I had a catastrophic crash on my computer a few weeks ago due to a hardware failure. I had been eying new laptops for some time, but now there is a new sense urgency pressing me on to a purchase.
In addition to my hardware requirements there is a new wrinkle in my selection process. On October 22, Microsoft will be releasing Windows 7 and will be laying the much maligned Vista to rest. I have managed to avoid the pariah of operating systems for the last few years, and if I can hold out three more weeks I can bypass ever having used the system altogether.
If I were to purchase today, I would get a free upgrade to Windows 7, but the notion of going through a major update just weeks after purchasing a new computer isn't very appealing.
I also would prefer to have my chipsets optimized for the new operating system so it looks like I'll elect to play the waiting game and hold out for a factory installed version of the new OS.
I could consider a Mac, but I have a grudge with Apple that goes back some twenty years ... but that's for another post.
And so I'll patiently wait and do workarounds for the next few weeks as I wait for the release of Windows 7. Only time will tell if I am making the right choice!
All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily! We Do HUD bids in Georgia! 770-827-6225
We had no choice but to buy first and convert later due to too many crippling problems...it will be interesting. Vista seems to have been a very short lived "romance"....we'll see !
Funny to think that the most recent PC purchase I made for the office (several months ago now) I PAID EXTRA to have it shipped with Windows XP instead of Vista. :-)
Richard: Sounds as though you have thought this through and this is not a willy nilly decision. Upgrades are traumatic in their own way, just like crashes. I think you are doing the right thing.
Richard,
I had a very similar experience (hard drive failure) with my laptop a week ago. I have an older laptop that is due to replacement, but my computer consultant advised me along the lines of your decision; wait until after the release of Windows 7 to buy the new laptop. As a temporary fix, he popped in a used hard drive for a total of $100 and had me back up and running.
-Scott
I am jealous, I am not a Vista fan, to say the least. My laptop is Vista, grumble grumble. I say hold out, hold out for 7, go on vacation, LOL. Carry your PC with you, do whatever it takes, just hold out!
Now I am waiting for the Apple post, LOL.
My new PC with Vista is a mess. I'm getting ready for one more back-up and then am going to reinstall my Windows software to see if it will be okay. If not then Dell is going to get the thing back.
Holding out may be a good idea. I hope Windows 7 has fewer issues.
My laptop has Vista my desk top XP. The "problem" I see with Vista is that MS redesigned the whole configuration of the Vista operating system. Up until Vista each update was really a different version of the previous OS. With Vista MS changed where everything is located and so forth. It was quite frustrating to relearn my way around the new Vista OS.
So now my question is; which is Windows 7? A newer version of Vista or a newer version of XP. To be truthful I haven't found any problems with Vista. I think it was maligned because it was just so much different than previous OS by MS.
S & D...
It is hard for me to suffer in the interim ... but I will wait and hope that I made the right decision! Thanks for being the first to comment.
Cheryl...
I was wondering who would be the first to mention it! Dell wants $150 to "upgrade" to Windows XP. Isn't that crazy? THX
Chris Ann...
I hate the uncertainty of upgrades ... and there can be useless files left on the computer forever. Thanks, my friend.
Richard,
Resist the urge to buy now and upgrade later. I'm waiting for the new release myself.
Rich
Richard,
Over the weekend I had to wipe and reinstall everything, thanks to Vista! You and Rich Iarossi are smart to wait.
Richard, I would wait for the clean installed version if I were buying a new laptop.Let us know your opinion of Windows 7 when you have a chance to evaluate it? I'm still using Windows XP and was afraid to upgrade to Vista.
Richard, when that happened to me a few years ago, I got a Mac. Since then, life has been beautiful!
Richard:
I feel your pain. I so dislike having to go through an upgrade and I am married to a software developer who handles everything computer for me. It's just always a messy time. I wish you a speedy transition.
Hi Richard:
I'm with you...I'm waiting a few more weeks to buy my new lap top.
If you buy now, I'm sure that upgrading will be no picnic either.
Richard:
You might want to wait a few additional weeks after the release of Windows 7 - MSFT usually finds a few bugs in the x.0 release, and it's usually a good idea to wait for the x.1 (or x.01 or whatever) release.
Hi Richard. I bought a new laptop w/ Vista about two months ago.
Anxiously awaiting the upgrade to the new operating system...
I hope it is not to difficult to install.
Thanks for writing,
Ken
Richard...I have had more problems with XP than my wife has with Vista. XP went great until service pack 3 was installed. That being said, I would wait for windows 7. Why get an old operating system that will lose support on many fronts before the new OS. I am waiting to purchase until the new system is out for that same reason.
Richard - I have been fortunate, I guess. I have not had too many problems with Vista. Mostly those annoying messages and slow internet performance. However, having worked for Intel I know that both Microsoft and Intel developers have worked together optimizing chipsets/operating system. If you buy a system with the newer chipsets, they will already have been tested with Windows 7. So don't wait too long.
I think I would do the same in your situation. Why deal with one thing for only a few weeks just to switch to something new once you start getting used to it.
Scott...
I could install a drive in my old computer, but that would be beating a dead horse. It had several other issues to to a lot of use! But I'll probably set it up as an Internet computer for my wife. THX
Andrea...
I am hoping that it will be worth the wait. Thanks for the comment!
Cindy...
I hate that kind of frustration. Thanks, and good luck!
I am planning on purchasing a new laptop .... undecided what brand, maybe I'll wait a few more weeks......
Richard, I haven't had any problems with Vista...knock on wood...and I have had the computer for about 9 months.
I too am running Vista and have not had any major issues with it - thank goodness. But I'll have to look into Windows 7 ~Rita
I am planning a new lap top in my not to distant future too Richard, but it will be after I have read some reviews and talked with some people to find out how they like Windows 7 before I make a move. New "models" scare me.