<p>Which operating system should I choose for a new laptop? I anticipate we would upgrade to Windows 7 at some point in the future. Would either OS provide better battery life? Supposedly Vista Ultimate would provide more security but is still a bit unstable? You can assume the laptop is robust enough to handle Vista. I’d appreciate your insight. </p>
<p>And yes, I know we could buy a Mac and avoid the whole issue, but it is not an option in this case :)</p>
<p>I like old familiar things that I understand, therefore I vote for XP. I’ll do Windows 7 after it has been out a while or I am FORCED to buy a new computer and can’t get XP on.</p>
<p>I remember reading that MSFT will give PC buyers a certificate for free Windows 7 upgrade if you buy your computer now, before the new OS release. Only Vista PCs will be eligible for the certificate.</p>
<p>My entire company has XP with the new Office. I hate the new Excel. I really do. Our IT guy says his company tested Windows 7 and they liked it. He can’t stand Vista.</p>
<p>Unless this is a pressing need for a new laptop, just wait until October 22nd, when Windows 7 comes out. Lots of good things being said about it, and if you’re planning to upgrade later anyway…</p>
<p>If not in hurry wait for Windows 7 (mid October?)</p>
<p>Fact-check: MSFT does offer an upgrade to Vista buyers (not XP buyers):</p>
<p>[Windows:</a> Windows 7 Upgrade Option](<a href=“http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade.aspx]Windows:”>http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade.aspx)</p>
<p>Of course they had to offer it, otherwise PC sales would have come to a complete stop…</p>
<p>Here is what Toshiba says: buy your PC now, register on Toshiba’s website, and they will send you the upgrade when it comes out.</p>
<p>[Windows®</a> 7 Upgrade](<a href=“http://laptops.toshiba.com/windows7upgrade-learnmore]Windows®”>http://laptops.toshiba.com/windows7upgrade-learnmore)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we can’t wait for Windows 7. That would make it all too easy. I believe purchasing a new computer with XP Pro does qualify for a ‘free’ certificate for Windows 7 but it is technically not an upgrade (it will be a clean install.) But I could be wrong. Leaning toward XP Pro at the moment. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>My DH just bought a new laptop with Vista, it came with an upgrade to W7; just look for that and make sure it applies to your selection</p>
<p>I second the notion to AVOID at all costs MSFT 2007. Not much useful new stuff and a PITA to learn where everything is AGAIN</p>
<p>Supposedly you can have 1,000,000 lines in Excel, but I have yet to be able to export from Access more than the old number of 65,000 (or so). Anybody else notice this.</p>
<p>I would wait if at all possible. Not only is Windows 7 coming out but Intel will be doing a product refresh - better, faster, cheaper.</p>
<p>I have Vista on two systems and XP on a bunch of other systems. Vista is fine on a quad-core system but I find it slow on a laptop (2.0 Merom). There is also a very nasty bug that’s been known for a year which prevents you from upgrading to newer service packs without a complete reinstall.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that my next laptop will be a Mac. The problem is that my current laptop is a Mac and it runs really well (Mac OS X and Windows XP) and it looks like it will be good for another five years.</p>
<p>I just bought a new laptop (Thinkpad), and I had to get Vista on it in order to get the free upgrade to Windows 7. I would have preferred XP. I also need 64-bit versions, so maybe that is the reason I had to go with Vista.</p>
<p>XP is available in 64-bit form too. I’ve been using XP 64-bit since 2004.</p>