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Company: Dell |
For a long time I assumed that if you wanted computing power to perform multimedia functions with prowess, you would need a system in the $1,500 to $2,000 range. At the very base end you might squeeze by with $1,000.00 and then throw in $400.00 more for a monitor to achieve basic computing for multimedia functionality such as photo editing and video editing.
However, this was several years ago, more like three. I started to wonder just how low one could go to obtain a system that can run basic applications, multimedia and basic video editing without breaking the proverbial bank. Even when I attempted this several years ago, the closest I came was $1,000.00 and that is not including a monitor, mouse or a keyboard. While it was a decent system, once Windows 7 was released, it was not as fast as it was under XP. Even with the addition of a GB of memory, it works, but it still fells a tag sluggish in comparison to the way it functioned under XP.
What stimulated me into seeing just what values there are in the market was the fact that everyone is facing more stringent budgeting than ever before. With the current job market, housing market and the price of everything rising, figuring out ways to save money and obtain the most value is not a luxury, it is a necessity. For many who usually upgrade every few years or so, the cycle of the two year PC may be less frequent than it used to be for some of us.
If you are doing work at home, job hunting, or happen to be a part time designer or visual artist, having a sturdy fast system does become an issue. With belt tightening everywhere, figuring out just where to spend and were to use restraint requires careful consideration, and a lot of shopping.
With the search in mind to see just where the most cost effective way to get the most computer for your valuable dollar, I discovered the first issue to address in cost cutting was with memory, processor type and extras.
Certainly, everyone wants the fastest processor on the block. However, bragging rights come at a cost. If you can scale back a few and not utilize the latest and greatest, you can find yourself obtaining the power needed to run multimedia programs efficiently without tapping so deeply into your wallet.
Currently the big selling point with processors are cores. Dual cores came out a few years back, and that was the big deal. Now four and six cores systems are commonplace. If you are a heavy user with applications that can take specific advantage of multicore processors, and you are doing some extremely intensive work, then this is the best route to go. However, most mainstream applications have yet to take full advantage of them. For photo editing, and most commercial applications, you can do very well with a dual core, provided it is a current one, like the Core i5 series.
The next issue is memory. Having 2 GB is not really an option. You can get by, but for most systems, 4 is really as low as you want to ever go.
Another issue, and this is not so much true now as it was a few years back, but 64 bit operating systems are the present. The big advantage they have is the ability to utilize system memory and greater amounts of it. With 32 bit systems, there is a limit on memory and no matter how much more you add, there is no real advantage beyond 2 GB for most users.
Should you still be working with Windows XP, or even Vista, now is the time to upgrade. Although Windows Vista took a brutal beating among users and pundits alike, some it justified some of it not, Windows 7 is the refined version of Windows everyone has wanted since Windows 98.
Offering an experience that is close to the Mac system, Windows 7 is stable, easy to use, and simply the best operating system Microsoft has ever released. For designers, businesses, the upgrade to 7 is really a no brainer. If you are using older systems, and the only reason I can see is legacy technology, there could be an advantage to staying put. However, if you want speed, stability and never want to see the ugly "blue screen of death," a 64 bit version of Windows 7 is the only way to go in the Windows world ahead.
With all of this said yours truly did some serious shopping online and off to see just where the best value was to be found. Not content to look at just facts, I asked sales people, friends and everyone else just what they thought and why. My search eventually culminated in two choices. That quickly dwindled down to one.
If you are looking at value, bang for the buck, and the ability to do what you want with a bit of style and speed, the Dell XPS 8100 clocked in as the most cost effective solution.
First, what I liked about the Dell as opposed to other models, and this is from the start, is the appearance. While I may have reluctance to see the aesthetic of a white computer with a black faceplate and silver trim, the appearance is more 21st century than last year’s round of cases. In contrast to more utilitarian systems, the Dell demonstrates a design flair that is appealing without being over the top, intrusive or looking like a system designed by an over active 12 year old. The look is polished and Dell has done an admirable job in creating a distinct look that fits in well with whatever other peripherals you may like a tablet PC, an eReader, MP3 player or whatever device you need to connect.
In keeping with the trend of desktop tops that allow for the storage of devices that need a USB connection, the recessed top can hold those devices, like MP3 players and assorted USB drives. Tilted upward, the unit is really well suited for being placed under your desk, and the upward slate makes accessing things a bit easier.
Another element I liked about the Dell was the inclusion of a 15 month subscription to McAfee Internet Security. Including a full featured security suite with the purchase price for more than a year is a nice addition. They also tacked on a starter edition of Microsoft Word, and a link to purchase the full Office version.
If the inclusion of extras is pleasant, it is what they did not include that is also of note. One of the sad realities of purchasing from a large company are the many games, trial software programs and the like that come already installed. If that were not bad enough, many are set to autorun at startup, thus taking away valuable system resources for programs you may neither want or need.
Thankfully, Dell has no "bloatware" installed. With the exception of a few helpful, and they are helpful, utilities and a floating taskbar, that is it. There are no preinstalled games, trialware for a million and one products here or other programs taking up space. You will not need to use a program uninstaller to obtain a lean hard drive.
That is a very good thing, and something or a rarity here.
In the past using a new PC meant a long series of questions, answers and well, junk to do. For this go around, from out of the box to set up took a mind boggling 20 minutes, that includes boxes, cables and all.
Putting the display monitor together was a straightforward proposition. Setting up the CPU was also a case of screwing in two antennas and turning the on switch on. In moments I was online with a fully functional PC. Never before had I seen a system start up this quickly.
Like many larger companies, they did include a disk partition for system restore, however they also enclosed the operating system, drivers and programs on disks just in case you may need them. Shipping with a terabyte hard drive, the reservation of 10 gigs for system restoration doesn’t seem too bad in the scheme of things.
As far as features go, the system I had, the Dell XPS 8100 included the following:
Your price may vary, but this configuration at the time of writing, including a monitor and came to $1168.99. Not too bad when I considered that my previous system was a cool grand and did not include 8 GB of RAM, a WiFi card, a TV tuner, a monitor, mouse and keyboard or anti-virus.
Naturally, you have some configuration options with Dell, and yes it does pay to play with them to see what you need and what you do not. But by and large, a little over a grand buys some nice features.
For me, the Core i5 processor was a pleasant surprise. While I would have thought they would have shipped with only i7's, the i5 is more than capable of running things.
Coupled with 8 GB of memory, a dedicated nVidia card sporting a gig of onboard memory, you should have no trouble with photo editing, video editing or even a few games. Although this is not a power gaming rig, the system has enough muscle to provide respectable performance.
What I also liked about the package was the inclusion of a decent keyboard and mouse. Often what you get is whatever they threw in at the last minute when it comes to keyboards and mice. The Dell keyboard is slim, neat and the keys have just the right amount of pressure to make lengthy typing a pleasure. The included mouse is not bad either. While both are USB and tethered to the CPU, I have never found this to be problematic. Even though I use wireless mice, the problems with batteries and recharging are greater than the one presented by a simple chord.
If you have held off on getting a monitor, the Dell ST2320L is bright, and displays small text to perfection. If you write professionally or simply write often, having a wide screen and being able to view two pages at the same time translates into more productivity. Should you need an additional monitor, there is a second connection with the video card. Being that I tend to like dual monitors, having a second digital connection is certainly worth having.
Eight USB connections are included, along with firewire. The only downside is that the emerging USB 3 is not included here. Another omission is the inclusion of a BluRay reader. While BluRay readers and writers are still somewhat pricey, for a system that is so multimedia savvy, it seemed odd that some form of BluRay was not included, but this is not a deal breaker.
What I found interesting was the inclusion of a television tuner and WiFi. For many desktops WiFi may seem superfluous, but with so many devices requiring wired connections, for example TV over the Web services, having WiFi just means that much more convenience and that much more portability.
On the subject of television tuners, I have never seen a great need for them, but if you do like TV access, then it becomes a nice extra to have. Again, when it comes to value, it is about features and choices, so having it here makes sense, perhaps more sense for some and less for others.
Having a terabyte hard drive in this class of systems seems almost standard now, but having the 8 GB of DDR3 memory is not so common. Rather than having 4 or 6, 8 is a really great sweet spot.
Coupled with the configuration, feature set, video card and processor speed, the XPS 8100 I worked with was more than capable of performing effectively and quietly. When contrasted to my other system, the XPS 8100 was nearly dead silent. My older Core 2 sounded like the Concorde taking off in comparison.
Having two systems side by side and working with them directly, it was then I could see the visible advantages of the new processor versus the older one. While both are dual core, the i5 has hyper threading. Basically what this means is that a 2 core system is threaded to operate as if it were a four core system. The hyperthreading provides a speed increase and it is noticeable. Plus, running at 3.20 GHz gives a certain degree of muscle over a 2.13 Ghz system from 2007.
One bit of wisdom has down the pipeline and it made sense here is that when a new OS is released, it is wise to have a system designed with that operating system in mind. While this is not a hard and fast rule, it does seem that if there is a OS upgrade, newer technology simply makes using it that much more efficiently. Even when you boost memory, there is something to be said for hardware and software being in sync and updated at the same time.
Now another element that comes up in PC pricing is the issue of building it yourself versus purchasing from a company. The first big disadvantage in building yourself is time. If you want to achieve the best value, it will require shopping around. Then there is the actual time spent putting everything together, the cost of an operating system, and knowing just how well all the parts will work together.
Being that large companies can purchase parts in bulk, you will be very hard pressed to find a better deal, particularly with newer CPUs. You may find a deal, but the chances are more than likely it will be older technology, or the cost savings may not be worth the effort. For experienced users, this may be a viable option if you have the time. However, for the average user, the time spent and the possible issues that may arise may not make it worthwhile.
With this said, convenience, cost, features and the like, Dell has produced a system that proves you do not need to spend thousands in order to have a system that can juggle the needs of basic computing with more demanding tasks.
For designers seeking a cost effective way to go online and have a monitor that doesn’t look like a postage stamp, Dell has managed to provide a respectable offering that doesn't feel as if you are skimping on the essentials. In fact, they have thrown in some convenience features that make this a compelling choice for those that want to purchase, plug in and go online right away.
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