement of special SCSI or  PARALLEL interface cards. The Microtek line of scanners generally come with some pretty impressive software to help manipulate the image.  Check for 35MM slide readers too, some models include this option with the scanner. 

Models with the sheet-feeder option can make a dull task more acceptable.  For people who don't want a throw-away scanner, and want to be able to change the bulbs themselves, be warned that those scanners usually start in the $300 - up range.

 

White Box (clone) or Name Brand Desktop Computer

A White Box or clone system generally refers to a PC that is not produced by tier 1 manufacturers such as HP.  Some top line manufacturers use the same components that white box manufacturers use.

Generally speaking the Name Brand Computer would come pre-configured.  Chances of Name Brand system having exactly what you need may be pretty good.  But then the American way has always been "Let's improve upon this standard".  This is where the White Box or clone system can shine because you can truly have your system built-to-order.

Manufacturer's generally offer onsite warranties, find out who actually does the service and is their any additional charge for the onsite service.  This goes for both types of desktop vendors.  One thing is for sure check the company out who you are purchasing the system from.  The ones that are good, have been in business for more than a couple of years.  Be sure to get the warranty in writing.  

Check to see what kind of installation has been done.  Many companies have what's called a pre-load configuration.  Basically this means if a problem occurs, you would take the CD or DVD and wipe everything from your hard drive and re-install from scratch.  Be sure to ask for the CD copy of the Operating System, don't accept a single CD with the OS onboard.  Many times you can save a botched O/S by re-installing it without wiping.     

Example Desktop Computer Systems

 Home Based Desktop Computer

• Intel Celeron or AMD Duron / 2.0GHz + processor
• 512MB of RAM for standard duty. The skys the limit for game machines
• 120GB hard drive
• 32MB 8X Video Card minimum, 256MB for game machine
• 15" monitor if you can find them, 17" LCD for general duty computing, with 20-25" for optimal gaming 
• 56.6K V.90 modem, only if you absolutely must have one.
• DVD or DVD+RW up to 9GB may be recorded with dual sided units,
• Dolby Digital type sound card
• 3-Piece  speakers
• Color DeskJet Photo printer
• Color scanners 

Desktop Computer Hardware Requirements Checklist: (as software requires)

Item	Recommended
Processor
Memory
Hard Drive
Disk Mirroring
Disk Backup
Operating System
NIC Card (speed)
Modem
Additional Storage
Sound
Video
Monitor
USB Port (s)
Firewire Port (s)
Security Requirements
Client Login Software
Updates To Operating System (Minimum Rev)
Software Manufacturers Recommendations

 Use the checklist above to layout what you actually need in a system. And remember never settle on  just the minimum configurations!

 

For information or help on selecting your next desktop computer system send me an email at:KriscoKid395@yahoo.com

Our favorite desktop computer builder SOS2000 COMPUTER SYSTEMS "http://www.sos2000.com"

Links Worth Viewing