Morning John,

Ok, thank you .... I asked because I have heard people have been having issues with it. I've seen a nice laptop , just for business use with an online retailer and it's got windows 7 pro, do you think that would be Ok ? Or is that old hat now?

Georgie

Hi Joanne

Ok thank you...

Just looked at VT and it says I need to install it from the CD before I can send the data files over. I don't have a cd?

Georgie

The issues I have with Windows 10 - which I don't have - are:

Firstly and chiefly that Microsoft are being a little too aggressive in getting people to downgrade to it from previous versions of Windows, and using malware-inspired techniques in order to achieve that. My computer almost got "accidentally" upgraded against my wishes on a couple of occasions - and that's just not on. My computer was purchased by me with my money that I earned, and I therefore consider it my property - strange notion, I know - which I will update if and when I choose to do so.

An example of this: At one client on Monday, someone commented to me that afternoon that another member of staff had problems with his computer that morning. When I checked with the guy, he said he was working away when all of a sudden the computer rebooted, and when it came back up it was "different". A glance at his screen revealed he was now on Windows 10. Chances are one of the nagware pop-ups popped up while he was typing, taking the input focus and his keypresses - and one of those keypresses was whatever key the "upgrade now" button responded to.

And another example: www.youtube.com/watch

Secondly, the telemetry/data mining in Windows 10 by all accounts is a little heavy. Are you comfortable having unspecified data/amounts thereof from your computer being passed over teh intertubes to Microsoft? This can apparently be (mostly) switched off, making it then a question of how much you trust Microsoft not to re-enable it in a future update - see below re file extensions.

Thirdly, updates are no longer optional with Windows 10. You *will* get whatever updates Microsoft deem to release - and accounts suggest the test cycle for such updates isn't up to par; there have been issues with updates causing problems. Enterprise customers get the updates on a later update cycle, leading some to suggest that home users are *part* of the test cycle.

Fourthly, some people report that file associations keep resetting. You might want files with extension .xyz loaded into your favourite application that handles that extension, but you might also find that suddenly you click on such a file and a different application is loaded. (What I haven't seen stated with such reports: Does this happen when Microsoft issue updates - and are the extensions those that are handled by stuff Microsoft provides?)

Georgie: As a matter of interest, could you provide a link to that Win7 machine you've seen online? (I don't actually need a new computer, but if I see a decent enough looking Win7 box, I might be tempted!)

VinceH wrote:

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The issues I have with Windows 10 - which I don't have - are:

Firstly and chiefly that Microsoft are being a little too aggressive in getting people to downgrade to it from previous versions of Windows, and using malware-inspired techniques in order to achieve that. My computer almost got "accidentally" upgraded against my wishes on a couple of occasions - and that's just not on. My computer was purchased by me with my money that I earned, and I therefore consider it my property - strange notion, I know - which I will update if and when I choose to do so.

An example of this: At one client on Monday, someone commented to me that afternoon that another member of staff had problems with his computer that morning. When I checked with the guy, he said he was working away when all of a sudden the computer rebooted, and when it came back up it was "different". A glance at his screen revealed he was now on Windows 10. Chances are one of the nagware pop-ups popped up while he was typing, taking the input focus and his keypresses - and one of those keypresses was whatever key the "upgrade now" button responded to.

And another example: www.youtube.com/watch

Secondly, the telemetry/data mining in Windows 10 by all accounts is a little heavy. Are you comfortable having unspecified data/amounts thereof from your computer being passed over teh intertubes to Microsoft? This can apparently be (mostly) switched off, making it then a question of how much you trust Microsoft not to re-enable it in a future update - see below re file extensions.

Thirdly, updates are no longer optional with Windows 10. You *will* get whatever updates Microsoft deem to release - and accounts suggest the test cycle for such updates isn't up to par; there have been issues with updates causing problems. Enterprise customers get the updates on a later update cycle, leading some to suggest that home users are *part* of the test cycle.

Fourthly, some people report that file associations keep resetting. You might want files with extension .xyz loaded into your favourite application that handles that extension, but you might also find that suddenly you click on such a file and a different application is loaded. (What I haven't seen stated with such reports: Does this happen when Microsoft issue updates - and are the extensions those that are handled by stuff Microsoft provides?)

Georgie: As a matter of interest, could you provide a link to that Win7 machine you've seen online? (I don't actually need a new computer, but if I see a decent enough looking Win7 box, I might be tempted!)

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OMG - I knew about some of this, including the forced upgrade (attempt on my PC!), but not the rest.  The arrogance of Microsoft astounds me, although Im guessing it really shouldnt by now!

I would be interested in looking at the laptop too, as Ive been wanting one, but not had the time to research it all properly.  Although I might be expecting a full and rigourous assessment of it, Vince?!  Cheeky I know! lol

ah right - thats bloomin good then. Another nail in the coffin that is Sage!

I'm guessing this one, then: www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hewlett_packard_hp_350_core_i5-5200u_15.6_hd_ag_led_sva_uma_webcam_4gb_ddr3_k9j03ea/version.asp

Personally, I'm never keen on refurbished (aka second hand) computers. That aside: Overall, I'd say it's a reasonable specification - though there's some information not given.

For example, the screen size is 15.6" - but it doesn't appear to specify the resolution. It's common for laptop displays of that size to be 1024 x 768, which is rubbish (though, of course, connecting to an external display solves that). Browsing, I found another version of the same machine - 8GB RAM instead of 4GB for £399.97 - and that specifies the resolution at 1366 x 768. Still rubbish, but I think that's probably the common one these days, rather than 1024 x 768. Again, though, using an external display solves that.

Another thing it doesn't say is the number of USB ports (and whether they are USB1/2/3 - or what the mix is). Looking at the images, it looks like there are three ports, two on one side, one on the other. But note that the "Product image may differ from actual product" according to the small print.

That aside, for me - again, going by the pictures - the laptop is no good for me. I need the power socket to be on the opposite side to the video sockets, because of the current space on my desk - er, resting on top of my letter trays - for the laptop.

Edit: AFAICS It's not a refurbished one. I saw the reference to refurbished elsewhere on the site before clicking through to that laptop, and just assumed it was. Edit 2: See comments on screen size.

-- Edited by VinceH on Saturday 30th of April 2016 02:15:59 PM

-- Edited by VinceH on Saturday 30th of April 2016 03:02:46 PM

Oh I didn't realise it was refurb....I don't want that then lol

Georgie

I rate Lenovo Thinkpads rather than Lenovo laptops in general. Best laptop I ever had was a Thinkpad (running Win7 Pro). I had it for years - well, I still have it, but the fan crapped out. I opened it up with the intention of effecting a repair, but I couldn't get the the fan to unscrew. :(

As for other Lenovo gear... they gained the nickname Lenono last year as a result of dodgy stuff on the hard drive. Search for Lenovo and Superfish. I'd still buy Lenovo gear because I know I'm capable of finding and removing such stuff - in fact the PC that I've yet to set up is a Lenovo - but I wouldn't recommend it to less technical people because they may not be.

(In theory, though, they should be safe now, having been slapped for such stupidity already.)

Also: worth noting that Dell were similarly caught out. In their case, IIRC it was a root certificate on their computers.

Whatever, though: I'm now perusing the options on that site.

Georgie: Note my edit to my earlier comment; that laptop isn't a refurb.

Superfish was more than just bloatware - it was, at best adware, and at worst considered malware. Its presence made the computer more vulnerable to attack.

abacus12345 wrote:

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Some of the desire for Apple is, aside from reliability, there is the customer care you receive

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Off to the naughty chair with you.

Now while you're there I want a three page essay on why PC's are so much better than Mac's.

 

You're right on the pricing. I cannot imagine now spending more than £400 on a laptop (which I regard as a throw away bit of kit) but conversely I cannot imagine spending less than £800 on a desktop (which is almost regarded as a member of the family).

For laptops I buy Toshiba's. For Desktops its Dell XPS's.

 

 

 

 

 

Shamus wrote:

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abacus12345 wrote:

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Some of the desire for Apple is, aside from reliability, there is the customer care you receive

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Off to the naughty chair with you.

He He!

Now while you're there I want a three page essay on why PC's are so much better than Mac's.

 

You're right on the pricing. I cannot imagine now spending more than £400 on a laptop (which I regard as a throw away bit of kit) but conversely I cannot imagine spending less than £800 on a desktop (which is almost regarded as a member of the family).

For laptops I buy Toshiba's. For Desktops its Dell XPS's.

 

Totally, I mean lets face it, you can't get a 'brand new' mobile for £400 now, and as for the price of a top of the line iphone :)

 

Desktops are ace, like to build mine. Trouble is, they take up so much room - then there is the gaming chair...

 

I tell you what is annoying now, trying to service a laptop, in particular a higher end one, everything is soldered together - One part goes, well....

 

But no, seriously, anything around £400-£500 is more than adequate for a small business.

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks John , I'll take a look

Georgie

The only issue with most ultrabooks - macbook included, is the lack of separate numberpad. There are ways around it, yet it takes away the compact element. You can live with it of course, but those used to a PC, will miss this due to habit.

He he! The simplest things drive us crazy!

Favourite colours and daft reasons - purple (Donny Osmonds favourite) and red (ManU).

I just got all excited cos I found a purple mouse....no I dont mean the furry variety and Ive not been on the booze!

Although Im clearly half asleep and being completely dim as I have a separate usb port thingy with about 7 ports in it, sitting right next to me and never thought to use it with a laptop that might be lacking!!!! Mind you ate the rate Im going I will have the tiniest laptop/netbook but be carrying round a 30 inch monitor under one arm and a bag full of mice, usb port thingies, separate number keypad and a million other things under the other!

Cheshire wrote:

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and red (ManU).

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 Not such a dumb blonde after all lol.  I really hated football but when my lad was about 7 he started getting interested in the game and began following Man U.  Obviously that got me involved and found it wasn't so bad after all.