Microsoft Vista Premium

[ERICS MUM]

I am thinking about buying a laptop PC when i am in Orlando in Nov. Could someone explain to me what is included in Vista Premium please. I have absolutely no idea what it is/does, and how it differs from XP that I have on my desktop.

Thanks

Linda

 

[london75]

The simple answer is it's not really a lot different. It look fancier, is significantly more secure and a little more annoying to use because of the extra security involved. It doesn't really do anything as such, it just runs the computer so you can forget about it once you get used to it!

On the whole you should find it better than XP.

 

[ERICS MUM]

So, does this mean I can do word docs and spreadsheets etc? Also what about Internet Explorer etc?

Sorry to be so thick.....

Linda

 

[taylorl25]

Hi, Vista is simply the operating system which allows all the programs to run. For spreadsheets, word docs etc you'd want Microsoft Excel and Word which are separate programs. You'll get a trial license for these products with any new laptop.

Internet explorer will also already be installed on the laptop.

 

[stevechase]

Hi there

Not sure if you want my opinion now especially if you have bought it.

I have been involved in the IT industry for 20 years, including developing software and hardware solutions for a number of applications.

I recently purchased a new laptop, a Sony Vaio with Vista on, never in my wildeest dreams could I have known what I was up against. I got internet and email to work, the rest was an absolute nightmare. Crashes, software incompatibility loads of probs.

My advice, would be to steer clear until it has been out a good while, like 12 months and the bugs have been ironed out.

Urrrgghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

 

[Ellie_loves_Minnie]

Hi

Vista is just Microsoft's latest operating system. It will eventually be the only version supported by Microsoft. If you want to put the same applications onto the new machine that you already have on your XP desktop, you can visit the Microsoft website (www.microsoft.com) and there is a Vista page on there. On that page you'll find an application which will tell you if the applications and hardware on your existing desktop will work on Vista. It's called the Vista Upgrade Advisor and it will install onto your desktop then give you a report as to what will and what won't work.

Now this isn't much use in terms of hardware (as you'll have a new laptop) but it will help with software. I recently upgraded my 2 year old desktop from XP Home Edition to Vista Enterprise and have had no software compatibility problems whatsoever.

Vista's quite pretty but that's about it to be honest. It is certainly "the future" as most people run Microsoft operating systems but what I would say is be careful that you do your sums about whether you can really get the laptop cheaper over there than here. It's not always that cheap in the states...

 

[tennisfan]

Also a word of warning that you maybe liable for tax/duty when bringing it back if customs find out.

 

[disneyholic family]

I never buy laptops in the states even though they're cheaper there.

When i buy a product that costs as much as a laptop, i want to have the store where i purchased it available in case something goes wrong.

Regarding vista - i just got a brand new laptop (thinkpad T60) from work. It has vista on it and seems to do exactly what the other poster warned about. Crashes and slows down unexpectedly, probably due to the security.

So while the computer is much faster, the security makes it worse to operate than my old laptop (a thinkpad R40). Whether vista causes any of the problems isn't clear to me. Operating systems tend to be transparent to the users.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Also, don't forget it will NOT be a UK keyboard, no £ sign and probably no € sign either. Each of these will have to be put in manually every time you want to use them.

The costs savings are notb there, when you can buy Sony Vaios even from PC World at £499!

For example, look at this page from Circuit City
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/cate...n marquee-_-Laptops starting at 369.99-_-link

Mail in rebates you can forget as yoiu cannot get the money back from a non US address, plus tax has to be added.

 

[lost_in_hollywood]

NOOOOOO!! Don't get Vista..... YET, give it atleast a year, as the current version of Vista is still full of bugs. Stick with XP for another year or so and let Microsoft Iron out the bugs.

Also if you do buy it you can change the language to UK so you should be fine.