Vista - Thinking of getting a new desktop - questions

Hi everybody,

I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
terms of getting a computer that will work with vista since its been out a
good month or so now and people have a nice idea how it works with systems.

Specifically, how much video memory do I really need. I know Home Premium
requires 128 MB, but should i get more than that? I don't do gaming on my PC
(I have consoles for that). But is there any good reason otherwise to get
anything besides the integrated video or a 128 MB card?

That was my bigger question I think, but I'm also curious if people know
when to expect the first service pack. (As in, should I wait for it to buy a
new computer).

Thanks for your patience and answers!

"mvaljean" <mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
> Hi everybody,
>
> I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
> Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any
> new
> desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested
> in
> terms of getting a computer that will work with vista since its been out a
> good month or so now and people have a nice idea how it works with
> systems.
>
> Specifically, how much video memory do I really need. I know Home Premium
> requires 128 MB, but should i get more than that? I don't do gaming on my
> PC
> (I have consoles for that). But is there any good reason otherwise to get
> anything besides the integrated video or a 128 MB card?
>
> That was my bigger question I think, but I'm also curious if people know
> when to expect the first service pack. (As in, should I wait for it to buy
> a
> new computer).
>
> Thanks for your patience and answers!

SP1 for Vista is expected when the Server version ships. Last I heard it
was scheduled for the 4th quarter of this year.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean
<mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hi everybody,
>
>I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
>Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
>desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
>terms of getting a computer that will work with vista since its been out a
>good month or so now and people have a nice idea how it works with systems.
>
>Specifically, how much video memory do I really need. I know Home Premium
>requires 128 MB, but should i get more than that? I don't do gaming on my PC
>(I have consoles for that). But is there any good reason otherwise to get
>anything besides the integrated video or a 128 MB card?
>
>That was my bigger question I think, but I'm also curious if people know
>when to expect the first service pack. (As in, should I wait for it to buy a
>new computer).
>
>Thanks for your patience and answers!

If you're going to buy another name box like Gateway or Dell, as
opposed to building your own or having one custom one built by some
local outfit I would suggest 1 GB of memory (RAM) and if you want to
take advantage of Aero probably a upgrade to a better graphic card
that supports it. Today, a graphic card with 250 even 500 MB of its
own memory is fairly common. If you buy a box it should already (keep
your fingers crossed) have Vista capable drivers installed/tested for
all the included hardware, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait.
First SP, I'd say by Labor Day, if then.

I would enter a vote for waiting to get Vista.
If youre not gaming that helps since a lot of games wont run on vista and a
lot of the online games such as MMOs are having real issues working with
VIsta. There just are too many little bugs for me to want it on my home
system. I deal with it every day in my MIS dept for an upcoming roll-out so
I have to see what works and what doesnt. There are just too many little
bugs that havent been fixed yet.

Dont get me wrong. I understand that some things in it are just different
and not "bugs" such as the whole issue with UAC causing so many prompts etc..
but there are a lot of actual flaws such as media player 11 crashing when
trying to play .wmv files. Or the random times that explorer just decides to
shut down. The fact that XP updates keep trying to install on my system
whenever I start up.

Keep in mind that unlike previous upgrades, Vista handles files differently
and some programs simply wont work. Many companies dont support Vista yet.
Real player wont install because they havent made a Vista version yet. I
only mention that since you are looking at a home system. In fact there seem
to be a LOT of issues with DVD playing and media player according to the
media player newsgroup.

Microsoft software such as Livemeeting and Groove do not actively support
Vista. That is direct from their own support departments. In fact we have
been unable to get certain LiveMeeting features to work on our Vista boxes
due to driver problems with the virtual printer microsoft needs to use.
These are issues where MICROSOFT is not up to speed on compatibility with
their own product. There is also little accurate documentation on the market
yet. Most of the Vista books you will find are based on the Beta editions
and the ones that arent are in most cases inacurate regarding
troubleshooting.

It will be a very nice system when it is fixed up and I wouldnt want to buy
it seperately from a new computer so I would recommend holding off a least
till summer on getting a new machine.

Just as a side note, I think Office 07 is a very nice improvement over older
versions once you get used to the interface changes and it seems very stable.




"Adam Albright" wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean
> <mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi everybody,
> >
> >I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
> >Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
> >desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
> >terms of getting a computer that will work with vista since its been out a
> >good month or so now and people have a nice idea how it works with systems.
> >
> >Specifically, how much video memory do I really need. I know Home Premium
> >requires 128 MB, but should i get more than that? I don't do gaming on my PC
> >(I have consoles for that). But is there any good reason otherwise to get
> >anything besides the integrated video or a 128 MB card?
> >
> >That was my bigger question I think, but I'm also curious if people know
> >when to expect the first service pack. (As in, should I wait for it to buy a
> >new computer).
> >
> >Thanks for your patience and answers!
>
> If you're going to buy another name box like Gateway or Dell, as
> opposed to building your own or having one custom one built by some
> local outfit I would suggest 1 GB of memory (RAM) and if you want to
> take advantage of Aero probably a upgrade to a better graphic card
> that supports it. Today, a graphic card with 250 even 500 MB of its
> own memory is fairly common. If you buy a box it should already (keep
> your fingers crossed) have Vista capable drivers installed/tested for
> all the included hardware, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait.
> First SP, I'd say by Labor Day, if then.
>
>
>

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean
<mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> spake thusly:

>Hi everybody,
>
>I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
>Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
>desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
>terms of getting a computer that will work with vista....

Oh, I'd say any new PC with Vista installed will work with Vista...

Or am I missing something here?
--
Scott http://angrykeyboarder.com

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
NOTICE: In-Newsgroup (and therefore off-topic) comments on my sig will
be cheerfully ignored, so don't waste our time.

Scott wrote:
> On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean
> <mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> spake thusly:
>
>> Hi everybody,
>>
>> I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
>> Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
>> desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
>> terms of getting a computer that will work with vista....
>
> Oh, I'd say any new PC with Vista installed will work with Vista...
>
> Or am I missing something here?

It may work but the camera, printer, scanner and software might not.
Wait on Vista or, better yet, wait until MS sees the writing on the wall
and removes the ineffective "anti piracy" crap.

Alias

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean wrote:

> Hi everybody,
>
> I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
> Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
> desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
> terms of getting a computer that will work with vista since its been out a
> good month or so now and people have a nice idea how it works with systems.
>
> Specifically, how much video memory do I really need. I know Home Premium
> requires 128 MB, but should i get more than that? I don't do gaming on my PC
> (I have consoles for that). But is there any good reason otherwise to get
> anything besides the integrated video or a 128 MB card?
>
> That was my bigger question I think, but I'm also curious if people know
> when to expect the first service pack. (As in, should I wait for it to buy a
> new computer).
>
> Thanks for your patience and answers!

I'd recommend you either look for one of the remaining systems available
with xp (or something else) or else plan to wait at least for vista SP1.
Too many problems even on well configured systems.

Sometime a new PC with Vista installed will work with Vista. There are
enough exceptions to the rule to make some interesting reading here on
the newsgroups. Vista may or may not work with all of your peripherals.
Vista may suddenly crash, so it is important to get the OS DVD with your
system in case you have to repair it. Vista may work perfectly for a
couple of weeks and then crash, requiring a reinstall. You might be
better off with XP for carefree computing. If you get XP, be sure to
secure it with an antivirus and antispyware program. Or you can burn a
live cd with a linux os and try it before installing it. You can install
linux and run windows xp in a virtual machine. You have many choices open
to you. Dont let anyone limit you to just ONE CHOICE.


Oh, I'd say any new PC with Vista installed will work with Vista...
>
> Or am I missing something here?

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On Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:15:21 +0000, Scott wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean
> <mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> spake thusly:
>
>>Hi everybody,
>>
>>I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
>>Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
>>desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
>>terms of getting a computer that will work with vista....
>
> Oh, I'd say any new PC with Vista installed will work with Vista...
>
> Or am I missing something here?

Yes, apparently - about 2/3 of the posts here.

I installed Real Player on Vista last week and it works fine.

"Victor" wrote:

> I would enter a vote for waiting to get Vista.
> If youre not gaming that helps since a lot of games wont run on vista and a
> lot of the online games such as MMOs are having real issues working with
> VIsta. There just are too many little bugs for me to want it on my home
> system. I deal with it every day in my MIS dept for an upcoming roll-out so
> I have to see what works and what doesnt. There are just too many little
> bugs that havent been fixed yet.
>
> Dont get me wrong. I understand that some things in it are just different
> and not "bugs" such as the whole issue with UAC causing so many prompts etc..
> but there are a lot of actual flaws such as media player 11 crashing when
> trying to play .wmv files. Or the random times that explorer just decides to
> shut down. The fact that XP updates keep trying to install on my system
> whenever I start up.
>
> Keep in mind that unlike previous upgrades, Vista handles files differently
> and some programs simply wont work. Many companies dont support Vista yet.
> Real player wont install because they havent made a Vista version yet. I
> only mention that since you are looking at a home system. In fact there seem
> to be a LOT of issues with DVD playing and media player according to the
> media player newsgroup.
>
> Microsoft software such as Livemeeting and Groove do not actively support
> Vista. That is direct from their own support departments. In fact we have
> been unable to get certain LiveMeeting features to work on our Vista boxes
> due to driver problems with the virtual printer microsoft needs to use.
> These are issues where MICROSOFT is not up to speed on compatibility with
> their own product. There is also little accurate documentation on the market
> yet. Most of the Vista books you will find are based on the Beta editions
> and the ones that arent are in most cases inacurate regarding
> troubleshooting.
>
> It will be a very nice system when it is fixed up and I wouldnt want to buy
> it seperately from a new computer so I would recommend holding off a least
> till summer on getting a new machine.
>
> Just as a side note, I think Office 07 is a very nice improvement over older
> versions once you get used to the interface changes and it seems very stable.
>
>
>
>
> "Adam Albright" wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:32:00 -0700, mvaljean
> > <mvaljean@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > >Hi everybody,
> > >
> > >I'm thinking about finally getting a new desktop (I have a 6 year old
> > >Gateway that i've gotten as far as I can with upgrades). Obviously, any new
> > >desktop will have Vista. I'm curious as to what people think are suggested in
> > >terms of getting a computer that will work with vista since its been out a
> > >good month or so now and people have a nice idea how it works with systems.
> > >
> > >Specifically, how much video memory do I really need. I know Home Premium
> > >requires 128 MB, but should i get more than that? I don't do gaming on my PC
> > >(I have consoles for that). But is there any good reason otherwise to get
> > >anything besides the integrated video or a 128 MB card?
> > >
> > >That was my bigger question I think, but I'm also curious if people know
> > >when to expect the first service pack. (As in, should I wait for it to buy a
> > >new computer).
> > >
> > >Thanks for your patience and answers!
> >
> > If you're going to buy another name box like Gateway or Dell, as
> > opposed to building your own or having one custom one built by some
> > local outfit I would suggest 1 GB of memory (RAM) and if you want to
> > take advantage of Aero probably a upgrade to a better graphic card
> > that supports it. Today, a graphic card with 250 even 500 MB of its
> > own memory is fairly common. If you buy a box it should already (keep
> > your fingers crossed) have Vista capable drivers installed/tested for
> > all the included hardware, so there shouldn't be any reason to wait.
> > First SP, I'd say by Labor Day, if then.
> >
> >
> >