Computers and Vista for College - Page 2

ucsd_ucla_dad · 06-03-2007, 05:43 PM

Even if you buy a new laptop with XP I recommend you get a "Vista Ready" laptop so that someday it can be upgraded to Vista. A "Vista Ready" laptop is supposed to mean that all of the hardware components are compatible with Vista.

I'm not running Vista yet but my next purchase will have it. I'm not too worried about it. A friend of mine has Vista installed on a few systems and doesn't have any issues with it.

calmom · 06-03-2007, 06:20 PM

I hear your frustration and I could rant all day about Vista, and dread the day that my laptop gives out and I need to upgrade....

That being said, my totally computer-phobic ex-husband had to upgrade because the mother board failed on his old computer, and somehow he has managed to survive with Vista ... so it is manageable. Most commercial software programs have been upgraded to be Vista-compatible -- I think the bigger problem is going to be for those of us running older software or shareware.

However, I think its a mistake to NOT buy the latest operating system available for a computer. Yes, there will be bugs & compatibility issues, but all new software is going to be developed for the new OS -- so essentially XP is on a shorter path to becoming obsolete. I wouldn't spend $1000 on a new computer with a soon-to-be-obsolete operating system, even if I liked the old OS better. Keep in mind that the hardware (hard drives, etc.) on computers usually doesn't last much more than 3 years -- so as each year goes by, a much higher percentage of personal computers will be running Vista. Assuming that you go with a PC/Windows computer, if you want your son to be happy with his computer 2 years down the line... buy Vista.

One more piece of advice: if you do get Vista, buy extra RAM for the computer -- loading up with RAM is more important than any other special feature or add/on you might opt for, because Vista is a huge resource hog. So whatever they recommend as a minimum for Vista....you want more.

I do believe that Vista can run older software using some sort of "compatibility mode" -- so with a few quirks, it should be manageable.

AM17 · 06-03-2007, 06:39 PM

I don't understand the big deal with Vista. I have it, and it's incredibly similar to XP. Nothing seems incredibly different. I made the switch with zero problems.

Marian · 06-03-2007, 06:42 PM

That's great, AM17, but if you were a student at my daughter's prospective college, you would find that you could not access the college's computer system, which is used for things like course enrollment. It's not Vista-compatible. This is the sort of thing that some colleges are still working on fixing, and it could be a problem for students bringing Vista-equipped computers to campus this fall if the colleges aren't ready in time.

My husband says that part of the problem is that Vista actually has decent security but that some of the older systems that aren't compatible with it have had stuff added to them right and left and are therefore full of security glitches. That makes sense, I think.

dragonmom · 06-03-2007, 06:59 PM

The Vista issue has made my D very happy, as it means she's getting a MacBook instead. She'll have to rely on school IT folks for tech support, since my h and I don't speak Apple-ese. OTOH, big bro has a Mac running all three OS like some of the above posters, so he can be tech support.

ucsd_ucla_dad · 06-03-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

you would find that you could not access the college's computer system, which is used for things like course enrollment. It's not Vista-compatible.

I'd be curious to know what the exact problem is since the statement doesn't make much sense. Most access to college computer systems nowadays is really via the browser and not something deep down in the OS. Of course, security settings on the OS's firewall and browser have to be set appropriately but that's not a big deal. I'd be very surprised if a Vista system couldn't access the college's computer system.

hops_scout · 06-03-2007, 08:13 PM

I found it interesting somebody mentioned that Dell would build you a new laptop with XP on it. The only ones I could find were on the Small Business side of their site and you had to be a Small Business to order. I just bought my laptop last week (website says it's shipped and should arrive this week) off of Dell's web site. Probably have to call to get XP.

Anyway, school I'm going to currently says "Limited support for Vista" until spring of 2008. I was really hesitant to move on to Vista, but I look forward to seeing it.

I was told today, however, that Vista does not allow you do use free downloaded programs such as Ad Aware or other anti-virus softwares you can download for free

WasOnceMellowMom · 06-03-2007, 09:08 PM

My D just told me that her friend is having horrible problems using Vista with iTunes. I am sure this will be eventually straightened out, but for many college students, running iTunes is top priority.

calmom · 06-03-2007, 09:22 PM

hop-scout, users on the internet are reporting that they can use ad-aware fine with Vista -- see:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_10...geID=24419 80

There may be compatibility issues depending on the type of service, but it does not appear to be an issue over what the software "allows" you to do.

hops_scout · 06-03-2007, 10:03 PM

calmom, that's great to hear since my school pushes ad-aware and Spybot I believe it is. Information gets passed around and gets confused sometimes. I guess it could be one of those "your experience may vary" kind of things.

aphoticmelody · 06-03-2007, 10:42 PM

I will be buying a Vista laptop, but probably having one of my computer-knowledgeable friends add XP as a second operating system so I can run whichever I choose. Seems like the best course of action at this time.

idad · 06-04-2007, 12:17 AM

Get a MacBook, there is no need to anguish over a computer. If one needs XP, it will run it, if one needs Vista, it will run it, but what most find is, no one needs either.

TheOneCurlyFry · 06-04-2007, 02:19 AM

Yay, this means I can tell my parents I HAVE to get a Mac!

Marian · 06-04-2007, 06:33 AM

ucsd_ucla_dad, I may not have expressed the problem correctly because I'm pretty much of an idiot as far as computers are concerned, but there are many parts of the college's system that don't work with Vista, and course enrollment is one of them. I don't pretend to understand it.

dt123 · 06-04-2007, 07:15 AM

I hate to be the lone contrary voice, but three weeks ago I bought a new HP desktop for my daughter to take to college in August. It came with Vista, and we added Itunes, AOL instant messenger and MS Office 2003 which run just fine. It is pretty cool actually.