'Spare' computer?

[AntirrhinumMajus]

I use my laptop for work

When it has a problem I need a spare computer

I am thinking of buying a super cheap laptop which I can use when I'm stuffed

DD (12) could use it (as it would be better than hers) when I'm not but her current one isn't good enough

I mainly use Excel (with Macros) word, outlook (not express) with Firefox so would a net book be worth it or do I need a proper laptop?

This is a real addiction isn't it - but I can't work without it

& what is the difference between windows 7 business & windows 7 home?

You can get a proper laptop for under £300, so why get a netbook?

Ok That's useful to know, I haven't seen any tho'

Where from? Tescos/Argos/Comet they are all a quite a bit more

Dell is very expensive & although I would love to move to a Mac - that isn't going to happen (yet - unless I win the premium bonds - I wish)

Asda Direct have an Emachines laptop for £297 ATM. I couldn't comment on the quality of Emachines laptops, but the spec looks OK to me. I'd prefer it to a netbook.

"what is the difference between windows 7 business & windows 7 home?"

There isn't a Windows 7 Business, do you mean Professional or Enterprise?

There are also two versions of Home, basic and Premium, which are you looking at?

A full list of the differences can be found here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

The differences are numerous and complicated.

But basically the main differences you might notice are:

• The Home Editions support less memory (though probably still more that you'd have) and only one physical processor.

• The Home Editions can't encrypt your hard disk drive.

• Home doesn't come with "XP Mode" which is a way of getting the machine to pretend to be Windows XP and thus allow older programs to run.

Why so many versions?

No idea.

As I said to someone else the other day Microsoft seem to like making simple things complicated.

Apple just sell their Operating System in a box with which you get everything you might need.

With Windows you have to think about what you will be getting up to and plan ahead.

You know when you wish you never asked the question because you don't really understand the answer...........I'll have a look at Wiki - as I use older versions of stuff I guess professional is the way for me

Thanks for taking the time to explain it - I do appreciate it

& thanks cruel& I'll have a look at the Adsa machine - although DH is leaning towards me having a new machine & letting DD have my old (23m) machine

Some older stuff will run fine on Windows 7.

It's probably worth looking up each one on the internet to see if it's compatible.