Looking for a Laptop

yes, VISTA wastes RAM, but if you have 2 or 3 GB, you should have no problems

(unless you need those 2 or 3 GB for something)

Actually, from what I've heard (meaning this statement can be disregarded) that XP can only use up to 3GB of RAM whereas vista can use 4GB of RAM. The thing is, vista isn't as bad anymore. When I first got my laptop I hated vista, and the first thing I was going to do was change to XP, but it turns out they fixed a lot of bugs on vista and actually a pretty decent OS. Most laptops come with at least 3GB of RAM now, and you can buy laptops to have 8GB of RAM, which I think is ridiculous. All in all you should just buy a simple laptop. Just get one that has a good rating and reviews and chances are you will have no troubles.

I've had fewer problems with Vista than I had with XP, though admittedly I had very few problems with XP to begin with.

Most of the people I know who are "VISTA SUX" tried to update their OS using old equipment. New Operating Systems are for new equipment, not old equipment. DUH. These are also the same people who complain that their *insert ancient peripheral here* doesn't work. Well, again, duh, old equipment.

Oh, and *never* upgrade your OS. Do a fresh install. Upgrades always get screwed up.

Actually, from what I've heard (meaning this statement can be disregarded) that XP can only use up to 3GB of RAM whereas vista can use 4GB of RAM.

That's sort of true. Only 64-bit Windows operating systems can address >3 GB RAM. Since Windows XP x64 is not too widely used, largely on account of poor driver support, it is fair to say that in reality, XP can't really use more than 3 GB.

Linux can go beyond that ceiling even in a 32-bit iteration, though. OS X can too - I believe it's been exclusively 64-bit for a good long while.

Also, I'm pretty sure (but not completely sure) that 3 GB of RAM is impossible. I think it has to be, like everything else on computers, in powers of two (because of Binary code). So only 1, 2, 4, 8, etc. GB are possible. I've heard this a few places, but I'm not positive, so...feel free to correct me.

That is not the case. On the contrary, new machines running the i7 processor tend to have either 3 or 6 GB RAM, owing to its tri-channel memory controller.

8 GB of RAM is not ridiculous if you're doing certain things...especially media production.

Absolutely yes, how much RAM do you think a visual effects producer uses ? ... of course "normal people" may not need so much.

Most of the people I know who are "VISTA SUX" tried to update their OS using old equipment. New Operating Systems are for new equipment, not old equipment. DUH.

Yes, when Vista appeared many people brought their computer to "downgrade" (change) the Vista to XP, (problematic operation in some laps with "very easy" BIOS )

But that is just the resistance to changes (also with Office 2007) ... suddenly people feel themselves "slower" while doing things and just prefer the "old fashion" method bacuse they think less.

I do not find severe problems in Vista to use XP instead, ONLY if a matter of drivers can not be solved in any form.

I still don't install Windows 7