Operating System software stays relatively predictable (give or take the odd Service Pack or security patch) from year to year, but Hardware does no such thing.
Hardware is improved, updated, increased, at least once a year by each manufacturer trying to leapfrog the next. If you bought your computer in 2002 and it runs XP, it will look very different from one built in 2008 and also running XP.
Hardware is improved, updated, increased, at least once a year by each manufacturer trying to leapfrog the next. If you bought your computer in 2002 and it runs XP, it will look very different from one built in 2008 and also running XP.
Windows computer age chart
(click to enlarge)
As you look at the chart, you can see the trends – and they are logarithmic! The future takes faster processor speeds, more memory, more hard drive space… Anyway, processor speed has more than tripled in the XP era, memory need has increased eight-fold, and hard drive space for Vista has gone up 13 times what XP required!
So how do you tell where you are? Compare your computer’s numbers to the chart above. If you find your computer to be at the lower end, it may be struggling to cope with today’s programs.
To find your numbers, access System Properties. This can be done by right-clicking My Computer (the desktop icon or the words on the Start Menu) and selecting Properties. On the General tab it will display your system’s info – processor speed and RAM.
To find out your hard drive’s capacity, click My Computer and look at the information. How many drives does it show? Right-click on each drive and select Properties. This will show you a graphic representation of your drive; how much room there is, how much is used up, and how much is left.
So how do you tell where you are? Compare your computer’s numbers to the chart above. If you find your computer to be at the lower end, it may be struggling to cope with today’s programs.
To find your numbers, access System Properties. This can be done by right-clicking My Computer (the desktop icon or the words on the Start Menu) and selecting Properties. On the General tab it will display your system’s info – processor speed and RAM.
To find out your hard drive’s capacity, click My Computer and look at the information. How many drives does it show? Right-click on each drive and select Properties. This will show you a graphic representation of your drive; how much room there is, how much is used up, and how much is left.
If you have been told you need a new computer, check the chart. If your machine looks pretty up-to-date according to the chart, you may just need cleaning,updates,spyware, and/or anti-virus cleanup.
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