[BrianR]

I have an elderly (7 years old!) Dell desktop on which EMC9 has run fairly well. The DVD writer has given up the ghost and I've decided that it's time to replace the entire system.

I'm a fan of Dell PCs and plan to get another, but I would appreciate assistance with specs.

If I get Creator 2009 Ultimate at the same time, what sort of hardware specs should I use to have a great working experience?

Here's what I have in mind at this point:

Dell Studio XPS 435
Intel i9-920 processor 2.66GHz
8GB RAM
ATI Radeon HD 4670 video card w/ 512MB memory
1TB 7200 RPM SATA drive
Blu-ray disk burner
DVD burner (2nd DVD drive)
MS Vista Home Premium (64-bit)

I would think that this will do it, but I'm leery of Vista gobbling my video or of Creator 2009 having problems with a component.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help!

[Beerman]

With those specs, you'll be more than fine. Nice size HD adn 8GB of memory is more than you need. You'll be fine for quite a while.

[REDWAGON]

If you order a new Dell computer, you might check and be sure that they will not include one of the Roxio programs pre-loaded on the computer. Especially if you are going to buy a retail version of the Roxio program. The Dell loaded program is usually watered down and may not include some of the programs that Roxio provides on their retail version.

Frank...

[Big_Dave]

Be sure to get media for both Roxio and the OS.

[sknis]

Another suggestion along a different line (it is what I'm going to do). Wait until about Oct 22 and get one with W7 already installed. That way you won't have to play (!) with Vista nor will you have to try installing W7 over Vista and all the other programs you've loaded.

In the interim, get an inexpensive external DVD burner so that you can use it on the new computer also. Remember that you can burn several DVDs simultaneously.

I'm partial to VelocityMicro. Price for a similar set up is just over $2000 for a ProMagix HD60 ; that's in the same ballpark as the Dell. (i could not figure out how NOT to order a monitor on the Dell site).

This post has been edited by sknis: 20 July 2009 - 05:12 AM

[BrianR]

If you order a new Dell computer, you might check and be sure that they will not include one of the Roxio programs pre-loaded on the computer. Especially if you are going to buy a retail version of the Roxio program. The Dell loaded program is usually watered down and may not include some of the programs that Roxio provides on their retail version.

Frank...

Thanks Frank, but I'm not sure that I can order the Dell "without" all the stuff they plan to grace me with

Can I simply uninstall the lite versions of Roxio s/w, or is there maybe a Roxio clean wipe tool for that purpose?

Another suggestion along a different line (it is what I'm going to do). Wait until about Oct 22 and get one with W7 already installed. That way you won't have to play (!) with Vista nor will you have to try installing W7 over Vista and all the other programs you've loaded.

In the interim, get an inexpensive external DVD burner so that you can use it on the new computer also. Remember that you can burn several DVDs simultaneously.

I'm partial to VelocityMicro. Price for a similar set up is just over $2000 for a ProMagix HD60 ; that's in the same ballpark as the Dell. (i could not figure out how NOT to order a monitor on the Dell site).

Sknis, your suggestion is intriguing. My normal approach, though, is to stay away from a new OS until the first Service Pack is sent out, which would push me into 2010 (at least).

I presume that you've been working in the Windows 7 beta? I haven't lurked that forum yet, but how stable is Creator 2009 with it?

[Beerman]

I presume that you've been working in the Windows 7 beta? I haven't lurked that forum yet, but how stable is Creator 2009 with it?

I've had C2009 running in W7 (64 bit) since late January with no problems.

[malatekid]

Can I simply uninstall the lite versions of Roxio s/w, or is there maybe a Roxio clean wipe tool for that purpose?

It looks like online purchase from Dell offers Adobe software for entainment and editing software (no Roxio software at all) for that desktop model.

This post has been edited by malatekid: 20 July 2009 - 12:39 PM

[BrianR]

It looks like online purchase from Dell offers Adobe software for entainment and editing software (no Roxio software at all) for that desktop model.

That's what I thought, but you sometimes see strangely named programs installed by Dell

I see that you also have a Dell - did you delete the software that came with it and then install Creator? Or did you leave it on and simply add Creator?

Thanks for your help!

[Willard M]

On my new Dell computer I expected the sound card to be of a higher quality. By accepting the Dell basic Integrated Sound Card I lost some of the choices I had in Easy Audio Capture. I should have ordered a stand alone sound card. Where is the sound card in the OP? Live and Learn

[malatekid]

That's what I thought, but you sometimes see strangely named programs installed by Dell

I see that you also have a Dell - did you delete the software that came with it and then install Creator? Or did you leave it on and simply add Creator?

Thanks for your help!

If I remember correctly, I asked the sales associate with whom I finally discussed the purchase not to install the free (strip-down) version of the Roxio software. The PC was delivered without the software installed.