Vista, or waiting for Windows 7

[Calico_Jack73]

I've got Vista Ultimate on my Desktop and Vista Home Pro on my Laptop and I am pretty happy with both of them. The only thing that bugs me at all is that a lot of my older games aren't compatible but as time goes on and newer and better games get my attention this isn't such a big deal. I do have to read the system requirements a bit more carefully now to make sure that Vista is specifically listed as one of the OS versions the game will run under. I almost always download a demo of a game first to ensure that it runs before I purchase it now... that wasn't necessarily the case with XP.

 

[dema]

Thanks, for only 882.34 total.

Thanks for the information. I have configed and reconfiged this machine ( I am fortunate to get employee discounts on this HP.) I got what I would want/need. For any issues with needing to run XP, I was told I can get Virtual Machine (free now) and install XP to run any older programs I use.

Most of the use will be for office applications, e-mail, web, music creation, minimal photoshop, and possible some RTS Games to kill time (no FPS which are usually graphic heavy and not to my taste. FPSs are better on a game console (IMHO.)

Now I just have to click the buy button. My only delay is concern for the economy. Luckily my wife just got another (better paying job) after losing her prior job. I should be in for another raise and bonus in 2 months time. But I still worry.

Specs below - any opinions on this? Thanks again.


EPP_00_KQ574AV

* – Onyx
* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P7350 (2.0GHz)
* – 15.4" diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
* – 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* – 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9200M GS
* – FREE Upgrade to 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* – Webcam Only
* – HP Color Matching Keyboard
* – Wireless-G Card
* – No Modem
* – SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

 

[Thanee]

I should be in for another raise and bonus in 2 months time. But I still worry.

That's very simple. If you do not actually and absolutely need it, don't buy it then; wait until you are comfortable with the expenditure (what you get for the same money will be even better by then ).

FPSs are better on a game console (IMHO.)

This is wrong.

Proof: Game consoles have no mouse.

q.e.d.



Bye
Thanee

P.S. I actually saw Far Cry II on the PS3 last week... completely unplayable compared to the PC, IMHO. Maybe it's a matter of getting used to it, though.

 

[Miyaa]

I have a IT friend who downloaded the beta trial of Windows 7, and he liked it because Microsoft finally figured out that not everyone will use everything that is standard in a typical OS download, so more of the items are optional (like it's own version of Movie Maker), so the OS footprint size is a bit smaller than in Vista.

If you absolutely need a new computer now, get the Vista since all of the bugs in it have been worked out. Normally, I'd wait until the SP1 is out with a new version of Windows, but if the beta is still as good as my friend is raving it out to be six months down the road, I'd might buy 7 as soon as it's fully operational.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Specs below - any opinions on this? Thanks again.

Mouse touch pads have their uses - and their place. But for a lot of use, especially when using it as a desktop at home, you will prefer the convenience of a real mouse.

Get yourself a bluetooth mouse intended to be small and portable for use with laptops. Get a separate battery charger for recharging your triple As if you don't have one already, as there are no portable mice with a recharging dock - and they otherwise eat batteries.

I use a MS Bluetooth mouse which seems really tiny until you get used to it. After a few hours, it rocks quite nicely - thank-you-very-much.

If you do not have - and cannot get Bluetooth built in to the above, whatever wireless mouse you use, you will prefer one without a large dongle if you can manage it (large dongles get in the way).

Adding a tiny bluetooth dongle (they don't stick out like a standard usb dongle does) if your build does not have Bluetooth internally will do nicely.

You can pick up the Bluetooth dongles in a PC shop for like, $10. They stick out of a USB port about...5-7mm or so. They mount more or less flush and you don't need to remove them during transport for fear of damaging it.

MS Bluetooth mouse is about $40-50.

Please understand the 9200 is NOT a fast 3d card. I would not buy this machine if games were its purpose - but that does not seem to be your stated goal, so, fair enough.

Otherwise, for the apps stated, you should be good to go.

 

[dema]

thanks

I purchased the machine> HP ended up getting annoyed with me putting things in and out of the shopping cart and e-mailed me a bonus 5% off. Strange but Circuity City did that too one time.

I will see if I end up keeping it as I have a nasty habit of returning things. It will not be a game PC. For that I would just build a new desk top.

Thanee, sorry about the FPS comment. I do agree that having a mouse has it's plus side.

Thanks for all the input as always.

 

[Thanee]

Thanee, sorry about the FPS comment. I do agree that having a mouse has it's plus side.

Don't worry, I was mostly kidding there.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

...as there are no portable mice with a recharging dock - and they otherwise eat batteries.

Dunno, I have the Logitech Nano for my Notebook and even with plenty use, the first batteries lasted a whole year.

If you do not have - and cannot get Bluetooth built in to the above, whatever wireless mouse you use, you will prefer one without a large dongle if you can manage it (large dongles get in the way).

Yeah, the Nano also has one of those really tiny USB thingies, that can easily be left in the slot during transport (it's designed for that purpose specifically).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Steel_Wind]

Dunno, I have the Logitech Nano for my Notebook and even with plenty use, the first batteries lasted a whole year.

Yeah, the Nano also has one of those really tiny USB thingies, that can easily be left in the slot during transport (it's designed for that purpose specifically).

Helluva lot more effiecient than my MS Bluetooth then. I use it daily - probably for 8 hours or so.

Batteries are done in about 10 days. I suppose I could turn it off when not in use and probably double that but,....meh.

 

[Redrobes]

To this day, there is practically no software for 64-bit available. The only actual advantage is the > 4 GB of address space. That hardly outweighs the potential driver issues. Not yet.

I know where your coming from but I would still disagree mainly because I think that statement is a bit out of date. A lot of software is 32 bit but theres plenty of 64 bit stuff if you do certain things. For example if you make maps then you can get Gimp in 64bit, all the 3D tools including Blender come in 64bit flavors. My ViewingDale has been for about 2 years now. Fractal Terrains + Wilbur are also 64 bit. The other big mapping apps are too like GlobalMapper, Worldwachine, Terragen etc are too. There's a lot of tools now in 64 bit like imagemagick, and all the sys internals stuff which was probably the first to get a port. And then the OS is all 64 bit of course so that IE, image viewer and so on.

If you use a lot of open source apps then your sorted because linux variants have been 64 bit for way longer than windows so all their stuff is in 64 bit.

I think that the high end stuff is all 64 bit and the low end stuff hasn't moved that way yet. Also part of the reason for going 64 bit on the high end is to do with the CPU running native 64 bit instructions. Apart from the increased memory bandwidth from using 64 bit instructions, all intel chips run 32 bit stuff in emulation mode which is natively slower. And you can get to use the SSE type instructions which are guaranteed to be there whereas in 32 bit CPUs they are optional so nobody compiles them in for compatibility reasons. Its a similar argument for multi core too. Most low end apps are single threaded so dont take any advantage from multi core. But all high end stuff will use all the cores that you have. Right now its not like you will be left out in the cold with a 32 bit CPU but the world is changing over slowly.

I run XP x64 and I haven't found a 32 bit which didn't run on it and I get to use the 64 bit capability from the apps too. I have also not had any driver issues for all my modern hardware - its only old legacy stuff that causes a problem. The only thing that you cant run on 64 bit where you can on a 32 bit OS is 16 bit apps. 64 bit OS has no 16 bit compatibility mode any more. I cant think of a single 16 bit only app tho.