Billye,

If you are going with Windows, I would STRONGLY recommend Vista, unless you have a piece of hardware or software that is incompatible. It is extremely easy to check whether that is the case or not. Just go to this link and download the program:

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

I would be surprised if you have a piece of hardware that is not compatible, but if you do, this program will tell you all about it. And almost all of the major software vendors have made their releases work fine with Vista, but again the program will let you know if there is a problem.

If you have no upgrade issues, then Vista is clearly the way to go. You can read my post in this thread to get the specifics:

Vista

As for ordering XP now and then upgrading to Vista, there is one very bad problem with that. When upgrading a Windows OS (operating system), you should always perform a clean installation rather than what is called an upgrade in place. In short, this means that just sticking any OS onto an existing one is a very bad idea and guaranteed to cause problems sooner or later. You need to wipe the partition clean and freshly install the OS. This means that you will have to reinstall all of your programs and settings all over again - it can be and usually is a HUGE job.

rafi

For the attention of rfinney! I just wondered if this website which I read recently offered you any new info re your advice re Billye's laptop?
http://www.mindblowingidea.com/WindowsVista.html

Tony

You gotta be kidding! These are examples of the kind of mistakes that can be avoided. Nobody should order a 64-bit OS and then complain when things don't go right. And with the second laptop, they tried to do exactly what I just said should not be done - install an OS over a pre-existing one.

This kind of post is just complete garbage. It adds to the hysteria and doesn't explain the real issues. Of course there are thousands and thousands of these things out there. I am not saying that it is not possible for someone to do everything right and not have problems . . . but unfortunately most users do not know the proper procedures and thus this is what happens. And I am not at all blaming the users -- Microsoft is fully aware of the issues I have posted about and yet they continue to not explain how users should check the upgrade procedure and properly install.

rafi

Would you not agree though that Linux is the best way to go? My pc guru is determined that if I survive long enough he is putting me on Linux!!

Depends. Yes, I do think Linux, in one of its various flavors is the safest and most reliable form of computing. Also the fastest and most secure. However, it is certainly not the most usable for the vast majority of users. And usability may be more important than all the others combined for a lot of folks. In any event, I do not think it would be best for Billye and that is all I have been really talking about.

Linux is fantastic for some - I have it on two machines right now.

What is a router (did i sp) that right. Is that the thing you can put
in existing lap top to become wireless???And how expensive is this?
Sorry Sue

Thanks Richard – point taken about Billye’s best requirements. And I will be most careful before attempting Linux!



Best wishes
Tony

you've 'pledged' but not yet PAID? The sooner Kmeb actually has dollars in hand, the sooner BILLYE knows how much help she's got to buy, adapt and get updates for various programs. One in hand I am sure SHE will have LOTS of questions! - j

I imagine that your Memorial Day holiday which coincides with a similar one here today (Monday) has not helped. I am sure Billye is going to feel much more "at home" once the new lap top is in her lap. I so look forward to hearing she has it at last!!

Tony

Tony: hope you get to the point where you do try Linux. It is best if you can do so on a secondary machine, so that when problems appear you will not lose a whole machine.

shiney sue: a router is a device that sits in a gateway between at least networks. A gateway is just that point where any two networks meet. It is the job of the router to decide which way to send an information packet, based on the current state of the network.

Typically, in a home router setup, the router sits between your ISP (in other words, the internet) and a home network. This network may be just one computer or a number of them connected in a network. Routers can be wired or wireless. In order to use the internet on a notebook computer without being wired to a network, then you would use a wireless router. The wireless router is connected through an ethernet cable to your modem, and is connected to your notebook by use of a wireless adapter housed in the notebook.

Hope that helps. As for prices, they vary tremendously. But they have come down quite a lot in recent years. You can look online at discount places . . . just google for discount home computing and electronics outlets. Or you can get them even cheaper through eBay, if you what to look for and how not to get scammed.

rafi