[robertk]

I just saw at WalMart a Gateway Personal Computer, with 2.1 ghz, 1042 MB memory, 320 GB hard drive, with Windows Vista Home Premium. It comes with a 19 inch lcd monitor, speakers et al(none of which I need) for $698. I currently use a Gateway computer from 2000, running Windows 98. I do not do movies, or ipods or anything hightech, mainly emails and surfing. We had looked into getting WildBlue internet service but with the Windows 98 operating system there would be no advantage over dialup. As I have been thinking of upgrading the computer(I already have a 17 inch lcd monitor), would this be a recommended purchase? I would also need to get the hardware that would handle 3.5 inch floppys, unless we could switch it from my current computer.

Nancy

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From a security point of view, Windows 98 is now no longer patched with security updates from Microsoft. Many flaws with Internet Explorer 6 have been highlighted since last July, and basically your computer is ripe for picking.

From a practical point of view, new software (such as, for example, Google Earth) no longer runs on any version of Windows other than 2000, XP or Vista. Also new internet technologies currently supported by Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 (Firefox 2 runs on Win98, IE7 will not) will eventually, a few years down the line, leave your computer unable to talk to web pages (in the same way that Internet Explorer 4 can now no longer open the majority of web pages just ten years down the line).

If you don't need a 320Gb hard drive, if you don't need 1024Mb of memory, if you don't need Vista, then don't buy them. You can buy your own bits, put them in a case, throw a copy of XP in and have a half-decent system for practically peanuts. Big manufacturers like Gateway build systems down to a price and throw all kinds of things in that you don't necessarily need or want. Build your own and you can probably reuse your floppy drive in the new system.

[Neil Jones]

From a security point of view, Windows 98 is now no longer patched with security updates from Microsoft. Many flaws with Internet Explorer 6 have been highlighted since last July, and basically your computer is ripe for picking.

From a practical point of view, new software (such as, for example, Google Earth) no longer runs on any version of Windows other than 2000, XP or Vista. Also new internet technologies currently supported by Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 (Firefox 2 runs on Win98, IE7 will not) will eventually, a few years down the line, leave your computer unable to talk to web pages (in the same way that Internet Explorer 4 can now no longer open the majority of web pages just ten years down the line).

If you don't need a 320Gb hard drive, if you don't need 1024Mb of memory, if you don't need Vista, then don't buy them. You can buy your own bits, put them in a case, throw a copy of XP in and have a half-decent system for practically peanuts. Big manufacturers like Gateway build systems down to a price and throw all kinds of things in that you don't necessarily need or want. Build your own and you can probably reuse your floppy drive in the new system.

[robertk]

You can buy your own bits, put them in a case, throw a copy of XP in and have a half-decent system for practically peanuts.

Thanks for your input. I have a great lcd monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse. I just need the tower/hard drive/operating system(sorry if I name things incorrectly). As we want to upgrade our speed, I need to be a different system than Windows 98. I keep life simple, no photos, etc. Is there a forum here, or on a website elsewhere where I can go to get information on how to do-it-yourself? My husband is mechanical, more literate with computers than I, and possibly could do what is necessary, as he needs to upgrade one of his computers(also Windows 98).
I am very careful where I surf, every day using CleanUp, Mozilla Firefox is my browser, I have AVG anti-virus, and I periodically use AdAware. I would like to re-use the floppy disk system, it is so easy.


Nancy

[robertk]

Thanks for input. We decided to not purchase from WalMart, we went to Circuit City and got a Gateway tower. No tax, good buy.

Nancy