[ph03n!x]

Originally Posted by SLK

Yup.... me running Win 2008 server as a server with all themes and visual effects..... works good for me....
3Ghz Core2Duo and 2gb RAM.

just shifted from Server 2003 to Server 2008.... I find 2008 much better.

Originally Posted by given2fly

Windows 2008 with desktop experience option installed is YUMMY! I have one of my workstations running it that way and i love the effects.

I was using it for a month or two, but then switched back to Vista SP1 - did not want to keep rearming it! But it is pretty amazing fast!!

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by iraghava

Plus, no irritating security alerts & stupid menus!

This is called UAC (User account control) and you can very well turn it off if you don't want to see those annoying messageboxes.

I keep it enabled still, because it is a good security feature. You never know when a trojan or an application is trying to screw up the machine by accessing some critical system files.

I like Vista way more than I liked XP. Its one step ahead in usability. For me, Vista is not slow at all. (2.1 Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4 GB Dual channel, 160 GB HDD @ 7200 rpm)

[HappyWheels]

Has anyone tried to procure a laptop from Dell without the OS?

I already have an unused Vista copy at home and would be using it for the laptop I am purchasing. So would I have been able to get the laptop with no OS (atleast I would have saved the cost of the OS from the total cost).

Anyone tried this?

[mshooli]

I have not heard of Dell coming with laptops without OS. However I have noticed Lenovo doing this where your notebooks will come loaded with just DOS.

[tsk1979]

Most laptop makers force you to pay for the OS even if you don't want it. Its a common business practice
All Laptop makers force you to pay for the OS on high end models.

[vinayvtec]

Originally Posted by mshooli

I have not heard of Dell coming with laptops without OS. However I have noticed Lenovo doing this where your notebooks will come loaded with just DOS.

Dell had launched the non OS systems long back, its called nSeries. While placing the order you can speak to sales representative and place the order for nSeries computer, but I think in India it’s only sold for corporate and business segment and not the home and home office segment.

[vinayvtec]

Windows Vista is setup by default to restart immediately after a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or other major system problem. This reboot usually happens too fast to see the error message on screen.

Follow these easy steps to disable the automatic restart feature for system failures in Windows Vista.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Disabling the Automatic Restart option in Windows Vista usually takes less than 10 minutes

Here's How:

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.

Tip: In a hurry? Type system in the search box after clicking Start. Choose System from the list of results and then skip to Step 4.

2. Click on the System and Maintenance link.

Note: If you're viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won't see this link. Simply double-click on the System icon and proceed to Step 4.

3. Click on the System link.

4. In the task pane on the left, click the Advanced system settings link.

5. Locate the Startup and Recovery area and click on the Settings button.

6. In the Startup and Recovery window, locate and uncheck the check box next to Automatically restart.

7. Click OK in the Startup and Recovery window.

8. Click OK in the System Properties window.

9. You can now close the System window.

10. From now on, when a problem causes a BSOD or another major error that halts the system, the PC will not automatically reboot. Rebooting manually will be necessary.

Source a KB from net...

[HappyWheels]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

...All Laptop makers force you to pay for the OS on high end models.

Originally Posted by vinayvtec

...but I think in India it’s only sold for corporate and business segment and not the home and home office segment.

Just now called up the sales rep and he said the same thing - not available for home users.

[dadu]

Buy Acer laptop, VFM.

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

Just now called up the sales rep and he said the same thing - not available for home users.

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by clevermax

I like Vista way more than I liked XP. Its one step ahead in usability. For me, Vista is not slow at all. (2.1 Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4 GB Dual channel, 160 GB HDD @ 7200 rpm)

I'm running a similar setup, T8100 Penryn 2.1, 3GB, 250GB SATA but the performance difference between Vista & XP is too vast to ignore. And I know these things can be turned off but the other problem is that everything has been relabelled & moved out of the place which we have been used to from W95 days. I do not like the attempt that they've made to re-invent the wheel when the original one wasn't broken in the first place. It just makes things more irritating for me.

[HappyWheels]

Originally Posted by dadu

Buy Acer laptop, VFM.

Dadu, already taken the plunge! Order for a XPS M1530 yesterday.

Originally Posted by iraghava

I'm running a similar setup, T8100 Penryn 2.1, 3GB, 250GB SATA but the performance difference between Vista & XP is too vast to ignore...

Regardless of the fact that I went for a 4GB RAM machine for Vista, maybe I will check our XP also in the machine. Better performance is never a bad thing.

[ph03n!x]

All those who say that XP is fast - try installing Server 2003 (any version / revision) - it flies on the same hardware! That is because XP is NT 5.1 while Server 2003 has a whole new core - version 5.2

Vista and 2008 are built on the same core as Server 2003, but Vista has a lot of baggage. Server 2008 is stripped down of all that and is more focused on the server role, and hence is a lot faster - almost as fast on XP. Try it, you wont regret it!! But then, I would advice 1 GB of RAM, even for XP!!!

[SLK]

Originally Posted by ph03n!x

All those who say that XP is fast - try installing Server 2003 (any version / revision) - it flies on the same hardware! That is because XP is NT 5.1 while Server 2003 has a whole new core - version 5.2

Vista and 2008 are built on the same core as Server 2003, but Vista has a lot of baggage. Server 2008 is stripped down of all that and is more focused on the server role, and hence is a lot faster - almost as fast on XP. Try it, you wont regret it!! But then, I would advice 1 GB of RAM, even for XP!!!

mmm... I doubt Vista SP1/2008 run on the same kernel/core as Win 2003.

Win2003 was way too stable to be compared to XP... but then it had basic feature like uPnP missing which even phones have now-a-days.

[diabloo]

If you want more mess, try Office 2007 !!! That has even more numbers of things relabeled or moved some where else
Small test: Just try to locate 'About' box in Office 2007

Originally Posted by iraghava

And I know these things can be turned off but the other problem is that everything has been relabelled & moved out of the place which we have been used to from W95 days. I do not like the attempt that they've made to re-invent the wheel when the original one wasn't broken in the first place. It just makes things more irritating for me.

[SLK]

Originally Posted by diabloo

If you want more mess, try Office 2007 !!! That has even more numbers of things relabeled or moved some where else
Small test: Just try to locate 'About' box in Office 2007

The about box surely has been moved a long distance. . . but its all 'about' getting used to.

If you have the right hardware, the newer microsoft products tend to get more stable.... and less buggy.... so its not so bad. Just a resistance to change.

The first time i installed W95... i got rid of it very soon as I didn't find it friendly.

The first time I used XP.. i ran a parallel Win Me for almost a year

The first time I installed.. Longhorn server... I got rid of it in a weeks time .

And now I'm vouching for the Win 2008/ Vista Sp1.