Vista vs. Budget Laptop... FIGHT!

Lucky Cynic

Okay, so my mother wanted a basic laptop today that would do ordinary things like Internet browsing, MS Excel spreadsheets and solitaire. I was on the hunt for a good computer at a nice low price. We decided to go to Best Buy where we settled on getting a Compaq with a Celeron M intel processor, 512mb of ram, and Vista Basic. Ouch... The Processor is not really the problem seeing that task manager says that there's only a Paltry 1-4% cpu usage on idle with Vista, and thats with Aero disabled and a bunch of other good stuff shut off to save up on that. However, the problem is the computer does use 300MBs of ram, which is strangling this computer. I was wondering what are you're takes on this.

I really am at a standstill here, guys.

A: I can either buy another gig of ram for about $50 which will help with Vista.

B: I can also use the XP disc that I have and reformat Vista away, but will doing so void some Best Buy warranty or something so that I may not return it? Also, my XP disc was used to install XP on my current computer, is there a limit on how many installs of the OS I can have per disc?

C: I can even probably just install XP and get another gig of ram, that would be pretty nice and would make the laptop run silky smooth, but will it be worth it?

or Return the laptop in for a better one. All of them have Vista on them in some form or manner, so that is a real kick in the teeth, especially since if this was XP, I could more easily clean it all out of all the crap that bogs it down and speed it up. It's like HP (Compaq) purposely gimped this perfectly fine laptop with Vista...

Oh! I can also maybe even use Linux. This is probably the last resort, but is there anyway to get MS excel to work on Linux, my mom absolutly has to have Excel and I doubt any open source spreadsheet programs will save/open the Excel filetypes...

Synthetic Orange

B or C would be nice, but check your warranty conditions. It's probable they wont offer support on it if you do though, so A sounds like the other alternative.

naporeon

As a former Geek Squad (read: Best Buy) employee, I can tell you with certainty that it will not void your warranty. Your warranty covers only physical components anyway.

Next, Linux is A-OK, because OpenOffice absolutely runs on it, and will definitely open (and save as) Excel filetypes.

Malkor

Have you used the computer? Does it run ok? I think Vista might automatically make use of resources when nothing's going on. It sounds like the easiest solution is to get more RAM.

Lucky Cynic

Malkor wrote: »

Have you used the computer? Does it run ok? I think Vista might automatically make use of resources when nothing's going on. It sounds like the easiest solution is to get more RAM.

It runs like crap, frankly. It's definitely a Ram Issue. I will get to reformatting this motherfucker tomorrow morning. I can use the XP Home disc just fine right? I already installed and still use XP Home on my current PC that I am using at this moment, is this some huge legal issue or is it completely fine and okay to do?

Eat_Fire

You can install windows XP but, to activate it online (which you have to do on a legitimate version) you have to use a CD key, which is 1 computer per key. So if your other computer is active theres a good chance it will disable on the laptop.

The main problem with putting XP on a Vista machine is that you have to have XP drivers for all the hardware. If HP's site doesn't have them (hp owns compaq fyi) you will have a tough time getting everything working on the computer (wireless, touchpad, sound).

I would recommend just some more ram. On your choice of computer, you may have got a good deal depending on how much you paid, but the Celeron M is a crappy choice as far as processors go.

jothki

If you do decide to return the laptop and get another, you can still get Dells that have XP on them.

Pheezer

Eat_Fire wrote: »

You can install windows XP but, to activate it online (which you have to do on a legitimate version) you have to use a CD key, which is 1 computer per key. So if your other computer is active theres a good chance it will disable on the laptop.

The main problem with putting XP on a Vista machine is that you have to have XP drivers for all the hardware. If HP's site doesn't have them (hp owns compaq fyi) you will have a tough time getting everything working on the computer (wireless, touchpad, sound).

I would recommend just some more ram. On your choice of computer, you may have got a good deal depending on how much you paid, but the Celeron M is a crappy choice as far as processors go.

I would be absolutely shocked if HP ever changed touchpads when not necessary for some reason or another. There'll probably be pre-Vista drivers.

I seem to recall hearing something about Vista licenses doubling as XP licenses, but you'll have to check the MS site for details, I have no idea.

tsmvengy

jothki wrote: »

If you do decide to return the laptop and get another, you can still get Dells that have XP on them.

If you can return the computer and get all your money back, this is what I'd do. Get a dell online that has similar specs and get it with XP.


ALSO! Doesn't vista display memory usage differently from XP, because of the supercaching or whatever it is? Basically, your computer is using that RAM while idle to cache programs it thinks you might use so they start faster. Is this why memory usage appears high? I mean, that RAM isn't doing anything.

I guess the main question is - is the laptop usable enough for her? If it's not - get something else.

MKR

Honestly, for what she does a dell ubuntu laptop would probably be adequate:

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs