[Ashleyj]

I consider myself to be reasonably computer literate even though I do not work in IT.

Even though I could probably buy a new machine with Vista, reformat the hard disk and install XP I really can't be bothered. What I would like is a machine of my choosing with XP pre-installed, but I think that is not going to happen.

Which is why I was asking about Vista. As Solaris pointed out you can turn off all the 'enhancements' that seem to slow down the system and I have also read somewhere that if you turn off pre-fetch that also help with the start-up time.

I will continue to look around but it is increasing looking like the Dell.

Thanks for all your 'useful' comments ladies and gentlemen.

[solaris]

Originally Posted by rolly

Out of curiousity,what did your tab bar look like?
Was there any room left on your screen to read the web page?

Hi rolly


It didn't look much different than it usually does (except for the fact that there were 150 of them ). The reason for this is that I use the Tree Style Tab add-on, which is also near indispensable

[vikulenka]

Originally Posted by solaris

Hi rolly


It didn't look much different than it usually does (except for the fact that there were 150 of them ). The reason for this is that I use the Tree Style Tab add-on, which is also near indispensable

Thank you. I'll look into that, although I rarely have all that many tabs open where there might be a need.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by shadman

using a laptop the 32 bit version would be just fine. i bought the 64 bit version because within time that is what microsoft will be using primarily. plus the 64 bit is expandable up to 128 gigs. the 32 bit version is maxed out at 4 gigs.

Okay, basic question from an idiot here, but when you are talking about a 32 bit version (& this is what I have), is this something which is inherent with the computer I have, or do I have the option to upgrade to 64 (or 128 bit)?? NB I am running Vista Home Premium.
Cheers,
Dave

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by Dave C

Okay, basic question from an idiot here, but when you are talking about a 32 bit version (& this is what I have), is this something which is inherent with the computer I have, or do I have the option to upgrade to 64 (or 128 bit)?? NB I am running Vista Home Premium.
Cheers,
Dave

Unfortunately Dave the 32 bit version of Vista can only use up to about 3.5Gb of RAM.

You can fit more than that but the OS will not see and use it, which is why you now see a lot of systems with 4GB fitted.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by Ashleyj

Unfortunately Dave the 32 bit version of Vista can only use up to about 3.5Gb of RAM.

You can fit more than that but the OS will not see and use it, which is why you now see a lot of systems with 4GB fitted.

I've always wondered why the computer always says I have only got 3.5Gb of RAM when I know there are 2 x 2GB sticks in there

[shadman]

Originally Posted by Ashleyj

I consider myself to be reasonably computer literate even though I do not work in IT.

Even though I could probably buy a new machine with Vista, reformat the hard disk and install XP I really can't be bothered. What I would like is a machine of my choosing with XP pre-installed, but I think that is not going to happen.

Which is why I was asking about Vista. As Solaris pointed out you can turn off all the 'enhancements' that seem to slow down the system and I have also read somewhere that if you turn off pre-fetch that also help with the start-up time.

I will continue to look around but it is increasing looking like the Dell.

Thanks for all your 'useful' comments ladies and gentlemen.

i have not turned off any enhancements and my system is blazing fast. also my start up time is super fast. it takes maybe 1 minute to boot up!

also have you tried using vista yet on a machine with lots of memory?

thanks,

cr

[shadman]

Originally Posted by Dave C

Okay, basic question from an idiot here, but when you are talking about a 32 bit version (& this is what I have), is this something which is inherent with the computer I have, or do I have the option to upgrade to 64 (or 128 bit)?? NB I am running Vista Home Premium.
Cheers,
Dave

if you have a 32 bit system you cannot upgrade to 64 bit. that's why i got the 64. i did a lot of reading on the two and came to the conclusion the 64 bit was the way to go.

how do you like vista?

cr

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by shadman

i have not turned off any enhancements and my system is blazing fast. also my start up time is super fast. it takes maybe 1 minute to boot up!

also have you tried using vista yet on a machine with lots of memory?

thanks,

cr

Shadman,

I am beginning to see that to run Vista with any success you need a fast processor and lots of RAM - I assume a new 2.4Gb Dual Core 2 with 4Gb of memory would be OK.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by shadman

if you have a 32 bit system you cannot upgrade to 64 bit. that's why i got the 64. i did a lot of reading on the two and came to the conclusion the 64 bit was the way to go.

how do you like vista?

cr

Like something, dislike other . Took me a while to get use to the new style of 'Folders' and I started off trying to get everything to look like the old windows style of folders, but gave up after a while and just accepted the new style. Given a choice I think I would go back to XP, but it is a close run thing and another month & I might come down on the side of Vista ,
Cheers,
Dave