Technology celeron versus pentium

[cluelesspremed]

hey guys...

i was wondering if i could get any input on the drawbacks of getting a celeron processor instead of a pentium and/or was wondering if you guys knew of any good links where i could read up on it.

i've noticed that most computers that i've been looking at come with the option of having a celeron processor (for about 100-200 dollars less) or upgrading to a pentium.

how much more should i have to pay for a pentium? and is it worth it?

thanks!!

your computer illiterate friend!

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[southerndoc]

Pentiums have bigger caches than Celeron processors.

It's unlikely that you'll notice any difference if all you do is word processing, internet surfing and sending email.

If you do video editing, use Photoshop or other high-end applications (no, MS Word isn't a high-end application), or play a lot of videogames, then you might want to buy the Pentium. Otherwise, the Celeron should be just fine. You won't have the fastest computer on the block, but you will have an extra $200 to buy something else. (An iPod maybe?)

 

[southerndoc]

By the way, I know we Mac users sound like cult members trying to convey the masses, but have you looked at a Mac? They are much more stable than Windows computers (mine has been on for nearly two months without a reboot or being turned off -- the only reason it was rebooted two months ago is because I installled the Tiger MacOS X upgrade).

Mac users are fanatics about their computers because Macs make computers so easy to use, the way it should be. Windows users aren't fanatics because Windows computers usually make peoples' lives more difficult by crashing all the time.

Check out a Mac at your local Apple Store, CompUSA, or even Best Buy (they now carry the Mac Mini). You may like the Mac.

www.apple.com/imac

(Yes, Apple is switching to Intel chips, but G5's will still be running software for many years to come. The future versions of MacOS X will run on both Intel and G5 chips.)

 

[Celiac Plexus]

By the way, I know we Mac users sound like cult members trying to convey the masses, but have you looked at a Mac? They are much more stable than Windows computers (mine has been on for nearly two months without a reboot or being turned off -- the only reason it was rebooted two months ago is because I installled the Tiger MacOS X upgrade).

Mac users are fanatics about their computers because Macs make computers so easy to use, the way it should be. Windows users aren't fanatics because Windows computers usually make peoples' lives more difficult by crashing all the time.

Check out a Mac at your local Apple Store, CompUSA, or even Best Buy (they now carry the Mac Mini). You may like the Mac.

www.apple.com/imac

(Yes, Apple is switching to Intel chips, but G5's will still be running software for many years to come. The future versions of MacOS X will run on both Intel and G5 chips.)

windows computers don't "crash all the time". this is plain nonsense. i have used both mac and windows machines (i currently use windows), and i don't experience any more "blue screen of death" issues than i have mac hang-ups.

windows machines are generally cheaper, software is ported to them earlier than macs, and the overall availablility/affordability of software, peripherals, and components is better than for macs. further, desktop pcs are much easier to modify/upgrade than macs are.

on the plus side for macs... they're designed very well, and generally look cooler. the processor technology is nice, and the out-of-the-box macs are outstanding graphics machines. though, with a nice graphics card, and a decent processor, windows machines are comparable. further, pc machines are easily upgraded while macs are not.

as far as ease of use issues... the mac wins for noob users who feel that anything more than a mouseclick is rocket science. but for most average users, windows machines are no more difficult to operate than mac machines. the whole ease of use argument was legit back in the 1980s and early 1990s, but in 2005 it's a non-issue.

 

[southerndoc]

Macs use protected memory, which means that if an individual program crashes, it doesn't affect your entire system.

Maybe you've had better luck than I have. My Dell laptop crashed frequently, as did the AMD Athlon XP 2700+ that I built. My Tablet PC that I used for a while never crashed a single time.

 

[deleted59964]

windows computers don't "crash all the time". this is plain nonsense. i have used both mac and windows machines (i currently use windows), and i don't experience any more "blue screen of death" issues than i have mac hang-ups.

windows machines are generally cheaper, software is ported to them earlier than macs, and the overall availablility/affordability of software, peripherals, and components is better than for macs. further, desktop pcs are much easier to modify/upgrade than macs are.

on the plus side for macs... they're designed very well, and generally look cooler. the processor technology is nice, and the out-of-the-box macs are outstanding graphics machines. though, with a nice graphics card, and a decent processor, windows machines are comparable. further, pc machines are easily upgraded while macs are not.

as far as ease of use issues... the mac wins for noob users who feel that anything more than a mouseclick is rocket science. but for most average users, windows machines are no more difficult to operate than mac machines. the whole ease of use argument was legit back in the 1980s and early 1990s, but in 2005 it's a non-issue.

I use both Windoze PCs and a mac laptop. The ease of use argument is not a non issue, it's no longer an argument about the interface, ease of use goes far beyond the interface. OSX does not need continual security updates, is not plagued by spyware/adware/viruses/trojans, nor does it need periodic clean installs to clear out clutter. Basically as people have adapted to the Windows interface ease of use is less about the interface, and more about the ongoing tinkering you need to do to Windows to keep it running nicely.

If you like to tinker with your computer, you will get better bang for buck with a generic PC and windows. But if you'd prefer to just have a computer that works (all the time, at it's optimum), and you are annoyed by spyware etc. your better off with a mac.

Oh and actually, the graphics cards in macs mostly suck. The only thing worse than the ibook's graphics chip is integrated graphics. And actually the processor technology is now getting pretty long in the tooth. The beauty of macs is OSX (and the funky design). But soon, hopefully real soon, we will get access to some decent chips. 👍

 

[Celiac Plexus]

OSX does not need continual security updates, is not plagued by spyware/adware/viruses/trojans, nor does it need periodic clean installs to clear out clutter. Basically as people have adapted to the Windows interface ease of use is less about the interface, and more about the ongoing tinkering you need to do to Windows to keep it running nicely.

If you like to tinker with your computer, you will get better bang for buck with a generic PC and windows. But if you'd prefer to just have a computer that works (all the time, at it's optimum), and you are annoyed by spyware etc. your better off with a mac.

wow. sounds like you have had a rough time with your pc with respect to pop-ups, viruses, and trojans... all you need is a good firewall, and a browser other than internet explorer. the windows machine that i have does work all of the time, at it's optimum. i have never had to reinstall, or reformat. again, these have been issues in the past, but now are really non-issues for the average user.

Oh and actually, the graphics cards in macs mostly suck. 👍

wow. that's too bad.

 

[deleted59964]

The only good reasons, in my book, to use an Apple are 1) You don't know how to use a computer 2) You do video editing and that's a marginal advantage at this point especially given certain PC configurations 3) You do audio editing (same comment).

This is my last effort at enlightening the masses.

Additional reasons for using macs

4) want to use the worlds best, most stable, user friendly OS
5) want a reasonably priced 12" laptop with good battery life
6) don't want to pay for or waste time using antivirus software
7) dont want to be infected with viruses
8) you value design and quality of construction
9) dont want to support macrodollars, um I mean microsoft.
10) value competition in the computing marketplace, without a commercial competitor to microsoft, there will be no innovation - look at IE

Now, this thread was supposed to be Pentium vs Celeron, so I'm bowing out.

 

[southerndoc]

Wrong, that would be some linux based solution out there. (yes I know osx is unix based) What good is a stable OS without software?

OS X is BSD based, a derivative of Linux. I haven't had any trouble locating software for my Mac. I have Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Quicken, EndNotes, Mathematica, FileMaker Pro, and this isn't even mentioning the iLife suite that comes standard with most Macs.

This is the same point twice. Plus, believe it or not, macs are susceptible to viruses. Besides, arguing economy with Mac's proprietary jacking up of prices for everything else going along with it is silly.

You are correct. Macs are susceptible to viruses, and I think with Macs growing in popularity (plus a projected surge in new users over the next few years), Macs will have more viruses written to target them. Macs are NOT immune to viruses. Currently there are only *8* viruses known to target Macs, and none of them are in the wild. Rest assured, as soon as Macs become more popular, viruses will be written to target them.

If you build it yourself, that's not a problem.

I built my own Windoze computer. It had all the bells and whistles on it, and I even used a Dremel to carve out the side, place plexiglass in it, and put some cool green lights inside. It still doesn't compare to the beauty of my iMac. (Plus the girlfriend commented on it the first time she visited the bedroom... for some... ahem... oh nevermind)

Apple was using Powerpc, which is a different architechture than x86 chips. Unfortunately they sold out to the microsoft of CPU land, and contracted with Intel. Apple is playing a dangerous game, imo.

Personally I think Jobs was right on with switching to the x86 chips, but I would have preferred Apple switch to AMD chips instead of Intel. I think AMD chips are better chips. Plus they seem to hold the speed record right now.

 

[Sessamoid]

OS X is BSD based, a derivative of Linux.

While both Linux and BSD are Unix derivatives, that's the limit of their relation. BSD wasn't derived from Linux and differs from it in many significant aspects, most notably the license.

I haven't had any trouble locating software for my Mac. I have Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Quicken, EndNotes, Mathematica, FileMaker Pro, and this isn't even mentioning the iLife suite that comes standard with most Macs.

I agree. Arguing for Linux based on software choice is brian dead. Most of the open-source software that is Linux's greatest advantage can be easily compiled on OS X as well.

Macs are susceptible to viruses, and I think with Macs growing in popularity (plus a projected surge in new users over the next few years), Macs will have more viruses written to target them. Macs are NOT immune to viruses.

They are more resistant to spyware and worms/viruses than Windows. The normal user cannot install to the system directory without typing in the admin password. The normal windows user IS admin, and can thus have the whole system compromised from a simple attack. Also, no Active X stupidity.

Personally I think Jobs was right on with switching to the x86 chips, but I would have preferred Apple switch to AMD chips instead of Intel. I think AMD chips are better chips. Plus they seem to hold the speed record right now.

Speed isn't the only consideration. AMD makes great chips (which power two of the computers sitting next to me), but can't guarantee the volume and reliability that Intel can. Last I recall AMD only has 2 chip fabs. If Apple had gone with AMD, the loss of just one of those due to any variety of issues (natural disaster, union strike, need for upgrade) , Apple's chip source just died. Intel has something like 10 times as many chip fabs, so the supply of chips is pretty much guaranteed. And just because their with Intel now doesn't mean they can't add AMD as a supplier in the future, but it would have been foolish to bet the farm on a small chip manufacturer, doubly so when they switched chip suppliers because of the inability of their current supplier to meet their demands.

 

[bwells46]

By the way, I know we Mac users sound like cult members trying to convey the masses, but have you looked at a Mac? They are much more stable than Windows computers (mine has been on for nearly two months without a reboot or being turned off -- the only reason it was rebooted two months ago is because I installled the Tiger MacOS X upgrade).

Mac users are fanatics about their computers because Macs make computers so easy to use, the way it should be. Windows users aren't fanatics because Windows computers usually make peoples' lives more difficult by crashing all the time.

Check out a Mac at your local Apple Store, CompUSA, or even Best Buy (they now carry the Mac Mini). You may like the Mac.

www.apple.com/imac

(Yes, Apple is switching to Intel chips, but G5's will still be running software for many years to come. The future versions of MacOS X will run on both Intel and G5 chips.)

Where are you getting that Windows PCs crash all the time? It the user knows what he/she is doing, then there is no reason that the system should be frequently crashing unless it is overheating or has other hardware problems.

 

[southerndoc]

Where are you getting that Windows PCs crash all the time? It the user knows what he/she is doing, then there is no reason that the system should be frequently crashing unless it is overheating or has other hardware problems.

Because it's a flaw in Windows (it's inherently unstable since there is no protected memory -- if one program crashes, the system often becomes unstable).

I've owned Dell and hp branded computers, and I also have a box that I built myself (AMD Athlon XP 2700+) that I use whenever I'm forced to use a Windows program. They are all unstable. No, that doesn't mean it's crashing every hour. My iMac is on for weeks at a time without problems. If I leave any Windows machine on for more than a few days, I have to reboot it.

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

I have a Mac. A 12" iBook. I used to use PCs all the time, and I took care of them, so I didn't get any serious problems. That said, my thoughts on why I went Apple.

1) Price.

I went looking for the cheapest laptop with a built-in optical drive that weighed under 5 lbs. Believe it or not, this turned out to be the iBook, for under $1000. Was it a good deal? Absolutely. Would I get a Powerbook? Probably not. It's not worth the price. iMac? Worth it (IMO). PowerMac? Nah.

2) Convienence.

I don't tinker with my car. Mostly because it gets me to where I want to go and I'm happy that it does it. It doesn't matter to me how it does it. To some people, this really matters, and they like adding tons of widgets to their car. That's cool. It's just not me.

My Mac has made me lazy, since I don't spend any time or thought worrying about viruses or spyware. I turn on my firewall and surf the web throwing caution to the wind. For the most part, I can install things and know that uninstalling them won't be a huge issue.

Dashboard has made me lazy. Quicksilver has made me extremely lazy. It's great.

3) UNIX.

I hate DOS. Cygwin just doesn't cut it. Sometimes you just gotta kill -9 something.


That's about it. Notice that I didn't mention stability, since the Mac does crash sometimes, and probably more than my PC. I didn't mention software, since there's more stuff out there for the PC. And I certainly won't mention performance, because on an iBook, that's embarrassing.

But the way everything works together makes me happy. I don't mind its problems. Using Windows annoys me now, and little things like IE randomly crashing on me put my teeth on edge, while similar crashes in Safari are simply brushed aside with a smile.

Some people are really happy with Macs. I know of no one who gets a similar happy feeling when they use their PC. It's as if the PC is just a means to an end (i.e. to get the job done), whereas the Mac makes accomplishing the task as painless and pleasant as it can.