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Technical Help & Discussion => Software, Hardware & Website Recommendations => Topic started by: Tony on July 01, 2008, 14:47

Title: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on July 01, 2008, 14:47
which would it be ?

I'm only asking because every body I've spoken to who run Vista, say its massively resource hungry. My son was thinking of buying and installing XP on his laptop. I guess he don't like Vista  ::)

Imagine this Save XP (http://weblog.infoworld.com/save-xp/archives/2008/06/editors_blog_sa.html)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Clive on July 01, 2008, 15:51
General consensus is that Vista is the new Windows Me - a dead end operating system which is awaiting the arrival of Windows 7 in 2010.  MS were just greedy and hoped the public would shell out money on an OS that slows their system down and screws up their software.   I insisted on XP Pro for the new machine I bought in January this year and would do so again.   
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on July 01, 2008, 15:55
Yes Clive this guy seems to be of the same opinion as you

Why I downgraded  from Vista to XP (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/12/freeformdynamics_vista_downgrade/)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Simon on July 01, 2008, 17:10
I have Vista on my laptop, but only because it came pre-installed.  Also, I wanted to experience it for myself, as others were saying it was poor compared to XP.  I have found that on a standard spec machine, such as my lappy, it does run quite slowly, and I am often sitting there waiting for commands to execute.  For example, it can take up to 60 seconds for Firefox to launch from cold, and the Send To command takes forever to get the actual destinations menu to pop up.  I haven't had the crashes that some have reported, and also haven't had any real compatibility issues, so I wouldn't say Vista is totally bad, but I did install XP on my new machine.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on July 01, 2008, 17:15
Hey, Bro I just made an impulse purchase today.......I had this horrible vision of being stuck with having to  buy Vista (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128332)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Rik on July 01, 2008, 17:49
I'm of the Vista is the new Me school, and would buy XP.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Simon on July 01, 2008, 17:55
Hey, Bro I just made an impulse purchase today.......I had this horrible vision of being stuck with having to  buy Vista (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128332)

I'm sure I've already said this, but good buy, mate!  :thumb:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Baz on July 01, 2008, 18:01
Hey, Bro I just made an impulse purchase today.......I had this horrible vision of being stuck with having to  buy Vista (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128332)


sorry to intrude guys but Ive noticed this before and wondered if theres  any significance in it...........Bro???  is it as in kin or are you both in the hood or summit ;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Clive on July 01, 2008, 18:06
Merely a figure of speech Baz.   ;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Simon on July 01, 2008, 18:28
A long way back in the distant annuls of PC Pals, Tony and I were both in the process of building our own machines for the first time.  The original thread has unfortunately vanished, but it was very entertaining for all, and we became known as the Chuckle Brothers, hence the 'Bro' and 'Bruv' references have stuck.  :)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Rik on July 01, 2008, 19:02
And there's nothing like a sticky Bro... :scoot:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Baz on July 01, 2008, 20:48
 ;D ;D ;D   ok thanks
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on July 02, 2008, 00:52
As you already know Tony, I dont tend to buy much software  :o:
I do however like using Vista Ultimate 32 and dont seem to have experienced the slow down of my pc that others complain of  ::)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on July 02, 2008, 07:49
As you already know Tony, I dont tend to buy much software  :o:


Me neither, this is really hurting  :dunno: So how come you ended up using Vista, with all the bad press it has received  ?
Quote
I do however like using Vista Ultimate 32 and don't seem to have experienced the slow down of my pc that others complain of  ::)

Yer but, yer but, yer but, your PC's always seem to be leading edge pieces of kit. And I think there in lies the problem with Vista, in that you really need a high spec  PC to run it.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Camstop on July 02, 2008, 08:08
Gotta Say. Vista has been my most stable operating system i've had and doesn't cause me any problems ever, touch wood  :splat:

 ;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on July 02, 2008, 08:14
Well there you are, but again I reckon you like Sandra will have a well spec'ed PC. I've always had this vision of you Cammy, as being a man who has everything he needs or desires ......... :thumbs:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Camstop on July 02, 2008, 09:48
Well there you are, but again I reckon you like Sandra will have a well spec'ed PC. I've always had this vision of you Cammy, as being a man who has everything he needs or desires ......... :thumbs:


Yes your right, when i replaced my 5 year old office helicopter with a snazzy new silent Dell (deal too hot to miss via hotukdeals), i did double the RAM to 4GB (and yes, windows only recognises 3GB  ::) :)x ) via another deal for £30 so that it was up to good Vista spec.

As for the "needs and desires", well that's another topic!  ':|   
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on July 02, 2008, 12:25
I started using it last November to see what it was like, before it came out on general release Tony and the pc its running on isnt that well speccd by todays standards, its not even dual core.
Its a 3.6ghz P4 660 CPU that cost a lot of money 3 years back with 2 gig of ram and a £30 8400GS PCI-e GFX card, so its hardly the fastest pc in the world  :)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 23, 2008, 17:03
I must remember to use the "notify" option  :blush:

I started using it last November to see what it was like, before it came out on general release


very interesting  ::)

Quote
Tony and the pc its running on isnt that well speccd by todays standards, its not even dual core.
Its a 3.6ghz P4 660 CPU that cost a lot of money 3 years back with 2 gig of ram and a £30 8400GS PCI-e GFX card, so its hardly the fastest pc in the world  :)

Now then Sandra all this graphics card labelling 7600GT, 8400GS and such, I'm again thinking of putting another new PC together, grandson bags mine [ AMD 64 3700+ 2GB Memory. Geforce 7600GT 256MB graphics card] when he comes on a weekend. Leaving me with my original first build  [Athlon 2000+ 512 MB Memory. 32GB Matrox G45 graphics card]...so no gaming there then   :(

Trouble is to begin with I want to keep the costs down, I was thinking of a AMD quad core 9550 [only 6 watts more power consumption than my 3700+] 4GB 800hz memory [cheap as chips right now] and a Mobo with Geforce 8200 on board graphics with up to 512mb shared memory, oh and use a Sata HD. [my two previous PC builds use IDE HDD] do you think it should run games like "Call of Duty 4" ? its says min spec is a GeForce 6600GT....Am I right in thinking the 8200 on board wont cope

Plan is to move the 3700+ into the 2000+  PSU 350watt case. New Mobo, CPU into the 450watt case vacated by the 3700+

See I was thinking of delaying purchasing something like a 9600GT PCI Express graphic card until later. Because I have noticed when the next latest offerings  go on sale, prior offerings drop substantially in price. But may of course need to buy now, kissing goodbye to another £90, if the 8200 wont hack it.  Of course with MS validating, it would also mean me buying yet another OS grrrrrrrrrrr, jeez it never stops this parting with brass does it.


Should I go Vista, or should I wait until Windows 7 comes out, before I build another PC ? What I suppose I'm saying is, it just galls  me to have to fork out for yet another MS OS so close to Win 7 coming out. What I really need is a 12 months evaluation copy "cough" of Vista   :o:


Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Clive on November 23, 2008, 17:41
Most of us are skipping Windows 7 and waiting for Windows 8 now Tony.   ;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 23, 2008, 17:56
Most of us are skipping Windows 7 and waiting for Windows 8 now Tony.   ;D

 :pmsl:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: davy51 on November 23, 2008, 18:47
I had a chance to run Vista in the beta stages on this machine I'm on it ran fast as xp pro with no changes

Some where during the beta and the general release something was added that slowed it down

Now my graphics card is not fast enough and my 2 gig of memory just doesnt do the job

So I put xp pro back on it

I will wait for windows 7 and see how it does
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Clive on November 23, 2008, 21:17
THIS (http://www.pc-pals.com/smf/index.php?topic=26841.0) is why I shall be clinging on to XP Tony. 
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 24, 2008, 00:51
Not sure how much you were thinking of spending on the bits Tony but next thursday Aldi have for sale what looks like a very good value PC.
Quad core Intel cpu (blows anything AMD has into a cocked hat. 4 Gig ram and a teragig hard drive.
The only thing lacking really is a Blu Ray DVD.
It has a TV card in as well for terrestrial, cable and satellite.
£499 sounds like a bargain especially as it comes with Vista Home premium installed.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: sam on November 24, 2008, 08:54
I got a machine from aldi a couple of months back... well impressed (shame it came with Vista Home Premium  :ack: .. .first thing I did dual boot with Ubuntu - not that I've booted into Vista since...).
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: mistybear on November 24, 2008, 08:58
Which one did you get Sam? I have have an old Medion 8383XL.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: daveeb on November 24, 2008, 13:37
I've just got a new pc with XP sp3. For my uses i've found vista premium to be hopeless as it just won't run the majority of programs i rely on even in compatability mode. It's also extremely flakey especially with wireless networking. Windows 7 by all accounts is merely vista in xp clothing so i could well be using XP for the forseeable future.  :-X
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 24, 2008, 14:46
Theres a Computer Active review on the upcoming Medion PC from Aldi here :

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/hardware/2230968/review-medion-p7300d-desktop
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 24, 2008, 14:51
Sandra this is the review I thought I had posted earlierMedion P7300D (http://m.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review_summary.phtml/3639/4663/medion-akoya-p7300d-desktop-pc.phtml)

Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 24, 2008, 15:48
Looks good Tony, the review I posted said that it came with 64 bit Vista installed but your review says it comes with 32 bit installed and the 64 bit on a DVD. That would be better as you may still have problems getting the programs you want as 64 bit versions for another year or two yet.
Dont forget that the Medion PCs from Aldi have always come with a 3 year guarantee thrown in as well, not many PC manufacturers give such a good guarantee for free :)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 24, 2008, 17:03
Sandra, I'm running on XP Pro 64 bit now, and not had any problems at all with programs.

Looking in Windows explorer there are two program folders, one "Program files x86" [16.3GB] the other "Program Files" [129MB]  of course looking at programs via > Start > Programs, there is no such segregation.

In any case I have read somewhere, that to get the very best performance out of the latest multi core CPU's you really need to have a 64 bit OS installed.



Mesh are asking minimum £899 for a Q8200, 4GB, 750GB  spec'ed PC.....and like you say no 3 year warranty
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 25, 2008, 00:41
The main advantage of 64 bit over 32 bit in windows OSs is that 32 bit cant use as much ram, just under 4 gig is its limitation. 64 bit has no limitations as far as is known at the moment.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 25, 2008, 01:02
Sorry to have found this one as well Tony   :)x

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.204-9446.aspx

Not compared the specs side by side but from what I remember this has less ram but has a Blu Ray DVD, presumably just a player not a writer and is the same price.

Edited to add this :

I have just read that someone has said that it hasnt got HDMI and its not as good a GFX card. Also that the 3 year warranty on the Aldi one is better value than the Blu Ray DVD, which you could easily add later if necessary.
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 25, 2008, 09:28
Ok Sandra, you have sold me on it.

Now if you were a real mate you would queue up outside the Colne branch of Aldi  for me, I reckon 6.45am should do it. It would just mean you having to get too bed a bit later than normal  :)xl

But assuming that's a no no, it looks like the Wife is walking to work Thursday, as I'll need the car to get to the Keighley branch.

Just looked up a Passmark Index [that Reno provided a link too] on a Q8200 quad core rig compared to my AMD 3700+ single core.......3215 as against 447 for the 3700+.....so I should notice a bit of a difference  ;D

Right anybody want to buy an AMD 2000+ rig complete with 17" Dell CRT monitor, fully loaded with masses of software cheap, as the Wife's getting a 3700+ rig for Xmas   ;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 25, 2008, 12:21
I had to get my niece to pick my Medion up when I wanted the 8800 a few years back Tony  ;D

I thought you wanted a new PC so your grandson could have your old one  :dunno:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 25, 2008, 12:47
I had to get my niece to pick my Medion up when I wanted the 8800 a few years back Tony  ;D

 ;D
Quote
I thought you wanted a new PC so your grandson could have your old one  :dunno:


he can go on the 3700+ it has a 7600GT graphics card, so plays games OK 

the 2000+ is the first PC I built
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 26, 2008, 00:36
Looks like they may have dropped the price a bit Tony  :dunno:

http://www.medion.com/ms/aldi/md8838/uk/flash.html

Maybe they have decided to apply next weeks VAT reduction this thursday for some reason  ???
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 26, 2008, 00:50
yes Sandra I noticed a link to that on the unofficial Aldi Medion forum.....looks like I'll be queueing for one doesn't it  :)...Jeez I must be mad , I mean I don't really need one  ::)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 26, 2008, 02:42
Who let you join  :o

I was going to tell you about it if you bought one  :)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 26, 2008, 07:39
Who let you join  :o


;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Sandra on November 27, 2008, 10:11
I hope you managed to get one Tony.
I have just been on the aldi/medion forum and it seems some stores only had 3 in and the most anyone has seen was 5 and they all seem to have sold out in the first few minutes of opening. Not surprising really as with such low numbers per store and being what looks like such a bargain, they were never going to last long  ::)
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 27, 2008, 10:36
I hope you managed to get one Tony.
I have just been on the aldi/medion forum and it seems some stores only had 3 in and the most anyone has seen was 5 and they all seem to have sold out in the first few minutes of opening. Not surprising really as with such low numbers per store and being what looks like such a bargain, they were never going to last long  ::)

Now serving customer number one  ;D

Yes I got it Sandra, £487, I was outside the Keighley branch  ::)@ 7.10 am......on my bloody own....joined by a guy called Stewart [pointed him here  :)]  He like me was "humming and harring" all week as he already has a respectable dual core. [ he is into photo stuff in a big way] But like me swayed by the bargain price.

We were then joined by a few more  as time went by, customer five , a lady joined us about 8.40pm then some others. As the manager unlocked the door, he said PC's are at the till. As we got to the till, I asked him how many they had.....Five.....I looked around and there was five of us at the till. That lady had a very relived look on her face, which turned into a very big grin. So by 9:00:15 seconds they were sold out.

Did you see my first ever post on the  Medion forum, I was looking last thing last night, and the last poster said....good look to all those going for one tomorrow..................So I posted my reply at 12:15 am....................I'm setting off now  ;D
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: sam on November 27, 2008, 10:41
lol, it was like that form me a couple of weeks back.. they also sold out of their external hard disks in as many minutes then too!
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Rik on November 27, 2008, 10:46
They've announced that they cut the VAT from today, so hopefully you got an even better bargain, Tony.

http://uk.aldi.com/uk/html/special_buys.htm
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Simon on November 27, 2008, 10:53
Nice one Tony!  :thumb:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 27, 2008, 11:01
They've announced that they cut the VAT from today, so hopefully you got an even better bargain, Tony.

http://uk.aldi.com/uk/html/special_buys.htm

Pay attention at the back please  ;)

Simon, how about this poor sod....................


   
PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:54 am     Post subject:      Reply to this post Reply with quote Report post
Congratulations to those who got one. I was first in the queue at my local Aldi, but managed to walk down the wrong aisle (made the mistake of heading to the computers rather than straight to the till), so I missed out.

Guess I'd better hope that my current PC (which has begun to make weird noises) holds out until the next Medion deal...
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Simon on November 27, 2008, 11:19
:haha:
Title: Re: If you were going to buy a Microsoft operating system right now,
Post by: Tony on November 27, 2008, 14:49
:haha:

Your Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick  ;D