Member Avatar for SCollogio

I'm going to an art school, majoring in fashion design. Most students get a mac, but we are required to get a PC.

I need something light to carry around (14"-15.4") with me in the city, preferrably 2GB of memory and 200GB hard drive because I'll have tons of images and music..and that runs on XP (vista is too much of a memory hog) I'll be running regular programs and also design programs.


Anything out there that'll be worth the money I'll be spending? I was looking into getting either a HP or a Sony but someone told me I'd get more for my money with a dell? but then someone else told me Dell's arent any good.

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For a fashion/design student who needs a portable PC for lots of images and creative apps, focus on three practical things: screen quality, upgradeability, and driver/OS support. Prioritize a bright, high-quality panel (look for IPS or wide-color coverage if you can), a model that gives easy access to the RAM and 2.5" drive bay so you can upgrade later, and a comfortable balance of weight and battery life for city carry. 2 GB was a useful baseline in this thread, but for image work try to buy a machine that you can expand to 4 GB or more.

Be careful about the OS choice. Windows XP and Windows Vista are now out of mainstream support; running an unsupported Windows build raises security and compatibility risks. If the machine will actually be used long-term, prefer a model that ships with a supported OS or plan to run legacy apps in a virtual machine instead of leaving the host OS unsupported. Microsoft: what does it mean if Windows isn't supported?. (support.microsoft.com)

If you still want to run Windows XP on a new laptop, check the vendor support pages for XP drivers for the exact model (chipset, graphics, Wi‑Fi, card reader, touchpad, webcam). XP installers often won’t see SATA/AHCI drives unless the correct mass-storage driver is provided during setup; Microsoft documents that the text-mode F6 driver option expects a floppy, so many users either set the BIOS to IDE/compatibility mode or create a custom XP install disc with the SATA driver integrated. Create the vendor recovery media before wiping the machine and keep in mind that changing the shipped OS can affect vendor support. . ()

If you must slipstream SATA drivers, tools and step-by-step guides exist (for example, using nLite to add drivers to an XP image), but that process adds work and risk—so only do it if you understand the recovery/driver implications and have a legal XP license (school discounts are often the safest route). Guide: creating an XP slipstreamed disc with nLite. (terabyteunlimited.com)

Quick checklist to take to the store or bookmark before ordering online: verify driver downloads for your exact model, confirm service/manual shows accessible RAM/hdd slots, get recovery media, confirm upgrade paths for RAM and storage, and plan a backup drive for images. Echoing points made earlier by and , check business SKUs and school discount channels for better OS or licensing options before you buy.

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Member Avatar for Sturm

Actually I believe hp gets the most for your money... Dont no your price range put my I am extremely happy with my dv6000t. View my bio for its specs... It cost about $1600.

Member Avatar for SCollogio

Yeah thats about my price range. I'm finding that most notebooks come with vista and dont give the option of XP. should I just wipe out the vista and put XP on it when I get it?

Member Avatar for Sturm

I tried installing xp on my laptop... it doesnt recongize my hard drive... So I dont know...

Member Avatar for zachburdick

Right Now at best buy there is a hp laptop that turns into a tablet. The screen turns around and can be made flat like the tablet pcs that we see around. It cost about 1000. The hard drive is only a 80 gig if I recall but you could get an external. THey also have a seagate free agent 500 gig usb 2.0 for 180. So add it up you are looking at 1300 or so after tax.

--Zac

Member Avatar for dewabo

I read somewhere that Dell was offering xp as an opion on their machine. They stated that they were getting too many complaints on Vista.

Member Avatar for zachburdick

I remember when I bought a computer for college back in 2001. I didnt know thing about XP and I wanted Windows 2000. Dell wanted to charge me $100 to downgrade the computer. I was like no way give me XP.

Vista is a great idea, but a bad design. I think the OS has been pushed out the door a year or two early. XP is great, I'lll be running XP for a long time until they get the bugs fixed. Plus the hardware requirements are completly insane. I run XP, Mac OS X and Linux. Each does its purpose and works great. Vista is trying to please to many people and I am sorry but Microsoft has really taken a lot from OSX and tried to provide similar features that look and function the same i.e Media player 11 = Quicktime.

So if you want to try something new get vista, if you want an OS that is more stable and offers similar functions get XP. Or get new mac and then duel boot XP on it for when you needs windows. My Mac Book Pro runs xp great. You can get a Mac Book cheap and you will have a great design computer and a XP machine in one.

Member Avatar for Duki

As of now you can order a computer from Dell with XP installed. They will be shipping computers with XP until the first of the year.

When I bought my laptop from Dell (only a couple weeks ago) they had the option to order it with XP Pro installed and it comes with a Vista upgrade disk... this way you upgrade when you're ready and not a day sooner. :)

If you're going to be walking around with your laptop I would go get an XPS (starting weight - 4.3lb) and make sure you get accidental coverage on it. That way if someone bumps into you and you drop it... no worries; it's covered!

I think the only way to get XP on your system through Dell is if you shop in the Business section... but I'm not sure about that.

Member Avatar for SCollogio

The XPS doesn't give the option of coming installed with windows--yet they give you 4 different options of vista.

I went on the HP forums and found that more and more people are trying to get help to get rid of the vista and get XP, since HP no longer offers the option of XP. I called their sales support but the guy didnt understand my question really (such a waste of time). Then, I did an online chat with HP support and she kind of explained to me how to install XP (something to do with installing SATA hdd drives first).

I'm really considering getting the HP, then XP off ebay (from a reliable seller ofcourse), and then ordering microsoft office standard through my school (only $57).

The Macbook seems great but too expensive right now.

Member Avatar for dewabo

before buying something from e-bay check your school, you may be able to buy XP for a discount at school. Then I would check out NewEgg,com.

Member Avatar for Duki

>XPS doesn't give the option of coming installed with windows.

ah that figures; XPS isn't considered business class. If you want a computer with XP installed from the factory try looking at a Dell Latitude or something of the sort. Most business sections of companies should be shipping computers with XP till the end of the year; I know for a fact Dell is.

Member Avatar for DaveB

If I was buying a new laptop, I would get an Asus, or Sony. But for best buy would recommend an Acer laptop. I know people who have them, and recommend them highly. The laptops I've seen are great value for money.

I can't give any good links, because I live in the UK, and don't know where's best to buy in the US.

Regards, DaveB

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