You can have your computer and save money, too

November 12th, 2008 By Lou Dolinar

Ever wonder how much money you could save on computing if you put your mind to it? PCs and Macs can be fabulously expensive if you want peak performance and bells and whistles. But a fairly modest investment is good enough for the basics of Internet and office applications.



Content from McClatchy-Tribune Information Services expires 90 days after original publication date. For more information about McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, please visit www.mctdirect.com .

Similar stories from PHYSorg:


Money management sites promise financial salvation

created Mar 17, 2009 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0

'Sleep talking' PCs save energy and money

created Apr 24, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (16) | comments 6

Stop counting sheep (and hitting snooze)

created Jan 19, 2009 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (4) | comments 2

Electronic health records are valuable but won't be a panacea

created Apr 29, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

IBM Accelerates Virtual Desktop With Breakthrough Solution

created Sep 16, 2008 | popularity 4 / 5 (13) | comments 1


print this article email this article download pdf blog this article bookmark this article     Digg this Stumble it share on Facebook share on Reddit add to delicious save to Yahoo! bookmarks
4.1/5 after 13 votes

Rank Filter

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

  • twango - Nov 13, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    Here we are, 24 years after the Mac was introduced, and still reading articles that are oblivious to anything but PCs.

    There's plenty of good, free software for Macs too. It takes about a half-hour to find and write about.
  • raron - Nov 13, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    How is it possible to mention Adobe photoshop in an article about cheap computing, and not mention GIMP, or GIMPshop? http://www.gimp.org/
    http://www.gimpshop.com/

    They are open source and available for Windows, Linux and Mac's, and in most cases, more than good enough for the casual user. And the more advanced ones too, I'd say.
  • h0dges - Nov 13, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    And the Acer Aspire One! Awesome laptop!
  • raron - Nov 13, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    h0dges: I couldn't agree more!

    Currently running Ubuntu 8.10 on it (A110, 1.5 GB RAM), with compiz. Amazing stuff! I followed some hints from this guide: https://help.ubun...One110L, in particular the video 3D and wireless stuff. Works like a charm! And "the cube" works without distorted windows and smooth turning!

    There is also an Ubuntu 8.10 umpc (ultra mobile PC) install I haven't tested yet: http://cdimage.ub...release/
    Maybe I won't, in a while at least. I really like it as it is now, even though there are some minor issues with the low screenheight resolution (1024x600).

November 12th, 2008 all stories
Technology / Hi Tech

Comments: 4
Rank: 4.1/5 after 13 votes

  • Stumble this up

  • Digg this

  • Share it:
  • share on Facebook
  • share on MySpace
  • share on Slashdot
  • rss-newsfeed
  • share on Google
  • share on Reddit
  • add to delicious
  • save to Yahoo! bookmarks
  • share on Windows Live
  • Add to Mixx!
Rating: 4.1/5 after 13 votes


Tags


  • Physicists Demonstrate Quantum Memory with Matter Qubits
    Physicists Demonstrate Quantum Memory with Matter Qubits
    Physics / General Physics
    created Jul 03, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (17) | comments 1
  • 'Holey' Nanosheets for Wastewater Dye Removal
    Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
    created Jul 01, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 1
  • Jellyfish Robot Swims Like its Biological Counterpart
    Jellyfish Robot Swims Like its Biological Counterpart
    Electronics / Robotics
    created Jun 26, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (8) | comments 1
  • Could Maxwell's Demon Exist in Nanoscale Systems?
    Could Maxwell's Demon Exist in Nanoscale Systems?
    Physics / General Physics
    created Jun 24, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (18) | comments 29
  • Living Safely with Robots, Beyond Asimov's Laws
    Living Safely with Robots, Beyond Asimov's Laws
    Electronics / Robotics
    created Jun 22, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (52) | comments 40
  • Other News

    Samsung announces earnings estimate (AP)

    Samsung announces earnings estimate

    Technology / Business

    created 49 seconds ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

    (AP) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's biggest manufacturer of memory chips, announced quarterly earnings estimates for the first time Monday, saying it hopes to reduce market confusion and speculation ...


    Andreessen making leap from entrepreneur to VC

    Technology / Business

    created 1hour ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

    (AP) -- Having built and sold two technology startups for a combined $11.7 billion, Marc Andreessen is ready to take a stab at, well, finding the next Marc Andreessen.


    Japan demands 119 million dlrs in tax from Amazon: report

    Technology / Business

    created 20 hours ago | popularity 3.6 / 5 (5) | comments 1

    Japanese authorities told a sales affiliate of US retail giant Amazon.com to pay about 119 million dollars in tax for unreported income over a three-year period, a newspaper said Sunday.


    Iconic skyscrapers find new luster by going green (AP)

    Iconic skyscrapers find new luster by going green

    Technology / Energy

    created 21 hours ago | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0

    (AP) -- When owners of the Empire State Building decided to blanket its towering facade this year with thousands of insulating windows, they were only partly interested in saving energy. They also needed ...


    Geeks double as scourges and sages at media summit

    Technology / Business

    created 16 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

    (AP) -- The media moguls attending an annual powwow staged by investment bank Allen & Co. used to be able to rest comfortably in the Idaho mountains as they mulled their next moves.