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Original poster

Need a new PC. Why get Vista? Why buy new? And more stupid questions.

82 replies

policywonk · 24/09/2007 10:33

Good morning techy peoples

I kind of need a new PC, but would really like to keep the budget right down (don't need a new monitor or any add-ons). When I say 'down', I'm talking £300 or less. I only ever use Word and Explorer, because I am dull like that - no need to play games or anything.

I read a recent thread about this and someone was saying YOU MUST GET VISTA - why? Will I not be able to open Vista files in XP? What sort of processor should I get?

Is it OK to buy second-hand computers on eBay, or will I be cursing? What should I look for?

Please help me, I am stupid.

OP posts:
Original poster
policywonk · 24/09/2007 13:54

We will get in trouble for this, you know.

OP posts:
Wisteria · 24/09/2007 13:55

Look on Dabs.com for the best deals IMHO. They use better quality parts than your average PC world gubbins, PC world computers always go wrong and then you have to talk to an eejit on a helpline who knows less than you do and the stock help is 'have you rebooted it?'

Wisteria · 24/09/2007 13:56

Do you know I am feeling mighty rebellious today..

Original poster
policywonk · 24/09/2007 14:00

God I love you all, I really do. I've been trying to get DP to answer these questions for the last two months, and I've just been getting a lot of mumbling about 'buying a new motherboard'.

OP posts:
Wisteria · 24/09/2007 14:02

I am buying 2 laptops and a pc this year as everything I've got is at least 5 years old so have been doing much research into it.

MellowMa · 24/09/2007 14:39

Message withdrawn

Original poster
policywonk · 24/09/2007 14:44
OP posts:
MellowMa · 24/09/2007 14:50

Message withdrawn

VeniVidiVickiQV · 24/09/2007 15:25

ooh no Word 2007 is fantastic. Honestly.

It's how Word should always have been laid out.

Vista a problem, not Office 2007.

MellowMa · 24/09/2007 15:29

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MellowMa · 24/09/2007 15:30

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MellowMa · 24/09/2007 15:31

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Wisteria · 24/09/2007 17:09

I have already given you the techie reasons why Vista is shite doesn't perform well yet.....

I bet you're all in the kitchen eating crisps and cheese and crackers

MellowMa · 24/09/2007 17:33

Message withdrawn

Original poster
policywonk · 24/09/2007 17:36

Tis to do with memory, Mellow - Vista needs more memory than most current home computers have, thus doesn't run very well on them. That's W's explanation, anyway.

OP posts:
NappiesGalore · 24/09/2007 17:40

vista can be a total pita. ime.

had a senior microsoft man in my kitchen oher day... was talking about it among other things with dp while i mn'ed. heard him saying it was to do with security... people wanted more so they put more in but that made it harder to operate.

dp, who is ex ms, hates it. mutters about interfaces and things moved around and it telling you its doing things and not doing them or telling yo and not letting you say no.

having said all that, its all v shiney when it does work . and, um, is there any choice anyway?

Wisteria · 24/09/2007 18:06

I'm sticking with XP until they've sorted it out (or until I can afford a PC with 5 gigabyte thingies or whatever it needs

MNHQ
Tech · 24/09/2007 18:31

Get a mac. That's my new mantra. Get a mac. If you've already got a screen and keyboard, apple uk sells the entry level mac mini for 399. Also (poss of interest if you are a geeky type) it's unix under the hood. Unix has the reputation of being rock-solid stable and has been around in various forms since the early 70s. Macs take a little while to get used to if you're used to windows, and if you use windows at work and mac at home it can be annoying, but it's worth it really. Get a mac.

LyraBelacqua · 24/09/2007 18:37

Get a mac. You won't have to worry about viruses etc. I got one last year and it's fab.

SenoraPostrophe · 24/09/2007 18:54

tech - but if you want unix, why not just get unix? at least you'd be able to repair the thing yourself then.

it's also not true that your "don't have to worry about viruses" with a mac. It's just that most virus writers currently write for Windows because it's more common. But do you know what, if I was a virus writer, I'd write one for mac just because of the sheer number of people who think they're safe because they don't run windows.

mac also have a nasty habit of foisting unfinished software on their users - macs come with Safari as standard, which is still beta for god's sake, and which works in a different way to all other browsers (as you, tech, must know). they must have wasted millions upon millions of webmaster man-hours just so they can have their own browser to make money out of later.

don't get a mac. get a pc for 3/4 of the price.

LyraBelacqua · 24/09/2007 18:58

Yes there are viruses for macs but the vast majority are written for windows-based systems. And Safari is fine, I don't feel it's any worse than Internet Explorer.

Tamum · 24/09/2007 18:59

I have a lapyop running Vista too- had it for about 6 months with no problems at all. I prefer it to XP now, but I don't use much hardware with it to be fair.

tissy · 24/09/2007 18:59

I've recently moved from pc to mac, and haven't had any problems with Safari at all....it's not noticeably different from IE really...

...but then I know nowt about how computers work, just want one that does, and my MacBook is FAR better than my pc.

Tamum · 24/09/2007 19:00

I have a laptop, not a lapyop, interesting though they sound

Tamum · 24/09/2007 19:01

Well, and if you love Safari you can always run it on a PC of course. I have it on here but am not so keen, just keep it as a back-up really.