I welcome any suggestions.
Vista is a good operating system if:
1) You have a good video card, andYou need to make sure that your laptop does NOT have an onboard Intel video chip.2) You have lots of RAM.
You need the video chip to be from someone like ATi, or nVidia.
That was the whole point of the discussion in the Microsoft case - the Intel video chips which they put in the motherboards aren't capable of running Vista.
Only nVidia and ATi are capable of running Vista.
As for the RAM, I'd want at least 1 GB [preferably 2 GB].
And if you can't afford 1 GB, then I'd pass on Vista, on go with XP.
I bought a refurbished HP Laptop from Costco, core duo and 2 gb ram, pretty nice, although cheap, and had windows xp mdia center ed. I'm very happy with it.
You can buy an HP/Compaq Presario V6700TX series with Intel Dual Core with XP-PRO. The Pavilion series is only available with Vista.
Source: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto.do
As an alternate you can get an HP Compaq 6515b Notebook PC with an AMD Processor and XP-PRO.
Source: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/321957-321957-64295-321838-89315-3368537.html
Consider a Macbook or Macbook pro. Either one can run Windows without a problem and you can also run OSX.
You aren’t going to pay a big premium over a Windows laptop with comparable quality.
If you are going to go with Vista, make sure you get a real Core 2 Duo, not one of the “Pentium dual core” chips. Also, make sure you get at least 2 gigs ram and a fast (7200rpm) hard drive.
Try to avoid any integrated graphics solution. Look for something like an nvidia 8600M graphics solution. If you do go with an Intel chipset, look for the X3100 graphics. If it says i915 or i950 graphics, you won’t have a good Vista experience.
I recently bought a Dell Vostro 1400 notebook with XP Professional. I love it!! Dell still offers XP as an option with quite a few PCs. From what I have heard about Vista I would not touch it with a 10ft pole until they get to Service Pack 2 (I think they are just getting ready to release SP1). I am no techie but I know some techies and all I hear about Vista is that it is bloated (10x as much as XP) and slow relative to any given set of hardware, with many bugs and glitches.....
I almost gave up on computers but decided to make one last desperate try on an Apple, and now think that would eliminate most people’s computing problems.
Apples are the only computers worth buying used because they are so well made — unlike the PCs which are designed for obsolescence.
PCs seem to degrade from the moment you get them and towards the end, it seems like all you’re doing is running housekeeping programs to keep the computer alive, while Apples seem to stay the same throughout its useful life.
If you just want reliability and hassle-free computing, Apple is the only way to go. I’m tired of messing with the computers; I just want to compute.
Both HP and Dell have systems available with Vista Business that also have “downgrade” rights to Windows XP. It might cost you a little more than the typical Vista Home Premium machine but you’ll be able to have XP now and the ability to move to Vista in the future.
Buy a ASUS Notebook from a local computer store. they can custom build it for you. Or you can send me a private email and I can have one built for you.
Dump windows. Go with Unbutu.
Don’t buy a Vista machine. I have a dual core desktop, slow slow slow, locks up all the time, my XP machien won’t see it on the network, etc etc etc.
Vista bites the big one.
If it is to browse the Web, use Email and send and receive documents created with Office, Vista will serve you well and is significantly more secure.
If you plan on using older software that isn’t easy to update/replace then you’ll need to think hard. Numerous older programs written for 98/XP do not work correctly on Vista.
If you plan on playing real time high performance 3D games, Vista is slower than XP.
Vista has a nicer look. Has new tools/features and is more secure but has serious compatibility issues.
I recommend purchasing a MAC. Yeah they’re a bit more expensive, but you can buy refurbished ones that are as good as new from Apple.com. Mine have been very reliable (iMac and macbook). I’m very glad I made the switch. I can even run windows applications on it, but I rarely do that. Consider looking into it if you haven’t already, you might be surprised!
Most people tell me that Vista is C_ _ _, but hard to find them without Vista.
I welcome any suggestions.-————————
Linux.
Dell is more than glad to build them with XP. I would go heavy on the RAM in a small chance that Winders opens their eyes and replaces VISTA. They need to dump VISTA completely, offer XP as a replacement until such a time if ever Microsoft gets it's act together again. They forgot a good rule KEEP IT SIMPLE! XP was among their best systems made. VISTA is M.E. 2. There was no excuse for releasing it. Microsoft also needs to support XP indefinitely {at least 5 more years} as a gesture of goodwill and business integrity.
Why not keep XP and instead work on selling upgrades for programs a person might actually be willing to purchase?
Buy a Mac.
I bought a Vaio with Vista for my wife for Christmas.
If I had it to do over again, I’m not sure if I would have done it. I’m hoping SP1 fixes some things, and that I’m able to tweak some things with my copy of Vista Annoyances from O’Reilly. The Annoyances series has been great, over the years.
or just buy a Mac
I received a new HP laptop for Christmas and called HP about switching to XP as I really don't care for Vista. I was told it can be done but "your computer was designed to operate on Vista and if you change we may not be able to provide you with tech support or service." Clearly a implication of no support if you use XP.
My suggestion:
Refuse the license agreement for the OS, get your refund, wipe the hard drive and install Linux.