I'm looking to buy a new laptop in the next few months. I don't need much except for a reliable, portable computer with wireless internet, the Microsoft Office Suite, and a small price tag. I'm thinking about just getting a cheap Dell laptop like the Inspiron (sp?) 1200 or something similar, but I'm worried that if I buy this computer now the software will be out of date soon. The last time I bought a computer Windows XP came out less than a year later and I had to pay to upgrade. Does anyone know if Microsoft is planning on releasing a new operating system or version of Microsoft Office that will make the current ones obsolete? I don't keep track of this stuff so I thought I ask those of you who do. Thanks.

10/26/2005 12:35:32 AM

Windows Vista is coming out by the end of next year...along with office 12.

10/26/2005 12:37:19 AM

as he said, windows vista is coming out. but thats no reason to keep you from buying a new laptop. even if office came out with a new version that for some reason was not compatible with your computer i doubt it would have anything you would NEED. itd just be small changes to make more of a profit.

and vista wont be here for a bit and will be way overpriced at first. XP is fine for buying a computer now. if you get the price youre looking for go for it

10/26/2005 12:39:54 AM

I think she's trying to factor in the cost of upgrading later.

10/26/2005 12:40:42 AM

I remember getting XP right off the bat was such a huge pain. My sound card wouldn't even function. I re-installed 98 'til all the driver issues were worked out over a few months...of course this may be better thought out this time around.

At any rate, if you NEED it, you need it. Go ahead & get one and you can always upgrade your OS later. Plus, you'll be able to buy the OS and the new Office through the university for a lot cheaper than retail.

10/26/2005 12:41:59 AM

^^ but there wouldnt be a need to. especially for someone who doesnt seem to keep up with computers anyways. there would be no reason to go out and upgrade their OP.

^ but yea if youre gonna get it down the line. the school has great deals.

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 12:44 AM. Reason : ]

10/26/2005 12:43:24 AM

But the school's licensing sucks.

You technically lose the license as soon as your graduate.

10/26/2005 12:45:15 AM

there's no system in place to keep people from continuing to use the software though, is there?

10/26/2005 12:52:12 AM

There isn't

But the software is pirated/illegal.

10/26/2005 12:53:42 AM

meh are you sure about that? thats not how ive understood it when ive bought software on educational discounts before

10/26/2005 1:00:02 AM

I am 100% sure.

10/26/2005 1:00:18 AM

oh well nothings going to happen if you leave it on there anyways

10/26/2005 1:05:46 AM

ok

I just rechecked and I think they have changed the licensing so that the license does not expire and depends only on your "current" status

So I am wrong...perhaps.

10/26/2005 1:07:07 AM

Thanks for all the helpful info. I don't actually go to State anymore, so the discounts wouldn't apply for me. I graduated in 2004 and now I'm a grad student at the University of Georgia. I'll check and see if UGA offers any discounts though. Thanks again.

10/26/2005 1:44:21 AM

how much can you buy windows xp-professional-SP2 from the bookstore for here at state?

10/26/2005 4:21:49 PM

just find someone with an MSDNAA account and ask them to get u a copy of XP Pro for u with serial. it doesnt take much; i'm sure u'll have to pay but it wont be as much as a retail copy and above all it's completely legal version of XP. or u can always go the bit torrent route..lol. but i would advise against that.

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 4:25 PM. Reason : .]

10/26/2005 4:24:13 PM

lol

if you pay, aren't you breaking the EULA?

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 4:25 PM. Reason : .]

10/26/2005 4:25:12 PM

who would have an msdnaa account?

10/26/2005 4:26:46 PM

^^ if thats the case then the payment would be for the person's time and efforts goin in to get the product and not for the actual product.

^ ECE, computer science and engineering have MSDNAA accounts.

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 4:28 PM. Reason : .]

10/26/2005 4:27:49 PM

word, my roommate is in computer science i can ask him about it, or someone else in the department i guess then

10/26/2005 4:30:55 PM

actually my roomie said he doesnt know waht that is haha

10/26/2005 4:33:13 PM

when i was enrolled in ECE-331 last spring i was given access to the MSDNAA site. i downloaded a full version of XP Pro with serial. i have yet to use it though but when i need it, its right there for me and i wont have to pay.

10/26/2005 4:33:49 PM

oh wow. im in ece 331 right now. where did you get this access? thanks for your help man, sorry for all the questions

10/26/2005 4:37:21 PM

i had an email sent to me in the beginning of the semester notifying me of my enrollment into MSDNAA which gave me my username and password. at 1st i didnt know why but i came to find out that it had to do with ECE-331. however, once the semester ended it was revoked since i'm an ME.

10/26/2005 4:40:33 PM

well im def going to check my webmail now. this would allow me to upgrade a few other components slightly with the money i save . and id def get it before the semester ends because i am an ME too

wasnt in my webmail but im sure i could email someone in the department or find someone in ece/cse and ask them about it

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 4:47 PM. Reason : ]

10/26/2005 4:41:53 PM

nvm i found it!

sweet jebus thanks a lot man!

10/26/2005 5:00:51 PM

I would seriously recommend against getting the 1200 and running Office on it. For starters, if you don't already own the software, you're going to have to get it seperately, as the 1200 doesn't even allow you to configure Word into that package.

Not to mention, you're going to kick yourself for getting the "pre-configured" laptop of Dell's, as opposed to the 2200 model, which you can add the office software in the package.

Even dealing with XP, when Vista gets released, you're still going to find companies making software and support for XP for at least several more years.

10/26/2005 5:03:47 PM

downloading now

10/26/2005 5:45:50 PM

ok so i DL this from the website. I got an ISO file w and a bunch of temp files (.tmp) all of which im familiar with, but not with an OS that i need to get on a CD to boot up a system. Im guessing from here i could just use alcohol or an equivalent to burn just the ISO file to a CD? and then just wait to install it on my new comptuer once i build it?

10/26/2005 8:28:15 PM

yes. you burn the cd image to a cd.

10/26/2005 8:58:17 PM