what laptop should i buy?

For Vista, look at the MS requirements…and double it at least and make sure it's certified. Triple if you can afford…then Vista should rock your socks. If you learn how to use it, Vista features and technology blows XP away…when it works. ;) You want it to last so get 64-bit Vista Home Premium or Ultimate. It’s mega-fast with 64-bit apps as well as lets you upgrade > 4GB TOTAL RAM (system RAM + graphics card + other devices). 64-bit also requires “MS approved” (a.k.a. digitally signed) drivers so this “might” help with hardware compatibility, etc. This is MS’s way of trying to get everyone to “move on” if they are able to.

But if you have old programs, they might not work (esp. with 64-bit version). Google “Vista compatibility list”. Knowing a bit about computers helps getting the old problematic ones to work (Internet has a lot of solutions that smart people share).

Ultimate is the best but if you don’t think you need anything that fancy, Home Premium is good too. Get a good video card if you want Aero graphics (at least 256MB 128-bit in the newer cards)… better if you can afford. Vista technology distributes more graphics processing to the video card and relieves the CPU for other things. Therefore, a good video card will make Vista work better.

Vista uses extra RAM to store commonly used files in a new activity known as “disk caching”. The computer uses artificial intelligence to determine which files will be used most and copies it to RAM (where it is much faster than accessing your hard disk). This includes components of the programs you use on a regular basis. When you need more RAM for programs you launch, etc. the computer purges the “least likely used” files from RAM to make room for the new program. That’s why if you look at the performance monitor, Vista always has near zero “free” RAM. So in theory, the more RAM (for disk cache) you have, the faster your computer will operate. This can also be augmented (to a lesser effect) with a flash drive/card with a technology called ReadyBoost. Just stick it in and select “Speed up my system” and leave it there.

http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=29...

Vista Home Premium and Ultimate has Windows Media Center, where with a TV card/USB adapter (if not integrated) of the type that fits your TV/Cable, acts similar to TiVo. You can play your videos, schedule recordings, etc. You can get a wireless keyboard / mouse or gyro-mouse and it will be sort of like remote control. If you do this, get a big Hard Disk.

MS Office productivity software works best on Windows. The Mac version is really nerfed and doesn’t have new features like Office Ribbon interface, Mini Toolbars, and Live Preview, among a large list. There are also less individual titles in the Mac version.

Vista supports touch-screens and voice recognition if you’re into note-taking and dictation. A good program to use with this is OneNote, which is included in some Office editions.

Deals of America and Tech Bargains catch good deals on HP and Dell’s and sometimes you can get like $500 off! XPBargains has deals and coupons on Tablet PC’s!

Unless you are an artist, most Universities (and programs) as well as the rest of the world use Windows. WinMacs are popular but for the price, Macs don’t run Windows as well as other brands, but sometimes it doesn't really matter that much to most users. In addition some just want it for fashion and like them to match their iPods.

Here are some statistics to put it into perspective.

http://marketshare.hitslink.com/

Note that these “internet traffic statistics” actually miss a lot of Windows PC usage because many are used for work and do not surf the internet much (if at all). Thus the Windows PC’s out there may be even MORE than the representation on the charts!

Macs are durable because many have an accelerometer in there that can "increase the chance" of saving your hard drive when you drop it. Like those used in airbags. The power cord is also magnetically attached so it reduces the chance that you yank it off the table.

OSXMacs can exclusively install Final Cut Pro (which is good for media work). Adobe Creative Suite is also good and available for Windows but works better on OSX. The Windows version actually looks like an OSX port. Many OSX users are artists historically. Emotion workers are generally not as good with computers as logic workers so OSX is good for them. Because OSX is less complicated and harder to mess up, a lot of computer newbies also use Macs and that’s why you see a lot of “Get a Mac! They are so awesome!” without any technical explanation to back up that opinion. ;)

Mac Pros:

OSX stability

OSX is easy to use

Dual-bootable to Windows

More durable than many brands

Trendy

Mac Cons:

Not as much peripheral support

Not as much software support

Windows doesn’t run as well

Expensive

Minority

Windows PC Pros:

More customizable

More choices

More styles

Cheap hardware

Vista has best gaming capability (Direct3D 10)

Windows PC Cons:

Less stable (unless you are an IT pro)

Many are relatively not as fashionable

Not as user-friendly

Some extra features in Windows requires advanced knowledge to use

The extra features require better hardware despite your use of them or not

Details of features can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X

Some brand statistics: In terms of recent sales, the top 3 manufacturers are HP, Dell, and Acer (Gateway). Apple is #4 in USA.

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archi...

Pretty good deal on a powerful laptop: $900 - Gateway M-6851 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T5550(1.83GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 4GB Memory DDR2 667 250GB HDD 5400rpm Dual layer DVD Burner ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600(512MB GDDR3 Dedicated Memory)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...

Pretty good deals on mid to powerful Tablet PC’s: $700 - Gateway C-141X / $1100 - Gateway C142XL

http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529597319.ph...

Lenovo (a sub-brand of IBM) is best laptop brand in my opinion, because of their durability. They are built to high standards, and are known to last for 5 years or more, when many other laptops are lucky to survive the warranty period. Many Schools and Universities will only supply Lenovo/IBM laptops for students and teachers. They generally sell for about 10% more than other laptops with similar specs, but its worth it if you get twice the mileage out of it. The Acer could be fine, but if its still fine after two years then you're doing well.

It is also my opinion that Vista is not good for laptops (or anything else). It is a memory hog and will slow the performance of your laptop. XP is much more proven and developed, and hopefully the new Windows 7 operating system scheduled for release late 2009 - early 2010 will be more of a step forward.

i'm using acer aspire 6292.. tough one

Fujitso just being advertised in yahoo insider.

thats good