Posted on 03/02/2008 1:22:47 PM PST by BulletBobCo
bttt
I’m coming up to one year on Vista...trouble-free.
I’m not a MS Kool-Aid drinker but I have had no problems.
bfl
Thanks. I'll go find those and download them.
I would love to run Linux, but I have an addiction to The Sims 2 that I just can't break.
One of my student-geeks thinks it's amusing that her computer guru still pays with Barbies . . . what can I say, I'm going through my third childhood.
‘My wife has Vista and it seems ok. However, I still can’t figure out how to network. She can see my XP computer but I can’t see hers.’
That’s because the Vista OS does networking a lot easier.
It is actualy a good OS, and I like it better than XP. And I thought XP was the only OS Microsoft got right, till now.
If you would really like to run linux, then do it. Run your Sims game in a VM of some sort.
I’m going to have to plead ignorance here. Are you talking about a dual boot system? I’ve never set up one of those.
No problem. A VM is a Virtual Machine. You set up Linux, then install a product like VMware Server (it's free). Once you install it, you can install whatever OS inside the Server that you want. The entire OS becomes just another file on your system.
This allows you to run a secure OS, and still play your windows-based games. It's pretty cool, and it works smoothly and seamlessly.
[I was in a similar situation last May.]
Go to Tiger Direct (www.tigerdirect.com) and buy a Systemax PC. They'e made in the USA, have a 3 year in home warranty, and the 24/7 Tech Support is right at the factory (no calls to India talking to 'Tony' who can barely speak English.
I needed new AutoCAD 2008 software so I had to buy a new pc with Windows XP Pro with SP2. The Systemax came with XP Pro as the OS but they also loaded Vista Pro. You have three years to call them and run you through the steps. (you get a Vista CD too)
Tiger Direct has many many Systemax PCs to choose from - price and performance wise. I opted for one with a 250Gb HD and 1Gb RAM. I also went with the AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual Core Processor. Natch they have Intel too. The motherboard is ATI with an integrated Video Card (with DVI) and Audio Card too. (Basically I had to get Hardware recommended for the AutoCAD).
So that's what I'd suggest, a Systemax from Tiger Direct.
That is So Cool!
Thanks for the information. Which Linux do you recommend? The last time I looked at it, Red Hat was the big to-do. Now, I'm seeing all manner of flavors, and haven't really investigated the pros and cons of any of them.
I had my machine built locally (Computer Deli -- very nice, non-threatening geeky guys who love to build stuff) and wouldn't go back to buying off the shelf. I had the guys build an "internet appliance" for my in-laws, and they installed Windows 2000 Pro as the operating system. No charge for removing Vista, no additional fees for a different OS, gave me just what I needed and no junk to delete.
The prices are the same as anything at Best Buy, you KNOW the people know what they're doing, and if you have a problem, you call Jeff at the store, not 1-800-LIKEICARE.
If you don't have a local computer shop, Tiger Direct custom is a good second choice. Computers don't have to be one-size-fits-all.
Same here... and I got multiple other users running Vista with no problems …
If, however, you don't wish to commit to Linux just yet, and would like to explore it further, I recommend Knoppix, or the Fedora Live CD (second or third down the page). These discs will allow you to boot into Linux from the CD (or DVD) without harming or touching your hard disc or data. You can play around a little, and see which flavor you like. I think Ubuntu also has a Live CD version as well.
The thing about Linux is that there are so many choices. Some believe this is a bad thing since it makes the choice so difficult, but I like it as there is a version out there no matter what your needs or desires are.
I was going to build my computer myself this time, it's really fairly easy (1), but I needed it ASAP. Plus with the specifications I needed to meet for my new AutoCAD program when all was said and done, I wouldn't have saved much money compared to the Systemax pc I bought.
(1) I say 'easy' thanks to all the times I had to call Dell and open my computer to fix / replace things that went kaput during the warranty, and that was like from week one. On the upside, at least from my Dell experiences I leaned there's nothing magical inside that computer case.
Same here, but it is a memory hog.
The video is hilarious.
How were they? Haven’t logged on to FR due to my exams...
I run Vista Ultimate, and I love it...no problems here, and I love the self-diagnostics for when drivers need to be updated or a new release becomes available.
No problems at all...
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