Lewis
Member
You know the story: You're itching to go out and buy yourself a new desktop or notebook PC. But you keep remembering how quickly your last purchase became obsolete. And even in an era when you can pick up a new desktop for less than a few tanks of gas, you'd like the gear you buy today to be capable of handling whatever changes or new standards may appear in a year or two--or even (dare I say it?) five years down the road. What's a would-be tech buyer to do?
Take heart. Although there's no such thing as a completely future-proof PC, you can--with a little education--choose a system that has at least some staying power. Here are some important points to keep in mind when shopping.
Looking Toward Vista
With Windows Vista (the next version of Windows, formerly code-named Longhorn) due out late next year, you're probably wondering how much horsepower your PC will need to handle that OS, should you decide to upgrade.
To help chart the course, Microsoft and PC vendors are working together on the Windows Vista-Ready PC Program. Under this plan, which sources say is slated to debut in early 2006, PCs that qualify will be labeled as "Windows Vista-Ready" in retail and online stores.
For PC buyers who can't wait that long, Microsoft has announced some general guidelines, though few details. It's safe to say, however, that you shouldn't skimp on memory, processing power, or graphics if you plan to install Vista on your next PC.
For example, Microsoft states that a Windows Vista-Ready PC will need to have a "modern" CPU. But that covers a lot of ground these days. Dual-core 64-bit CPUs are clearly the wave of the future. And now that prices for dual-core 64-bit processors are coming down (see this month's News and Trends, page 20), PCs powered by these chips are no longer confined to the money-is-no-object crowd.
But people on a stricter budget might still want to consider single-core 64-bit CPUs, such as AMD's original Athlon 64 chips--not because Windows Vista will require 64-bit technology (both a 32-bit and a 64-bit version of the OS will ship simultaneously), but because by the time Vista ships, 64-bit applications that can truly take advantage of the power of such computing should also appear.
Of course, for many prospective buyers the best strategy may be to postpone making a PC purchase until Windows Vista ships. "[Vista] will be the catalyst that brings together all the components of 64-bit computing for consumers, and we're going to see more and more systems being built for specific types of users," predicts Shane Rau, PC chip analyst for research firm IDC. "The consumer market will transition to a 64-bit platform only when it can do so for free."
As for RAM, Microsoft recommends a minimum of 512MB; but if you've survived previous Windows upgrades and lived to tell the tale, you know better.
Our advice? Don't skimp on RAM, especially since a boost in RAM will give you the best bang for your buck. Start with a gigabyte and go from there. And regardless of how much memory you purchase now, make sure that your slots can handle additional or bigger modules (or both) in case you decide later to upgrade to 2GB or even 4GB of RAM.
Graphics Galore
One of Vista's most highly touted features is its enhanced graphical interface, which includes file management using thumbnail images of documents and such gee-whiz effects as the transparent ("Glass") window frames of the Aero desktop theme. It sounds great, but keep in mind that to take full advantage of these features you'll need cutting-edge graphics (again, no details from Microsoft, but it's safe to assume that you'll be better off with a discrete graphics card that has its own memory than with integrated chips that use system memory), as well as a graphics driver that supports the Windows Vista Display Driver Model. Though most graphics boards that are being sold today should support Windows Vista, check with the vendor to be sure.
Another component to consider in your quest for a future-proof PC is the system's optical drive. Here, you really have no safe bet. To provide the huge storage capacity that high-definition digital content will require, two next-generation optical-drive technologies--Blu-ray and HD DVD--are currently duking it out for a place in your future PC (and your living room).
But experts I spoke with say it's far too early to speculate on which format will prevail, much less when such PC drives will appear. So if you're planning to purchase a PC (or a stand-alone optical drive) today, get the fastest multiformat rewritable DVD drive you can find, and make sure that it supports the formats of any living-room DVD recorder you own.
It's also worthwhile to check the drive maker's Web site to see whether the company routinely provides firmware updates for such things as improved speeds and media support. For more information on how to choose a rewritable DVD drive, see the PC World InfoCenter article "How to Buy a DVD-Rewritable Drive."
Notes on Notebooks
As portable systems become increasingly powerful and affordable, more and more desktop users are cutting the cord and going mobile. Again, Microsoft has been tight-lipped about how the Windows Vista-Ready PC program will apply to notebook systems, but IDC's Rau speculates that Vista-based notebooks will lag behind the desktop market by at least six months. "With mobility comes more complexity," Rau explains, adding that consumers might not see notebooks with Vista preinstalled until sometime in 2007.
Are you shopping for a notebook that's ready for a long-term relationship? Make sure it has an up-to-date integrated Wi-Fi card (the current standards are 802.11b/g), accessible and upgradable RAM and hard drive, both CardBus and ExpressCard PC Card slots, and perhaps a security feature such as fingerprint recognition. You may not need Wi-Fi capability or a fingerprint scanner to future-proof your notebook, but they will make you happier right now.
Nothing lasts forever, of course, and every gadget you get will someday end up in the recycling heap. But if you do a little homework and look toward the future before you buy, you just might get yourself a system that will stick around long enough to earn its retirement.
Take heart. Although there's no such thing as a completely future-proof PC, you can--with a little education--choose a system that has at least some staying power. Here are some important points to keep in mind when shopping.
Looking Toward Vista
With Windows Vista (the next version of Windows, formerly code-named Longhorn) due out late next year, you're probably wondering how much horsepower your PC will need to handle that OS, should you decide to upgrade.
To help chart the course, Microsoft and PC vendors are working together on the Windows Vista-Ready PC Program. Under this plan, which sources say is slated to debut in early 2006, PCs that qualify will be labeled as "Windows Vista-Ready" in retail and online stores.
For PC buyers who can't wait that long, Microsoft has announced some general guidelines, though few details. It's safe to say, however, that you shouldn't skimp on memory, processing power, or graphics if you plan to install Vista on your next PC.
For example, Microsoft states that a Windows Vista-Ready PC will need to have a "modern" CPU. But that covers a lot of ground these days. Dual-core 64-bit CPUs are clearly the wave of the future. And now that prices for dual-core 64-bit processors are coming down (see this month's News and Trends, page 20), PCs powered by these chips are no longer confined to the money-is-no-object crowd.
But people on a stricter budget might still want to consider single-core 64-bit CPUs, such as AMD's original Athlon 64 chips--not because Windows Vista will require 64-bit technology (both a 32-bit and a 64-bit version of the OS will ship simultaneously), but because by the time Vista ships, 64-bit applications that can truly take advantage of the power of such computing should also appear.
Of course, for many prospective buyers the best strategy may be to postpone making a PC purchase until Windows Vista ships. "[Vista] will be the catalyst that brings together all the components of 64-bit computing for consumers, and we're going to see more and more systems being built for specific types of users," predicts Shane Rau, PC chip analyst for research firm IDC. "The consumer market will transition to a 64-bit platform only when it can do so for free."
As for RAM, Microsoft recommends a minimum of 512MB; but if you've survived previous Windows upgrades and lived to tell the tale, you know better.
Our advice? Don't skimp on RAM, especially since a boost in RAM will give you the best bang for your buck. Start with a gigabyte and go from there. And regardless of how much memory you purchase now, make sure that your slots can handle additional or bigger modules (or both) in case you decide later to upgrade to 2GB or even 4GB of RAM.
Graphics Galore
One of Vista's most highly touted features is its enhanced graphical interface, which includes file management using thumbnail images of documents and such gee-whiz effects as the transparent ("Glass") window frames of the Aero desktop theme. It sounds great, but keep in mind that to take full advantage of these features you'll need cutting-edge graphics (again, no details from Microsoft, but it's safe to assume that you'll be better off with a discrete graphics card that has its own memory than with integrated chips that use system memory), as well as a graphics driver that supports the Windows Vista Display Driver Model. Though most graphics boards that are being sold today should support Windows Vista, check with the vendor to be sure.
Another component to consider in your quest for a future-proof PC is the system's optical drive. Here, you really have no safe bet. To provide the huge storage capacity that high-definition digital content will require, two next-generation optical-drive technologies--Blu-ray and HD DVD--are currently duking it out for a place in your future PC (and your living room).
But experts I spoke with say it's far too early to speculate on which format will prevail, much less when such PC drives will appear. So if you're planning to purchase a PC (or a stand-alone optical drive) today, get the fastest multiformat rewritable DVD drive you can find, and make sure that it supports the formats of any living-room DVD recorder you own.
It's also worthwhile to check the drive maker's Web site to see whether the company routinely provides firmware updates for such things as improved speeds and media support. For more information on how to choose a rewritable DVD drive, see the PC World InfoCenter article "How to Buy a DVD-Rewritable Drive."
Notes on Notebooks
As portable systems become increasingly powerful and affordable, more and more desktop users are cutting the cord and going mobile. Again, Microsoft has been tight-lipped about how the Windows Vista-Ready PC program will apply to notebook systems, but IDC's Rau speculates that Vista-based notebooks will lag behind the desktop market by at least six months. "With mobility comes more complexity," Rau explains, adding that consumers might not see notebooks with Vista preinstalled until sometime in 2007.
Are you shopping for a notebook that's ready for a long-term relationship? Make sure it has an up-to-date integrated Wi-Fi card (the current standards are 802.11b/g), accessible and upgradable RAM and hard drive, both CardBus and ExpressCard PC Card slots, and perhaps a security feature such as fingerprint recognition. You may not need Wi-Fi capability or a fingerprint scanner to future-proof your notebook, but they will make you happier right now.
Nothing lasts forever, of course, and every gadget you get will someday end up in the recycling heap. But if you do a little homework and look toward the future before you buy, you just might get yourself a system that will stick around long enough to earn its retirement.