Laptops for College

[Abuilder]

Danny
Oh hell, why don't you just go ahead and buy the pink Dell.
Just think of all the new friends you'll make.
ROFLMAO

[drfsupercenter]

Hmm... well I was trying to have him upload a file to FTP.

Internet Explorer 6 on XP would show it like a folder, and you could drag files to it. IE7 just shows a list of files... I know IE isn't the best program for managing FTP but when your friends don't know much about computers and software, and IE works, why not have them use it? LOL

As far as me being "old"... why does it matter? I don't see what's so bad about putting XP on it. While there might not be anything super wrong with Vista, but what's so bad about XP? That's why I was wondering about drivers... if I can FIND drivers, why not?

[Budreaux]

The isue here, as I can see it, is drf has subscribed to all the internet bashing about Vista.
Admittedly, you have never used it on your own computer, so you've never tried to optimize it.
I keep hearing you throw in all the complaints about Vista that were all over the web....which tells me you are just a creature of habit and fearful of change.

Vista has proven to be a very strong and stable OS with the release of the SPs.
And like art posted, my rig is idling at almost teh exact same memory usage.

Stop using other peoples arguments about a product that you've not personally tried and cannot responsibly critique.

I'm not telling you this to be a jerk, I'm telling you this because as you are now entering college, you are growing up and you need to learn to adapt and move forward with technology. Your classes will also require you to use specific software and in time that could potentially be a problem if you are not upgrading your OS.

I loved XP, still have it on my gaming rig, but my HTPC is running Vista and I wouldn't have it any other way, now that I've used it, adapted to it, and learned to streamline it for my needs. It's a very solid OS now. I even put it on my laptop and it is the same as my HTPC. It's a shame that you are judging your hardware choice based on the availability of an "older" OS. You are limiting yourself over a simple issue that jsut requires you to adjust a bit.

[drfsupercenter]

I can open .docx files and such using my Office 2000... Why would my college require me to use Vista? (Office 2007 is a steaming pile, anyway, I refuse to use any Office newer than 2003)

All I'm saying is it's still personal choice... I know some people who still prefer Windows 2000 because they don't particularly like XP either. And most actually good software still works on XP (The fact that stuff like Halo 2 was hacked to make it run on XP shows how little Vista was actually improved...), I'm not "limiting" my hardware choice based on XP, I'm just saying if I can get drivers for XP I will.

On a serious note, though. Does that MSI laptop look like the best one? Apparently that screen can do almost a 1080p resolution, far better than other laptops of the size. And it's not pink.

[atifsh]

As far as me being "old"... why does it matter? I don't see what's so bad about putting XP on it. While there might not be anything super wrong with Vista, but what's so bad about XP? That's why I was wondering about drivers... if I can FIND drivers, why not?

that was a joke, for u r not even tring to learn or try new thing.

as iv already said nothing wrong in using xp.just look for drivers issue for ur new laptop.

[atifsh]

(Office 2007 is a steaming pile, anyway, I refuse to use any Office newer than 2003)

AND Here we go again....... lol

[drfsupercenter]

I'm serious, though, what's so great about Office 2007? And look at the sizes of the programs... 2000 all fit on a single disc, now 2003 is bigger, 2007 takes DVDs and such... they just keep taking up more space and don't really do anything new.

Seriously, Office 2000 was a great suite, why fix something that isn't broken? Some people are too caught up on using the newest everything... whereas I usually pick the *best*. For example, I'm using Winamp 2.91, Firefox 2... etc. Not because I'm outdated, but because newer is not always better.

[atifsh]

office 2007 comes on one cd also, u just need to know frm where

ok back to the point....

ur MSI is gaming laptop, do you want to game? on laptop. why im asking, though getting best and powerful system for desktop is good doing same for laptop isnt.

u can't use longer on ur laps, even if it has real nice exaust the hot air coming out those vents will be killing hot that MSI has a 9800m graphic card. whoosh overkill for many.

then the battery life will suck using such processor / graphic, and then urs one has 9 cell ok so much for portability.

then the keyboard flex and problems as seen on review, u better have a physical look first as MSI though a good brand for board and cards, getting a laptop well... its ur choice budy, ill be going towards ppl who are making laptops for some time.

another thing apparently MSI wont allow u to even change the ram and harddisk, that will void warrenty... hmm

[drfsupercenter]

LOL, I have a feeling installing XP on it would void the warranty too!
And even if I keep Vista, I'd be dualbooting with Ubuntu... so same deal there.

If something breaks I could just stick the original hard drive back in and use the restore discs... Plus, warranties aren't worth more than the paper they're written on. When I bought this Dell in 2003, it had free lifetime support... but now you have to pay $90 a problem for software help... they just ignore their old warranties. Pssh, that's so stupid.

Anyway, Is it bad to have "overkill"? I won't use it for gaming, no, but I do intend on watching movies and videos on it... and that MSI has near 1080p resolution, unlike most other computers of the same size. I don't know that I'd ever use it on my "lap"... if anything I'd just put it on a table in front of me. I'm not a big fan of touchpads, so I'll always carry around a USB mouse. (I wonder if I could use a Bluetooth mouse and not need to tie up a USB port??)

[atifsh]

Is it bad to have "overkill"?

for laptop yes, as for movies, even atom can play 720P with good codec. unless that laptop [actually a desktop replacement] doesnt gets too hot while doing a little bit of stress work, say gaming, encoding it will be fine, or else u know u are not spending 1400+ for a system that will go for couple or less years only.

[atifsh]

If something breaks I could just stick the original hard drive back in and use the restore discs...

u didnt get it, they put stickers on the lids / or hardware itself, so if the seal/sticker is broken warrenty void.

it will be a good idea to have a look first, goto some store and check that model.

[Budreaux]

Besides, Ubuntu can be loaded from a thumbdrive. There is no need to partition the laptop harddrive to dual boot Ubuntu.

[drfsupercenter]

Hmm... Well I would rather, I was going to put a 500GB or 1TB hard drive in it anyway, my desktop has a 60GB Windows XP partition, 10GB Ubuntu partition, then the rest for storage. I'd probably do something similar with the laptop.

As far as those stickers go... using a razor blade, I've seen people take them off (In such a manner you can put them back on, I mean)

[atifsh]

Hmm

As far as those stickers go... using a razor blade, I've seen people take them off (In such a manner you can put them back on, I mean)

goodluck on that

[drfsupercenter]

Like I said, warranties aren't even worth more than than the paper they're printed on.

I'd be better off just asking for help here than sending it to MSI

I mean, so much for my Dell warranty... they clearly ignored that one, so why should the laptop be any different?