Thoughts on Vista

RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
edited December 2007 in Science & Tech
I am looking at new Laptops, which will obviously come with Vista.

I have things pretty much narrowed down between 2 models. Price is the same, equipment is the same (exactly the same).

1 comes with Vista Business, the other with Home Premium. Knowing nothing about Vista, am I leaving myself short with Home Premium?

XP Pro and Home weren't a lot different if you were surfing the net, but when it came to several other requirements, pro was the way to go.

I use my laptop for more than just a desktop replacement. I need to be able to remotely access client PC's and my own when away from home. I use it for router and switch configuration, etc.

Will home premium do what I need?

Thanks

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Home Premium = XP Home
    Business = XP Pro

    If you needed pro before (efs support, active directory, etc.) then you need it now. Home Premium has Windows Media center, that's about the only difference.
  • QeldromaQeldroma Arid ZoneAh Member
    edited December 2007
    Could we have details on the LT you want? What are you using it for?

    Personally, until about the middle of the middle of this year, I knew Vista and laptops didn't mix. Especially in the video department. Vista is a resource pig and laptops generally have little to spare. But if you're doing power-points- it shouldn't matter.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    primesuspect wrote:
    Home Premium = XP Home
    Business = XP Pro

    If you needed pro before (efs support, active directory, etc.) then you need it now. Home Premium has Windows Media center, that's about the only difference.
    Grrr....that is what I figured.

    Looks like the Vostro wins over the Inspiron.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    You can also spec the Vostro with XP in some configurations; that would give you higher performance with the same specs.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Does OCZ has a contract with Dell? You might be able to get employee discounts and use the corporate configuration pages that WOULD allow WinXP. Just a thought....
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    What exactly do you need to do that requires pro? Those things you mentioned, you can do with the home edition.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Yep...I can spec it with XP and just might.
    I have to make the move sometime though, I don't use the laptop every day, it would be a good way to learn the OS, provided it doesn't fail me when I need it most, LOL.

    I do connect to Domain controllers at times Prime, so yes, I need Pro features.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    WinXP with SP3 will carry XP for another year or two. Vista will always be there. I'd pick a laptop that can run Vista but actually run XP. You can always play with Vista as a second partition or something.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Very true Q.

    I liked the Inspiron better, but the Vostro isn't too much different.

    EDIT: D'oh....only the 15" versions of the Vostro come with XP.... Jeebus this is getting frustrating.
  • QeldromaQeldroma Arid ZoneAh Member
    edited December 2007
    Get the laptop with the OS you want:

    http://powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=1

    3 years parts & labor included in price.
    Select your OS or say "No!" and do it yourself.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    Select your OS or say "No!" and do it yourself.
    Just say NO!
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2007
    A laptops weakest point is the harddrive performance. Do some research and see if any of those laptops can be fitted with 2 harddrives (replace the dvd for a second harddrive). Only then, it can replace a desktop fully. That is a bit off topic, but in reality, when you choose Vista, 2GB is the bare minimum and you will still have a lot of pagefile swapping on a really slow harddrive so in the end, it is linked. Since you more or less have unlimited access to ram, i would choose a laptop that can be fitted with 2 harddrives and 2X2GB of ram.

    That will leave you with a lot more options on what OS to choose. I would get it with the cheapest OS possible so that you have a cheap legit Key and buy the cheapest OEM Ultimate license you can find. Dell overprices their OS options a lot.
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