What is your take for underneath the engine?
Processor?
Memory?
I read a review that said it’s faster at a few things like detecting a USB device and going to sleep and waking up, but that basically it’s not faster than Vista. Basically it is Vista. It has a few new gui features. I heard that Microsoft says don’t even try upgrading XP to 7. A clean install is required.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
It depends on how much you want or need a fast/big computer.
For home use, I would check out Costco and Dell; get 4 gb memory at least and a quad-core if available. Dell's comprehensive service arrangement is appealing (to me), especially if the machine is used by kids.
My own machine is stronger, but that's a different story and if you need one, "get the best you can justify."