Buy new laptop now, or wait until Vista is gone?

[Gator95]

This is for wife, who is not a computer geek.

Current laptops on sale are running Vista, new OS will be out this fall (?)
Wait until Windows 7 is released and buy then, with the inevitable problems that don't get fixed until the first or second service pack or just get the laptop with Vista now?

Will be looking in the ~$700-800 range. Doesn't need to be screaming fast ultra slick gaming laptop.

[BobSch]

I'd check to make sure they're offering a free upgrade to W7 before I'd buy a machine right now. get the UG and wait to install until SP1. Another option is check to see if the Vista machine can be freely downgraded to XP.

[JoeyGee]

I must be the only one that has not had any issues with Vista...

Most LT's are selling with the free upgrade to WIN7. As Bob said, wait for WIN7 SP1 before installing. I think that's the main reason I don't have issues with Vista. I waited for SP1.

[cwithboat]

Just in walking through the stores, I think you can do better than $700. Yesterday in OfficeMax I saw several laptops between $350 and $500. I didn't check but they might be moving out XP versions.

[Russianwolf]

Joey, you aren't the only one.

Had my Vista machine for nearly two years and since SP1 installed I've noticed no problems. Before SP1 the only issue I noticed was Vista didn't like talking with Outlook. Outlook would lock up at least once a day (must be the female in the relationship ), since SP1 (counseling session) they've been fine together.

[crokett]

FWIW I am using Windows 7 RC1 at work more or less full-time and on my home PC and I've had 0 problems. The biggest thing has been lack of drivers, but I expected that with a release candidate. The onll other problem I had was a weird networking one that turned out to be a corrupted network driver because the replacement drive for the HDD I had that failed this year was also bad.

I would get a laptop that offers a free upgrade to Win 7 and then install Win 7 when it is released. Vista was dumbed down too much. MS made it too hard for an XP user like me to get anything done.

[Hoover]

I don't have a problem with Vista's operating system. Of course I started out w/sp1 installed on both computers. The newer computer gets windows 7 after sending in the voucher.

[cabinetman]

I've seen some great deals on LT's still using XP. I don't know much about OS's, but XP is a miracle over ME. For what I do and need, XP works just fine. I wouldn't hesitate on buying a LT with XP (saving money) and get an upgrade when necessary.
.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Spend a little more and get an Apple; no more crappy MicroSoft junk OS's.

[cgallery]

Spend a little more and get an Apple; no more crappy MicroSoft junk OS's.

Apple machines are no panacea.

I own at least four Macs and about six PC's and they all have their share of problems.

[woodturner]

I must be the only one that has not had any issues with Vista

No, not really, most of us have had no problem with Vista - one reason that it is such a popular OS.

[unknown poster]

I went to upgrade my main work machine to Win7 recently, I have Win7 on my netbook and I was tired of changing between the UI's. Anyway, the upgrade wouldn't work. It turns out that machine is still running Vista with no SP, and you need at least SP1 to upgrade. I've been using that machine every day for years with no problems, it just works.

My point is, don't believe what you read in the press. Vista isn't somehow fatally flawed, in fact it works pretty darn well.

[jkristia]

The only problem I have with Vista is that occationally it will loose the internet connection when it comes out of sleep - it takes about 10 seconds to restart then networkport. Oh, and sometimes Ciscos VPN client fails to initialize, in which case I actually have to reboot - but in either case I think the problem is a driver problem and you cant blame the OS for that.

[woodturner]

Spend a little more and get an Apple

Why pay more for a lower end machine with poor support? Almost everyone will do better with a PC, and save money.

If you really want to deal with the hassles of Mac, you can run Mac software on a PC, or load a Linux distro.

At least you know you will be able to get support for a PC, Macs are and always have been dicey, with Apple's cyclical near-bankruptcy periods.

[vaking]

Vista works fine with most desktops or laptops. It is a bit heavy for netbook in my opinion.
Different story is that 32-bit version of XP is a fine operating system so 32-bit version of Vista does not offer sufficient advantages to switch in my opinion.
I run 64-bit Vista on my desktop and it is working fine. My company computer still runs XP. My wife just got a new netbook with Windows XP and an upgrade coupon to Win 7 when it becomes available. I tried Win7 release candidate - it still has some bugs like all candidates do. I would not put it yet on anything that I use for work.