Computer (Windows) Question

[ABM]

Hey, all....

I just purchased a new laptop that has Vista loaded on it. I just plan to use the computer for a small home business startup, e-mail, and/or web surfing. Nothing else, really.

I thought I had read that you're much better off uninstalling Visa, then "downgrading" to Windows XP. Is that true? If so, what is the process? Would I work directly with Microsoft?

Thanks!

ABM

 

[Colonel Ronan]

If you're using your laptop for email, and internet surfing, there is really no need to downgrade to XP. Vista has been attacked because of its shit compatibility with gaming. The latest service pack has really helped it out a bit. Unless you're coming across some big problems, I would stay with Vista. What are the specs of your laptop? Sometimes comapanies say that their computer is "Vista Compatible", but it may be the bare minimum. You'll need at least 512 MB's of RAM, and 15GB's of free space.

 

[ABM]

What are the specs of your laptop?

Here's what I found. (BTW, got a great deal on it today from Big Lots. Brand new -- $399)

HP Compaq Presario CQ50-110US (Turion X2 RM-70 2GHz, 3GB RAM, 200GB HDD, Vista Home Premium)


Vista Home Premium
3GB DDR2 Ram
200GB HDD
15.4" Brightview HD Widescreen
8x SuperMulti DVD+-R/+-RW Lightscribe
Integrated wireless

General

* Recommended Use Home use
* System Type Notebook
* Built-in Devices Wireless LAN antenna, Stereo speakers
* Width 14.1 in
* Depth 10.1 in
* Height 1.7 in
* Weight 6.4 lbs
* Localization English / United States
* Notebook type Mid-size laptops (6-7.5 lbs.), Budget
* Screen type High-gloss/Anti-glare screen, Wide-screen

Processor

* Processor AMD Turion X2 mobile processor RM-70 / 2 GHz
* Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core

Cache Memory

* Type L2 cache
* Cache size 1 MB

RAM

* Installed Size 3 GB / 3 GB (max)
* Technology DDR2 SDRAM
* RAM form factor SO DIMM 200-pin
* RAM configuration features 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB

Storage Controller

* Storage controller type Serial ATA
* Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150

Storage

* Hard Drive 200 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 4200 rpm
* Hard drive type Portable

Optical Storage

* Type DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM
* Disc Labeling Technology LightScribe Technology

Optical Storage (2nd)

* 2nd optical storage type None

Card Reader

* Card reader type 5 in 1 card reader
* Supported flash memory cards MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick, SD Memory Card, XD-Picture Card

Display

* Display Type 15.4 in TFT active matrix
* Max Resolution 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
* Widescreen Display Yes
* Features BrightView

Video

* Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G Shared video memory (UMA)
* Total Available Graphics Memory 1407 MB

Audio

* Audio output type Sound card
* Audio Output Features Altec Lansing speakers
* Audio Input Microphone

Multimedia Functionality

* TV Tuner Type None

Input Device(s)

* Input device type Keyboard, Touchpad

Telecom

* Modem Fax / modem
* Max transfer rate 56 Kbps

Networking

* Networking Network adapter
* Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
* Data link protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
* Networking standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g

Expansion / Connectivity

* Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
* Interfaces 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11

Miscellaneous

* Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), Power-on password

Power

* Power device form factor External

Battery

* Technology 6-cell Lithium ion

 

[Colonel Ronan]

That exceeds what's needed. I have 70GB, Geforce 5200, 512MB's, and I ran Vista fine. I prefer XP though.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Jesus, 400 for that? Link?

I'm looking for something similar; the lowest I ever find is 500.

http://www.biglots.com/Specials/WeeklyAd.aspx?sid=4427

There it is.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9052945&type=product&id=1218012528210

Something similar from bestbuy. The biglots one is much better though. Screen is a bit smaller, bigger hard drive, more RAM.

 

[ABM]

Jesus, 400 for that? Link?

I'm looking for something similar; the lowest I ever find is 500.

http://www.biglots.com/Specials/WeeklyAd.aspx?sid=4427

There it is.

Ahhh, bummer. Go to this link and punch in zip 30106 right under "Wall-To-Wall Closeouts". That's the store I bought it from. Looks like a regional thing. (I was there 1/2 hour before they opened. Probably the only reason I was able to get one. They only had 5 available.)

http://www.biglots.com/specials/

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Use http://www.newegg.com

They have some fantastic prices.

 

[ABM]

Use http://www.newegg.com

They have some fantastic prices.

Yep, love that place.

BTW, here's where I find a lot of the deals I share in these parts:

http://forums.slickdeals.net/forumdisplay.php?f=9

 

[gambitnut]

What kind of small business are you running?

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Yep, love that place.

BTW, here's where I find a lot of the deals I share in these parts:

http://forums.slickdeals.net/forumdisplay.php?f=9

Heh, that's where I found the acer thing

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=991375

 

[ABM]

What kind of small business are you running?

My business partner and I are working with an artist to have prints made (commercially printed), then sold on eBay.

 

[MARIS61]

I had XP but got a Toshiba laptop with Vista Home Premium a year ago and I like it much better.

I don't play games though, just lots of music and photography stuff.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

I had XP but got a Toshiba laptop with Vista Home Premium a year ago and I like it much better.

I don't play games though, just lots of music and photography stuff.

Yeah, like I said, Vista is perfect for that type of thing, but for games its shit.

 

[ABM]

I was told I should run this "decrapifier" on my system to get rid of all that unnecessary pre-loaded software which does nothing but slow the system down.

Anyone heard of this?

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

 

[illmatic99]

I was told I should run this "decrapifier" on my system to get rid of all that unnecessary pre-loaded software which does nothing but slow the system down.

Anyone heard of this?

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

Check out the how it works section.

How It Works

Simply download the file. Open up the zip file and run the EXE. There is no installer necessary. If you have anti-virus software installed, it may complain about this program because it is written with a scripting language. These warnings can be safely ignored.

You may then pick and choose what you want to remove. It will not begin removing anything without prompting you first!

Couldn't you do that through the add/remove in your control panel?

 

[ABM]

Check out the how it works section.




Couldn't you do that through the add/remove in your control panel?

Perhaps. I'm just wondering if all these programs will show up there, though. Not sure. Plus, I don't want to go removing stuff that i shouldn't be. I'm assuming this decrapifier program would only lead me to the absolute unnecessary stuff. I dunno.

 

[e_blazer]

My business partner and I are working with an artist to have prints made (commercially printed), then sold on eBay.

Heh, small world. My wife and I have a small business where we make giclee reproductions (fancy made-up French word for big inkjet prints) of paintings for artists.

 

[ABM]

Heh, small world. My wife and I have a small business where we make giclee reproductions (fancy made-up French word for big inkjet prints) of paintings for artists.

I'd love to discuss this with you. Do, or can you do, on-demand orders - shipped?

Have your guy PM my guy and we'll do lunch.

 

[ABM]

BTW, I have Office '97. Will I be successful in loading it onto this new Vista machine?

 

[Masbee]

Hey, all....

I just purchased a new laptop that has Vista loaded on it. I just plan to use the computer for a small home business startup, e-mail, and/or web surfing. Nothing else, really.

I thought I had read that you're much better off uninstalling Visa, then "downgrading" to Windows XP. Is that true? If so, what is the process? Would I work directly with Microsoft?

Thanks!

ABM

I have not read the rest of this thread yet, but generally it is a BAD IDEA to uninstall an operating system pre-installed on a laptop.

Unless you have a compelling reason to run XP (ie, specialty software or fancy printer/scanner/etc. with no Vista driver), just leave it alone.

If there are some aspects of Vista you don't like, you can disable or turn off most of them.

 

[ABM]

I have not read the rest of this thread yet, but generally it is a BAD IDEA to uninstall an operating system pre-installed on a laptop.

Unless you have a compelling reason to run XP (ie, specialty software or fancy printer/scanner/etc. with no Vista driver), just leave it alone.

If there are some aspects of Vista you don't like, you can disable or turn off most of them.

After further thought/review, I'm gonna go ahead and keep Vista on it. Probably will run that decrapifier program.

Am still curious as to if my old Office 97 software is compatible with Vista?

Thanks!

ABM

 

[Masbee]

After further thought/review, I'm gonna go ahead and keep Vista on it. Probably will run that decrapifier program.

Am still curious as to if my old Office 97 software is compatible with Vista?

Thanks!

ABM

I don't think so. I don't think it will install properly. But, even if it did Office 97 is no longer supported, making it a probable security risk for a computer connected to the internet. For that reason you shouldn't install Office 97 on an XP machine either.

You need to upgrade to Office 2003 or higher. If you don't have a low cost way of doing that (full price for Office is outrageous), then you should look at Open Office. It doesn't compare in features to the latest version of Office, but it is better than Office 97.

 

[ABM]

If you don't have a low cost way of doing that (full price for Office is outrageous), then you should look at Open Office. It doesn't compare in features to the latest version of Office, but it is better than Office 97.

Dude, that is sweet! Thanks

I went to their website and was very impressed. Sounds like the only way to fly..........

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Open office is very good; I've used it before. I prefer Office '03, but Open Office is more than serviceable.


Also:
Windows Indego for the win!