Hardware Computer Recommendation

Thanks I am hoping to maybe spend around $700 - $800 on a newer computer. I just want to figure out if that will work good for me for another 4 years. My husband hates spending money on computers. Of course I love spending money on computers but would rather have the cooler software features.

I thought I show one post about remote networks I think from Jeff. That stated I would need 1 G of memory for remote access from my home to my store. Those are the things I really need advice on. If it would be better for me to spend an extra $500 on my hardware now and then in 1 year purchase some of the cool add-on software then that is what I will do.

S> We have been using second hand Compaq Evo's bought at auction, pentium 2.0G,

Do you think this would work? Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz

- 1GB DDR

- 200GB SATA hard drive

- DVD±RW DL DVD/CD Burner

- Integrated 10/100MbpsLAN What else would I need?

"Lisa" wrote:

Lisa,

That will work, but a lot depends on what you think your needs will be 2-3 years down the road. If only for RMS, then the HD is probably too big.

40-80GB will probably be fine.

Is your plan for backing up your files onto the DVD burner? That's fine for data only, you have to do it manually and wait for it, but we like to backup the OS, programs _and_ data. Look at either a couple of internal HDs in removable carriers (inexpensive) or a couple of external HDs (more expensive) and a program called Ghost from Symantec. It can be set to do it in the middle of the night. Then you would only need a CDRW/DVD reader.

You also need some kind of battery backup. The number one reason for data loss is power problems. Look for something with 700-900va and has an Automatic Voltage Regulator built-in. Belkin has a few models. Only plug into it the computer, monitor, and router/hub/modem. NO printers!

Lisa,

You don't need 1GB for remote access, its more for the OS and whatever programs you have running at the same time.

Computers last approx. 3 years, so by with that long of warranty.

I have been running an RMS SO register on a very old 400MHz computer with

384MB RAM and an 8GB Hard Drive. I put in a second 100GB hard drive to backup my database daily because I do not trust the old HD (and backup to a remote computer twice weekly).

I have an ancient monitor and a network card I got at CompUSA for $5 after rebate...

Later, I installed a second video card that I got for $39.99 and a second monitor that I use as a Net Display.

It runs PERFECT. Fast and frugal. You do not need a fancy new computer to run RMS SO. Don't let 'em tell you otherwise.

Jason

"Lisa" wrote:

Lisa,

Jason is right. RMS is not a very demanding application, you would want to spend little more on the network card/router for reliable remote computing. I am not talking fancy stuff, just new and known brand. The only thing I would add to Jason's computer would be a hardware RAID 1 controller (MS servers have software RAID controllers built in - but it is not the same) along with a second Hard Drive (HD). What it does, it mirrors the data from the 1 HD and writes it on the second HD. In case of one of the HD failure the second pulls the job and you can exchange the failed HD in your spare time. Then the controller would mirror the info from the working HD to the new HD. I have read study some time age and it seams that roughly 70 % of computer failures is linked with HD, so you would alleviate lots of potential aggravations in the future.

I assembled two lines for my POS from on-sale parts $300 with flat panels per station. They work like a charm.

Good luck, Robert

"Jas> I have been running an RMS SO register on a very old 400MHz computer with

Lisa,

That's plenty of computer for RMS. Stick with XP Pro. Like someone else mentioned, you probably don't need a 200GB HD unless you take hundreds of hi-res pics every week or do a lot of digital video editing.

Backing up to CD/DVD is cheap and easy. I don't even put tape drives in my servers any more. I use a cheap (like $50 or something) program my local reseller recommended called Backup Now! It works great, even on Windows Server 2003. You can schedule unattended backups to your CD/DVD and everything. Id recommend an 10-disc rotation with separate discs for M-Th, 4 Friday discs (Fri1-4) and two month end discs (even and odd). You can keep all of these discs in a cheap CD wallet and take them off-site every day. If you're working from home, you could always take the Friday and/or month end discs off-site weekly/monthly.

Best of luck, Tom

"Lisa" wrote:

Lisa,

The biggest reason is to get you up and running faster in the event on a main hard drive failure. By having a complete backup using the Ghost program, you would replace the bad with the good drive, boot off of the Ghost CD and restore from your last backup. Takes about an hour to restore _everything_, versus having to re-install your OS, re-install updates, re-install programs and then your data. Save 2-4 hours at minimum.

As far as remote access, make sure the target computer (the computer you want to remote into) has Windows XP Pro and NOT Windows XP Home. This way you can take advantage of the built-in RDC (Remote Desktop).

Else, you can always use any flavor of VNC - my favorite being UltraVNC. Don't waste valuable money on PCAnywhere.

If you need some help setting up remote access then drop me an email. I'll do what I can.