Buyer's Guide - Mid-Range, October 2004

Miscellaneous Parts

Our computer system is complete, with the exception of a few small items as well as some optional components. We will cover those here.

Networking Recommendation: Integrated in motherboard
Price: Free

We did not mention it earlier, but it is almost impossible to find a modern motherboard that doesn't include a network adapter, and we feel no need to purchase a separate NIC as there is little to no performance difference in normal use. Some users might prefer WiFi networks, in which case, an add-in card is usually required, but we do not have any real recommendation on what to purchase in that segment. If you do use a wireless network, we would like to remind you to enable WEP encryption at the very least, and WPA is preferred, although not as easy to get working without spending more money.

Video Capture Alternative: Hauppauge PVR-250
Price: $128 Shipped (Retail)

Some of our readers have requested suggestions for a video capture device that would allow them to perform TiVo-like functions with their PC. We have had good experience with getting Hauppage's WinTV to function well, and feel comfortable recommending any of their products. The quick summary is that the low-end WinTV Go is a software encoding solution, so you will need more processor power if you choose it, but the systems that we have put together in this Guide are more than capable of handling that. The WinTV PVR-250 and PVR-350 include hardware encoding for MPEG1 and MPEG2, and the PVR-350 also adds video/audio pass through/output to your TV. Both also include a remote, which the WinTV Go lacks. We recommend the PVR-250 as an all-around good choice, as the graphics cards that we have chosen already include TV Out functionality, should you require it. The quality of the PVR-350 TV Output might be slightly better, however.

You can read our recent MythTV and Windows MCE articles on this subject for additional information. Remember to buy a larger hard drive or a secondary hard drive if you plan to use the PVR capability, as digital videos can eat up hard drive space rapidly. Also, the WinTV cards require a compatible VGA card that supports the overlay function, which typically means ATI or NVIDIA add-in cards. Other brands will also work, but we have not personally tested the cards with any integrated graphics configurations.

Keyboard Suggestion: Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard PS/2
Price: $29 Shipped (OEM)

Mouse Suggestion: Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical
Price: $24 Shipped (OEM)

The choice of keyboard and mouse is a personal decision, so take these suggestions with a grain of salt. If you prefer something else, like a wireless version or something from Logitech or another company, then by all means - get it. What we list here is simply one possibility. It is worth mentioning that OEM parts usually require you to purchase other computer hardware, although many online companies define "hardware" very loosely. Retail versions of these devices can cost almost twice as much.

For the keyboard, heavy typists almost all agree that the split ergonomic keyboards are much more comfortable to use. As we do a lot of typing, we appreciate the value that Microsoft offers. The Natural Multimedia includes a more traditional arrow key layout, although the arrangement of the page up/down, home/end, and insert/delete keys is still different than other keyboards. The function keys also default to different behavior until you press the F-Lock key, which can be somewhat confusing, and unfortunately, the keyboard does not remember this setting when it's restarted. Those are minor complaints, though, and it doesn't take too long to adjust to the new arrangement. Microsoft keyboards are, not surprisingly, supported quite well out of the box on Windows XP. The power of a monopoly can be abused, true, but sometimes it is also very convenient.

Our mouse of choice is the IntelliMouse Optical, a slight step up from the base model 3-button Optical mouse. We like the ability to quickly go forward and backward when surfing web pages, and the tactile "click" of the mouse wheel is nice. The newer Microsoft mice with the tilting wheel do not have a click, and while some will prefer that style of mouse, we do not. Again, it's just one opinion on the subject, so try one out and buy what you like. You can also find some keyboard and mouse bundles that are cheaper than purchasing the two separately.

Operating System Suggestion: Microsoft Windows XP Home/Pro/MCE
Price: $95/$147/$140 Shipped (OEM)

While you can always install Linux on your new system, most users still go with Windows XP. If you want the legal route and save some money, we suggest that you purchase an OEM copy of Windows XP with the rest of your system. For those with home networks, we recommend the Professional version, but most people will not notice a difference between that and the Home edition. An interesting new development is that the Media Center Edition is also available at many online stores for about the same price as XP Pro. It is similar in features to XP Home with some added functionality relating to, amazingly enough, multimedia applications. The major difference is that a compatible hardware MPEG encoder is required. The Hauppauge PVR-250/350 that we mentioned above will work, of course.