So much awkward this thread.

First, the majority of security exploits in Windows actually go through Internet Explorer - that should be the first place you look, not necessarily at Windows itself (which is indeed deeply flawed as well, but really no worse than MacOS at this point, given a proper Vista rig).

Also, it's time to stop drinking the anti-Vista kool aid. The first releases had major issues, but right now, it's just about 100x better for most everyday users who walk in 'blind' than anything that's come previously. MacOS is pretty rad in its own right, depending on what you like, but the anti-Vista sentiment has really gotten crazy.

You said...'rad'

LOL


you know I gotta mess witcha!!!

Vista could be 100x better but even M$ knows now that it's a faliure thus Windows 7 is already on the horizon and Vista still has barely cracked into the major public and most companies.

It's a PR failure, though - from a technical standpoint, especially for casual users, it's a pretty solid platform, definitely superior to XP and at least peer to Leopard, save for very specific uses (say, graphic design).

Most of the backlash comes from the nerdy sector, whose high-end graphics cards weren't compatible with the first versions of Vista or etc. - there's really no reason for MS to fight it when they can simply release a new one every few years . . . just like Apple did, with x10.5 last year.

My boyfriend has Vista - I'm still running on XP. I like both. My laptop, however, has "Vista Capable" - so it's not going to run regular Vista, only Vista basic. So I'm sticking with XP either until I get a new PC or buy a Macbook.

DON'T get Vista....I have a feeling it won't be supported in another 2 years...just my opinion!

It's more than likely that I'll be waiting that long until I get a new laptop - definitely if I get a PC, although if I get a MacBook it won't really matter. I like what I've got right now.

My dad, unfortunately, just ordered a Dell Laptop. I really wish he would have talked to me before he ordered - while I like my laptop, while I was in school there were some definite problems with it (for one, it's over five pounds, so carrying it around in a bag made for a sore shoulder), I had significant problems connecting to my school's wireless network, etc. Dell's known for having pretty great desktops, but he could have gotten an HP from Walmart significantly cheaper and just as good if not better than what he's got coming from Dell. They're just not all that great at making laptops.

I think part of the reason why I like mine so much is because it's mine.

But, for what he uses it for (e-mail, internet, word processing, picture saving) it should be fine. He's all excited because he hasn't had a laptop in years, and he can't wait to get a wireless network.

Right when I was reading you rpost, one of my co workers showed me Walmart's laptops for Black Friday...one was an e machine and the other was a Dell with a Celeron processor....took me about 10 mins to explain why they are so bad....

Folks remember, when buyng a PC, it's like buying a car.....have a knowledgable person along who speaks geekspeech to get you thru!

.......I charge 50 bucks or food for consults...LOL

ALL of my geek friends (including two who are IT managers & purchasing agents) tell me that the best laptop is Lenovo (They are the 'Old IBM') Think Pad T-61/T500. And just about all the reviews I have read seem to bear that out (If interested, please see first posting somewhere above).
My 92 year old father-in-law just bought one and loves it compared to his old Dell.
And a friend of my Mom is also looking at one.

I'm still kinda out on Lenovos at the time...'sepcially since I haven't seen one in the wild yet.


FYI folks (and please refer to my Black Friday thread) any of you thinking about purchasing LAPTOPS at this time of the year, if you don't mind, hit us up with what you see and we can let you know if it's worth the money....a lot of them unbelievably are lemons...


On a Mac related question - Can someone recommend a great (not good) media player for Mac PC besides quicktime? I am planning on dropping some of my .avis and I want to be able to watch them.

I use VLC. I don't watch tons and tons of things other than the occasional movie on a plane or something. Very easy for me as a casual user....

I like Flip4Mac

I don't know if that is exactly what you are looking for but you should take a look at it.

ok...this is also what I need out of a media player....

something that will allow me to bookmark my videos so I can find exactly where I left off.

Just a stroke of luck this weekend....

I decided Friday to put my Powerbook G4 on craigslist...

Asking price was for $650 for the hella upgrades that is had done (New HDD, memory, etc.)

At the same time I saw a Macbook for $800

I worked a good deal where I managed to sell mine for full asking price and get the Macbook for $700.

And not only that, the Macbook has Boot Camp on it so that I have the best of both worlds on one machine!