Figuring out where to go from here..
 

well, my computer bit the dust!!


Its a laptop, I'm assuming motherboard is bad.. i need a new machine and first disc that will be installed on the new machine will be CS3 Master Suite... I plan on using it so i want to besure that what i get will run it very well... i want to game, produce alot of video, 3d animation (lightwave3d) and microsoft flight simulator X and whatever other big games are out there... i havn't had a computer that could do so in a while.


vista... it's going to replace windows so i think i gotta get it... i'm assuming home premium is the way to go :-(


this is what i'm considering

HP dv9700t series 17 inch laptop

Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)


17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)


3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)


512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS

320GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (160GB x 2)



right now on HP.com it is $1,523.99... I'm going to buy a warranty with it too.. but i hate to spend thhhat much more money.. i also am considering a desktop, but if i get one of those, i'll end up sending even more money to get a quad core and 4 gigs of ram... plus a large HD...





soo my question is, considering vista is eventually going to be the main deal... everyone is preaching "vista sucks, downgrade to XP", should i stick with vista? i don't want to have to buy a OS upgrade once they stop supporting XP.. nore do i want to be left in the dust.


second question: is that laptop good? if so, where do you guys recommend purchasing one from? i'm assuming ordering from HP.com would be easiest. Also, i'm open to other ideas for other brands.... or should i just dump it all and go desktop?


thanks :-)

Personally? The best pC out there right now is a MacBook Pro with XP. You can get an Intel Mac (probably 2.4 Duo, 2gb upgradable to 4) used for under $1k and XP grows on trees. The graphics are really the only concern (Mac still hasn't figured out graphics cards yet).

The dv9700t is a decent machine, and it should do the trick. I doubt you'll see people not supporting XP any time soon. Vista is a failure.

i want a new computer and i'm going to put some money down on the warranty... the few bucks it costed on my last computer saved in insane amounts of money and aggravation... and spending money on a used computer isn't something for me at the moment.


this thing doesn't seem to come with XP anymore.. i have an XP pro disc, how hard would it be to install xp and perhaps as a dual boot? and what are the risks involved?

If you're responding to Will's idea about getting a mac, putting XP on the machine ought to be a breeze using Boot Camp. As far as risks go, it's the usual. You know, viruses, malware, etc.

Yes, with XP does come all the risks. Mac's operating system is what makes it so safe more than anything else. Mac's do have excellent hardware, though, which has (according to experts) made it the best machine for Windows. That's the only reason I mentioned it.

don't buy the warranty. Buy an insurance rider. 12-20 bucks a year for better-than-warranty protection

This is fantastic advice.

insurance?? humm, i'll have to look into that :-)


one last thing... i've been looking between the 64bit and 32 bit operating systems now.. people seem to say that drivers and stuff are harder to come by but it offers performance gains? is 64 bit something i should consider or should i stick with 32?