Ways to speed up your computer....

[Yorkie]

Well David comparing PCs to cars is daft to me. I dont own an ultra fast car or want one. But I do want a fast PC and can use it every day without endangering anyone or risk getting tickets.

As you say we have the tools we need even if they are excessive to others.

Gary

The analogy was simply to make the point that 'needs' and 'wants' are not synonyms, and that what people 'desire' is not at all the same thing as what they 'require'. It's the job of marketeers to try to get people to want stuff they don't actually need, to desire in excess of what they require, and to prefer one brand over another.

I wasn't alluding to you Gary, or anyone else on the forum - I was just making the point - not very well it seems - that for many buyers, even what are termed 'entry level' PCs far exceed their needs, and that certainly applies to me. I don't download films, (and for those that do, however high spec a PC is, that won't speed up a slow internet connection), I don't play 'shoot 'em up' games, don't make videos, don't program - it's all I can do to use programs, never mind about write them. My relatively low spec PC happily copes with films on i-player without buffering, and I can't hear the fan over the sound from Magic Radio. But that's just me.

Fact is, that as soon as new technology becomes available, there is an irresistible urge - indeed a compunction - for companies to apply that technology as a 'must have' feature and to market it as such to 'early adopters' or they don't stay ahead of the game. Heck, the term 'dumb-phone' as an antonym for 'smartphone' has just entered the dictionary to describe a phone that doesn't take pictures.

Clearly for your own needs Gary, the features you mention are what you consider essential and you derive much pleasure from using your computer to the full. I'd no more lecture you or anyone else on how you should spend your hard earned cash, any more than I'd lecture my own son about his Aston Martin aspirations. I'm simply saying that for the average punter who sets foot in PC World, Currys or wherever saying 'I'm looking for a PC' they'll probably end up with something far beyond their needs, and you can just hear the Saturday morning shop assistant ‘talking it up’ saying “of course, if you want the best you'll need ...".

I recently tried to buy some 1GB memory sticks for committee members of the woodturning club of which I'm secretary, to swap files etc. 1 GB far exceeds their needs, but the shop assistant almost laughed me off the face of the planet saying the smallest they sell is 8GB, because 'there’s no call for anything less'. Oh well, I’ll get 8GB ones then, given that they’re only £4.00 each, never mind that they have about 1,000 times more storge space then is required (or desired).

As you say Gary, Colin's queries have been answered and he will soon take delivery of an excellent PC that will amply cope with anything and everything he wants it to do, and will overcome the limitations he's experienced. Also, your advice will be valued by anyone who does want the latest in PC performance. (SSDs rather than hard drives etc).