College Laptop...

[markl316]

So I was looking for a college laptop and found this.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166323&type=product&id=1218041149114

I love the GeForce 9600M GT, 6 GB of RAM, and 500GB of hard drive. My question is will it run the Windows XP 64-bit edition? Also, do you recommend installing XP 64-bit over Vista (it comes with Vista)? I kind of hate Vista. No, I really hate it. And last but not least, will Orbiter run on Windows XP 64-bit? Thanks for your suggestions.

Mark

 

[Linguofreak]

If it runs 64 bit Vista, it should run 64 bit XP, unless there's something I don't know about. I have 32 bit XP and 64 bit Ubuntu on my machine (a desktop).

 

[Artlav]

Isn't it a big overkill for a "College Laptop"?

Anyway, it's certainly good enough for WinXP64bit, but some drivers might not work.
Nvidia GPU drivers are available, but all the extra stuff like webcam, wi-fi module, even sound is completely unpredictable in terms of drivers presence.

Orbiter runs fine on Xp64 bit, last time i checked.

Why XP64 bit? 3Gb of RAM is not enough?

 

[Bj]

Isn't it a big overkill for a "College Laptop"?
...
Why XP64 bit? 3Gb of RAM is not enough?

A typical college laptop would only need 2 GB because really, when your in college, you should be working and doing school work. That leaves hardly enough time to be 'hardcore' gaming.

In my opinion, I would use any computer that you have for the time being, and wait for Windows 7 to come out. Win7 seems to be much better than Vista although this is only based on the very limited time that I used it. It also was much more compatible with various hardware.

 

[synonys]

Going to XP 64bit would be quite stupid, vista 64 is faster and better supported. I really don't get the hate people have for vista? It runs great, in fact, it runs better than xp on current hardware like you plan to buy. People just seem to hate the name 'vista' because win7 is NT 6.1 while vista is NT 6.0 and people act like win7 is some quantum leap.

 

[Artlav]

Going to XP 64bit would be quite stupid, vista 64 is faster and better supported. I really don't get the hate people have for vista? It runs great, in fact, it runs better than xp on current hardware like you plan to buy. People just seem to hate the name 'vista' because win7 is NT 6.1 while vista is NT 6.0 and people act like win7 is some quantum leap.

Don't get too judgy. Some people's working patterns fits with Vista's bug-less functionality patterns, other's people working patterns crumbles into Vista's inefficiencies.

Another problem i observed - people tend to consider their accustomed working patterns as only ones correct, so when they get different-working computer, like Vista or Mac after Xp (or Linux after Windows), they get frustrated trying to get it to work the same way they are accustomed to, and blame the novelty for frustration.

And, say who want what, but on my laptop Vista is as slow as hell.

 

[Andy44]

A typical college laptop would only need 2 GB because really, when your in college, you should be working and doing school work. That leaves hardly enough time to be 'hardcore' gaming.

In my opinion, I would use any computer that you have for the time being, and wait for Windows 7 to come out. Win7 seems to be much better than Vista although this is only based on the very limited time that I used it. It also was much more compatible with various hardware.

In college your machine has to last for at least four years and satisfy your entertainment needs as well. Besides, it doesn't just have to be for school. No need to limit yourself. My policy is to get the best, most high-performance machne you can afford at the time, since it may have to last you longer than you think and since it's easier to sell off if you upgrade.

I agree about waiting for 7, though. I need a replacement myself and I want to see the comparison between Vista and 7. I currently use XP and am quite happy with it. Artlav is right; I hate it when they change something that works.

Whatever you do with your new machine, keep the antivirus and Windows upgrades updated and don't load it up by surfing...certain websites.

 

[V8Li]

You don't like Vista because you haven't used it enough. I make a living from programming. I bought a new laptop with 4GB RAM a while ago and it came with Vista; was thinking to downgrade it to XP but left it on for a while. Vista is so much stable, I will never buy a PC on 32 bits with less than Vista. Just an example: Task manager, you hit end task and it just ends.

Also, we (me and my colleagues) set up 7 on a 2GB 3Ghz system (don't ask). The core is pure Vista. It has some new graphics features but nothing special. There's no point waiting for it, you have Vista. We all like it... and I mean, we are command-line guys. I never thought I will say this but it can't get better than Vista and 7. When I got my laptop home I powerred it, set transparency for windows and let all effects and never thought to go to XP again (all of them, not even SP3).

Just get it and use it, don't wait until you get old and die because there's no point. Vista will do; when 7 gets out upgrade if you want. We ran benchmarks, it's Vista, it gets the same resources, network is the same, all the stuff that matters.

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------

Also, do you recommend installing XP 64-bit over Vista (it comes with Vista)?

Sry, forgot to answer this: NO. Chances are that you won't find drivers fo XP. A PC can run with any OS... define running

 

[Andy44]

Well, maybe I'll give Vista a try, but not until I'm good and ready to spash out for a new machine. It sounds like you think 7 is pretty good, and it'll be out in a few months. I'm not in a hurry to replace this machine. It's been very good to me, until the USB ports started failing about a month ago.

 

[Bj]

... Just an example: Task manager, you hit end task and it just ends.

...or you could go to processes and click 'end process' . Same result.

Just get it and use it, don't wait until you get old and die because there's no point. Vista will do; when 7 gets out upgrade if you want. We ran benchmarks, it's Vista, it gets the same resources, network is the same, all the stuff that matters.

hmm an upgrade will cost somewhere between $70 to $130.... or you could wait for the last 4 to 6 months for Win7...

 

[markl316]

Isn't it a big overkill for a "College Laptop"?

Well... I don't want it to be out of date by next year and have to replace it. If I get a top of the line now, It should last me three or four years. Also, GT requires AT LEAST a 2.0 GHz CPU (I guess I will be running simulations and doing 3D modeling or something).

In college your machine has to last for at least four years and satisfy your entertainment needs as well. Besides, it doesn't just have to be for school. No need to limit yourself. My policy is to get the best, most high-performance machne you can afford at the time, since it may have to last you longer than you think and since it's easier to sell off if you upgrade.

That's kinda what I had in mind.

I agree about waiting for 7, though. I need a replacement myself and I want to see the comparison between Vista and 7. I currently use XP and am quite happy with it. Artlav is right; I hate it when they change something that works.

Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury. I don't own a laptop; nobody in my family does. Can I upgrade to Windows 7 when It comes out? Will Orbiter run on Windows 7?

A typical college laptop would only need 2 GB because really, when your in college, you should be working and doing school work. That leaves hardly enough time to be 'hardcore' gaming.

Believe me, I know I won't have a lot of time for 'hardcore' gaming, especially at Georgia Tech. But over the holidays, or in my free time, etc., I would like to have a laptop that runs Orbiter, because it was my motivation that made me want to study aerospace.

Also, I'm running XP now, does Vista still have that "black triangle" problem about 2.000M above earth?

Also for all who recommended not installing XP 64-bit--thank you. I'm thinking that i won't because I talked to the guy at Best Buy and he said that once I do that, it voids the warranty.

In everybody's personal opinion, will this laptop run Vista well considering its 6 Gb of RAM and 2.4 GHz? I really don't want Vista to be slow.

Thanks again to all who contributed.

 

[V8Li]

In everybody's personal opinion, will this laptop run Vista well considering its 6 Gb of RAM and 2.4 GHz? I really don't want Vista to be slow.

Vista won't be slow with those specs.

 

[Bj]

Will Orbiter run on Windows 7?

http://www.orbiter-forum.com


...and yes you can upgrade to Win7, its just a matter of a hundred dollars or so for the upgrade.

 

[PaulG]

Make sure whatever you buy will last a long time. You want to figure in your major too. If you are planning on the sciences or engineering and wish to do any computational modeling, you will need a powerful computer to support the software, or you'll be spending your time watching numbers crunch and wondering why an i-tunes download isn't starting.

 

[thenewbster2006]

So I was looking for a college laptop and found this.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166323&type=product&id=1218041149114

I love the GeForce 9600M GT, 6 GB of RAM, and 500GB of hard drive. My question is will it run the Windows XP 64-bit edition? Also, do you recommend installing XP 64-bit over Vista (it comes with Vista)? I kind of hate Vista. No, I really hate it. And last but not least, will Orbiter run on Windows XP 64-bit? Thanks for your suggestions.

Mark

With my experience in the past, if some laptops already has Vista on it, XP will not install on some laptops. For some reason it has been HP that give me the biggest problems.

 

[V8Li]

With my experience in the past, if some laptops already has Vista on it, XP will not install on some laptops. For some reason it has been HP that give me the biggest problems.

Indeed. Building drivers and testing compatibility for all operating systems is time-consuming and expensive. That's why a system built with hardware from 2008 in 2008 or 2009 would have been probably tested with Vista, and not XP. Hardware drivers might have been build only for Vista. DON'T BUY THE LAPTOP IF YOU WANT TO PUT XP ON IT. You might not find all drivers. If the manufacturer has a page with drivers for systems check it out if you can find drivers for XP too. If they don't have them you won't find them either.

 

[Linguofreak]

If the manufacturer is offering an option to buy it with XP, then I'd take it. If not, stay with Vista, because you might not find all the drivers you need for XP.

 

[Arrowstar]

I have an HP model laptop (granted, it's an institution-issue high end mobile workstation and not a normal 'college laptop'), and I like it. I recommend two things. First, see if you can't get a higher end or longer duration warranty if you'll be staying near where you bought it. This will help with battery replacements and things like that, especially since college can be rough on some laptops. Secondly, as others have agreed, go with a higher end laptop now and plan on using it for the next five years or so. Get an on-campus job if you want to upgrade to Win7 later, but Vista won't hurt you now. Also, you MAY be able to get Office and other MS software for very cheap at your school's bookstore (I can get Office for $20), so I would check into that before you get a license out of a retail store.

Otherwise, your machine looks fine, good luck!

 

[Istochnikov]

At least for me, the system is good, but the size is too big

At least for me, the system is good, but the size is too big. A little question: do you really want to carry a 17 inch laptop in your back?

I ask you this, because for a college/university laptop, if you want portability, maybe less is more (in size terms).

I have an IBM/Lenovo (the specs are in my signature) which when came to me (it's a second-hand one), fortunately had Win XP on it , my best friend recently formatted a Pavilion that had Vista installed on it. He had to search tooooooooooooo much to find the drivers, but he achieved.

Other reason for asking about the size is this: generally when someone goes out of the college/university (at least here in Costa Rica) with a BIG-laptop-bag-hangin'-from-the-shoulder... generally finishes hitted, wounded and generally, without lap. I carry my lap (baptised "Gori") in my backpack and i almost died a week after i bought it in an assault attempt. Fortunately, the guys didn't notice Gori in the backpack, but in the other part, "Gori" was damaged (the problem wasn't noted until one week ago, but the assault attempt was in august 2008.

 

[Hielor]

A typical college laptop would only need 2 GB because really, when your in college, you should be working and doing school work. That leaves hardly enough time to be 'hardcore' gaming.

There's always time for 'hardcore' gaming in college. Everything else comes second.