Posted on 02/03/2007 5:47:08 PM PST by HOTTIEBOY
I just purchased a new laptop for the 17 yearold as she enters her senior year in highschool. Its a very cool Compaq model. The box that it came in has a big sticker on the side that says "Do Not Sell Until Janruary 30th 2007".
Vista.
Its running the new Vista system. So far it runs good. No problems have arised.
My question is with the wireless router that I bought and connected to my desktop. So far the router works great and the internet is working fine. From what I gather, I can also use the router to enable the laptop to use the printer that is hooked to the desktop. Is this true?
I also have an obsticle ~ the printer software is made for Windows XP. How would I go about getting the laptop with Vista to read the sotware for the printer? I have a HP printer. Should I contact them to see if they maybe have updates for their printers to inable them to run with Vista? I am going to check the HP website now to see if any updates are available. I would think that they would be or else every printer on the shelves now are useless if running Vista.
Forgive my puter ignorance. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I just don't know how to do network printing I have never tried to set it up in WIN NT/2000, Win98, WinXP, Linux or Vista... I never tried it... Sorry that I couldn't be of much help.
Ahhh. come on.
BTW, What model is the laptop?
HEY CedarDave....You do have a choice. What DON'T you understand about that? Should I type slower?
Its a Compaq Presario c502us
And I am very pleased with it thankyouverymuch.
Ideal for a highschool senior going into college.
80gb harddrive
512mb ram
64mb grafics
It dvd/cd-rw combo burner player thingy
$700 bucks minus $175 rebate.
You would have to create a network with your desktop/printer as the main link, to share the printer with your laptop.
Otherwise just install the drivers from the Vista cd and plug/unplug the USB cable when you need it.
Compaq Presario 15.4" Widescreen Notebook PC (C502US)
Vista Home Basic is the lowest version of Vista... so... don't try and make any judgments about it... also, I would upgrade that memory to at least 1GB ASAP and 2 GB would be better...
plenty of XP's still in the chain and XP support will still be available for 5+ years...
You will have to hunt for XP copies on the net. Retail stores won't carry them (on sale at Newegg until 3/15; after that??) and you won't be able to buy a new computer with XP. One poster said Best Buy last week wouldn't sell him a computer with XP even though it was before the Vista rollout date. You're correct about the support being around for at least five and I've read seven years.
Good Vista info
Well, If you have XP Pro now... you can transfer it... whats the problem?
Whoa, I ain't ready for that yet.
This computer will be for reference for school work. Alot of it will be for entertainment ~ browsing, pictures, music, videos.
She will probably never even come close to using all the memory on this thing.
I have had an entry level home Dell desktop for four years and do the same type things. I haven't used a fraction of my memory.
But we will keep it in mind and play that by ear...
I would be the typical consumer.
Meaning I have basic knowledge of computers and systems. There are lots of people who know less than me.
My point is, your basic consumer which makes up 90% of the computer owners don't care which system or how much ram of this or that.
Microsoft lives off the basic consumer so it is in their best interest to make everything work easily to the digitally impaired. If they didn't do that, they would rely on the 10% that know what they are doing.
They are not going to get rich off 10%. Therefore I am not too awfull worried about it.
The problem is that I am going to buy a new computer later this year after I move. I want XP on it. I have to buy a copy of XP now because it will not be available at that time.
Why stay with XP? Because I don't want or need all the new bells and whistles on Vista, I have older perfectly good hardware that works with XP, some older professional programs that are not written for Vista and likely won't be. Will they run on Vista? I don't know, but they run fine on XP. Look what Hottie had to go through to try to get his printer working. And the solution offered by some others was to buy a new one. I'm glad you could help him out. But I don't believe in throwing perfectly good peripherals in the trash when they still do exactly what I need.
It's pretty amazing to see the number of professional PC reviewers who are usually all over new software urge caution and a waiting period on the OS.
Besides, she was excited and jumped up and down when we presented it to her. She don't care how much ram it has.
"Does it play DVDs? Can I put my pictures on it? Can I download music and put it on my MP3 player?"
These were her questions.
Had she complained about the memory, I would have taken it right back to the store or kept it myself. But she was ecstatic.
I'm not trying to slam your computer but I would upgrade the memory... you will notice an increase in speed... at least pick up another 512MB stick to put in there... check and see what it has in it right now... IF it has 1 512MB stick right now, then just get another 512MB stick or get a 1GB(If you want to do it right get the 2GB kit then sell the memory thats in it right now on ebay)...
She might not fill the hard drive, but the system memory (the RAM) is different. XP is only beginning to warm up with 512mb, and really only hits its stride at 1gb. It's worth the fifty-sixty bucks.
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