I’d been running Windows 2000 on a Pentium 4 computer for several years, and I was starting to feel the limitations. On the Pentium 4, newer programs ran slowly and some of the big C++ compiles I did took forever. With Windows 2000, though I still think it’s perhaps the best OS Microsoft made (from the point of view of convenience, simplicity and stability), there are more and more programs that will not run on it. Lately the computer has been unstable, probably from a corrupted OS, and at the thought of reinstalling Windows and reinstalling all my applications I decided I might as well install all my applications on a new computer. So…
First, I bought the components for a new computer: Motherboard, CPU, case, hard drives, memory, etc. At the center is an Intel Core i5 chip. Intel came out with the Core i7 chip a year or so ago, and though very fast it was also very expensive. Just a couple of months ago they released the Core i5 version. A little slower but much cheaper. Kind of a mainstream, little-brother version of the i7. I think that within a year or so, Core 2 Duo/Quad will become extinct and the Core i5 will replace it as the primary Intel CPU.
I wasn’t sure which motherboard to get until my brother Don recommended a particular Gigabyte board. Looking into it, it was indeed well rated and filled all my needs.
Next, I needed to decide on an OS. I was tempted to reinstall Windows 2000, but since Windows 7 was being released on the very same day I assembled my computer, I decided to go for it. Fortunately, as a university student (proved by my university email address), I could take advantage of the $30 student special. That was really the clincher. I couldn’t stand the thought of giving Microsoft $100 or $200 dollars, but $30 seems reasonable.
Installed, up and running, and I have to say I’m pretty happy with it. It seems to be snappier than Vista (though that could be partly due to my fast computer), and they’ve fixed some of the irritations with Vista. And buying it on the first day it is released, it should have a long life before I have to think about upgrading for compatibility reasons.