Suggestions for the best configuration and brand for a computer that will work best with Logos 4.
Thank you.
Apple! I first made the switch from Windows to Apple iMac 2 years ago. I added the iPad in January and the iPod Touch in April. Finally I bought my MacBook Air this month. If you switch to Mac you'll find like me that it just works!
Suggestions for the best configuration and brand for a computer that will work best with Logos 4. Thank you.
Two main forks in the road determine some of what folks would recommend.
First fork: laptop or desktop (IMHO handhelds, mini's, tablets, etc. would not 'work best with Logos4').
Second fork: Windows or Mac.
IMHO, a Windows desktop gives you the most technology for your money and will work best, dollar for dollar with Logos4. Mac's, though more expensive, are known for much better tech support than PC manufacturers, but I'm not convinced that they will give a comparable Logos4 experience -- at least not yet. If you want to use your computer for other purposes besides Logos4, a Mac may serve you better.
Desktops are less expensive than their laptop equivalents, and are less prone to problems since they do not have the added cost of miniaturization and engineered space requirements laptops do, and one is much less likely to drop one on the driveway as one is getting in or out of the car. The downside, of course, is portability. If portability is more important to you than cost or durability, then a laptop would serve you better. I have one of each, though my working computer is my desktop. I don't like the cramped keyboard, nor the touchpad mouse of my laptop (I do have an external mouse for it), and I have my desktop set up with two large wide-screen, flat-panel monitors.
For working with Logos in a Windows environment, I would recommend an i5 or i7 Intel CPU, 6GB (or more) RAM (the fastest RAM you can afford), a 1TB, 7200RPM Hard Drive, and a dedicated nVidia or ATI Video card with 1GB video RAM (the video card should have two ports to enable two monitors), and two 20" (or bigger?) wide-screen, flat-panel monitors.
Dual monitors are very, very helpful. When I first started using two monitors I was surprised at how much it helped my work flow. To have my sermon notes open on one screen with Logos open on the other was so very helpful, as my eye could go back and forth, rather than having to ALT-TAB back and forth to remember/reinforce what question I was wanting to answer at the moment.
As far as brands go, Dell and HP seem to get the highest marks for user satisfaction. Dell's online store also lets you customize your build (within some limits), which I really like. I'm currently on my 4th Dell desktop, my 1st Dell laptop, and I've bought my two college-bound sons Dell laptops as well. I've been (generally) happy with them.
Anyway, those are my recommendations, and some of my reasoning behind them. If you have needs for your next computer that go beyond Logos4, then you may want to balance those needs with what I'm recommending. But my recommendations reflect a setup I would buy today, if I were going to buy, and if I didn't have the money to buy this, I would save up until I did.
Appleinsider article 24 Oct => Apple quietly updates MacBook Pro lineup with faster CPUs, graphics caveat: Apple defaults to 5400 RPM drives in MacBook Pro models (longer battery life), recommend upgrading hard drive to 7200 RPM or Solid State Disk (SSD).
On 11 Oct 11, Logos 4 Windows forum discussion started => 2011 Laptop Recommendations
By the way, noticed thread => Best computer to run Logos 4 has similar responses.
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Hello Friend
Buying a new computer is always a very delightful feeling. what type computer you really want no buddy knew properly as you are so just think about mind what exactly you need in your computer.
some very impotent thing which you must consider is ...
What the things which you want in your computer,what configuration you looking for,how much you want spend for it,is any company or brand is your favorite.
And other more impotent thing is operating system.like most of the computer maker company try to give latest operating in his system but according to me windows 7 is best option for us because of lost of features like windows 7 memory optimization,windows 7 performance optimization,windows 7 optimization software,windows 7 network optimization,windows 7 startup optimization,windows 7 optimization
I also switched from Windows to Apple about 2 years ago (to iMac 27"), bought an Ipod Touch and a month ago a MacBook Air 13" that suits perfectly for Logos 4. A passage guide search will appear in about 5 seconds (depending on your library I guess, I have the Platinum) which is quick enough. 13" is the minimum screen width for any work. 11" is too short in my opinion. Here on the campus I'm the only MacBook Air owner and I can tell you they all envy me! Hehe :-) Seriously for me the level of technology is this laptop is amazing. Oh and the battery: I can truly rely on a 4 to 5 hours use (reading, writing, Logos4 searches, Internet) and it recharges in about an hour 1/2.
Compared to Windows PC in ultra flat category the MacBook Air is only a little more expensive (at least for the 11" and 13").
And to finish, I would just quote Alan Macgregor: "If you switch to Mac you'll find like me that it just works!" :-)
Apple refurbished MacBook Air models offer better hardware than ultrabook PC's at same price => http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_air
If was shopping for an ultrabook to use with Logos 4, would look at Apple refurbished 2011 MacBook Air models with 4 GB RAM, which have same warranty and packaging as new.
Caveat: anticipating refurbished price drop after Apple refreshes models later this year (perhaps June or July ?)
If you don't need the laptop immediately:
I've heard the Mac laptops are going to have some major changes in the soon-coming products.
The new Ivy Bridge processors could be appearing in Windows laptops in April or May. Better speed, better battery life, cooler, much improved integrated graphics. I don't know if it eliminates the need or want for separate graphics card.
Yep, of course refurbished ones have the best prices ... but on my apple store (Belgium) there are no such availability. We sometimes have an Ipod or Ipad and few accessories available in the clearance but never iMac or MacBook unfortunately.
Shmuel, If you haven't been swayed by the PC Vs. Mac testimonials and leaped off of the Mac cliff yet, you may find THIS thread helpful in specifying a new PC for Logos. Enjoy your new hardware!
I don't know if it eliminates the need or want for separate graphics card
I think if you don't play newer computer games and Logos is the primary reason for the graphics cards integrated graphics are good enough. I briefly had a thinkpad with switchable graphics (NVIDIA discrete with 1G memory and I5 hd3000 graphics switchable. I returned it because I couldn't stand the new screen they use). I couldn't tell any difference with LOGOS and timed test results didn't show any difference (scrolling actually seemed a little smoother with integrated graphics). Since Ivy bridge will have even faster graphics it should also be good enough (for a laptop it will mean a cooler running computer and longer battery life as well).
Choice of computer depends on budget and personal taste. Windows will run Logos a little faster for the same hardware and there are certain features not implemented yet on the Mac (see the wiki for details). After using windows since 1990 I recently switched to a Mac (October 2011 13" Macbook pro, I5 with integrated graphics, 500g hard drive). I actually planned on using both but when my old thinkpad died and the new one turned out to be unusable I didn't bother getting another windows computer. Logos works well for me and does what I need to do. (I actually like the Mac version of Microsoft office better than the PC version, I could never find what I was looking for with the ribbon interface). There are a lot of things about Lion that make it more usable for me. I would suggest trying a few different computers at the local store to see which suits you best (while Logos on Windows is a little ahead of Logos on Mac I think you'll fine a lot of Mac users are very happy with the usability of Logos).
Personally living and learning. Appears refurbished Mac models are available in some neighboring EU countries.
