Help me decide OS new T61P

Hi all,

This is my first post and I'm needing a little help decide which OS to put on my new T61P. It comes with XP pro installed but I'm wondering if to follow the guide and do a clean install or put on Vista? Both would be 32bit OS as I dont have 64bit cd (Hope that makes sense) I know I won't see all the memory. Maybe only 3 and a bit gig.

I've only looked at vista a little so I don't know it that well. but i need the laptop to be quick and reliable.

The spec is:

Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5GHz Processor
4GB RAM
160GB 7200rpm HD
15.4in 1680x1050 WSXGA+ LCD
256MB nVIDIA Quadro FX 570M
CDRW/DVD-RW Dual Layer DVD Burner
Intel 802.11agn wireless
Bluetooth/Modem
1Gb Ethernet
UltraNav
Secure chip
Fingerprint reader
9 cell Li-Ion battery
Windows XP Professional


It will be used in a windows work enviroment.Accessing Active Directory, DNS, DHCP (All open at once) VMware, Microsoft exchange manager.
Lots of Remote desktop/ vnc to servers and workstations. open at continuous times Monitoring the network. Lots of documents for open office and Ms Office. E-mail, Internet. Configuring switches via telnet and serial cables.

Linux is out as I'm putting that on my old Laptop and using the new one for system hungry windows.

Any help and experiences would be very helpful.

 

I would in the strongest way i can recommend you go with Vista. The general malaise against it is socially constructed and mostly unfounded. Complaints stem mostly from defaults that can be changed or from options that can be easily disabled. You'll get the most out of your UPEX fingerprint reader, the security chip and the ultranav on Vista.

 

I would go with Vista. You have the horsepower and eventually you'll need to switch anyway.

 

I would definitely not go with VISTA, choose XP. I just got a Dell 1530 (which I am returning) that crashed twice in the first day and even with 3GB of memory and a 2.2 GHz processor, it was slow to display the programs portion of the start menu.

In the long run VISTA may turn out ok, but right now it may give you significant problems.

So VISTA is not quick, and in my experience it is not all that reliable.

I would stay away from 64 bit OS, atleast the 64 bit XP and Vista both have driver issues that keep most people from using them. Another reason to stick with XP, VISTA is slower and you can't add more RAM to compensate.

And although Hawkshark indicates complaints stem mostly from defaults that can be changed or options that can be disabled. Even with the look of Vista scalled back to look like Win 2k, it still seemed slow, and the settings are difficult to understand. It took me 15 to 20 minutes to figure out how to change the hibernation settings. In XP, the power settings are easy.

 

your right, there really is not alot of basis for a far number of complaints... my vista machine boots in like 45 seconds. the same computer in XP took over a minute.

Edit: by the way my programs tab in the start menu is render instantly. 0 lag...

 

So most are saying vista....

Is there a guide similar to the XP which is for vista and includes which vantage tools to install?

 

For what it's worth, I installed Vista-32 clean on a T60p and it worked flawlessly. I now have Vista-64 on my T61p (T9500, 15.4", 4GB RAM) and it works without any driver issues or problems, at least none so far.

 

"I would in the strongest way i can recommend you go with Vista. The general malaise against it is socially constructed and mostly unfounded. Complaints stem mostly from defaults that can be changed or from options that can be easily disabled. You'll get the most out of your UPEX fingerprint reader, the security chip and the ultranav on Vista."

Well Put........

I would recommend Vista 64 bit business. It's wonderful, you get the highpowered infrastructural support such as image backup without all the multimedia junk.

 

Make sure any programs that you use are compatible with vista. This only people from the same field can tell you. If an important/commonly used program is flaky in vista, goto XP pro.

 

Thats my worry but I'm hoping Server 2003 admin tools pack work with vista now. If not I don't know what microsoft are playing at.
I'm still tempted to go with good old XP as I know it


As this is my first thinkpad can someone please explain the Thinkpad Vantage tools or programs. What to they do, whats the ones that I need to install

 

Vista. I think lots of people complain to fuel the overly emotional hatred for something new from Microsoft and really dont know what they are talking about. Clearly Vista has problems, but no more than XP when it came out. Im sure when Windows 7 comes out it will be the same story. I remember when XP came out people were crying for 98SE back.

Like everyone else said, properly configured and streamlined you should not have many problems with it. Look ahead, not behind. You can download Admin pack for Vista 64bit for sure, dont know about 32bit. Good Luck.

 

"I hope 2003 admin tools pack work with vista now"

This is highly dubious if it's IIS that you are talking. IIS7 is structed and managed rather differently from IIS6.

 

I went with XP as several key applications for our hospital won't run on Vista and I need them. I have a Vista desktop and really don't see an advantage over XP for my other needs, not crazy about the interface/folder views etc. Runs slower on comparable hardware.

 

I have read that if you order Vista business you can get free XP Pro down grade restore software in the event that you are not pleased with Vista.

Not sure if this is true.

Can somebody verify this info?????

 

Vista sound stutters with no fix.

 

That's awesome news since I play on going Vista 64-bit!

To the OP, go with whatever you feel comfortable using. Ultimately, you have to know your way around the OS you choose to be able to get your work done effectively and efficiently.

 

Microsoft is allowing vendors to provide XP Pro downgrade software to VistaBusiness or Ultimate users for a while longer than June 30 when XP is being pulled from the retail stores.

Posts here and at other TP forums indicates that XP recovery disks come with the VistaBusiness systems so for the $21 upgrade I can get both OS which is my plan. Otherwise, I believe you can get recover XP disks from Lenovo for $45 if your system is still in warranty.

 

XP is the way to go! Everything you need. Runs faster, cooler & more stable than Vista. Vista has a few more years of development for good use.

XP can now handle everything you could need!

 

While some of the complaints of Vista may stem from ignorance / low knowledge of a new OS, there are plenty of complaints by users around here only about the many bugs in Vista.

My biggest complaint is that "we" as a consumer don't have the choice about choosing XP or Vista. If you want XP on your laptop with the latest hardware, you three choices are Dell, Lenovo and Toshiba. Toshiba has a very low level of customization for its laptops available when compared to Dell and Lenovo. So really these two are the only ones offering XP Pro on its laptops. This stinks to the highest heavens as Microsoft is literally shoving Vista down our throats. When your new software is buggy and you still force people to use it, its just downright stupid and unethical.

 

I went with the clean install and put Vista Ultimate 64bit it hasen't crashed yet. I have no problem finding drivers in fact I find it to be more stable than Vista 32bit. I like it very fast I get all the cool Vista features and i won't need to upgrade to anything in the future.

 

I'm still no further forward. I suppose if lenovo ship the 6460DVU which is a top of the range T61p with XP there telling me something.

I'll either stick with 32 Bit XP or buy Vista Ultimate 64 Bit. Is there much more performance with Vista 64?

I did however find out that there now is the adminpak for Vista. It's been renamed but will still let you access Active Directory etc.

I'm tempted to stick with XP if I'm not going to get any improvements.

Does anyone one if there are major improvements with Vista SP 1?

 

"Is there much more performance with Vista 64?"

8-10 percent.

Everything works a little smoother after sp1

 

I ordered my T61 with Vista Business, and got the XP Pro downgrade CDs with.

After two weeks, I found that Vista worked, but it was slower, and there were some applications that weren't as compatible as I'd like. Even with SP1 installed, it wasn't as fast as XP Pro. This is with a T8300 CPU and 4GB of RAM, so it's not like it wasn't Vista capable. This was also after a fair amount of tweaking.

I backed down to XP Pro, and have been happier. I liked Vista's GUI, but I wasn't willing to trade performance for it. And like you, I've also got the need for work with Active Directory. No disrespect to the Vista folks, but I think if you're a netadmin, you're better off with XP for the time being.

 

I used to be a part of an engineering group that wrote an operating system.

Our customers wanted extensive new feature support and no difference in performance. It's not a possibility.

 

Renee, I'm very interested in hearing more about this. Is there any way that you could briefly elaborate?

 

While I agree that a new operating system is likely to have a performance difference from an old one, I believe it is possible to minimize this to an extent. Mac OS X is an example of this --and it's also an example of something I think is equally important; continuing to make your existing code more efficient.

IMO, Vista is a product where coding efficiency wasn't necessarily as high a priority as features and eye-candy. I also think due to delays, which caused a heightened sense of urgency, produced that "gotta get it out the door" mentality that you see with a number of software developers (notably, game developers whose publishers sometimes see the dollar signs and are willing to push developers to release early despite possible drawbacks).

I think the Win9x to XP transition (based on someone's earlier comments) is a moot point. Windows XP brought vast increases in stability to home users (most home users did not use Windows 2000) with its Win2000-based services model, as well as significant improvements in other areas. I'd never argue that we should go back to Win9x. The difference now is that I can't see anything I can do with Vista that I can't do with XP, or possibly with XP and the help of a free, open-source app or two. I'm not really willing to give up performance when I can't see how Vista can make me more productive, or make things easier, or do things that I couldn't do before when I had XP.

 

I've found that Vista's performance improves substantially with time... as (I'm guessing here) it moves the right things to the prefetch folder, and conducts other behind the scenes optimizations for your typical usage patterns. Also, the other much maligned issue with Vista, the User Account Control ("UAC" - or is that A for Access?) also diminishes with time, as, typically, the majority of your encounters with these extra dialogue boxes will occur during the inital setup. I barely notice it now; and I do take it to heart that there is that little extra layer of protection there.

Vista has its issues, no doubt, but all OSes do... and likely will for the foreseeable future... will computers in a hundred years be like the one on the Enterprise, or the one on the Discovery one? Guess which one I'd bet on... Daisy, daisy...

 

That is very similar to the T61 that I have ordered (except for the items in bold type) and am awaiting delivery on (~2 weeks). I considered Vista, but have seen firsthand some incompatibilities with some of the stuff I use (Epson R320 via USB on my home network through a Win-XP Pro desktop PC, and unable to remotely access the Meditech system for my work). Aside from that, I have been comfortable with XP Pro and will stick with it until more of the bugs are worked out. Meditech may never be compatible.... I don't know, and that thing with the printer is just plain strange. One of the other guys at work was my guinea pig on this. He has the same printer and tried to access it on his home network. After trying everything he could think of, and spending hours on the phone with Dell and MS people; all involved finally agreed that this was an impossible task. He was not a happy camper, but I will learn from his findings. and not switch to Vista on the T61 until my desktop system needs to be upgraded.

I heard there will be another new OS coming from MS within the next year or so - maybe I will wait for that, although I am certain that will have bugs as well.

 

Overland 1 - Remote access to Meditech via Citrix server was one of the issues at our hospital as well, remote access to Agfa PACS system was the other. We can access Meditech (MAGIC version) via a different VPN route involving Aventail components. Not big issues in the entire Windows world, but if you need it you need it and it causes a good deal of grief when people buy new PC's!