Vista: First Impressions
Before I get started, I’d like to thank Best Buy for hooking us up with that line of credit! Big props!
As some of you may know, my boy is back in the hospital. This is an ongoing saga … I won’t get into the details here. If you want, you contact me offline for a synopsis.
Anyway, G. has homework due and an exam. Between death in the family and his hospital stays, it’s a miracle she’s gotten through this semester. Her professors have been kind, offering extensions when needed.
Unfortunately, there was no way to get extensions this time … and she needed a computer to do online quizzes and an outline.
During our last hospital stay in September, I managed to lug over her old Sony Vaio desktop over … in a suitcase! That’s what I call an out-of-the-box and into-the-luggage solution!
This time … I decided it was time to get a laptop.
We went with a new Compaq that’s on sale for $399 at Best Buy (no rebates. Just one low price of $399. 160GB hard drive. 2GB memory. DVD read/write. 15.4 ” screen). The only thing I was worried about was that it runs Vista Home Premium addition.
I’d heard the horror stories from last year, when Vista was introduced, of not being able to save to certain directories, not being able to install free linux-based programs, etc.
I am pleased to report that, in the past year, Vista was easier to work with than expected.
To make a long story short:
- The computer detected the hospital’s wi-fi immediately. I figured it would, based on an experience I had last year with Damian’s laptop during another hospital stay, but I was still relieved.
- A new version of Java installed, that included an installer for Openoffice.org! I think God must be giving me some sort of free pass or cheat code today, between the line of credit and this!
- I was able to successfully install Openoffice!
- When downloading the .exe file, I was not able to change the folder to save the file. It asked me to contact my administrator … even thought I was logged in as administrator. However, during the actual install, I was able to select the Program Files and create and OpenOffice folder.
So, overall, I think G. will enjoy the laptop … and I’m grateful I didn’t have to stress too much installing OpenOffice.
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Get well wishes
Some negatives you may experience:
Updates- if you cancel one or have to shut down…have fun installing it.
Windows Defender, virus check, whatever malfreeware you install etc…really slows down the system.
Have fun installing some PC games.
Permissions can be frustrating if you’re moving around in Explorer.
It’s my wife’s machine now. I’ll stick with XP on my box.