# How much computer do I need? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645 "2010-05-16T14:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/61 "2010-05-21T18:23:51Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > What network? I have a single machine that’s hooked up to the modem and nothing else. Modem? Do you use dialup or cable/DSL? If cable or DSL, you might be able to connect the two computers together using the network cable that currently connects the old computer to the modem. It’s often light blue (but not always) and the [ends look like a fatter phone jack connection](http://www.nuggetlab.com/comptia_files/equipment/net_CAT%205%20cable%20with%20RJ-45%20connector.jpg). But just disregard all that if you’re going with the flash drive solution. > [@](#): > > What’s a USB drive? USB is the type of connector that flash drives use to connect to your computer. It’s that silver plug thing at the end of your flash drive that goes into the hole in your computer. Your flash drive, therefore, is one type of USB drive. “Flash” means it uses small microchips (called flash memory) to store data. Flash drives are physically smaller but have less capacity. The other main type of USB drive is a USB hard drive. They store data on spinning magnetic disks. They are physically larger and may require external power from an AC adapter, but will give you more capacity per dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/62 "2010-05-21T18:26:31Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Excellent, thanks, **Reply**! That all sounds very clear. > > The computer is, I hope, sitting in a box by my back door right now – I’m still at work. I’m asking now because I wanted to be able to swing by Staples on my way home if I needed to buy anything (cable, flash drives, other). This should be obvious, but I forgot to mention that you’d go through a similar procedure on the new Firefox, only this time you’d Import instead of Export the bookmarks 🙂 And if you’re going to spend money on new flash drives, USB hard drives would actually be better suited for this (see my last post). They’ll get you a lot more space for the same amount of money. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/63 "2010-05-21T18:28:52Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > USB is the type of connector that flash drives use to connect to your computer. It’s that silver plug thing at the end of your flash drive that goes into the hole in your computer. > > Your flash drive, therefore, is one type of USB drive. “Flash” means it uses small microchips (called flash memory) to store data. Flash drives are physically smaller but have less capacity. > > The other main type of USB drive is a USB hard drive. They store data on spinning magnetic disks. They are physically larger and may require external power from an AC adapter, but will give you more capacity per dollar. :smack: Thanks – I get cranky when I’m confused. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/64 "2010-05-21T21:21:54Z")
The advice I always give people is relevant here: buy the best computer you can afford. Set the budget, and it will answer most of your questions for you. Also, don’t bother with adjusting the budget or making a flexible budget. Cutting corners also tends to be a waste of time. Buying a new computer is pretty much a race against the clock. The most you spend, the longer the computer will give you adequate service. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/65 "2010-05-21T22:05:01Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Anyone see any reason why this one wouldn’t be a perfectly fine solution to my problems? This sounds like an excellent solution to your problems. It will certainly do everything that you listed in the OP with aplomb. Buying new memory may be somewhat cheaper, but it may not be worthwhile to put new memory in that old computer that may or may not last much longer, not to mention the fact that there’s a fair chance that adding memory will help but not entirely fix your problems. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/66 "2010-05-22T08:06:43Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I can have both machines on, but with only one monitor, I can’t see what they’re both doing at the same time. Does your monitor have two inputs? If not, Remote Access over the network is your friend. > [@](#): > > What network? I have a single machine that’s hooked up to the modem and nothing else. If both your PCs have network ports, you can buy a **crossover** cable to link the two directly. > [@](#): > > What’s a USB drive? A storage drive which you attach via the USB port. Like your flash drive. > [@Twickster re Firefox](#): > > What does that mean? In Firefox, click _Bookmarks, Organise Bookmarks, Import and Backup_ to back up your bookmarks. See [here](http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/310870) for backing up cookies. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/67 "2010-05-22T10:02:57Z")
Nowadays, crossover cables usually aren’t necessary. Most network cards will automatically detect an ad hoc connection and handle it themselves. I haven’t seen one since the P4 era not do it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/68 "2010-05-22T14:44:45Z")
**posting from new computer** I’m just moving stuff over by hand (via flash drive) – it makes sense to my luddite mind and keeps my anxiety at a manageable level. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645/69 "2010-05-22T16:34:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Nowadays, crossover cables usually aren’t necessary. Most network cards will automatically detect an ad hoc connection and handle it themselves. I haven’t seen one since the P4 era not do it. I know that gigabit NICs should auto-detect, but the OP’s PC is **old** and almost certainly not gigabit. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a 100 Mbit link auto-detect a crossover link. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-computer-do-i-need/539645.md?page=3)