New Laptop comes with Vista...I need a crash course

I just received my new laptop and of course it comes with Vista. I've never used Vista before and really don't care for it especially since I've read such horrible things...but as they say c'est la vie :-( So now I'm looking for a "Vista for dummies" or something similar book.-edited by mod- ...or maybe there is a website or book out there that is better. I just need something to familiarize myself with...any suggestions...thanks.

 

Technically you can't talk about torrents here.

But if you know how to use XP, its pretty similar... Just play around with it and you'll get used to it.

 

The easiest way for me to get used to it was just tinkering around with it and exploring the different options. It's really not that different from XP, but it has some very useful features like instant search (Windows key + start typing program name) Flip 3D (windows + tab), and so on.

 

Please do not talk about downloading copyrighted material.

If you want free books, go to your local library. They should have a lot for you to look at.
Tim

 

this thread should help u out a great deal. as long as u have SP1, 2GB of RAM or more, then vista should be very stable. use it for a few days and see how u like it. then play with the tweaks so u can customize and config everythin to yur liking. i was once skeptical about vista, but now i really love it.

 

Thanks for all the advice and sorry I didn't know about the copyrighted material.

 

This is a useful site.
http://www.vista4beginners.com/

 

Whence cometh the references to torrents and d/ling copyrighted material? And, Tim, does that include not talking about d/ling copyrighted material for which I just purchased a valid license and which includes electronic delivery of the material I've just licensed?

To the OP: There's always the option of starting with the MS Help and How-to website.

In terms of books, I don't know what your general technical level is, but there is a whole plethora of _Vista how-to books out there, from books for the utterly helpless, to books for the technical wizkid who just needs the executive summary, such as come up on this Amazon search.

 

Amazing. Simply amazing.

 

How so? As I read that sentence, the OP has not used _Vista before, and now that he's had his first taste of it courtesy of his new laptop, which he says he "just received," he finds it not to his liking. That doesn't imply someone who's rejecting _Vista out-of-hand without trying it first, but rather someone who's rejecting it after having given it a try.

At least the OP's willing to give it a go and wants advice on how to get comfortable with it as quickly as possible.

 

My laptop has been shipped and I've never used Vista before so I'm looking for a good book or two. This thread was the closest to a recommendation I could find with a forum search. I'll check out the links but I've always preferred a physical book. Any good suggestions?

 

The better part is right after.

"I don't like it because THEY say it's bad."

 

I like this one a lot:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=436518601&pf_rd_i=507846

It covers everything in great detail, yet it's still humorous and easy to read, with a very good index and quick reference guide.

Take a look at the videos Microsoft has about Vista- Click Start-type Welcome Center into the search box and hit enter. When it opens, expand "Get Started With Windows" heading by clicking the arrow on the end. Double Click "Windows Vista Demos" to get started.

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep that in mind. I know this somewhat contradicts what I said in the other post but I like to have an ebook copy as well for when I'm traveling. I didn't notice anything about that in the amazon description, does the cd include that? Also, does anyone have any experience with either of the following?

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Vista...=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222711505&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Windo...=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222711758&sr=1-7

I apologize, not sure if it's because I'm using FF but the link button it not working for me...

edit: nevermind the last comment, obviously the forum is smart enough to figure the links out.

 

At least Shyster1 is smart enough to realize that after reading many different reviews (btw this is a review site right??) that "the OP's willing to give it a go and wants advice on how to get comfortable with it as quickly as possible."

 

A lot of the "reviews" I have seen for Vista, even since it was first released, appear to be overexaggerated, misinformed, vague, or just plain wrong. It's to the point where people who have never used it beyond one botched install from a copy they "got" somewhere and they think they are experts. Many of the reviews, when boiled down to a sentence, are this:

"I installed Vista and it didn't see any of my hardware and it was slow and Vista sux and XP 4EVA and M$$$ SUXXXX"

I'm sure some of these people have legitimate problems, or had them a year and a half ago. I'm also sure some of them "manufacture" their problems to be trendy with the anti-Vista crowd, or just want to push an agenda. I can tell someone repeatedly that Aero doesn't impact gaming performance and show links to reputable gaming sites like firingsquad, but they don't hear it. I can say the Vista gaming situation has improved to about parity with XP, but again, they don't want to hear it or read websites showing it. To them, Vista sucks, it has always sucked, and will always suck. Windows 7 is their knight in shining armor for some reason, despite it being nothing but Vista with some new stuff. They have hard-coded in their brain that Windows 7 will simply be XP. I have no idea why.

Vista as a preload, just like XP as a preload, is a disaster waiting to happen. With XP the OEMs threw all kinds of bloatware junk on, and with Vista it's no different. People forget this, see Vista run slow on their new laptop, and VISTA SUXXX. Wipe that sucker clean, install Vista from scratch, latest drivers, and the situation can and does change dramatically.

But if a person doesn't want to see that, they don't.

 

I agree, Microsoft has to start cracking the whip and start restricting what gets preloaded.

 

I have to admit I have not read this thread... seemed to go a little off topic. Anyway. Basically, the best way to learn is to try. I never read a book or jack, I doubt anyone here has to be honest. Just do it- Nike circa 1992. If you break something, which is pretty hard to do, then come and do a search for the solution here on these forums. If you can't find the solution, make a post, there are some really helpful people here, it's truly remarkable. If you want to figure out how to do something or change something, once again, do a search and browse through these forums.

I would start with reading the following:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=177399

Check out this section of the forum:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1013

Tons of information can be had there.

Best free software:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=206289

NBR Vista Tips and Tweaks Guide:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

Going through it will not only improve your performance, but will give you a lot of exposure to Vista.

Depending on your laptop make, go to that particular section of the forum and look around...

IMO, I would ditch the books, sit and read around the forums, fool around on your laptop..... search through the forums whenever you come up with a question and again, post away!

Oh, and stay away from talking about torrents or even mentioning anything to do with serial codes... one time I asked where I could find my Vista serial code and well..... peeps went nuts..... haha. seriously though.

Enjoy.