MS Vista prep

  • Thread starter Thread starter tmfast
  • Start date Start date
T

tmfast

Hey all,
Just anticipating the upcoming Microsoft "Vista" OS. I am Saving up to
build a new PC that will exceed all requirements when they release it. Does
anyone have any advise, or know a site that can guide me? I am reading
about monitor, and video card problems already. I would like to learn about
SATA HD's, 64 bit CPU's, 64 bit software, ect!!. I liked the cooler running
intel CPU's as apposed to the AMD's I have had before. What about these
XEON's?
Has anyone seen Vista yet? I hear it is compatable with most hardware. But
will really come alive with the newest hardware.
The last "and current" PC I have is an intel P4 2.4 ghz 400bus, EIDE HD's
w/APG-4 card & an ole CRT monitor. All is running perfect & great. Never had
any problems, and is more then I need. I was the 1st in my area to have a P4
with XP. I hope to be the 1st to have this Vista, and what ever the best
hardware should be. What about Raid SATA's. I guess I just hate my money.
 
Hey all,
Just anticipating the upcoming Microsoft "Vista" OS. I am Saving up to
build a new PC that will exceed all requirements when they release it. Does
anyone have any advise, or know a site that can guide me? I am reading
about monitor, and video card problems already. I would like to learn about
SATA HD's, 64 bit CPU's, 64 bit software, ect!!. I liked the cooler running
intel CPU's as apposed to the AMD's I have had before. What about these
XEON's?
Has anyone seen Vista yet? I hear it is compatable with most hardware. But
will really come alive with the newest hardware.
The last "and current" PC I have is an intel P4 2.4 ghz 400bus, EIDE HD's
w/APG-4 card & an ole CRT monitor. All is running perfect & great. Never had
any problems, and is more then I need. I was the 1st in my area to have a P4
with XP. I hope to be the 1st to have this Vista, and what ever the best
hardware should be. What about Raid SATA's. I guess I just hate my money.
Click to expand...

http://www.google.com
 
cooler running Intel's? I read that wrong right?
Click to expand...

Wrong you read right.
That doesn't make it true though,
unless one only compares something random in an isolated
scenario like 2.4GHz Northwood vs. Athlon XP when both are
idling. Presumptions about different, newer CPUs can't be
made in such a context, of course.

OP needs to start over, post one clear thought and
(question) subtopic per post.

If OP is hoping Vista will do a lot more for them than
relieve them of an extra $150, there might be a larger issue
here, like why XP wasn't getting the job done and if XP
isn't working right, whether it's reasonable to presume a
green immature OS like Vista would help in any way.

I really like beta testers though, they battle all those
bugs so I don't have to.
 
I dunno kony, xp is still working out the bugs and that has been out how
many years now lol
 
Jamie said:
I dunno kony, xp is still working out the bugs and that has been out how
many years now lol
Click to expand...

True, there are still bugs being worked out but XP has been great for me, my
system hasn't crashed in years. I used NT at my office and found it to be
extremely solid, while at home I had gone from 95 to 98. Switching at home
to XP gave me the stability of NT with all the functionality of the consumer
OS, not to mention that the install process for XP was very easy compared to
98. I don't know what Vista will offer me that would make me want to
upgrade from XP. For me, XP isn't broke so I'm in no rush to fix it.
 
Where to begin (LOL)...
Just anticipating the upcoming Microsoft "Vista" OS. I am Saving up to
build a new PC that will exceed all requirements when they release it.
Does anyone have any advise?
Click to expand...

Stick with XP. Unless I get a freebie at a "Vista Conference", I won't be
buying it when it comes out.

I am reading about monitor, and video card problems already.
Click to expand...

Just ONE of the reasons to stick with XP.

I would like to learn about SATA HD's, 64 bit CPU's, 64 bit software
Click to expand...

SATA is just a nice new buzz word that hasn't worn off yet. It's just a
different type of interface between the HD and the MB. True, the 'raptor'
series of SATA HD's are fast, but the performance of newer PATA HD's is
rarely the 'source' of a computers' bottleneck. Of course the SATA cables
are much easier to work with though...8-).
64 bit CPU's are great and in a year when we have gotten over the
compatibility problems associated with moving from a 32 bit
OS/drivers/software to a 64 bit OS/drivers/software, they will be even
better. Good reading on 64 bit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit scroll
down about half the page for the info you're looking for.

I liked the cooler running intel CPU's as opposed to the AMD's I have had
before. What about these XEON's?
Click to expand...

LOL...you are referring to CPU's from years back. The current top-o-the-line
offerings from Intel and AMD shows the roles practically reversed, with
Intel's CPU being the hothead compared to AMD's. Heat, however, is not as
much as an issue as it used to be because of all the extra safeguards build
into current MB's and CPU's.

Has anyone seen Vista yet? I hear it is compatible with most hardware. But
will really come alive with the newest hardware.
Click to expand...

There are screen shots all over the place, just google it. As far as
compatibility, it's not so much the hardware as it is the 'drivers' for the
hardware. What do you mean by 'come alive'? faster perhaps? ...if faster
then compared to what?

What about Raid SATA's. I guess I just hate my money.
Click to expand...

SATA Raid is great just like PATA Raid is great. What did money ever do to
you?
--


"I don't cheat to survive. I cheat to LIVE!!"
- Alceryes
 
Analabha said:
tmfast wrote:

http://www.mandriva.com/
http://fedora.redhat.com/
http://www.debian.org/
http://www.gentoo.org/
Click to expand...

And don't forget Ubuntu, which has just had a new release:
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

I'm running it on a spare 800MHz machine. Gnome is slow, so I'm playing
with some of the lightweight window managers. Ratpoison is particularly
friendly on resources - but admittedly it's a question of taste as to
whether one likes the minimalist, mouse-free, tiled window managers.

The very thought of Microsoft Vista makes me cringe. Perhaps Windows is
rapidly approaching a kind of maximum bloat capacity ... trying to
stack one more piece of garbage on top of the pile inevitably causes
another piece of garbage to fall off. Ironically, no doubt Microsoft
will hit us with adverts about how much "faster" their new product will be.
 
Hey all,
Just anticipating the upcoming Microsoft "Vista" OS. I am Saving up to
build a new PC that will exceed all requirements when they release it. Does
anyone have any advise, or know a site that can guide me? I am reading
about monitor, and video card problems already. I would like to learn about
SATA HD's, 64 bit CPU's, 64 bit software, ect!!. I liked the cooler running
intel CPU's as apposed to the AMD's I have had before. What about these
XEON's?
Has anyone seen Vista yet? I hear it is compatable with most hardware. But
will really come alive with the newest hardware.
The last "and current" PC I have is an intel P4 2.4 ghz 400bus, EIDE HD's
w/APG-4 card & an ole CRT monitor. All is running perfect & great. Never had
any problems, and is more then I need. I was the 1st in my area to have a P4
with XP. I hope to be the 1st to have this Vista, and what ever the best
hardware should be. What about Raid SATA's. I guess I just hate my money.
Click to expand...
Wow... I tried the Vista beta2. On my 2.8GHz PC with 1.5GB of RAM and
a SATA hard disk, it runs about as fast as Windows95 on a 16MHz 386SX.
I really hope MS does something with but I can say I wasn't impressed
and didn't see any critical feature (like RDP on XP).
 
Hi tmfast,

Not to dampen your spirits, but I personally am not looking forward to
Vista compared to Windows XP (back in 2000). The thing is, I think OS
software has gone to the stage where it can only improve that much.

Add a few fancy animations here, a few new wizards there - what else
can they do? If you really want the low down on the Microsoft Vista
requirements, check out this link, particularly the section on Vista
requirements.

http://www.apcstart.com/teched/pivot/entry.php?id=6

Best Regards,
Gary Hendricks
www.build-your-own-computers.com
 
Gary said:
Add a few fancy animations here, a few new wizards there - what else
can they do? If you really want the low down on the Microsoft Vista
requirements, check out this link, particularly the section on Vista
requirements.

http://www.apcstart.com/teched/pivot/entry.php?id=6
Click to expand...

Exactly as I predicted. With one breath he says
"One of the things you'll notice about Vista beta 1 is that it runs
dramatically quicker than Windows XP. "
whilst with the other:
"Vista would work best on a video card with more than 256MB RAM, 2GB of
DDR3 memory and a S-ATA 2 hard drive."

Anyone remember South Park - The Movie; where Bill Gates claimed that
Windows 98 was actually faster than Windows 95? Well, it's deja vu all
over again, except we don't get to put a bullet through his head.
 
Mark,

I see you ain't a big Bill Gates fan! Well, I will wait and see what Vista
is capable of. But I'm sure it will try to sell itself as the next
generation OS with all the bells and whistles.

However, at the same time, it'll probably require atrocious hardware
requirements to support some very heavy duty OS processing.

Again, I ain't looking forward to Vista.

==========================================
Sincerely,
Gary Hendricks, Build-Your-Own-Computers.com
Step-by-step guides for setting up your own computer:
http://www.build-your-own-computers.com
==========================================
 
Gary said:
Mark,

I see you ain't a big Bill Gates fan!
Click to expand...

A few others around the office have noticed that, too :)

The boss is thinking of upgrading everyone's MS Office to 2003, which
has set me grinding my teeth.

I'm quite a fan of Linux, and think we'd all be better off if we were
using it instead of Microsoft. I can see that Linux isn't for everyone,
though. Even I prefer something that "Just Works", and is why I think
Ubuntu has a lot to offer.

I like things small and simple. I dabble about with AROS - an
open-sourced project aimed at recreating the Amiga OS:
http://www.aros.org/
It's a very immature project, not the least bit suitable as a serious
desktop OS. But when you run it, you see how stylish and fast it is.

http://www.build-your-own-computers.com
Click to expand...
Is that a UK site, only I see you don't mention prices?

I am a complete numpty when it comes to hardware, although I've been
seen to open the case up to have a bit of a rummage around from
time-to-time. I was thinking that for my next PC I might try to build
one myself - maybe flesh out a barebones system, or something.
Hopefully, it wont be for a long time yet.

My main PC is a 1.4GHz 512Mb m/c, and I have a P800 with Ubuntu
installed on it. I've upgraded the graphics, memory, and attached a KVM.
Running Gnome puts it in the adequate-to-slow category. Running
ratpoison or sawfish windows manager, however, makes the thing run as
fast as I'll ever really need. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm
employed, I'd probably just run Linux all the time, and buy computers
from itdealers (where I got my P800). One could get an adequate system
for a fraction of the price of what one would buy new.

My third computer is a P800, which was rescued from our office's
basement. It has an old ethernet card, which, as luck would have it, is
supported by the AROS operating system. I like to play with it once in a
while - but most of the time it stands disconnected.
 
Hi Mark

I still mess around with the early releases of Linux in the past
(Redhat, Caldera) - I even went down to compile the kernel, stuff like
that. I've since gone back to Windows XP but I still would like to try
Linux on old PC's that people discard.

Your comments about your main PC being a 1.4 GHz, - see, that is the
exact kind of reason why people should use Linux. You don't need all
the super duper greatest hardware! There are pros and cons to Linux,
and it isn't for everyone.

I figure the best use of Linux is for hobbyists and as a web server. As
for a mainstream desktop OS, I don't think it can (unfortunately) cut
it. Gates is just too entrenched there for Linux to shake it - despite
all the rumours that Linux was the WIndows killer.

Oh, yes - my website at http://www.build-your-own-computers.com is a US
website. Actually, I currently reside in sunny Singapore in Southeast
Asia, but I set up this computer site as a hobby.

You see, I've been dabbling with computers since I was a kid. I know
the ins and outs of computer hardware and I thought I'd share it with
the world. It does take up a lot of my time - sending out newsletters
and stuff - but its fun and rewarding. Your comments on the site are
welcome.


==========================================
Sincerely,
Gary Hendricks, Build-Your-Own-Computers.com
Step-by-step guides for setting up your own computer:
http://www.build-your-own-computers.com
==========================================
 
Gary said:
Hi Mark
Click to expand...
I figure the best use of Linux is for hobbyists and as a web server. As
for a mainstream desktop OS, I don't think it can (unfortunately) cut
it.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree. I notice that Linux runs slower than XP, unless you go
for a GUI-less server, in which case any PC will be fast enough.

The main problem is the hardware, especially modems. Hardware detection
is getting better, but I think that unless there are some kind of open
standards for hardware, or Linux becomes so popular that vendors feel
compelled to support it, support will always be a problem. There's also
a problem of philosophy: vendors like to keep their source closed, in
the Microsoft stylee, whereas Linux likes them to be open. Open is best,
because it would mean that Linux distros could just compile the sources,
rather than have to rely on easily-broken binaries.

Desktops are getting better, and the full-fat ones like Gnome and KDE
are at least in the same ballpark as Windows. Many distros tend to tweak
the settings to make the apps that they supply easy to get to. So, in
some cases, Linux hardware detection can actually be superior to
Windows, and offer a ready-to-go desktop.

Ubuntu is my favourite distro so far. I like Slackware; but you just
beat Debian's apt-get.
Gates is just too entrenched there for Linux to shake it - despite
all the rumours that Linux was the WIndows killer.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Windows and Office is the safe option for bosses - at least they
are relatively confident that it will just work. We live in a MS Office
locked-in world. Sigh.

Oh, yes - my website at http://www.build-your-own-computers.com is a US
website.
Click to expand...

My bad. I had it in my head that I was looking at a UK-specific hardware
newsgroup - so I had assumed you ran a UK-centric site.

You see, I've been dabbling with computers since I was a kid.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you've ever owned an Amiga, but if you're in the mood to
fool about with some nostalgia from yesteryear, then you might want to
check out the AROS live CD:
http://www.aros.org/
The live CD doesn't do justice to its blinding speed; but I think you'll
find that it looks like a really cool OS (if a little incomplete).
I know
the ins and outs of computer hardware and I thought I'd share it with
the world. It does take up a lot of my time - sending out newsletters
and stuff - but its fun and rewarding.
Click to expand...

I might take out a subscription.
 
kony said:
Yeah some things stay in beta longer than others.
Click to expand...
I recently read that no Windows version officially reaches a "Final"
stage. That way, they can fix bugs without being sued for crashing a
corporate network because Windows isn't finished yet.

Marc
 
Hi Mark

Hey you and I have quite a bit in common! Hee hee ... geeks we are.

Anyway, you seem to know a lot about the latest Linux distros. I wonder
... I'm been out of touch with Linux for a long time. Too busy with work
and the kids. If I want to catch up, what's the best way to do it? I've
heard about stuff like Ubuntu and Ratpoison (really cool names, those
Linux fellas think of). What distro do you recommend I get?

And hey, you're an Amiga fan? Well, I used to dabble with an Apple II
so much I burnt its insides completely! I took it apart, looked at the
insides, tried to understand how the components fit together. Playing
stuff like Ultima I, I, III, IV, V.... Donkey Kong, Captain Goodnight,
Rescue Raiders ... those were the days!

I'll definitely look at this AROS live CD thingy ... looks cool!



**********************************************************
Sincerely,
Gary Hendricks, Build-Your-Own-Computers.com
The best PC hardware tutorials and how-to guides:
http://www.build-your-own-computers.com
**********************************************************
 
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