Help me decide on a laptop :O

[Zbu Manowar]

Originally Posted by Mockery

Also, how much should I truly FEAR vista? :P

If you have a dog, it will rape it. Also, Microsoft has admitted that SP1 will not solve any issues and may cause a few more. Just stick with XP.

[Fathom Zero]

My friends have it on their sub-$1000 laptops and they say it runs very well. Hardcore gaming isn't really Vista's forte on laptops. But, if you aren't transcoding high definition video, I wouldn't think it'd matter. I couldn't care less over which, (XP or Vista). They both have their plusses. Vista molds to what you do and pre-caches some of the more frequently used files and applications. The biggest problem I see is hard drive usage. I think a minimum installation can go upwards of 10 gigs (?). By the way, Vista Ultimate is 64-bit instead of the 32-bit, so it uses memory smarter. That's the best way I can describe it. It goes faster, is what I am trying to say.

The cheaper one does look like your best bet. It's odd. I don't buy laptops seriously anymore, though, so don't take it from me. If I had a similar budget, I'd get this:

Amazon.com: Sony Vaio VGN-UX380N

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-UX380...7700923&sr=8-1

I'm freakin' weird like that, though.

[zeldasbiggestfan]

Vista takes ALOT of getting used to. You will bitch, you will cry, and you will hate everyone for 2 months until you learn ever little goddamn detail they changed. BUT, after all that it's pretty nice! But 2 months of frustration isn't really all that fun. :HEADUPASS

[Mockery]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I actually decided to go with a higher-end model, the VGN-AR660U which has the nicest screen (XBRITE-HiColor), a faster processor and Vista Ultimate among other things. I'm also gonna upgrade the ram to 4 gigs instead of 2. Might as well since it only costs about 40 bux for the extra 2 gigs. Should work out to be a real nice portable desktop replacement when it's all said 'n done. Take a gander at it and lemme know whatcha think.

And Fathom, I've seen those ultra-portables before and while it is neat they can cram so much into something that small, it'd hardly be useful for typing up large articles, doing design work and video-editing - which is what I'm getting this new computer for heheh

[Fathom Zero]

Originally Posted by Mockery

And Fathom, I've seen those ultra-portables before and while it is neat they can cram so much into something that small, it'd hardly be useful for typing up large articles, doing design work and video-editing - which is what I'm getting this new computer for heheh

I totally hear you. Especially about the keyboards which are often little more than thumb-able keypads. The Sony ones are the most powerful of the bunch with the Core Solo processors as opposed to a lot of the Celeron and AMD ones. The screen real-estate, though, (I hate that term), is it's biggest weakness and best selling point.

Props to you for finding a better laptop. I saw Vista Ultimate in a store today, $395. Insane.