I'm very confident in the members here at Puppets and Stuff. With all the new technology out there I am looking to upgrade my present computer Dell dimension 2400. I also want to get my first laptop. This will be a major investment for me so I want to get the right one. It seems the better computer with what I want are in the $899 to $1300 price range. This is OK I just want some good quality features I like. With all the new stuff we are doing here at P&S I want a good computer to better work on stuff for you. My Dell hard drive is full to the max only a 80 gig.................... but I don't want to erase or delete anything on it. Can I add a second hard drive to it ?? I'm not computer savvy how ever Shawn has helped me much over the years.

Here are some basic features I need...also plenty of space for music/videos

500 gig hard drive
Dual core processor
4 gig memory
4 USB ports
Good graphics card
Dual layer DVD/RW/with label flash or light scribe
web cam

Here is one I'm looking at let me know what you think

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4400129&SRCCODE=NEXTAG&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCWw0fzTCjCVqHCjCdwwp


Every ones help is greatly appreciated   Your opinions are of great value.

Billy D.

The only question I can answer is about a hard drive. That can vary with the computer's motherboard, really. Most I've had have room for 2 hard drives and 2 cd rom/dvd roms. But I have seen some that only have the capability of having one. You'd have to open it up to find out.
If you're not too confident about doing that, you could always get an external usb hard drive. They can be much more useful, especially if you want to share some of the same files on your desktop and the laptop you plan to get. If you search around a bit, you can get a terabyte one for around $100. Hope that helps some.

There is also something called a Flash Drive or Stick Drive. Wikipedia Refrence They fit in your USB port and are real small.  Great for taking with you.  I am not sure what the top limit is on storage but I see one at the moment as large as 64GB on the Google Product Search for them.  There is even one there that looks like a hamburger.   

I have a flash drive... now where did I put that.... that is the only problem with them.... remembering where you put them.

The only question I can answer is about a hard drive. That can vary with the computer's motherboard, really. Most I've had have room for 2 hard drives and 2 cd rom/dvd roms. But I have seen some that only have the capability of having one. You'd have to open it up to find out.
If you're not too confident about doing that, you could always get an external usb hard drive. They can be much more useful, especially if you want to share some of the same files on your desktop and the laptop you plan to get. If you search around a bit, you can get a terabyte one for around $100. Hope that helps some.

I recently bought a Seagate free agent pro external 500 GB external hard drive............. I have it hooked to my Dell via USB port in the rear. It has backed up all my document files except programs on my C: drive and I can seem to get them backed up. I have noticed it keeps everything backed up on a regular basis. Do I need a different drive to expand my hard drive space 

Shawn I know I could not keep up with the flash drives however those would be perfect to carry files from computer to computer.

what do you think of the Gateway MC7833u from tiger direct. I have never owned a gateway product.

Billy d.


I'm not sure when downloading new programs how to get them to download to my Seagate free agent drive F:

Stupid me  I think I just figured out how to move program files. Is it safe to delete the programs from my Dell or should I leave them alone and try and put any new programs on my new lap top.
Start/all programs/high light program/ right click/send to Drive F:

Is any one Brand of computer any better than the other.

Billy d.

You won't simply be able to "move" your programs to a new computer. You would need the installers.  Also the process you mention I think would simply save a link to open the program on the F drive.  Best to leave your Dell as is.

I've never had a Gateway laptop but have owned a couple Gateway desk tops.  I liked them.  In fact my current desktop is a Gateway.   I've got an HP Pavilion as a laptop right now and it is pretty nice.  A new computer is going to come with Vista which is one drawback.

I wish I could guide when it comes to Mac computers.  I actually think you might be better off with a Mac.  If I can afford it I think my next computer investment will be a Mac. They have a lot of built in stuff for video and such.

I was wanting to back up programs that I had downloaded from the internet. I know last time my computer crashed I had a hard time finding some of them.... I'll figure something out. It might help if I read the directions a bit more {yuck!}
I'm not familiar with Mac computer any suggestions?

billy D.

I am not familiar with macs either.  I think that maybe RCDSpoon has one, maybe he'll stop by and chime in. 

If you have downloaded programs from the internet you should have small "files" that you clicked on to install them.  That is what you want to back up and save. I think one default is My Documents > Downloads.  Could be some are in there.  I think the default icon is a computer with monitor and a little disk.  They normally have setup in the name.  You could try a search of your hardrive for file with setup in them perhaps.

 What Is the Difference Between PC & Mac?
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/164312_what-difference-between-pc-mac.htm

My personal 2 cents is that anything for longer term storage can go on an external drive. Running a program on an external drive always slows things down, even if only a little bit. Therefore I would move as many files as possible to an external drive to maximize room on the c: drive for running programs. If you have downloaded an installation file, I would save the downloaded file to the external drive, and install it to the c: drive.

If there are files that you are currently working with, for example if you are making a video, move the files that are involved back onto the c: drive for the duration of the project. Again, that speeds up the working time.

I wish I could offer advice regarding brands, but I am rarely (ok, never) in the position of being able to do much more than buy hardware that fits my always limited budget.