OT Laptop question Help please.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mikey
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M

Mikey

Please could somone help me.

I'm in the UK and want to purchase a Laptop.

Unlike a "Normal" PC, I really dont understand the best type of CPU or
Graphics card I need.

All the numbers now confuse me.

I want to spend about £450 but less is always better. May spend a little
more if it really helps.

It must be able to run Vista Home Premium / Ultimate, without a problem
(Although ultimate is not essential) just want a buffer.

Initially I'll be running XP PRO.

Needs to have a good graphics card and at least 1gig of memory, and min of
120gig HDD.

But as I said at the top of the posting, the CPU & GFX card really throw me.

Be nice if the PC was NOT bundled with any preinstalled rubbish. Also be
nice to have a Vista OEM disc to reinstal with.

I know I'm asking a lot, but any advice greatfully received.

Mike
 
Mikey said:
Please could somone help me.

I'm in the UK and want to purchase a Laptop.

Unlike a "Normal" PC, I really dont understand the best type of CPU
or Graphics card I need.

All the numbers now confuse me.

I want to spend about £450 but less is always better. May spend a
little more if it really helps.

It must be able to run Vista Home Premium / Ultimate, without a
problem (Although ultimate is not essential) just want a buffer.

Initially I'll be running XP PRO.

Needs to have a good graphics card and at least 1gig of memory, and
min of 120gig HDD.
Click to expand...

Vista with 1GB of memory on a laptop - I think you will be pushing it...
With Windows XP, you'll be running fine.
120GB is a nice round number for HDD space.
But as I said at the top of the posting, the CPU & GFX card really
throw me.
Click to expand...

Fast as you can get and multiple cores if possible for the CPU.
Try to get a laptop that doesn't share the memory between your system and
graphics card.
Be nice if the PC was NOT bundled with any preinstalled rubbish.
Also be nice to have a Vista OEM disc to reinstal with.
Click to expand...

You'd have to talk to those you are ordering it from in order to try and
arrange that. Or order it with Windows Vista, make sure it comes with the
installation CD AND that they have drivers (all drivers) for the system if
you wish to run Windows XP (actually talk to the people you order it from)
and then order a copy of Windows XP elsewhere.

Your best bet is to make sure you talk to and understand what you are
getting. Otherwise - get the fastest CPU you can and as much memory as you
can - try not to get a shared memory video setup and get at least 128MB of
video memory.
 
Mikey said:
Please could somone help me.

I'm in the UK and want to purchase a Laptop.

Unlike a "Normal" PC, I really dont understand the best type of CPU or
Graphics card I need.
Click to expand...

That depends on what you're planning to use it for.
All the numbers now confuse me.

I want to spend about £450 but less is always better. May spend a little
more if it really helps.

It must be able to run Vista Home Premium / Ultimate, without a problem
(Although ultimate is not essential) just want a buffer.

Initially I'll be running XP PRO.

Needs to have a good graphics card and at least 1gig of memory, and min of
120gig HDD.

But as I said at the top of the posting, the CPU & GFX card really throw
me.

Be nice if the PC was NOT bundled with any preinstalled rubbish. Also be
nice to have a Vista OEM disc to reinstal with.

I know I'm asking a lot, but any advice greatfully received.

Mike
Click to expand...

If you're going to be using XP Pro, do you have a license for this already?

For what you're suggesting, you might consider buying a laptop that already
has Vista on it - this means you *know* it's capable.

As to reinstall disk, the problem you will find is that many manufacturers
fail to provide disks, they require the user to make them - though I'm not
sure quite how you *test these* without risking data you've put on since
getting it. So, make the disk right away and do a restore to test.
Better, insist that the seller provide a system that comes with REAL
reinstall media.

An alternate approach for you would be to get the Vista laptop and another
hard disk. Immediately pull the Vista-loaded hard disk, replace it with
the other new disk and install XP Pro to it. Set the Vista disk aside in
a safe place until you're ready to shift to Vista. When that time comes,
simply back up your data, swap disks, and copy the data. This will let you
switch OS's in a very short time.

You should also be aware that some, not all, versions of Vista have
"downgrade rights", meaning that you can - with some effort and time on your
part - get an activation code for an XP license (some, not all, versions of
XP) without having to buy one. But MS will NOT send you the XP install
media... you must supply that, and a valid install key. Read more here:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf

and here:

https://partner.microsoft.com/Malaysia/40042969

HTH
-pk
 
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