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Quote: Originally posted by CatherineTCJD
Hey *waves* great to see you back! These carpets are beautifious
We've gone the carpetless route too, and I miss it on cold mornings...
I wondered if my little netbook could handle the sims - it really can't handle photoshop (sooooo ssslllooooowwww *gasp*) So, I guess I just assumed it couldn't do Sims. I think it meets most of the specs though... hmmmm... I'll have to try it
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Yep, after re-experiencing carpet, I think Boyfriend and I need to go shopping for some thicker rugs for my bedroom at my house. We'll be going there once there's snow to ski on, and it's pretty cold in the house in the mornings.
I use Photoshop CS2, which I bought years ago when I was still homeschooling my kids so I could get the academic version/discount. It runs just fine, even with plugins, even when other things are running. If you have a newer version of Photoshop, you might want to think about installing a "downgrade" on your netbook. I think I heard a rumor somewhere that CS2 can be had for free in non-piratey ways now, so you might think about downloading and installing that on your netbook, see how it runs.
As for the game, mine runs all EPs/SPs pretty well. Load times are pretty long if using a lot of CC, but not terribly bad if I don't. (I have several user accounts set up, with varying levels of CC in each account's game files.) I do tend to avoid using community lots because of load times, so I've had to alter my usual community-lot-heavy play style a bit, but it's been OK. (Of course, it all depends on your specs. This machine is pretty low-spec, actually. It's running Windows 7 Starter, and it's only got 1GB of RAM, a good chunk of which is eaten by the stupid operating system.
I've bought a RAM upgrade for it, since it only cost $20, but I haven't yet gotten up the nerve to attempt to install it because doing so apparently involves removing the keyboard to get at the guts of the thing. I'm afraid I'll break something.) I can't run much of anything else while playing, though, just an Excel tracking spreadsheet and my random number generator (for "die rolling" purposes), or else things slow way down. Especially if I start up a web browser. Also, large lots are pretty much a no-go. 3x3 is about the biggest I can go on this machine or else there's a lot of lag. Beach lots seem to work OK, though, so long as they're not gargantuan. Larger apartment buildings, dorms, and especially hotels will lag, too. So, the neighborhood I play on here consists of all small lots, mostly plasticbox's old "Newbie Road" houses. I've been playing big families in them, though, having fun making everyone fit. (Thank God for CC bunk beds!
) Things might run faster/more smoothly if I uninstalled some stuff. I might try uninstalling some SPs I don't tend to use much to see if it makes any difference, but I really don't like playing without all EPs. I'm spoiled.
So, um, anyway: I can recommend playing on a netbook. It's not my preferred way, of course, but since the alternative is no game at all when I'm away from home (and I'll be away more often than not for the foreseeable future), it's a compromise I'm willing to make. If you want some portability, I say give it a shot, just bearing in mind that playing on it will likely hasten the netbook's demise. But since they can be had for about $200 nowadays, I almost consider them disposable anyway.
I don't keep anything crucial on this one for just that reason, and my game files are all backed up after every play session, so if it dies, it dies. I'll go buy another one, load everything up on it, and get back to playing.