The New Computer: Tech Stuff

~ beetleypete

Well I have opened the box and looked at the new PC tower from Hewlett-Packard.

It is still pretty big, but not quite as large (deep) as this one.

I am not very technically minded, (as you know) but for those of you that are interested in such things, here are some of the specifications. Given my limited budget, I could not upgrade to anything super-duper, and certainly nothing sold by Apple, at their premium prices. So I got something that has some old and new tech combined.

It has a 256 GB Solid State Drive. I read about those, and they are supposed to boot up faster.
This is coupled to an additional 1 TB hard drive for more storage.
It still has an Optical Drive, (DVD rewriter) one of the few where that was not a separate option.
8 Gb Memory, and an AMD 3.7 ghz processor.
It comes with Windows 10 Home 64 installed.

Bearing in mind I never play PC games, that should be sufficient for my needs.

There is also a new wired keyboard and mouse, which will be kept as spares.

All I have to do now is to get it to work!

62 thoughts on “The New Computer: Tech Stuff”

    1. After some annoying issues with Windows 10, I have finally got everything I need working. The only thing left is to get the PC to recognise the photos on my phone! Thanks for following my blog, Louis.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  2. Sounds like it will be up to the task. I do however wish people would stop recommending apple for video editing and graphics. That’s an insult to anybody dealing with real editing.

    Hopefully you are all up and running now 🙂

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    1. I looked at the Chromebook PC option, John. However, it had very little physical storage, (Most had just 64gb + ‘cloud’) and I potentially need more for all my photos.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  6. From the spec. it looks like a very useful machine; I don’t know about generic Windows laptops these days, but I know the latest Mac laptops don’t have DVD drives/writers, so presumably, they have been consigned to tower machines. I like a tower though: they always seem much more powerful than laptops, but I’m sure that’s a psychological perception only. Cheers, Jon.

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    1. My (unused) Lenovo laptop actually has a faster Pentium i-5 processor, and the same 8gb/1tb ram and storage. But the flat keyboard and dull screen makes it unpleasant to use. I will stick with a tower for as long as I can still get one.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  7. Technology moved so fast its frightening. That spec sounds ideal for what you use a computer for Pete and should be fine for many years to come. Unless you are gaming you really do not need massive processors.

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  10. I started ‘wanting a Mac’ long ago – I was able to buy a second hand/refurbished one from a local metro area Tech for Less store – I cannot tell you how much time and trouble moving to a Mac has saved me the past 5 years – I took ‘gains from business’ and plowed back in to get a laptop one year (for on the road) and got another iMac (older model, refurbished) two years ago, as the one I got in 2015, was a 2011 model and came to it’s ‘end of the road for upgrading further to the latest Mac OS – sigh – but all three still chugging along – the old one is used for watching video tutorials on youtube while I learn how to learn new tools on the newer iMac – HAVE NEVER regretted my investment in refurbished Macs – doubt I will ever be able to afford the latest/greatest/snazzy ones – LOL

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    1. Still loads for sale, Frank, especially from Dell and HP. SSD mostly, with huge power for gamers who use PCs, and office-based small businesses. Some cost over £2,000, and you need to buy re-writers and other bits as add-ons. The new one might be the last of its kind, as it still has a hard drive too. I can’t be doing with ‘cloud storage’, that’s a mystery to me!
      If I don’t reappear, you will know I am struggling!
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  14. I’m a dinosaur and love windows 7, and yet am still surprised that they still have towers. I switched to a laptop and have found that so convenient, even though it still stays on place and does not go out anywhere. Best of luck with it all!

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    1. Thanks, Donnalee. I actually have a new laptop, and it has Wndows 10 too. It is a 2018 Lenovo model, and I have never used it other than for the review test. I got it free from Amazon, as I am one of their reviewers. However, I hate the ‘flat’ laptop keyboard, and the widescreen-format 17 inch screen, which is rather ‘dull’. I much prefer a typewriter keyboard, and my bright 24 inch HP monitor
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  17. They just keep getting better so I’m sure it will meet your needs. No fun to set up a new PC and you are smart to take it nice and easy to avoid the frustrations that will inevitably happen! At least they happen to me. 🙂

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    1. Oh they will happen to me, Susanne. I have no doubt of that. I already laughed at the ‘Quick Start Guide’. Connect four cables, switch on, and that’s it. Apparently!
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  20. Be sure and take advantage of One Drive for backup.
    You remind me of the airplane pilot who was talking to the passengers before take off. Explaining the upcoming flight etc.. And then ending the speech with, ‘And as soon as I figure out how to start this @##@@#@@ thing, we’ll be on our way.
    Have fun and stay safe.

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    1. Thanks, Don. I currently use a small portable hard drive to back up photos and documents. I will still be able to use that. Yes, I am not unlike that pilot, believe me. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete,.

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