3rd gen worth waiting 4?

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: 3rd gen worth waiting 4?

Nope, nothing new, and I don't game, but video editing should be in my future.
Yes, I'm always waiting to the limit, and I'd rather have my current laptop in top shape to save $$ and frustrations.
Faster and no defects is about all I'd really be buying for. But I'm kinda used to my current pros/cons.

[zff]

Re: 3rd gen worth waiting 4?

Did you just install or upgrade some software? Did you just start doing something new (and demanding) with your PC that you never used to do before? When buying computer hardware, delaying a purchases means you will get something faster and/or cheaper, so my rule-of-thumb is to wait as long as you can.

For example, let's say you drop a wad of cash on upgrades now, but your usage habits don't change -- you haven't started using some new or upgraded software, you still use your computer to do the same things, etc. The only thing you really gain is the ability to do the things you've always done faster. That's fine, but let's say six months from now, a new game comes out, or maybe a new feature-laden upgrade for software you already use is released. Maybe you pick up a new computer-intensive hobby (like video editing). Your new software will inevitably require more CPU, RAM and HD capacity than older software, and it's when you install and use that new software that you REALLY wish you had hardware upgrades too.

I like to tinker with PCs and I love PC games. In the past, I'd upgrade my video card, for example, just because a newer faster card hit the market. Then a new game would come out, I'd install it, but then I'd realize my 4-month-old video card cost me more than a faster video card would cost me that day. I would've been better off not upgrading my PC back then, saving the money, then upgrading when I bought the new game. I'd have had a MUCH faster video card and saved enough to buy the game too.

Nowadays, I delay all hardware upgrades until I install new software.

[lensperson]

Re: 3rd gen worth waiting 4?

Sometimes a few days of no web access will be helpful.

a walk to a beach and feeling the scrunch of sand in ones toes helps in
keeping these blasted electronic boxes from just turning into a flawed
virtual reality.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: 3rd gen worth waiting 4?

The processor on my current desktop machine is an AMD quad core, as compared with the two cores of my previous system. (There are some retail 8 core processors, now, I believe.) The extra cores are nice to have -- the computer is more responsive. But I would rate it as a minor convenience.

Considering that many laptops sold today with dual core and 1st gen are able to be 'lightning' fast, I couldn't see the big advantage over quad cores with 2nd gen, but hey, I might be missing something important.

[GregLee]

Re: 3rd gen worth waiting 4?

The processor on my current desktop machine is an AMD quad core, as compared with the two cores of my previous system. (There are some retail 8 core processors, now, I believe.) The extra cores are nice to have -- the computer is more responsive. But I would rate it as a minor convenience.

[Ron Whitfield]

A higher value processor is coming out in a coupl'a months... http://promotions.newegg.com/intel/1...e-_-Processors
Should a laptop buyer just wait?