How to set up a new computer. (PC)

Setting up a new computer depends on what kind of computer it is. There are lots of options, so it is hard to cover everything in one hub page. However, I am fairly familiar with PC's and can provide a list of points to be considered and my opinon about what can be done about them.

Although philosophically I am an open source guy, the fact is that most folks think that because everyone else has a set of tinker toys (Windows) they must have it too. (No slam intentended against tinker toys). So I compromise by creating a dual-boot machine. (Windows on the main partition, and then either pure Linux on an alternate partition or Ubuntu on a spare section of the Windows partition. The future approaches, you might as well be ready).

Get a Dell. Why? Because then you can borrow any other Dell owner's installation disks and get rid of Vista. I would recommend installing Windows on its own partition with a secondary partition reserved for Program Files and Documents. Once you have XP installed, install all the new apps on the empty partition as well as placing the My Documents directory there. Why? Because otherwise your PC will get slower over time.