I'm thinking about replacing my defunct desktop with a laptop. The compactness and portability of laptops are a big plus. Just to be able to get rid of that tangle of cables under my desk seems benefit enough to make the change. I recently bought a Dell Vostro 1520 that I like. It strikes me that buying another Vostro 1520 would have at least the advantage of using compatible a.c. adapters for use in various parts of the house. I would appreciate hearing what the advantages and disadvantage of going with another laptop of the same make and model of the one I already own. One added note: I’m using XP Pro on my Vostro now. The new one would probably have Windows 7.
posted by NinaLee on Sep 26, 2009 - 10 answers

What's a good nettop/netbook/cheap desktop/laptop for my mom and younger sister? [more inside]
posted by mccarty.tim on Sep 6, 2009 - 13 answers

As of yesterday, my IMac will not move photos from sites I go to onto my desktop. [more inside]
posted by Postroad on Aug 29, 2009 - 7 answers

In lieu of buying a tricked-out MacBook pro, I'm thinking about taking the advice in this comment and picking up a mostly equivalent, Windows-based desktop for around $500. Can you give me advice? [more inside]
posted by niles on Aug 22, 2009 - 10 answers

I need a new computer--a desktop--but I don't know what kind of expectations to have for a new machine versus my 5-year-old computer. Is whatever's on special gonna impress me? [more inside]
posted by misanthropicsarah on Jul 27, 2009 - 24 answers

Is there an actively developed virtual desktop manager for OS X that lets you assign windows and documents (rather than applications) to different desktops? [more inside]
posted by namespan on Jul 21, 2009 - 7 answers

Help me setup a dual-monitor XP desktop at work with minimum fuss/cost. [more inside]
posted by forwebsites on Jul 17, 2009 - 10 answers

Is it possible (in Windows Vista Ultimate) to save remote desktop connections to the same computer but for different users? i.e. have icons in my quick launch menu which log me in with a click to user1 or user2? [more inside]
posted by Mokusatsu on Jun 30, 2009 - 7 answers

I've got $500.00 to spend for a new computer. I want to get the most bang for my buck. My needs are: - Play music - Edit and view photos - Edit and view videos - Create DVDs & Surf the Internet. My past history has been in PCs. I am open to building my own computer. So what should I get?
posted by jserdula on Jun 29, 2009 - 19 answers

I'd like to write a program for Windows XP that detects when a folder on the desktop is clicked and switches the desktop location to that folder, instead of the default Explorer behavior of opening the folder in a window. [more inside]
posted by long on Jun 27, 2009 - 12 answers

UltraVNC on Vista connecting to OSX is very very slow - is there anything faster? [more inside]
posted by jimjam on Jun 25, 2009 - 7 answers

Can I get a list of all my flagged e-mails from Apple Mail to appear somewhere more visible? [more inside]
posted by gkhewitt on Jun 20, 2009 - 4 answers

Please help me find the best laptops for our teens! Specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by misha on Jun 16, 2009 - 16 answers

Is there a way to navigate folders on the Windows XP desktop? That is, I want to be able to click folder A on the desktop and have the desktop switch to displaying folder A's contents.
posted by long on Jun 12, 2009 - 16 answers

Help me design a computer workstation setup for home that incorporates a 30" screen, a Linux compatible video card, a possibly height adjustable desk, and a silent or very quiet desktop machine. [more inside]
posted by pbh on Jun 9, 2009 - 7 answers

Hi fellow MeFites! You are all Great! Today, I am posing a question that has hounded me for a year or so... at work, we have an IBM workstation environment, with some M50's, M52's, S51's, etc. in the line-up. the issue that I am having is with our/my S51's. [more inside]
posted by rxbert on May 26, 2009 - 9 answers

I'm looking for a list or reference to press releases/news articles about large corporations or government departments that have switched to Linux as a desktop platform. For example this week it was reported that the French police have 5,000 PCs running Ubuntu. [more inside]
posted by thewalrus on Apr 30, 2009 - 3 answers

After 5+ years of working remarkably well, my desktop is finally giving out in multiple places, and it's time to move on. I use my desktop as an always-on computer, though, so I'd like to get something low-power. [more inside]
posted by devilsbrigade on Apr 16, 2009 - 5 answers

Offline Calendar application for Windows that is not Sunbird? [more inside]
posted by Phire on Apr 10, 2009 - 7 answers

Is there a website that will allow me to aggregate all my different email accounts and access them from one place? [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Apr 6, 2009 - 21 answers

Help me build or buy a desktop PC for under $900.. [more inside]
posted by pencroft on Mar 28, 2009 - 20 answers

Is there a way to keep Google Desktop without it hijacking Vista's search? [more inside]
posted by inbetweener on Mar 28, 2009 - 4 answers

Managing a projector with a laptop at a different resolution. The short: classroom training sessions with a Dell laptop hooked up to a projector is giving me some issues, looking for advice on how to rectify the situation. [more inside]
posted by wile e on Mar 4, 2009 - 3 answers

Help me choose a Linux desktop computer (UK) [more inside]
posted by primer_dimer on Feb 7, 2009 - 8 answers

I want to stream my desktop on popular sites such as Justin.tv. However I'm on a Mac. What software do I need? [more inside]
posted by spinko on Jan 14, 2009 - 1 answer

We have an HP Slimline machine running video with an Nvidia Geforce 6150 SE graphics card. We are wanting to use a VGA->HDMI box to convert the video output of the desktop and connect it to our television: [more inside]
posted by ao4047 on Jan 9, 2009 - 1 answer

Can I restart a Vista machine from another Vista machine on the same network? [more inside]
posted by miniape on Dec 30, 2008 - 7 answers

I just want to mask off part of my XP desktop with immobile, box-shaped graphics that float above all open windows, all the time. [more inside]
posted by Rykey on Dec 29, 2008 - 6 answers

How can I reinstall Windows onto an old Toshiba Portege 7010CT with no external drives? [more inside]
posted by ajp on Dec 21, 2008 - 13 answers

Looking for a file/library management program with the following features : ability to look for duplicates by CRC comparison, search for text inside files (PDF,Djvu,doc, chm etc) extract and catalog metadata, display on which disk is the file located, even if it's offline. Yes I know about google desktop, but.. [more inside]
posted by elpapacito on Nov 30, 2008 - 1 answer

ComputerBuildingFilter: As my home PC just recently kicked the bucket, I'm looking into building my own PC for the first time, and I want to make sure the parts I'm looking at buying are compatible. [more inside]
posted by Grither on Nov 25, 2008 - 16 answers

BuildMyComputerFilter: I want a new desktop. Tiny, affordable, more specs below the fold. [more inside]
posted by billtron on Nov 20, 2008 - 14 answers

I would like to overlay my Google Calendar on my desktop wallpaper in Vista. I'd like it to be translucent so that I can still see my wallpaper, but visible enough that it is easy to read. Is there a (preferably free) program that will let me do this? [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Oct 20, 2008 - 5 answers

Anyone got a pointer on desktop alert software? [more inside]
posted by baylink on Oct 16, 2008 - 11 answers

Why can't I pick up and drag my Mac's desktop folders smoothly? Often they don't move at all, or they snap back as if on rubber bands when I move and drop them. [more inside]
posted by bad grammar on Sep 8, 2008 - 4 answers

Double the Windows problems - creating a shortcut to CMD at a specific folder, and what's up with Desktop horizontal selecting? [more inside]
posted by curagea on Sep 7, 2008 - 4 answers

What options do I have for a good web- (preferred) or desktop(Windows)-based RSS reader that has good options for managing older posts within feeds? [more inside]
posted by fsmontenegro on Sep 5, 2008 - 4 answers

Are there free alternatives to Maxivista software for using laptop as a second monitor? [more inside]
posted by spacefire on Aug 29, 2008 - 4 answers

Are there any free or low cost options for having a Remote Desktop tool for Windows Vista Home Premium? [more inside]
posted by randomthoughts on Aug 21, 2008 - 13 answers

What desktop pager would you recommend for windows xp? [more inside]
posted by mgogol on Aug 6, 2008 - 4 answers

Building / buying a gaming desktop PC. [more inside]
posted by detune on Jul 24, 2008 - 14 answers

I'm in the market for a new desktop PC, but I don't know much about the companies out there manufacturing them. Who do you trust in terms of value, quality, etc? [more inside]
posted by UrbanEconomist on Jul 22, 2008 - 28 answers

Should I get a desktop or a laptop or both? [more inside]
posted by allfortheBoss on Jul 16, 2008 - 13 answers

Software that allows you to split up screen area for different programs in windows Vista? [more inside]
posted by Mave_80 on Jul 2, 2008 - 5 answers

Help me stop cluttering up my (OS X) desktop. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Jun 7, 2008 - 23 answers

Can I extend the life of my aging Dell XPS desktop by means of a processor swap? Details within. [more inside]
posted by killdevil on Jun 5, 2008 - 13 answers

Everyone in my department at work (desktop publishing) is paid overtime except me (I'm salaried) and we all have the same job title and responsibilities. Is this legal? [more inside]
posted by boognish on May 26, 2008 - 10 answers

I'm running OS X Leopard on my beloved shiny Macbook and there's one thing that I find irritating. I love using F9, F10, F11 etc to bring up Exposé, Dashboard and the Desktop, but every now and again they suddenly stop functioning. It's normally when the computer's been on for a few days - I hit the keys and nothing happens. So I check in Keyboard Shortcuts of the System Prefs, and all the boxes in the "Dock, Exposé and Dashboard" are magically unticked. I can tick them again, and everything's fine and dandy for a few days. Alternatively, I can reboot and it's back to how it should be. (For a while...) Why is this happening, and how can I stop it? [more inside]
posted by badmoonrising on May 20, 2008 - 6 answers

Help! Why is my Gmail, accessed through my Macbook's Mail application, occasionally not sending emails, even though they're listed as "sent"? [more inside]
posted by airguitar2 on May 12, 2008 - 7 answers

My computer gets extremely loud at random moments. [more inside]
posted by als129 on Apr 16, 2008 - 8 answers