Vista version advice

[Fraz]

I've been tasked with speccing a laptop for someone, and I've decided on a Dell Vostro. The Vostro I was going to recommend comes with Vista Business, and doesn't have a customisation option for Vista Home Premium.

Never having used Vista, is there any real advantage/disadvantage of Vista Home Premium over Vista Businiess? The only differences I can see on here are that the Business edition doesn't have the Windows Media Center stuff, and some DVD making and movie-related crap.

Is this stuff anything worth worrying about not having? There doesn't appear to be an option for Vista Home Premium on the Vostro I was going to recommend...

Laptop will be used for usual Facebook, iTunes + iPod, Internetz trivialness.

[dangel]

Media centers the big one - other than that I woudn't worry. MC might be useful if he wanted to plug in a tv stick etc though.

[usxhe190]

agree with dangel - MC is pretty good in Vista (very nice eye candy). but i guess if your friend hasn't tried it before, he wouldn't miss out.

other stuff i don't really use.

[Fraz]

So what does the Media Centre actually do then?

[usxhe190]

its a "console gateway" to all your pictures, movies, music, tv etc etc

so if you hook your laptop to a tv (or bigish monitor) and you have a wireless keyboard...you can control what you want to see with just up/down/left right buttons etc. - i.e. sort like a TV. from your bed!

TBH, you can do this without MC (e.g. use media player and play movie from there)...but MC just looks better (hence my comment about eye candy)

its not THAT essential - just nice eye candy...(so your friend wouldn't notice if it wasn't there)...

Windows Media Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Fraz]

Ah, ok. Sounds like the Microsoft equivalent of my Mac's Frontrow + remote control functionality.

Cheers guys.

[usxhe190]

yep!

[StevenF]

I've just got a Vostro and it has business installed. So far it's been great, haven't had any problems... yet.

[Fraz]

I've just got a Vostro and it has business installed. So far it's been great, haven't had any problems... yet.

Which one was it, and what customisations etc? How much did it cost?

Are they well-built? I've heard they are. They don't feel all plastic and noddy right?

[godsdog]

I got a basic Vostro 1000 for £360 over Christmas for no-frills family use. Very pleased with it and the build quality. It won't win awards for design ergonomics, but it's good looking enough in a utilitarian fashion. Deal was...

Base
AMD® Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL60

Memory
2048 MB 667MHz Dual-Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x 1024 MB)

Keyboard
Internal Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)

Video Card
ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 HyperMemory (integrated)

Hard Drive
120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive

Microsoft Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista® Business - English

Modem
56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter - UK

Optical Devices
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software

Wireless Networking
Dell™ Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-Card - Europe

Shipping Documents
English Documentation with English/Irish Power Cord

Microsoft Application Software
Microsoft® Works 8.0 - English

Standard Warranty
Base Warranty - 1 Year Business Hardware Support

Enhanced Service Packs
Base Warranty - 1 Year Business Hardware Support

Protect your new PC
No Security/Anti-Virus Protection - English

Power Supply
65W AC Adapter

Bluetooth
No Bluetooth Upgrade

Order Information
Vostro Notebook Order - UK

Primary Battery
6 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (53 Whr)

Carrying Cases
No Carry Case

Dell System Media Kit
Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)

LCD
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display