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I was given a laptop when I started with my current company with only 512MB
of RAM. It was impossible to run FrameMaker 7.2 and have anything else
running. I wouldn't recommend running Frame with anything less than 1GB.
Thankfully, I now have a desktop with 2GB of RAM.
-=Ed M.
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> techwr-l-bounces+hamonwry12=hotmail -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+hamonwry12=hotmail -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> .com] On Behalf Of Geoff Hart
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:43 AM
> To: TECHWR-L List; Craig Cardimon
> Subject: Home businesses and older computers?
>
> Craig Cardimon wondered: <<How many of you would run your own
> home- based business using an older computer? By older I'm
> talking about a computer that is maxed out with 512 MB RAM,
> 1.20 GHz, and is XP Pro
> 2002 SP3.>>
>
> Unfortunately, you're mixing a bunch of different things
> here. For example, a computer that old is perfectly suitable
> for running Word
> 2003 (haven't tested Word 2007 yet), but probably not Adobe
> Creative Suite. In terms of WinXP, I vastly prefer that to
> Vista. So I have an ancient backup computer with pretty much
> the configuration you describe, and a newer computer (also a
> backup) for the kids that dual- boots both XP and Vista. We
> mostly boot into Vista only to apply Windows updates and
> download new virus/antispyware/firewall updates. <g>
>
> In fact, I use Macs almost exclusively, and update roughly
> every 3 years or when the old computer starts slowing me down
> (a very subjective impression). I recently updated to a
> lovely new aluminum MacBook so I can run Windows under
> Parallels, and apart from a few glitches, am largely enjoying
> it greatly. Over the holidays, I'm hoping to have time to
> transfer all my Word customizations to WinWord from MacWord
> and start retraining my fingers.
>
> Don't forget that home office expenses count as tax
> deductions, so upgrading the computer every few years doesn't
> cost nearly as much (after taxes) as it does for a home
> computer not used for business.
> That should reduce the disincentive to upgrade. In addition,
> January is a great time to replace an old computer, since
> many people will be buying brand-new computers as holiday
> gifts to themselves or their family, and disposing of their
> old (but still high-powered) computer for next to nothing.
> Except for my primary business computer, I've bought almost
> all of my computers this way, and saved hundreds of dollars each time.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Geoff Hart (www.geoff-hart.com)
> ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
> --------------------------------------------------------
> ***Now available*** _Effective onscreen editing_
> (http://www.geoff-hart.com/books/eoe/onscreen-book.htm)
>
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