Laptop - Vista vs. XP

oxters

Looking for some advice here.

I have a Dell PC at home with XP

It's used mostly for internet access and e-mail and my lovely wife keeps quite a lot of photos on it as well.

I'm looking for a laptop to take away on hols where it might be used for storing photos, occasionally for access to e-mail & Poss internet through wireless connection on camp sites etc where you can access free.

I'm pretty non-tech and remember all the fuss about windows. 2000 v XP which settled down after a while. Is vista OK for our purposes or should we stick with XP?

This one http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=517818
It's a Dell Vostro - looks like what we need but any help would be much appreciated

Ramz_3

i think if your laptop would have decent specs to run vista smoothly it should be fine

although there are some hardware issues with vista..

oxters

Thanks Ramz. I assume the spec allows wireless connection to internet?
Also if used at home - can it run at the same time as my pc if it is connected to net?
At present my home PC is hard-wired so I assume I'd need a wireless hub (if that's what you call it?)

Ramz_3

you dont need a wireless router (hub) you can have a wired one, but then you have to have a wire running to your laptop whenever you wanna connect to the net, so yeah, it would be easiest just to have a wireless router.

and yes, you can use the pc and the laptop at the same time on the net

gtmoon

to get a laptop would be an extra spending of what you have already spent on your holiday. also it might be a concern of it getting lost/stolen.

you can consider buying a digital camera partner, which is portable harddrive, which allows you to copy the images from your camera. iPod Photo or Video allows you to do that too (with a camera connector).

i personally don't fancy Vista. hardware support is poor, i.e. you might have problem with connecting your digital camera or printer; requires a higher spec than older Windows to run it smoothly (as always with new versions of Windows); not appealled to the new features, which seemingly just make it looks more like Mac OS, if you fancy that, surely you would be better off getting a Mac instead.

if i am getting a new PC or laptop. i will scrap the shipped Vista, claiming the licence fee. then install my own Windows 2000/XP Prof or ubunto.

FYI. i am happily using Windows 2000.

Stubert

Unless you're a business it will be pretty difficult to get a new laptop without Vista.

oxters

gtmoon wrote: »

to get a laptop would be an extra spending of what you have already spent on your holiday. also it might be a concern of it getting lost/stolen.

i personally don't fancy Vista. hardware support is poor, i.e. you might have problem with connecting your digital camera or printer; requires a higher spec than older Windows to run it smoothly (as always with new versions of Windows); not appealled to the new features, which seemingly just make it looks more like Mac OS, if you fancy that, surely you would be better off getting a Mac instead.

if i am getting a new PC or laptop. i will scrap the shipped Vista, claiming the licence fee. then install my own Windows 2000/XP Prof or ubunto.

FYI. i am happily using Windows 2000.

Yes I understand thanks, but surely it's best to move on at some point? I have a fairly new canon cam so assume the hardware is compatible for downloading the photos - but I suppose I could check.

BTW, If I wire the laptop into the BT connection at home while the modem is on and connected to the PC in another room, will the laptop access the internet?

Sorry but I'm a thicko when it comes to this techie stuff

oxters

Stubert wrote: »

Unless you're a business it will be pretty difficult to get a new laptop without Vista.

If you check the link further up - apparently it is an option as it's from the business bittie

Millionaire

Stubert wrote: »

Unless you're a business it will be pretty difficult to get a new laptop without Vista.

Dell are offering new pc's/laptops to consumers with Vista or XP.

By the way Vista is fine for your purposes.

Just check all hardware\software that you use by visiting their websites that they are compatiable with Vista. If they are then go for it. Thats what i did and I havnt had any compatabiltiy issues at all.

Make sure you get 1GB or ram for it to run smoothly.

oxters

This is spec
We will have access to mains electricity so battery life is not too important

AMD® Athlon 64 X2 Mobile Technology TK53 * 15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display
Genuine Windows Vista Business - English (Or XP Professional)
Base Warranty - 1 Year Business Hardware Support * 2048MB 533MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive * ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 HyperMemory (integrated)
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software * 4 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (29 Whr)
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-Card - Europe * Dell v92 Data/Fax Modem

gtmoon

oxters wrote: »

This is spec
We will have access to mains electricity so battery life is not too important

AMD® Athlon 64 X2 Mobile Technology TK53 * 15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display
Genuine Windows Vista Business - English (Or XP Professional)
Base Warranty - 1 Year Business Hardware Support * 2048MB 533MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive * ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 HyperMemory (integrated)
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software * 4 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (29 Whr)
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-Card - Europe * Dell v92 Data/Fax Modem

it's a good spec. but just to remind you the battery life might not seem too important, but it is, because laptops should let you to use it on the move without worrying too much about the battery.

oxters wrote: »

Yes I understand thanks, but surely it's best to move on at some point?

i agree, but i don't think that Vista is the way forward. hence i suggested ubunto, it's a Linux OS, free of course.

Stubert wrote: »

Unless you're a business it will be pretty difficult to get a new laptop without Vista.

like other already said, Dell is offering Vista or XP. some also does ubunto. you are not bound to the shipped OS, you can install something of your choice yourself of course. it might be a bit of work, but by doing so you can really optimse your hardware and claim the shipped licence.