Should I get a new computer for what I want to do (e.g., building websites)?
Here’s the deal:
1) I have a 1998 Dell PC w/ Windows98 that crashes about 6 times a day, that has a non-working CD-Rom drive, and which has a broken printer and won’t accept any other printers. Should I get a new computer (hopefully laptop or notebook) or upgrade in order to build a website/blog on my own?
2) I started a WordPress.com freebie blog and now want to buy my own domain and build from the ground up–how easy is it to move my current content to the new location?
3) I’ve never done any website design but have started learning html through free tutorials on the web. Do I need to learn all the programming stuff first (i.e., xhtml, CSS, etc.) or can I learn as I build?
4) I have a disability which prevents me from carrying things (have to use a walker), so I need a computer light enough to go into a backpack, but effective enough for website building. Any suggestions for laptops or notebooks for 00 or less?
Tagged with: backpack • blog • broken printer • cd rom drive • computer light • current content • dell pc • disability • free tutorials • laptop • laptops • learning html • new computer • new location • notebook • notebooks • printers • windows98
Filed under: Building Websites
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1) About all you can use is the case – that’ll save you about $25. And that’s if you upgrade everything yourself. You can buy a decent computer for less than you can build one for.
2) You download the site (use an FTP program. If you have none, Filezilla is good and it’s free.) Then just upload (Filezilla again, if the site isn’t on your own computer) to the new site. You’ll have to set up the database, but if it’s MySQL, and you have access to phpMyAdmin (a common setup), it’s pretty trivial. Just back the database up (Export) to a file (name of your choice) and download/upload that file along with all the others. Then just run the file (Import) in phpMyAdmin on the new site.
3) You should learn CSS, because you want control over the style of the page. It’s not that difficult to pick up the basics. It’s difficult to become an expert (I’m still working on that). But you can learn as you work. Javascript, PHP, SQL (the language, not a particular database), the technique called Ajax, DHTML (your page can build itself on the fly). Learning is good – now, on the web, in school, as you go – none of it is bad.
4) I prefer HP, but there are other good ones. (The new Macbook weighs almost nothing, but I’ve been using Windows for so long that a Mac would be a steep learning curve for me – probably for you.) Go into a store like Best Buy and lift few up. Acer makes good equipment. (I guess it’s a personal choice – there are a few makes I won’t consider, but evidently they do sell computers.)
If you’re going to run it for a website you have to leave it plugged in, so you don’t need to carry it. Get a friend to lug it in and set it up. Also you need open ports from your ISP for web hosting (usually costs more). You can host from Linux fedora 7 or 8 very easily if you know how. Look into fedora web hosting and try tiger direct for a cheap desktop system with no OS. You have a lot to learn.