OT: new computer

[vefatica]

JJ has been on for 6 years and it's time for a new computer. I have a few questions for this group of experts.

If I have a "dual-DVI capable" video card (probably 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX570) and two monitors (probably Dell 1908FPs) is that sufficient to have the windows desktop span two monitors? And (Rex, maybe?) if it is, is it possible for DevEnv to show its help (PSDK especially) outside the studio ... elsewhere on the desktop?

The new box will have XP installed but I'll get the Vista Ultimate media. After chopping up the hard drives I'll probably install Vista (if only to see what it looks like). How much room does a Vista install need?

Does anyone know a way to get **real** PS/2 ports on a new computer (i.e., an add-on card)? I have 4 Gateway2000 AnyKey keyboards and 3 Logitech Trackman Marbles. I hope to use them forever and haven't had much luck with those PS/2-to-USB adapters (especially with keyboards ... they're slower and easily confused).

Will an "Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz" going to seem any faster than my current Pentium4 - 2.4GHz?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Mr. Jiggs]

Be forewarned that if you want to see Vista's
graphics in it's full splendor then you're probably going to have to
upgrade the video. I played with it for a while, then threw it away to
go back to a more stable, speedy XP.

Mr. Jiggs

vefatica wrote:

JJ has been on for 6 years and it's time for a new computer. I have a few questions for this group of experts.

If I have a "dual-DVI capable" video card (probably 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX570) and two monitors (probably Dell 1908FPs) is that sufficient to have the windows desktop span two monitors? And (Rex, maybe?) if it is, is it possible for DevEnv to show its help (PSDK especially) outside the studio ... elsewhere on the desktop?

The new box will have XP installed but I'll get the Vista Ultimate media. After chopping up the hard drives I'll probably install Vista (if only to see what it looks like). How much room does a Vista install need?

Does anyone know a way to get **real** PS/2 ports on a new computer (i.e., an add-on card)? I have 4 Gateway2000 AnyKey keyboards and 3 Logitech Trackman Marbles. I hope to use them forever and haven't had much luck with those PS/2-to-USB adapters (especially with keyboards ... they're slower and easily confused).

Will an "Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz" going to seem any faster than my current Pentium4 - 2.4GHz?

Thanks for any input.

 

[vefatica]

On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:03:14 -0600, "Mr. Jiggs" <> wrote:

>Be forewarned that if you want to see Vista's
>graphics in it's full splendor then you're probably going to have to
>upgrade the video. I played with it for a while, then threw it away to
>go back to a more stable, speedy XP.

High on my list of customizations would be to go to the 0-120-120 desktop I've
used since NT4 and do away with all animation. I don't know what else Vista has
in store but I'm not interested in eye-candy (not that kind anyway).

I imaging the stock nVidia Quadro will perform as well as my current 32MB Radeon
VE. That'll be good enough.

 

[rconn]

vefatica wrote:

> JJ has been on for 6 years and it's time for a new computer. I

> have a few questions for this group of experts.

> If I have a "dual-DVI capable" video card (probably 256MB PCIe

> x16 nVidia Quadro FX570) and two monitors (probably Dell 1908FPs)
> is that sufficient to have the windows desktop span two monitors?

For 2-d work, yes. If you want to do a lot of 3-d you'll need a
bigger/faster card.

> And (Rex, maybe?) if it is, is it possible for DevEnv to show

> its help (PSDK especially) outside the studio ... elsewhere on
> the desktop?

Yes.

> The new box will have XP installed but I'll get the Vista

> Ultimate media. After chopping up the hard drives I'll probably
> install Vista (if only to see what it looks like). How much
> room does a Vista install need?

About 20Gb for a normal Ultimate install.

> Will an "Intel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4GHz" going to seem any faster

> than my current Pentium4 - 2.4GHz?

50% - 200% faster, depending on what you're doing (and how much RAM you
give it).

Vista SP1 is just as fast as XP.

Rex Conn
JP Software

 

[vefatica]

On Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:00:55 -0600, rconn <> wrote:

>---Quote---
>> And (Rex, maybe?) if it is, is it possible for DevEnv to show
>---End Quote---
> > its help (PSDK especially) outside the studio ... elsewhere on
> > the desktop?
>
>Yes.

Thanks. I looked around a bit and found nothing. Is it in the Document
Explorer's set-up? When the time comes I might be back with "how".

>---Quote---
>> The new box will have XP installed but I'll get the Vista
>---End Quote---
> > Ultimate media. After chopping up the hard drives I'll probably
> > install Vista (if only to see what it looks like). How much
> > room does a Vista install need?
>
>About 20Gb for a normal Ultimate install.

Holy cow! My XP-SP2 lives in 2.3 GB (profiles are elsewhere). Does Vista make
it possible/easy to relocate "Users" (as I heard it's called) to another drive
at install time?

I was very pleased to learn that Dell Precision Workstations still have PS/2
ports. That's great news for a Gateway 2000 AnyKey - Logitech Trackman Marble
lover.

 

[vefatica]

On Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:03:49 -0600, vefatica <> wrote:

>Thanks. I looked around a bit and found nothing. Is it in the Document
>Explorer's set-up? When the time comes I might be back with "how".

Oh, I see ... just make the help window "floating" and drag it anywhere I want.
I sure wish I already had a second monitor.

 

[Steve Fabian]

vefatica wrote:

| I was very pleased to learn that Dell Precision Workstations still
| have PS/2 ports. That's great news for a Gateway 2000 AnyKey -
| Logitech Trackman Marble lover.

All of my Logitech Marbles from the last five years have USB connectors, and
USB->PS/2 adapters. I have some very old ones with PS/2, and I used to have
some with serial port connectors or adaptors.

Does anyone know of a keyboard - trackball combination?
--
Steve