±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 683
Total: 683
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Photo Gallery
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Photo Gallery
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Photo Gallery
21: Home
22: Home
23: Community Forums
24: Photo Gallery
25: Downloads
26: Community Forums
27: Photo Gallery
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Member Screenshots
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Member Screenshots
36: Community Forums
37: Photo Gallery
38: Community Forums
39: CPGlang
40: Photo Gallery
41: Home
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Downloads
46: Statistics
47: Community Forums
48: Photo Gallery
49: Photo Gallery
50: Community Forums
51: Photo Gallery
52: Community Forums
53: Downloads
54: News Archive
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Photo Gallery
60: Community Forums
61: Home
62: Community Forums
63: Home
64: Home
65: Home
66: Photo Gallery
67: Home
68: Downloads
69: Home
70: Home
71: Downloads
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Your Account
80: Photo Gallery
81: Downloads
82: Community Forums
83: Home
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Downloads
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Photo Gallery
90: Community Forums
91: Photo Gallery
92: Photo Gallery
93: Community Forums
94: Downloads
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Photo Gallery
98: Downloads
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Photo Gallery
102: Your Account
103: Community Forums
104: Photo Gallery
105: Home
106: Photo Gallery
107: Community Forums
108: Community Forums
109: Photo Gallery
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Home
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Statistics
116: Community Forums
117: Home
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Photo Gallery
122: CPGlang
123: Home
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Community Forums
128: Photo Gallery
129: Photo Gallery
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Member Screenshots
134: Home
135: Home
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Home
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Home
142: Home
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Photo Gallery
147: Home
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Photo Gallery
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Home
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Photo Gallery
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Member Screenshots
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Photo Gallery
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Member Screenshots
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Photo Gallery
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Member Screenshots
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Photo Gallery
193: Community Forums
194: News Archive
195: Community Forums
196: Your Account
197: Photo Gallery
198: Photo Gallery
199: Community Forums
200: Photo Gallery
201: Photo Gallery
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Photo Gallery
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Photo Gallery
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Photo Gallery
216: Community Forums
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: CPGlang
225: Photo Gallery
226: Downloads
227: Community Forums
228: Downloads
229: Community Forums
230: Your Account
231: Downloads
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: CPGlang
236: Home
237: Home
238: Community Forums
239: Downloads
240: Community Forums
241: Photo Gallery
242: Community Forums
243: Member Screenshots
244: Community Forums
245: Downloads
246: Photo Gallery
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Member Screenshots
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: Home
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Member Screenshots
257: Home
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Home
261: Downloads
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Downloads
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Home
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Downloads
274: Photo Gallery
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Downloads
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Photo Gallery
286: News Archive
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: CPGlang
290: Photo Gallery
291: Community Forums
292: Photo Gallery
293: Home
294: Home
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Photo Gallery
302: Photo Gallery
303: Member Screenshots
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Statistics
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Home
314: Community Forums
315: Home
316: Photo Gallery
317: Statistics
318: Community Forums
319: Photo Gallery
320: CPGlang
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Photo Gallery
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Photo Gallery
329: Member Screenshots
330: Community Forums
331: Home
332: Community Forums
333: Community Forums
334: Home
335: Community Forums
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Downloads
340: Home
341: Community Forums
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Home
345: Home
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Statistics
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Photo Gallery
356: CPGlang
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Member Screenshots
361: Photo Gallery
362: Home
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Community Forums
368: Community Forums
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Home
374: Community Forums
375: Photo Gallery
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Photo Gallery
379: Home
380: Photo Gallery
381: Photo Gallery
382: Photo Gallery
383: Community Forums
384: Home
385: Community Forums
386: Photo Gallery
387: Community Forums
388: News Archive
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Downloads
397: Photo Gallery
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Community Forums
404: Home
405: Home
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Home
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Home
413: Downloads
414: Photo Gallery
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Community Forums
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Community Forums
424: Member Screenshots
425: Community Forums
426: Your Account
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Home
431: Community Forums
432: Home
433: Home
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Photo Gallery
438: Photo Gallery
439: Home
440: Community Forums
441: CPGlang
442: Photo Gallery
443: Photo Gallery
444: Community Forums
445: Downloads
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Community Forums
450: Community Forums
451: Photo Gallery
452: Photo Gallery
453: News Archive
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: Photo Gallery
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Photo Gallery
460: Community Forums
461: Downloads
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: CPGlang
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Community Forums
476: Photo Gallery
477: Home
478: Community Forums
479: Home
480: Community Forums
481: Home
482: Downloads
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Photo Gallery
488: Community Forums
489: Member Screenshots
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Photo Gallery
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Home
498: Your Account
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Photo Gallery
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Photo Gallery
508: Community Forums
509: Member Screenshots
510: Community Forums
511: Home
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Photo Gallery
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Home
518: Home
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Your Account
522: Community Forums
523: Downloads
524: Your Account
525: Community Forums
526: CPGlang
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Downloads
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Home
534: Community Forums
535: Home
536: Downloads
537: Photo Gallery
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Photo Gallery
541: CPGlang
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Downloads
547: CPGlang
548: Community Forums
549: Home
550: Community Forums
551: Community Forums
552: Photo Gallery
553: Photo Gallery
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: News Archive
557: Community Forums
558: Photo Gallery
559: Community Forums
560: Photo Gallery
561: Community Forums
562: Photo Gallery
563: Community Forums
564: Your Account
565: Home
566: Community Forums
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Home
571: Community Forums
572: Member Screenshots
573: Community Forums
574: Photo Gallery
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Home
578: Home
579: Home
580: Community Forums
581: CPGlang
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Statistics
585: Photo Gallery
586: Community Forums
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Community Forums
590: Home
591: Home
592: Community Forums
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Your Account
596: Community Forums
597: Member Screenshots
598: Downloads
599: Community Forums
600: News Archive
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Downloads
604: Downloads
605: Community Forums
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Photo Gallery
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Home
618: Photo Gallery
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Community Forums
623: Photo Gallery
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Photo Gallery
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Community Forums
631: Home
632: Community Forums
633: Community Forums
634: Photo Gallery
635: Photo Gallery
636: Community Forums
637: Community Forums
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Downloads
641: Community Forums
642: Member Screenshots
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Downloads
646: Community Forums
647: Downloads
648: Community Forums
649: Downloads
650: Community Forums
651: Downloads
652: Photo Gallery
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Photo Gallery
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: Home
659: Home
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Statistics
664: Community Forums
665: Photo Gallery
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Community Forums
669: Community Forums
670: Downloads
671: Community Forums
672: Community Forums
673: Photo Gallery
674: Community Forums
675: Member Screenshots
676: Community Forums
677: Community Forums
678: Downloads
679: Community Forums
680: Community Forums
681: Home
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....? :: Archived
Resolve issues with your computer problems here or read about the latest computer parts and information.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Hardware

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:01 am
Post subject: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Guys...

Wife needs laptop. We won't have Vista. So, I gather it's possible to delete it and install Windows XP (after acquiring it and the student/teacher Office suite thingy) and installing. (Most of what's out there seems to have Vista installed already, so it's gonna' have to be surgically "excised".)

I'll probably be doing the same with a new desktop soon, too.

What, exactly, do I need to know to do this and what do you recommend before we buy and proceed?

Don't wax techy on me, be precise and step-by-step, please.

Thanks in advance!

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Shades
Forum Tree-Rat

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 6473
Location: 3rd Branch up, 'Ye Olde Oak', Green Wood.
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:19 am
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Hi Ascout,
It will be a far simpler operation to get the laptop withouyt Vista installed.
Over here dealers are starting to offer this because so many people are asking for it.
Dell (PATOOEY!) are one of those offering it, but if you go with Dell, get it completely clean as their own install is even crappier than Vista.

If you try to uninstall Vista you basically will have to format the boot drive to get rid of it so you can retrograde, otherwise your XP authentication will be revoked (Vista supercedes licence versions of earlier Windows OS).

_________________
Skwerl's place.

Com-Central's cutest, fluffiest, twitchiest, tail.
CPU > Intel i9-9900k (o/c 4.9GHz); COOLING > BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4;
MOBO > ASUS PRIME Z390-A; RAM > 2x32GB Corsair LPX 2666MHz;
GPU > Gigabyte GEFORCE GTX650Ti PCI-e 3.0 2Gb GDDR5;
AUDIO > Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music (plus - Universal Audio UAD2 Quad Custom accelerator);
HDD > 3x1TB+ M.2. SSDs; LCD > DELL - S2419HGF (1920x1080);
PSU > 650W be quiet Straight Power 11 - 80+ Gold;
CASE > BeQuiet! SILENT BASE 601; OS > Windows 11 Home Advanced (64-bit).
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Thanks!

Thoughts on 131L and D820 here? What is default HD size on these...I don't see it?

www.dell.com/content/p...sort=price

I gather we have to buy the "Student/Teacher Office suite? thing separate now because of the lawsuit thing (about $150) so she can have Word, Excel, Powerpoint and IE7 and all and be legal?

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

I would say "ptooey" to Dell desktop systems (which I finally ditched almost two years ago) however I am a very happy customer of their laptops for several years running. This is primarily because I do NOT try to make a gaming/simming rig out of them nor do I hold them to the same criteria. I imagine this is for MS Office and other regular stuff, not FS9/FSX/CFS3/IL2 ...

I go with the Lattitude family simply because they use a common docking station (aka "port replicator") which I use at my work. On the road and at home, I go without. Lotsa road miles on my systems and the only reason I upgrade is to get a faster processor and bigger hard drive every few years. Currently I'm using a Lattitude D820...one of the models you mention!

Both have a nice 15/4" display, very readable, does a good job, which is one of the things I'm happy about.

You have to price the thing out using the "customize it" option to really see HD sizes, this is one downside in that unless you exercise almost nun-like self discipline and don't click any options, the initial price is really just a teaser.

The 131L has a 60Gg HD for that proice but only 512MB RAM.....no bueno!!!! Anything you get these days I'd recommend minimum 1GIG and prefereably 2GIG RAM....the 1Gig RAM version with 80Gig HD goes at $899.

If you go to the "customize" option for the D820, The "Better" (middle collumn) D820 with 1Gig RAM and an 80MB HD at $1149 is close to what I have, and is about what I saw as the sweet spot in terms of features and price...although it wasn't my personal money, but I shop as if it were.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."


Last edited by JG300-Stoopy on Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

- JG300-Stoopy
I would say "ptooey" to Dell desktop systems (which I finally ditched almost two years ago) however I am a very happy customer of their laptops for several years running. This is primarily because I do NOT try to make a gaming/simming rig out of them nor do I hold them to the same criteria. I imagine this is for MS Office and other regular stuff, not FS9/FSX/CFS3/IL2 ...

I go with the Lattitude family simply because they use a common docking station (aka "port replicator") which I use at my work. On the road and at home, I go without. Lotsa road miles on my systems and the only reason I upgrade is to get a faster processor and bigger hard drive every few years. Currently I'm using a Lattitude D820.

You have to price the thing out usign the "customize it" option to really see HD sizes, this is one downside in that unless you exercise almost nun-like self discipline and don't click any options, the initial price is really just a teaser.

The 131L has a 60Gg HD for that proice but only 512MB RAM.....no bueno!!!! Anything you get these days I'd recommend minimum 1GIG and prefereably 2GIG RAM....the 1Gig RAM version with 80Gig HD goes at $899.


It's for Mrs. Ascout, Stoop....she's pretty "nun-like" in her requirements. She uses for her science thing at work. We'll use a modem-router-splitter thing I guess for my our T-Warner cable connection at home (I'll need advice about that too) so we can be on internet at same time. But apart from maybe her MP3 files and her still image files, it's all bid'ness for her. No gaming. Basic stuff. Need CD burning, but's that's standard right?

Could you spec that out for us and tell us what to buy, please? I won't hold you liable. Keep under $1,500, including the software package. Under $1,000 is better, but not absolutely essential.

Thanks, Bud!

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:06 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Sure thing - I edited my above post BTW abotu the D820, I'll spec that for ya.....and I was gonna mention the wireless adapter they come with and the router dealy you'll need. If you go with a LInksys W54G-series, you'll have the same as me and some others here which makes support on using it a bit easier.

You'll need to select your won carry case 'cuz I don't know if th'lady prefers a backpack or case style. I have a leather Samsonite backpack which is AWESOME.......rugged, comfy when worn as a backpack at airports and also when commuting for work on the bike...these things just don't fit in saddle bags too well (trust me!) and she's got the Bonnie still I imagine.... Smile

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

- JG300-Stoopy
Sure thing - I edited my above post BTW abotu the D820, I'll spec that for ya.....and I was gonna mention the wireless adapter they come with and the router dealy you'll need. If you go with a LInksys W54G-series, you'll have the same as me and some others here which makes support on using it a bit easier.

You'll need to select your won carry case 'cuz I don't know if th'lady prefers a backpack or case style. I have a leather Samsonite backpack which is AWESOME.......rugged, comfy when worn as a backpack at airports and also when commuting for work on the bike...these things just don't fit in saddle bags too well (trust me!) and she's got the Bonnie still I imagine.... Smile


Thanks, Bud....she's off at the store now...I'll have her read this thread later and let her type her own questions/reply over my login if you don't mind and we can proceed from there. Wink
(Suggestions on warranty coverage an' stuff are something to think about, if applicable...what software too...was I on the right track with what I mentioned...should I just buy that locally?)


_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Shades
Forum Tree-Rat

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 6473
Location: 3rd Branch up, 'Ye Olde Oak', Green Wood.
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:18 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

I agree with Stoops on the Dell desktop / laptop scenario.
As you say Mrs Ascout is fairly nunlike (*dribbles*) and only looking for Word, Excel, etc., I would suggest 1Gb should be okay for her with XP. 2Gb will be better but she should be okay to go running Office in XP with 1Gb. Any heavy visual / audio prog's will run better with more (Photoshop, etc) and running a lot of prog's simultaneously will also open more quickly with more. The more RAM you have the better, if you can afford it, the same with faster RAM, BUT make sure you don't start slowing the existing RAM down by getting too much (XP over 2Gb may run into this speed botleneck, Vista over 4Gb).

I would also suggest that you don't write Vista off altogether.
As we all know, right now it's crap.
In all likelihood, it's still going to be crap after SP1.
SP2 (or before) should see everything come together properly, and then M$ will be starting to make their usual, "We're-going-to-stop-supporting-XP-now-so-that-you-all-HAVE-to-buy-Vista" noises.
Try to get something that's Vista-compatable so you can upgrade later or you'll have to buy something new in a year or so's time.

Student/teacher licences are for student/teachers.
If Mrs Ascout is a student/teacher she can get special discount on Office and a lot of other software (including XP and Vista).
OR..., she could get Open Office and pay diddly (For full details of 'Diddly', look in Wikipedia, under "Bushwhacker" Wink ).

_________________
Skwerl's place.

Com-Central's cutest, fluffiest, twitchiest, tail.
CPU > Intel i9-9900k (o/c 4.9GHz); COOLING > BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4;
MOBO > ASUS PRIME Z390-A; RAM > 2x32GB Corsair LPX 2666MHz;
GPU > Gigabyte GEFORCE GTX650Ti PCI-e 3.0 2Gb GDDR5;
AUDIO > Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music (plus - Universal Audio UAD2 Quad Custom accelerator);
HDD > 3x1TB+ M.2. SSDs; LCD > DELL - S2419HGF (1920x1080);
PSU > 650W be quiet Straight Power 11 - 80+ Gold;
CASE > BeQuiet! SILENT BASE 601; OS > Windows 11 Home Advanced (64-bit).
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

- Shades
I agree with Stoops on the Dell desktop / laptop scenario.
As you say Mrs Ascout is fairly nunlike (*dribbles*) and only looking for Word, Excel, etc., I would suggest 1Gb should be okay for her with XP. 2Gb will be better but she should be okay to go running Office in XP with 1Gb. Any heavy visual / audio prog's will run better with more (Photoshop, etc) and running a lot of prog's simultaneously will also open more quickly with more. The more RAM you have the better, if you can afford it, the same with faster RAM, BUT make sure you don't start slowing the existing RAM down by getting too much (XP over 2Gb may run into this speed botleneck, Vista over 4Gb).

I would also suggest that you don't write Vista off altogether.
As we all know, right now it's crap.
In all likelihood, it's still going to be crap after SP1.
SP2 (or before) should see everything come together properly, and then M$ will be starting to make their usual, "We're-going-to-stop-supporting-XP-now-so-that-you-all-HAVE-to-buy-Vista" noises.
Try to get something that's Vista-compatable so you can upgrade later or you'll have to buy something new in a year or so's time.

Student/teacher licences are for student/teachers.
If Mrs Ascout is a student/teacher she can get special discount on Office and a lot of other software (including XP and Vista).
OR..., she could get Open Office and pay diddly (For full details of 'Diddly', look in Wikipedia, under "Bushwhacker" Wink ).


Well, I'm given to understand that XP will get support for the next seven years, then nada. That should suffice.

Among my all too numerous "hats" I'm also a designated official "Coordinator of Continuing Medical Education Program" so I qualifies for the Teacher thingy. We want to stick with software she's been using and is compatible with what is in use by her company at work and elsewhere. If necessary, I can use that moniker to buy the software at Circuit City, for example. I want to be able to get upgrades online without MS giving us crap. I like to be "official".

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Yup, good point, that sounds like the way to go. I didn't know if you can buy it locally or have to go theough someone like Amazon. com. I was looking at it myself for my son who is using starting to use Powerpoint now. Haven't got it yet for here at home, so he uses my laptop for his projects when needed.

Warranty seem to be about 3 years......normally I havent had a proble,m the screen on my old Lattitude is going pale on one side, but that may be becuase it's been sitting on it's side at work, stowed away unused, for a long time. Once in a while I fire it up to snag some tool I've made or something that I forgot to transfer.

The Latitude 820 comes out at $1403, but that includes 1Gig RAM, and ALSO the Linksys Wireless ROuter you need, plus MS Office BASIC (no Powerpoint). There's an option to delete that, and sub $145 off the price, at which point the Student/Teacher vers. can be ad for about $100-$120 bucks (smart way to go I'd say, if it can be done).

The 131L, which has an AMD processor and not Intel, and a slower DVD drive, comes out at $1050 but also without MS Office at all (add $145 or more for whatever version you want). Not a bad choice though, I think I'd be tempted in this direction if I werent an Intel purist (has to do with my work stuff anyways).

Dangit, there used to be a way to save custom quotes at theor site and share the URL so you can send it to someone - I don't see a way to do that right now, but I'll look. I'd be happy to help, but be advised I'm just about to go outside to shovel 5" of snow we got this morning, then shower, poack and head off to the airport in the Moostang (which oughta be exciting).

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:34 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

- JG300-Stoopy
off to the airport in the Moostang (which oughta be exciting).


Traction control ON!

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:30 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

What's really the difference between MS Office "Home and Student" and "Office Standard", besides $250? Seems to have same programs...so what are the real functional diffs?

I think we're gonna go witht the Latitude 820 mid-level as suggested:

www.dell.com/content/p...l=en&s=bsd

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Forgive me if I stumble, becuase my company has a corporate license fo reverything and simply installs it all on a new laptop, sol I'm not an expert.....from what I see (and this may depend on whether we're talking about Office 2003 and Office 2007, just so they can make things more confusing) there are choices of:

- Office Basic 2003 (MS Word, MS Excel spreadsheet, and MS Outlook email)

- Office Professional Edition 2003 gives MS Word, Excel, Outlook, plus MS Access (database, if you need it) PowerPoint (for your presentations) as wel as Publisher 2003, which if you are gonna do web page stuff I imagine.

- Office Student/Teacher 2003 version gives you MS Word, MS Excel, AND MS Powerpoint, and "OneNote" which I haven't a clue what it is - but DOESN'T come with Outloook, which seems silly. However I see you can buy it in a bundle with Outlook added for $239.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Office-Home-Student-2007/dp/B000HCZ8EO/sr=1-3/qid=1172435163/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-1662106-6543021?ie=UTF8&s=software

Here's the fun part - there's also Office Professional Edition 2003 ( Academic Version ) - seems to be the best of everything - all the trimmings, with Outlook, and Publisher, and Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access:

http://www.amazon.com/MICROSOFT-Professional-Academic-Version-Windows/dp/B0000C1204/sr=1-1/qid=1172435530/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1662106-6543021?ie=UTF8&s=software

I think I'll dig into this some more....

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:53 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

- JG300-Stoopy
Forgive me if I stumble, becuase my company has a corporate license fo reverything and simply installs it all on a new laptop, sol I'm not an expert.....from what I see (and this may depend on whether we're talking about Office 2003 and Office 2007, just so they can make things more confusing) there are choices of:

- Office Basic 2003 (MS Word, MS Excel spreadsheet, and MS Outlook email)

- Office Professional Edition 2003 gives MS Word, Excel, Outlook, plus MS Access (database, if you need it) PowerPoint (for your presentations) as wel as Publisher 2003, which if you are gonna do web page stuff I imagine.

- Office Student/Teacher 2003 version gives you MS Word, MS Excel, AND MS Powerpoint, and "OneNote" which I haven't a clue what it is - but DOESN'T come with Outloook, which seems silly. However I see you can buy it in a bundle with Outlook added for $239.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Office-Home-Student-2007/dp/B000HCZ8EO/sr=1-3/qid=1172435163/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-1662106-6543021?ie=UTF8&s=software

Here's the fun part - there's also Office Professional Edition 2003 ( Academic Version ) - seems to be the best of everything - all the trimmings, with Outlook, and Publisher, and Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access:

http://www.amazon.com/MICROSOFT-Professional-Academic-Version-Windows/dp/B0000C1204/sr=1-1/qid=1172435530/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1662106-6543021?ie=UTF8&s=software

I think I'll dig into this some more....


Stoop...the first one you got linked there is actually for 2007, which is what is pretty much what is for sale via Dell anyway...and who wants do a bunch of upgrades for 4-5 year old software anywho? I'd get the '07 variety. Mainly, I'm wondering what's the diff between "Home and Student" and the "Office Standard"...both seem to offer Word, Excel, Powerpoint and like that there...and that's the main thing. We both have email so Outlook is no biggie. She just needs to do her biochemist thang. Presentations and so on... Data stuff.

And her MP3 Stuff (so I can get it the heck off my computer!) and her pics an' stuff, cuz' gawd knows, I got enough of those cluttering up my own system now.

Mainly, we have a "competition" for the computer issue at home that we need to relieve, and the smaller unit will be nice for using elsewhere in the house.

Hey, if it has wireless, what do you need to take advantage of that at home? (I'm not sure I want to go that way at home...I've heard of security issues with neighbors and stuff).

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Short course, need laptop, no Vista, what to do....?

Hmmm..okay: From what I know of your preferences, you want to walk into a store somewhere and just get the stuff, rather than buy online. And also keep it simple, and not spend more than you need to. So here's what I think I'd do (as a matter of fact I think I'll go get the first item myself soon).

Go with the Office 2007 products rather than the 2003 products, becuase you'll get MS Word 2007 and won't have to deal with the trouble in the future of having MS Word 2003 which won't be able to open documents made with Word 2007.

In that light, youcan go right to Best Buy if you want and pick up Office Home and Student 2007, which wil give you 2007 versions of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and OneNote (note-taking thingamajig). So you have Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and presentations:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8129447&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01083&id=1158320998618

That's $149.99

Then for $98.99 grab MS Outlook 2007 off the same shelf....and you have your fancy new latest & greatest email program.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8168323&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01083&id=1162593933838

Total $250 so far. Dell wants $275 for Office 2007 Small Business Edition which is about the same thing with a sales contact manager thing if you need that....

BUT, the nice thing about buying these seperately and not packaged with the Dell, is you will have a legal end user license agreement to install these on two seperate systems - say, one desktop and one laptop system.

And while you're there, go to the other aisle and pick up your router (Dell wants too much for the same thing, $120)....for about seventy bucks:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat25300050001&type=category&parentCatID=false&initialize=false&initialize=true&_requestid=53561

So that's $320 in add-ons, plus the price of the D820 with 1Gig of RAM which is $1149, gets you to $1470 and tax......pretty close to your upper limit but about all you're gonna need.

If it makes you feel more confident, I wrote all that while sitting here by the fireplace on my exact similar laptop:


_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Hardware
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.