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Just bought this thing for my mother. It should do alright for what she will use it for ( surfing and email ). I also bought a cooling pad.
www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4396204&CatId=2511
Don't look forward to having to deal with Vista though.
JUST BOUGHT
MultiQuote
#5
coastie65 
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 11:13 AM
:^0 Don't think she'll go the movie route as she has plenty on the TV ( Verizon FiOS ). She also has a DVD / VHS combo for the TV. She will maybe watch some streaming news things though. I just don't look forward to that headache called Vista.
#7
coastie65
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 11:38 AM
She'll be 83 on the 26th, so I don't think she'll be hauling that thing around. :D She had bought an old IBM Think Pad from my brother, but she didn't like the 14" screen so sold it back to him. Hopefully, this will be more to her liking.
#9
coastie65
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 02:55 PM
Hopefully there won't be too many updates to fool with and SP1 has been installed, but we'll see. I'll have to go through a learning curve and then have to get my Mother up to speed :p . As far as the 9800GT, that thing is running like a champ. It came with a Video Capture utility, called FRAPS that I like, but you have to buy the full version. The version included only gives you 30 secs of video and it is watermarked on top of that. I went over to Amazon.com and ordered "Vista For Dummies" for her. It comes with a how to DVD as well. Figured I am going to need al the help I can get. :D One thing is for sure, the Trial Security apps are going first thing.
#10
lilxkid24
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 03:01 PM
I hate fraps because it caps my fps at 30 for recording in games even if i want to set it to 60 or higher. Plus files are huge since its avi. A couple of minutes worth of recording is a couple gigs already.
#12
coastie65
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 03:06 PM
lilxkid24 said:
I hate fraps because it caps my fps at 30 for recording in games even if i want to set it to 60 or higher. Plus files are huge since its avi. A couple of minutes worth of recording is a couple gigs already.
Hey lil, I wasn't aware of that. I haven't really thought all that much about it anyway.
#13
coastie65
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 03:12 PM
I hope so. If her cataracs get ripe and they remove them, then things will be much better. I do think it will be much better than that old Think Pad my brother sold her. I'm just not real thrilled at the headaches Vista is going to cause me. :p Besides the bloatware, I am going to disable UAC as I don't need that aggravation.
#14
Car54
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Posted 11 May 2009 - 03:23 PM
That was my first though also, as far as disabling Vistas UAC, and getting the book with the DVD was a nice, "get me through the easy things" reference for her. :-)
By the way, I had never heard of FRAPS before, and went to their web page, that looks pretty cool. :-)
http://www.fraps.com/
By the way, I had never heard of FRAPS before, and went to their web page, that looks pretty cool. :-)
http://www.fraps.com/
#15
smax013
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Posted 12 May 2009 - 02:09 AM
For day to day use, Vista is not really all that different than XP (other than in looks). It is once you get in to more "under the hood" stuff that things change. Thus, if she is used to using Windows, then she likely will have no issues using this. It will likely be more you that might have issues...but only if there are problems to fix or "issues" to deal with.
#16
coastie65
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Posted 12 May 2009 - 07:04 AM
Other than fumbling my way through getting the wireless connection set up and most likely having to make recovery discs, I don't plan on having issues. That will be her baby after I get her started. I went over to Amazon.com and ordered " Vista For Dummies " which also comes with an instructional DVD. I know it will be chock full of bloatware. I'll make sure to get my yardwork done before that thing arrives. Her usage will be primarily web surfing ( and shopping ) plus emails.
#17
coastie65
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Posted 14 May 2009 - 03:49 PM
Well, This showed up about 11:30 This morning. The first thing after the boot, up popped Norton 360. There was No Decline, the only button was next. I declined the Eula and it disappeared. I then set about making Recovery Discs. I made the Recovery discs as well as and Apps & Drivers disc. That done, I did away with Norton. I then set about setting up the internet. That was a headache. Got Avast! & Spysweeper installed. Got to figure out what to do with Windows Defender as I think it has been discontinued anyway. OH Yeah, I turned off the UAC thingie too. Doing updates from Window Upadte site now.
#19
lilxkid24
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Posted 14 May 2009 - 05:12 PM
I would also tweak the services so you can disable the ones not needed. I use http://www.blackvipe.../servicecfg.htm to disable unnecessary services. Especially windows search!!
#20
coastie65
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Posted 14 May 2009 - 05:13 PM
If I am still sane after this, it will be a miracle. I am goin to get a wireless mouse, although it is better than that old IBM Think Pad My Mom had before Still have some work to do to get it to where she can read things as her eyesight isn't all that good. Updates are easier with XP that's for sure. Too much lost motion with Vista. I'm about finished fir the night. About al that's left is to deal with the bloatware and I have already removed Norton.
