±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 686
Total: 686
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Home
04: Photo Gallery
05: Community Forums
06: Home
07: Community Forums
08: Home
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Downloads
16: Member Screenshots
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Member Screenshots
20: Home
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Member Screenshots
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Photo Gallery
30: Member Screenshots
31: Member Screenshots
32: Member Screenshots
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Photo Gallery
38: News Archive
39: Member Screenshots
40: Home
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Home
46: Home
47: Member Screenshots
48: Community Forums
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Member Screenshots
53: Community Forums
54: Member Screenshots
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Photo Gallery
59: Your Account
60: News Archive
61: Downloads
62: Community Forums
63: Community Forums
64: Community Forums
65: Member Screenshots
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Downloads
69: Community Forums
70: Home
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Member Screenshots
80: Downloads
81: Community Forums
82: Photo Gallery
83: Community Forums
84: Downloads
85: Downloads
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: News Archive
90: Community Forums
91: News Archive
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Photo Gallery
95: Photo Gallery
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Home
99: Home
100: Home
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: Member Screenshots
106: Community Forums
107: Member Screenshots
108: Photo Gallery
109: Photo Gallery
110: Member Screenshots
111: Home
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Photo Gallery
115: Community Forums
116: Photo Gallery
117: Member Screenshots
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Photo Gallery
123: Member Screenshots
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: Downloads
127: Home
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Home
133: Community Forums
134: Home
135: News Archive
136: Community Forums
137: Home
138: Downloads
139: Community Forums
140: Member Screenshots
141: Community Forums
142: Photo Gallery
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: News Archive
147: Photo Gallery
148: News Archive
149: Community Forums
150: LinkToUs
151: Photo Gallery
152: Community Forums
153: News Archive
154: Home
155: Photo Gallery
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Photo Gallery
159: Home
160: Home
161: Home
162: Community Forums
163: Downloads
164: News Archive
165: Home
166: Home
167: Community Forums
168: Home
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: News
172: Member Screenshots
173: News Archive
174: Community Forums
175: Home
176: Photo Gallery
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Member Screenshots
182: Member Screenshots
183: Community Forums
184: Photo Gallery
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Member Screenshots
188: Supporters
189: Member Screenshots
190: Photo Gallery
191: Downloads
192: LinkToUs
193: Home
194: Community Forums
195: Home
196: Member Screenshots
197: Photo Gallery
198: Home
199: Member Screenshots
200: Downloads
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: News Archive
204: Community Forums
205: Home
206: Home
207: Home
208: Community Forums
209: News Archive
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: News Archive
213: Member Screenshots
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: News
217: Home
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: News
221: Photo Gallery
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: News Archive
225: Home
226: Downloads
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Photo Gallery
231: Community Forums
232: Member Screenshots
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: News Archive
236: News Archive
237: Community Forums
238: Home
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Member Screenshots
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Home
247: News
248: Statistics
249: Community Forums
250: Member Screenshots
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Photo Gallery
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Home
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Statistics
265: Community Forums
266: Home
267: Home
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Home
272: Community Forums
273: News Archive
274: Community Forums
275: Member Screenshots
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: News Archive
279: Community Forums
280: Home
281: Community Forums
282: Home
283: Community Forums
284: Member Screenshots
285: News Archive
286: Community Forums
287: Member Screenshots
288: Community Forums
289: Photo Gallery
290: Home
291: Photo Gallery
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: Home
295: Member Screenshots
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Member Screenshots
300: Home
301: Home
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Search
305: Photo Gallery
306: Home
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Home
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Member Screenshots
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Home
322: Community Forums
323: Photo Gallery
324: Home
325: Photo Gallery
326: Photo Gallery
327: Home
328: Community Forums
329: Photo Gallery
330: Photo Gallery
331: News Archive
332: Photo Gallery
333: Member Screenshots
334: Community Forums
335: News
336: Photo Gallery
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Home
341: Statistics
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Photo Gallery
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Member Screenshots
358: Member Screenshots
359: Community Forums
360: News Archive
361: Home
362: Member Screenshots
363: Community Forums
364: Member Screenshots
365: Member Screenshots
366: Community Forums
367: Member Screenshots
368: Downloads
369: Community Forums
370: News Archive
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Search
376: Home
377: Community Forums
378: Home
379: Community Forums
380: Downloads
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Member Screenshots
388: Downloads
389: Member Screenshots
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Member Screenshots
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Member Screenshots
397: Community Forums
398: Photo Gallery
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: News Archive
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Photo Gallery
407: Downloads
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Member Screenshots
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Member Screenshots
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Community Forums
419: Member Screenshots
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Member Screenshots
424: Community Forums
425: Home
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: News Archive
429: Community Forums
430: Photo Gallery
431: Home
432: Home
433: Member Screenshots
434: Community Forums
435: Member Screenshots
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Downloads
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Member Screenshots
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Community Forums
446: Photo Gallery
447: News Archive
448: Community Forums
449: News Archive
450: Community Forums
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Community Forums
454: Home
455: News
456: Community Forums
457: Community Forums
458: News Archive
459: Photo Gallery
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: News Archive
463: Statistics
464: Home
465: Community Forums
466: Home
467: Photo Gallery
468: Photo Gallery
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Photo Gallery
474: Community Forums
475: News Archive
476: Home
477: Community Forums
478: News Archive
479: News Archive
480: Photo Gallery
481: Home
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Home
485: Home
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Home
490: Home
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Photo Gallery
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Your Account
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Downloads
501: Community Forums
502: Member Screenshots
503: Community Forums
504: Your Account
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Photo Gallery
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Photo Gallery
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Member Screenshots
514: Community Forums
515: Community Forums
516: Home
517: Downloads
518: Downloads
519: Downloads
520: Home
521: Community Forums
522: Photo Gallery
523: Home
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Member Screenshots
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Tell a Friend
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Home
536: Photo Gallery
537: News Archive
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Home
541: Community Forums
542: News
543: Member Screenshots
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: News Archive
547: Member Screenshots
548: Community Forums
549: Photo Gallery
550: Community Forums
551: Community Forums
552: Community Forums
553: Home
554: Home
555: Community Forums
556: Downloads
557: Photo Gallery
558: Community Forums
559: Community Forums
560: Downloads
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Photo Gallery
564: Statistics
565: News Archive
566: Community Forums
567: News Archive
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Home
572: Home
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Member Screenshots
578: Home
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Home
583: Downloads
584: Home
585: Photo Gallery
586: Community Forums
587: Photo Gallery
588: Home
589: Downloads
590: Home
591: Home
592: Member Screenshots
593: Community Forums
594: Home
595: Community Forums
596: News Archive
597: Home
598: Downloads
599: Home
600: Community Forums
601: Photo Gallery
602: Home
603: Home
604: Community Forums
605: Community Forums
606: News Archive
607: Photo Gallery
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Community Forums
612: Community Forums
613: Member Screenshots
614: News
615: Home
616: Photo Gallery
617: LinkToUs
618: Community Forums
619: Member Screenshots
620: Community Forums
621: Home
622: Community Forums
623: Member Screenshots
624: Member Screenshots
625: Member Screenshots
626: Community Forums
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Home
630: Statistics
631: Home
632: Community Forums
633: Member Screenshots
634: Community Forums
635: Home
636: Home
637: Community Forums
638: Home
639: Home
640: Community Forums
641: Home
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Home
645: Community Forums
646: Community Forums
647: News Archive
648: Photo Gallery
649: Community Forums
650: Member Screenshots
651: Community Forums
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Statistics
658: Member Screenshots
659: News Archive
660: Community Forums
661: Member Screenshots
662: Community Forums
663: Photo Gallery
664: Member Screenshots
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Photo Gallery
668: Photo Gallery
669: Photo Gallery
670: Photo Gallery
671: Community Forums
672: Photo Gallery
673: Home
674: Community Forums
675: Member Screenshots
676: Member Screenshots
677: News Archive
678: Community Forums
679: Member Screenshots
680: Member Screenshots
681: Member Screenshots
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Downloads

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: 6475
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: 6475
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.