Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge, Part 2

one thing that is worth noting. This form has a very active crew of people, including GB, John Ratsey, commander wolf, LPTP, and others (too numerous to name) who are always willing to help out with any questions, system related or otherwise. I am sure I speak for them as well, but at least for myself, feel free to PM me if you have any questions, system-specific or otherwise as you start learning this machine and win7.

 

Agreed! And I add, PM = personal message.

 

1. The 32 bit version of Windows 7 is much less likely to have compatibility problems with older programs and drivers than the 64 bit version (see above), so that may be the safer choice for you.

2. I would skip Office 2007 and wait for Office 2010, which is much more usable. The incompatibilities that Office 2003 has with Win 7 are minimal and unlikely to affect you.

John

 

Safer yes, but you delay the inevitable. Windows 8 will be only in 64-bit.
Windows 8 is expected to be out 3 years from Win7 release.. so end of 2012.

 

my e6400 is currently on
120 GB, SATA 3 Gb/s, 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM scorpio blue
i plan to change it to
Seagate Momentus 7200.4 250GB 16MB 2.5'' SATA 3Gb/s

is this a worthy upgrade?
will this have vibrations?

 

Which means that Win 7 will still be usable for at least 5 years from now. And given Microsoft's practice that every other software iteration is usually a source of problems, I would wait for Windows 9.

The newer 7200.5 would be a better choice since there were some issues with the 7200.4. How much of an improvement you see depends on which generation of Scorpio Blue you have. The 120GB could be spread across one or more platters. If it uses only one side of platter then the performance difference will be limited. WDC's datasheets give no clue about this aspect, but you could check the transfer rates using HDTune.

John

 

Hi John:
But I thought I was told that I would be a total MORON not to immediately install 64-bit Windows 7 ?? (only partial tongue in cheek ). After doing some more reading, I agree that the 32-bit version would be fine for my purposes.Two more questions for the Lounge:

1. My original post specified that I would be buying the E6400 with Windows 7 Professional with "downgrade to Windows XP Professionally Installed", about which they then say "Dell will preinstall Windows XP Professional and give you the DVD to install Windows® 7 Professional or Windows® 7 Ultimate when you're ready". So, isn't this the best of both worlds (for me), to be able to immediately use the system under XP and have the W7 software disk to install as soon as I'm ready to commit? What are the real negatives to this approach, other than the fact that it would be like putting a 6-cylinder engine into a Corvette...but with the understanding that I get a "free" 8-cylinder engine to install later at my leisure. Plus, I would have to stop being an chicken and actually install Windows 7 as soon as possible and not let the DVD sit there. (I did a little bit of research into using the "XP Mode" under Windows 7, and it doesn't appear to be very user-friendly for the way I use my computer with multiple applications).

2. Re: Office 2003 vs 2007 vs 2010. I currently use 2003, which was the OEM copy installed by Dell on my specific D620 at purchase. I have been told that this OEM software cannot be installed on another computer, hence I must purchase the current Office 2007 (OEM copy again, if I want cheap) installed by Dell on any new laptop I buy. Now aside from the fact that you folks might have some tricky computer-tech-geek ways of getting around the restrictions on transferring OEM software to a new computer, have I been given incorrect information? I'd be perfectly happy using 2003 until 2010 comes out if there is a [legal] way to do it. I know that I had to re-install it on my D620 one time when my OS system blew up, and I had to call Microsoft and convince them that it was being reinstalled on the same CPU.

Thanks again for insights!
Jayne

 

Thanks again for the kind words. I would have sent this as a Private Message, but couldn't figure out how to do it!

 

I'd still go with Win7 installed if i were you, and 64bit if you want to take advantage of new software optimized for it. New laptop + new OS, completly fresh experience...i'd go for that anytime. Win7 will seriously take you a day of checking everything out to get used to and the interface is SO much nicer (IMHO ofcourse) For me it finally got to the same point (even better IMHO) as OSX on the Mac.
Office 2007 got me a bit to get a hang of but only because the menu's are a bit different. Once you've localized all your usual functions you won't even notice you're using a different version.
I've had no issues with 64bit except for some obscure VST instruments i use in Cubase but even that was easily solved. If you want to keep using your laptop for say 4 years to it's fullest potential id'go for 64bit.

But ofcourse, it's up to you, you're not a complete moron for sticking with 32bit....just partially

 

Ah interesting. As much I want to say yes, because on PAPER it's true. But in reality you wont' do it. Because it will be time consuming in installing Win7.
Having the system already with Win7, makes you be able to use 2 systems (your odl with XP and you new with WIn7), and take your time in transition. As you have access to the 2 system simultaneously, you can perform teh switch more smoothly. For instance, you can transfer part of the data form one system to another, do some work on your XP system, and when you have free time continue with the rest. If you have a problem with a software (assuming the worst) you can still use your old system until you find a solution to the problem, such as using compatibility mode, or look for a patch or a new version. I other words, human's (I am human) are lazy bunch of creatures... so I know you'll have your XP and stick with it.

No. Using a 32-bit OS (especially XP as it doesn't even understand half the technology in your new system, potentially causing system stability problems or issues), it's like buying a 8-cynlindar car, where you open teh engine and remove 2 of it's cylinder , and close everything up (of course, assume that the engine will work fine when doing this, without any downside related to engine damage or something like that). So basically, you buy a 8-cylinder engine, but only use 6.

Let me simply things:

• Go on this website to download 2 files (one is the virtual machine, and the other XP itself pre-installed and configured for you) here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
  
• Install them.
  
• Start XP Virtual machine. The first time you'll be asked for some basic info, like a user name and password, and update behavior (auto, semi-auto or manual). And you will get this:
  A window, with XP on it.

Congratulation you just setup XP Mode with your computer. The part that take the most time is downloading one of the files which has XP on it.

• From there, just install your applications from disk or download (it has internet, like a real computer). Once done, of you open Window s7 start menu, under Windows Virtual PC folder, you'll have your installed applications there. All you have to do is close XP window. And run you program that you just installed in the start menu of Windows under Windows Virtual PC folder.

It's not complicated... it's just there is a few steps at first, but the other time, it's like turning on your computer (start XP under WIn7 from the start menu) and installing a software on it.

Correct, so you can wait for Office 2010 also. http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/01/microsoft-reveals-office-2010-retail-prices.ars

Sorry, but I can't change signed agreement. Did you try rubbing your Office 2003, maybe you might be lucky to have a genie pop-out

Oooooooo your good Same CPU - ie same model... but different computer. I think that is why it needed convincing. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, one of many processors in your computer. Basically every hardware component has a processor... sourc card has an SPU (sound processing unit), video card has GPU's (Graphic processing unit), harddrive even has processors. Basically anything that can process some level of information, ultra basic to super complex is called a processor. The CPU, is the main one, which doesn't have any special dedication. For instance, a SPU (sound processing unit) does ONLY sound decoding and converting (analogue to digital and vise versa) among other things depending on the sound card.. but still related to sound and only sound. It can't execute programs and such. CPU's are the one that runs your applications, runs Windows (operating systems), knows when a device is done (ie: print job completed), manages to a certain extend: keyboard an mouse inputs and such, also has a complete logic system embedded in it. No, not logic from many living creatures on this planet, but something basic.

Anyway, point being, you if you said "same system" instead of "same CPU" it would made everything much easier.