The Conservative Cave
The Help Desk => Computer Related Discussions & Questions => Topic started by: jinxmchue on January 21, 2009, 08:53:33 PM
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I'm so lost. Things have changed so much since we bought a computer last. What we would like is a computer that's good for fast internet surfing and multimedia with lots of speed and memory. We also do NOT want Vista, though XP is fine if that's possible anymore. From what I've seen online, it seems like it should be. We just need the tower, too. Seems like wherever I look, they throw in everything else, which we don't need at this time. Any recommendations. Nothing terribly expensive, but nothing real cheap, either. $1000 is a good starting point and we can go a little up or down from there.
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I'm so lost. Things have changed so much since we bought a computer last. What we would like is a computer that's good for fast internet surfing and multimedia with lots of speed and memory. We also do NOT want Vista, though XP is fine if that's possible anymore. From what I've seen online, it seems like it should be. We just need the tower, too. Seems like wherever I look, they throw in everything else, which we don't need at this time. Any recommendations. Nothing terribly expensive, but nothing real cheap, either. $1000 is a good starting point and we can go a little up or down from there.
1000 is a good starting point? Jinx, you can shave hundreds off that price and get a damn good PC. Hell, you can buy 2 for that at most places.
Check out:
http://www.newegg.com
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1000 is a good starting point? Jinx, you can shave hundreds off that price and get a damn good PC. Hell, you can buy 2 for that at most places.
Check out:
http://www.newegg.com
Yeah, I was just checking that. When we bought this computer, we were able to modify things online before purchasing it. Other than building my own computer (something I'm hesitant to do), I don't see that option on Newegg. And, of course, almost everything is Vista. The few XP computers they still have are brands I'm not familiar with.
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I have purchased a lot of stuff through pricewatch.com vendors. They allow full customization, decent warranties, and very competitive prices.
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Name the brands and someone will probably give you feedback.
Oh, Vista, from what I'm heard, sucks major ass.
You could always spend a couple hundred more and get an iMac. There are people in my office that have those and have NO problems.
http://www.apple.com/imac/
That is, unless you want to learn Ubuntu. Not hard, really.
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I have purchased a lot of stuff through pricewatch.com vendors. They allow full customization, decent warranties, and very competitive prices.
Pricewatch is just a repository like Shopping.com though, right? You're buying from a vendor.
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Pricewatch is just a repository like Shopping.com though, right? You're buying from a vendor.
Yeah, they just list the prices & goods. One buys from an actual vendor. Newegg does have a good return policy. Some of the vendors on Pricewatch don't have as good of a return policy as Newegg, but they often have better prices.
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Ohhh yeah, and Vista isn't all that terrible, BUT.......... it ****ing nags one to death with configuration, allows & denies, etc. It's not quite as easy as XP. BTW, I found a "bone" on piratebay...... XP SP3 corporate.......
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Check out Asus. They are a large global company & still uses XP on their small laptops (10"). Don't know about the larger ones. Their computers are highly rated also.
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Check out Asus. They are a large global company & still uses XP on their small laptops (10"). Don't know about the larger ones. Their computers are highly rated also.
That was one of the brands I saw. Never heard of it before.
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That was one of the brands I saw. Never heard of it before.
They used to make kickass mobos. I don't know anything about their PC's, but if they're mobos are any indicator, it should be a good PC.
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ASUS is very good so is Elitegroup. If you were building a computer I could help. I haven't bought a "premade" since 1997 since I can build my own for less than half the cost of a premade.
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That was one of the brands I saw. Never heard of it before.
Me neither until I starting researching inexpensive small laptops; looks like it is the best bang for the buck and theirs smokes the rest of them. Also, their warranty is great. Whichever computer you buy, check out the reviews and ratings.
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They used to make kickass mobos. I don't know anything about their PC's, but if they're mobos are any indicator, it should be a good PC.
Their video hardware is also very nice.
I'm probably going to get one of their Eee PC's at some point in the not too distant future.
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I've had the same Asus motherboard in my PC since I built it eight years ago. I've been through half a dozen hard drives, three mice, two cooling fans, and enough CD-ROM drives to build a small Stonehenge. Never had a problem with the motherboard and it runs great.
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I've had the same Asus motherboard in my PC since I built it eight years ago. I've been through half a dozen hard drives, three mice, two cooling fans, and enough CD-ROM drives to build a small Stonehenge. Never had a problem with the motherboard and it runs great.
What is that thing? A 166 MHZ????????? :tongue:
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What is that thing? A 166 MHZ????????? :tongue:
When no one was looking I snapped a shot of Chris' machine:
(http://www.cnet.co.uk/i/c/blg/cat/desktops/IBM_pc.jpg)
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When no one was looking I snapped a shot of Chris' machine:
(http://www.cnet.co.uk/i/c/blg/cat/desktops/IBM_pc.jpg)
OOOOOO it's got a nice pair of LARGE floppys! :lmao:
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OOOOOO it's got a nice pair of LARGE floppys! :lmao:
LOL, those aren't the LARGE floppies. They are only the 5.25" ones.
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What is that thing? A 166 MHZ????????? :tongue:
1.3 Ghz tweaked to a whopping 1.5 and 1 Gb RAM. My VGA card has 16Mb.
Er. Um, yeah. It's got a 133 Mhz bus (I burnt up my 266 DDR slot).
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When no one was looking I snapped a shot of Chris' machine:
(http://www.cnet.co.uk/i/c/blg/cat/desktops/IBM_pc.jpg)
That was not cool! :censored:
I had a Tandy. She had these awesome 1.2 Kbs floppies while the girl next door only had the 640k's, but she ran Tandy DOS and didn't play well with MS-DOS girls.
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I'm so lost. Things have changed so much since we bought a computer last. What we would like is a computer that's good for fast internet surfing and multimedia with lots of speed and memory. We also do NOT want Vista, though XP is fine if that's possible anymore. From what I've seen online, it seems like it should be. We just need the tower, too. Seems like wherever I look, they throw in everything else, which we don't need at this time. Any recommendations. Nothing terribly expensive, but nothing real cheap, either. $1000 is a good starting point and we can go a little up or down from there.
what's wrong with vista?
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what's wrong with vista?
You mean beside its colossal appetite for resources, and instability ?
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what's wrong with vista?
Besides sucking the big one?
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My wife was looking online and apparently Dell has customizable computers to order, but I don't know how good Dells are.
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You mean beside its colossal appetite for resources, and instability ?
If you don't like its "appetite for resources", turn off features like Aero that take alot of resources. If its unstable, actually get a computer that meets the system requirements.
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Besides sucking the big one?
Have you ever used it?
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Have you ever used it?
Yes, and so has everyone else I know who says it sucks.
If you don't like its "appetite for resources", turn off features like Aero that take alot of resources. If its unstable, actually get a computer that meets the system requirements.
Do you work for Microsoft or something?
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If you don't like its "appetite for resources", turn off features like Aero that take alot of resources. If its unstable, actually get a computer that meets the system requirements.
Aero isn't why it sucks down more resources than it should.
Oh don't worry about "meeting the system requirements" , those are more than adequately covered. Am I expecting too much from their 64 bit platform ?
None of the windows versions I've ever used have been even close to "stable" until after the second service pack. Or in some cases the third (NT4WS was one of these).
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If you don't like its "appetite for resources", turn off features like Aero that take alot of resources. If its unstable, actually get a computer that meets the system requirements.
Mine is the top of the line Sony LT39U preloaded with Vista and maxed out on memory -- and Vista is still bloatware, nagware, annoyware, freezeware and crapware.
Which of course still makes it better than Office 2007 -- which is like being the best yodeler in Compton.
[youtube=425,350]jOh6Nh8w6f8[/youtube]
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Mine is the top of the line Sony LT39U preloaded with Vista and maxed out on memory -- and Vista is still bloatware, nagware, annoyware, freezeware and crapware.
Which of course still makes it better than Office 2007 -- which is like being the best yodeler in Compton.
[youtube=425,350]jOh6Nh8w6f8[/youtube]
Remove the bloatware you don't want. Not really a big deal.
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Yes, and so has everyone else I know who says it sucks.
Do you work for Microsoft or something?
Nope, Ive just had vista for over a year and have never had a single problem with it.
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Remove the bloatware you don't want. Not really a big deal.
I don't expect a packaged product to require removal of pieces which may or may not adversely affect something else. That is like suggesting you need aftermarket brakes to properly stop your automobile.
I am tech savvy and could probably do it, but I really don't like to waste my very precious free time trying to outguess OS developers. Also my wife is tech knowledgeable but not in a position to fix instabilities resulting from my screwing around.
I bought a complete computer, not a ****ing Heathkit.
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Nope, Ive just had vista for over a year and have never had a single problem with it.
How much time did you spend making it so you did not have a single problem with it? By your own admission you aren't running it out of the box.
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How much time did you spend making it so you did not have a single problem with it? By your own admission you aren't running it out of the box.
since i upgraded from 32 bit xp to 64 bit vista, i just formatted my HD and installed it. I already had all the vista 64bit drivers on an external HD. I chose not to install extras like windows mail in the installation. I turned off UAC as soon as I used it the first time. That was over a year ago. I have not had a single problem since.
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I am running Vista.
I haven't had any problems with it at all, other than it won't run an older DOS program that I like.
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I am running Vista.
I haven't had any problems with it at all, other than it won't run an older DOS program that I like.
try this
http://www.hackszine.com/blog/archive/2007/01/play_msdos_games_on_vista.html
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I bought a new Gateway about a year ago and it's got Vista on it. We've got a 6-year old Dell and a 4-year old Dell notebook on our home network. Both the older computers have XP.
Wanna talk a major-league pain in the ass? Try configuring these computers so they can talk to each other. The XP guys aren't the problem - they're just fine. But Vista and its "gotta ask the admin for permission to do EVERY ****ing thing" and its refusal to talk to other computers without bludgeoning it to death forced me to bring the software boys over to the house a couple of times.
These guys were reasonable and it wasn't like I was shelling out hundreds (like you do with Geek Squad), but we're talking hassle city.
I guess I could've just shitcanned Vista and installed XP, but that's yet another process I just didn't want to hassle with (at the time). In retrospect, with a new computer, I'd probably shitcan Vista and install XP.
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Matrix, if you don't think there's anything wrong with Vista, maybe you need to contact Microblows. They have, apparently, come to the realization that it sucks ass.
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I bought a new Gateway about a year ago and it's got Vista on it. We've got a 6-year old Dell and a 4-year old Dell notebook on our home network. Both the older computers have XP.
Wanna talk a major-league pain in the ass? Try configuring these computers so they can talk to each other. The XP guys aren't the problem - they're just fine. But Vista and its "gotta ask the admin for permission to do EVERY ****ing thing" and its refusal to talk to other computers without bludgeoning it to death forced me to bring the software boys over to the house a couple of times.
These guys were reasonable and it wasn't like I was shelling out hundreds (like you do with Geek Squad), but we're talking hassle city.
I guess I could've just shitcanned Vista and installed XP, but that's yet another process I just didn't want to hassle with (at the time). In retrospect, with a new computer, I'd probably shitcan Vista and install XP.
And don't get me started on SyncCenter vs. ActiveSync. I have had to reinstall SyncCenter 3 times when it just couldn't see my PDAPhone for no good reason. And you can't realy diagnose it. In wanting to do everything for you it nothing well.
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I bought a new Gateway about a year ago and it's got Vista on it. We've got a 6-year old Dell and a 4-year old Dell notebook on our home network. Both the older computers have XP.
Wanna talk a major-league pain in the ass? Try configuring these computers so they can talk to each other. The XP guys aren't the problem - they're just fine. But Vista and its "gotta ask the admin for permission to do EVERY ******* thing" and its refusal to talk to other computers without bludgeoning it to death forced me to bring the software boys over to the house a couple of times.
These guys were reasonable and it wasn't like I was shelling out hundreds (like you do with Geek Squad), but we're talking hassle city.
I guess I could've just shitcanned Vista and installed XP, but that's yet another process I just didn't want to hassle with (at the time). In retrospect, with a new computer, I'd probably shitcan Vista and install XP.
Turn UAC off. It takes about 2 minutes. Not really difficult. If you can't find out how to do it on your own (by using "help" in windows), google it.
1.Click to open User Accounts.
2.Click Turn User Account Control on or off. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3.Select the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box to turn on UAC, or clear the check box to turn off UAC, and then click OK.
Really not a problem.
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In my brief experience w/ Vista (out of the box - the GPO didn't allow any system changes) it only ran decently if you had a good (2.8 Ghz) dual-core processor and at least 2 Gb of ram (preferably more). Anything less, and it ran like crap.
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Turn UAC off. It takes about 2 minutes. Not really difficult. If you can't find out how to do it on your own (by using "help" in windows), google it.
1.Click to open User Accounts.
2.Click Turn User Account Control on or off. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3.Select the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box to turn on UAC, or clear the check box to turn off UAC, and then click OK.
Really not a problem.
The software guys introduced me to UAC. Right now it's turned off and will stay off. One of the big headaches was, with UAC turned on, I - as administrator of my own computer - wasn't allowed to install a program into the folder "Program Files."
What kind of bullshit is that?
I liken Vista to being like McAfee or even like AOL - it consumes your computer and clogs up every aspect of it with what THEY think you need to make your life easy.
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The software guys introduced me to UAC. Right now it's turned off and will stay off. One of the big headaches was, with UAC turned on, I - as administrator of my own computer - wasn't allowed to install a program into the folder "Program Files."
What kind of bullshit is that?
I liken Vista to being like McAfee or even like AOL - it consumes your computer and clogs up every aspect of it with what THEY think you need to make your life easy.
Then, like McAfee and AOL, remove what you do not want.
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Then, like McAfee and AOL, remove what you do not want.
Ummm, how about just use an alternative program that doesn't hog as many resources, doesn't conflict with so much, and is otherwise a better program?
But back to the point.
For me, Vista was/is a pain in the ass. Your mileage may vary.
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We have 4 Dells, the first one bought about 8 years ago. I learned that the best thing to do is get a new computer up and running to make sure everything works, then reformat and reinstall Windows, (whichever version), and only install the included programs that are needed and wanted. Dell installs a lot of trial ware that is unneeded, IMO.
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We have 4 Dells, the first one bought about 8 years ago. I learned that the best thing to do is get a new computer up and running to make sure everything works, then reformat and reinstall Windows, (whichever version), and only install the included programs that are needed and wanted. Dell installs a lot of trial ware that is unneeded, IMO.
Agreed on the trialware. They choke you with all that crap. Next time around, your approach is EXACTLY what I'm going to do.
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The problem with that is having to BUY a copy of Windows so it will run right. The major manufacturers never include a virgin copy of Windows with their systems. Since I typically build my own systems, which have run great, the biggest cost is finding a reasonably priced legitimate copy of Windows. Ebay & Pricewatch have them, but still, it's over $100. :(
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We have 4 Dells, the first one bought about 8 years ago. I learned that the best thing to do is get a new computer up and running to make sure everything works, then reformat and reinstall Windows, (whichever version), and only install the included programs that are needed and wanted. Dell installs a lot of trial ware that is unneeded, IMO.
Unfortunately, companies aren't always including the discs for the operating systems anymore. We got this computer a few years ago and never got any XP discs with it. I kind of wonder if they stopped doing that so people wouldn't be able to do what you suggest.
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I bought the last Dell at Walmart when they first started selling them about 2 years or so ago, and it came with all the installed software on disks. I know that some other companies don't do it, but I thought Dell was still doing it.
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Unfortunately, companies aren't always including the discs for the operating systems anymore. We got this computer a few years ago and never got any XP discs with it. I kind of wonder if they stopped doing that so people wouldn't be able to do what you suggest.
I don't know about in the US, but over here the manufacturer of the machine is required by law to provide some mechanism to reload the OS after a major crash or HDD failure.
HP/compaq and Packard Bell for example do this by providing a partition on the HDD that will perform an automated recovery of the OS and software. They also have an app loaded that will ask you to create a recovery disk set for the machine that can be used to recreate this partition in case of a major fail.
Toshiba supplies a "recovery CD"
We weren't the Dell agent and haven't had to recover one, so I'm not sure about them but would assume they have a similar system.
By law they don't "need" to include actual XP media, just a mechanism to return the system (OS and bundled software) to a factory condition.
Often (I'm looking at HP here) technical support people will demand that you run their recovery and return the machine to factory condition as part of their troubleshooting and before authorizing any repair.
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With the Dells we have gotten the complete set of software on disks, even the Norton anti virus,6 month trial, and MSN and AOL crap. Everything installed on the computer was included, which is a good thing. I've reformatted all of our computers at least once and some 5-6 times.
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Ummm, how about just use an alternative program that doesn't hog as many resources, doesn't conflict with so much, and is otherwise a better program?
But back to the point.
For me, Vista was/is a pain in the ass. Your mileage may vary.
Then simply install that program instead of saying "oh, it sucks" and calling software people to your house to fix simple things.
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The problem with that is having to BUY a copy of Windows so it will run right. The major manufacturers never include a virgin copy of Windows with their systems. Since I typically build my own systems, which have run great, the biggest cost is finding a reasonably priced legitimate copy of Windows. Ebay & Pricewatch have them, but still, it's over $100. :(
You don't need to buy a new copy of windows. You can buy the installation disk with no license cheaply. Just use the serial on the windows sticker that's on the computer's case somewhere.
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Then simply install that program instead of saying "oh, it sucks" and calling software people to your house to fix simple things.
Thanks, John, for your wonderfully valuable recommendation. I think I'll run down and spend an hour and a half doing just what you're saying.
Gosh, what would I do without your fabulous words of wisdom? I'm just gushing with gratitude, John!
You're the best!
:blowkiss:
On a less sarcastic note, I'll let you know when I'm done calling software people to my house to fix "simple things." When you're paying the bill, you might have something to say. Until then, why don't you go **** yourself?
Have a nice day!
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Often (I'm looking at HP here) technical support people will demand that you run their recovery and return the machine to factory condition as part of their troubleshooting and before authorizing any repair.
When I worked for HP, that was SOP. Instead of diagnosing any Windows errors, unless the customer specifically stated that they did not wish to have their data erased, a reformat & reinstall was done.
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When I worked for HP, that was SOP. Instead of diagnosing any Windows errors, unless the customer specifically stated that they did not wish to have their data erased, a reformat & reinstall was done.
HP considered user data to be expendable, They'd give a half ass attempt at resolving the problem and then demand that it have a destructive restore before continuing. I guess as they're only really responsible for the hardware this is the most pragmatic step, but it sure did annoy the hell out of a lot of our customers.
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Thanks, John, for your wonderfully valuable recommendation. I think I'll run down and spend an hour and a half doing just what you're saying.
Gosh, what would I do without your fabulous words of wisdom? I'm just gushing with gratitude, John!
You're the best!
:blowkiss:
On a less sarcastic note, I'll let you know when I'm done calling software people to my house to fix "simple things." When you're paying the bill, you might have something to say. Until then, why don't you go **** yourself?
Have a nice day!
lol. I would feel pretty bad if i called people to my house to turn off the UAC too.
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Hey Matrix, why don't you go **** yourself ??
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Hey Matrix, why don't you go **** yourself ??
He'll have to buy Windows Vista FU -- $245.75 with an upgrade certificate and a Certified Gates Windows Blowjob Photograph.
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Hey Matrix, why don't you go **** yourself ??
I'm fine. You're welcome to do so, however.
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lol. I would feel pretty bad if i called people to my house to turn off the UAC too.
I suppose that might be the case if you were a whiz-bang purveyor of all things Vista. Glad you worship that particular program so much. Perhaps you could be a Bill Gates spokesperson when you grow up.
Here's the thing, dipshit:
I don't profess to be said whiz-bang purveyor of all things Vista, unlike yourself. Therefore, I don't feel "bad" when I call on professional help to help me with a problem. (I can afford it, but that's neither here nor there.)
You'll note that I never once called on you to assist me with that problem. Therefore, any comment you make on this thread relating to me is unwanted, irrelevant, and pointless.
So why do you pursue this? Because you pride yourself in being an asshat?
On that score, you're doing a wonderful job.
Because it's pretty clear to me that you're a dipshit and an asswipe, I tend to flush said materials down the crapper.
I'll be the 4th person to put your ass on ignore.
And I don't need your capable assistance to help me with that. M-kay?
Don't bother letting me know when you grow up. At the rate you're going, it'll take a couple of decades.
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In my brief experience w/ Vista (out of the box - the GPO didn't allow any system changes) it only ran decently if you had a good (2.8 Ghz) dual-core processor and at least 2 Gb of ram (preferably more). Anything less, and it ran like crap.
Rescource Pig anyone?? :p
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I suppose that might be the case if you were a whiz-bang purveyor of all things Vista. Glad you worship that particular program so much. Perhaps you could be a Bill Gates spokesperson when you grow up.
Here's the thing, dipshit:
I don't profess to be said whiz-bang purveyor of all things Vista, unlike yourself. Therefore, I don't feel "bad" when I call on professional help to help me with a problem. (I can afford it, but that's neither here nor there.)
You'll note that I never once called on you to assist me with that problem. Therefore, any comment you make on this thread relating to me is unwanted, irrelevant, and pointless.
So why do you pursue this? Because you pride yourself in being an asshat?
On that score, you're doing a wonderful job.
Because it's pretty clear to me that you're a dipshit and an ***wipe, I tend to flush said materials down the crapper.
I'll be the 4th person to put your ass on ignore.
And I don't need your capable assistance to help me with that. M-kay?
Don't bother letting me know when you grow up. At the rate you're going, it'll take a couple of decades.
Well congratulations, you wasted your money on a problem that you could have fixed yourself in 5 minutes. Call more people to your house next time you forget how to turn your monitor on too.
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This topic is drifting a bit too far from it's original intent.
If you want to provide worthwhile assistance to the OP do so. If you wanna have a fight - there are more suitable venues.
Just Sayin'
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Does anyone know when MS will release Windows 7? Do you think it will be better than Vista and XP?
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The beta is out now. M$ is saying that it will be around 2010 before it's released.
http://www.winvistaclub.com/e57.html
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They seem to be putting out a similar version model as they did with vista, which should prove entertaining.
Remember when Vista was announced, and Microsoft decided to release six different versions of the operating system, much to the confusion, disappointment, and ridicule of potential buyers? Well guess what? Microsoft is back with the Windows 7 strategy. What has it learned in the last three years? Pretty much nothing.
While Microsoft is touting the "two primary editions" of Windows 7 -- a Home Premium edition and a Professional (intended for business) edition -- the fact is it's sticking with the same six different versions (or SKUs, stock-keeping units) that it had for Vista.
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/118401
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I haven't had any problems with Vista. Yet...
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I haven't had any problems with Vista. Yet...
Do you have a home network, a shared printer, or anything other than that one computer with Vista ?? If it's a standalone system, Vista is ok, at best. It's STILL a resource hog.
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Do you have a home network, a shared printer, or anything other than that one computer with Vista ?? If it's a standalone system, Vista is ok, at best. It's STILL a resource hog.
I have it on a stand alone and yes it is a bit of a resource hog, but my PC can handle it.