educating the vistaboys... about emachines, vista, and aero Glass

[kirk jim]

oh here we go again......educating the vistaboys and mvp's

I made this a new thread because there is a big thread about
an emachine running vista... i left my replies there but they will probably
be lost and no one will benefit from them.

that emachine had 512 mb ram and the OP was asking if it would run vista
basic (that did not have aero glass, only aero basic theme).

I must explain to you vistaboys that vista will crawl with so little ram on
that machine, because not only that vista is a memory hog, that machine ALSO
uses sharred memory for the display adaptor that is integrated on the
motherboard.

So the default memory share for that display adaptor is 64 mb and you have
to subtract that from the normal ram..
and thats whats left for windows....

it will be a slow and struggling experience... far slower than xp for sure..

BUT HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS.. that integrated display adaptor ATI Radeon®
Xpress 200 is capable
of 128 mb shared memory if you go to the bios and change it.. and that means
that it is AERO GLASS CAPABLE
SO if you get that emachine with lots of ram.. its a good solution!

Read review and video about this

http://www.oreillynet.com/windows/blog/2007/01/upgrading_a_cheap_pc_to_window.html

 

[kirk jim]

I must add here,

to do what I said, you also need a version of vista that gives you glass,
since vista basic does not give you glass even if you have the hardware that
is glass capable.....

Just something to consider for the OP and anyone else who is interested.

ALSO there is an "upgrade anytime"
thing with vista, that lets you upgrade your version of windows vista
to a better edition, so if you have vista basic, you can get vista home
premium or ultimate if you pay for the upgrade...

Note: you cannot go from home basic to vista business....

To read more about "upgrade anytime" go here

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/3af7e05f-4d2a-4af7-a168-9242f9093bb81033.mspx

 

[Guest]

Jim you are the opposite of a 'Vista Boy'. Its because of statements like
the one that you just made that Vista Boys speak up. So you are the Vista
Anti-Boy.
As far a eMachines, they are junk in my opinion, with all due respect to
those that own one. Many times it has been posted that you should have a
dual core and 2 gigs of ram. However there is no reason Vista should not run
on a single core with 512MB of ram. Just dont expect it to be a game or
video pc.;
I am a Vista Boy, Vista is the best thing to happen to Windows. By the way I
appreciate those fixes to explorer that were posted. Thx to those people. It
just so happends that both my Vista pc's had hanging problems with net work
drives that contained large numbers of files. The problem was intermittent,
and the even though explorer hung for a while, it did always come back on
its own eventually.
VISTA BOY, I think Jim is really a VISTA BOY
G

 

[kirk jim]

Hello....

I am not an anti-vistaboy.. nah... I may tease them.. but I respect them..
even if I dont show it.
I can understand them.. they love everything new and high tech and cool....
You are correct.. opposing someone only gives them power

My interest is only to provide service to people whatever their OS is,
and this is not apparent of course from my vista bashing.... Its ok

But vista is new, and needs its bashing so people can understand its
limitations...

Since this has become very clear lately to most of the world, and more and
more people are vista bashing,
there is no sense in me bashing it for too much longer...

and while most of the world will start hating vista and bashing it, I will
start supporting the people who use it

Its like me... always to go against the trends

but I will never ever ever become a vistaboy......

 

[Guest]

Its all right man I love ya to
G

Hello....

I am not an anti-vistaboy.. nah... I may tease them.. but I respect them..
even if I dont show it.
I can understand them.. they love everything new and high tech and
cool....
You are correct.. opposing someone only gives them power

My interest is only to provide service to people whatever their OS is,
and this is not apparent of course from my vista bashing.... Its ok

But vista is new, and needs its bashing so people can understand its
limitations...

Since this has become very clear lately to most of the world, and more and
more people are vista bashing,
there is no sense in me bashing it for too much longer...

and while most of the world will start hating vista and bashing it, I will
start supporting the people who use it

Its like me... always to go against the trends

but I will never ever ever become a vistaboy......

 

[Kerry Brown]

It doesn't mater what you do to a eMachine it's still a eMachine which is
never a good solution. I have seen many eMachines with failed power supplies
and motherboards. Far more than any other brand.

 

[Frank]

But vista is new, and needs its bashing so people can understand its
limitations...

Clearly, you're confused when it comes to Vista. You're confusion is
shared by many others. It arises from the mistake of comparing the
primary way in which Vista uses system and video memory to the way XP
(and all prior MS OS's) use system and video memory.
Vista is different in how it address both of these memories and
comparing it to XP is like comparing apples to oranges.
Since you seem to be on some type of a crusade to educate others about
Vista you should first educate and clarify these differences in your own
mind.
Hint: start with some MS white papers.
Good luck and good hunting.
Frank

 

[philo]

It doesn't mater what you do to a eMachine it's still a eMachine which is
never a good solution. I have seen many eMachines with failed power supplies
and motherboards. Far more than any other brand.

I agree...
In my workshop...Emachines must account for 50% of the dead motherboards

 

[philo]

Clearly, you're confused when it comes to Vista. You're confusion is
shared by many others. It arises from the mistake of comparing the
primary way in which Vista uses system and video memory to the way XP
(and all prior MS OS's) use system and video memory.
Vista is different in how it address both of these memories and
comparing it to XP is like comparing apples to oranges.
Since you seem to be on some type of a crusade to educate others about
Vista you should first educate and clarify these differences in your own
mind.
Hint: start with some MS white papers.
Good luck and good hunting.

Although you are right in that Vista handles memory differently from
previous MS OS's...that does not necessarily mean
that things are better.

Because I use removable drive kits...I can easily compare different
operating systems on the same machine.

One of my test machines is a p-4 with 768 megs of ram


I've got HD's with Win2k, XP and Vista and can compare them.

Of course Win2k runs quite lightly on the machine...and I tend to use it
most of the time...

The big thing I noticed about Vista is that just idling...Vista uses about
400 megs of RAM...
which is quite a bit more than XP or Win2k...
A machine with only 512 or RAM is really cutting things a bit close...
but with a little tweaking...Vista certainly could be usable.

With a few minor tweaks I can say that Vista an XP run about the same on my
machine.
So though Vista may not run better than XP...It does not necessarily run any
worse.

Other than UAC of course...the only other *very noticable* difference I've
found comparing Vista to XP
is that Vista definately requires a much better video card.


For my purposes...I'm not yet ready to go with Vista as my daily OS...

 

[Kerry Brown]

Although you are right in that Vista handles memory differently from
previous MS OS's...that does not necessarily mean
that things are better.

Because I use removable drive kits...I can easily compare different
operating systems on the same machine.

One of my test machines is a p-4 with 768 megs of ram


I've got HD's with Win2k, XP and Vista and can compare them.

Of course Win2k runs quite lightly on the machine...and I tend to use it
most of the time...

The big thing I noticed about Vista is that just idling...Vista uses about
400 megs of RAM...
which is quite a bit more than XP or Win2k...
A machine with only 512 or RAM is really cutting things a bit close...
but with a little tweaking...Vista certainly could be usable.

With a few minor tweaks I can say that Vista an XP run about the same on
my
machine.
So though Vista may not run better than XP...It does not necessarily run
any
worse.

Other than UAC of course...the only other *very noticable* difference I've
found comparing Vista to XP
is that Vista definately requires a much better video card.


For my purposes...I'm not yet ready to go with Vista as my daily OS...

OK, you've misunderstood as well. Vista manages the RAM differently from XP.
It doesn't matter how much RAM you have Vista will try to use it all. Free
RAM is meaningless in Vista.

 

[Frank]

Although you are right in that Vista handles memory differently from
previous MS OS's...that does not necessarily mean
that things are better.

Think of it as preparing for the future of things to come.

Other than UAC of course...the only other *very noticable* difference I've
found comparing Vista to XP is that Vista definately requires a much better video card.

Yep and I've upgrade my vcards.

For my purposes...I'm not yet ready to go with Vista as my daily OS...

It's been my main OS for well...since #5380 or 84...can't really
remember the exact beta number.
That's almost 1 year (I think).
Frank

 

[kirk jim]

SNORT (as you say) When a part of the ram is dedicated to a display adaptor,
then the OS cannot use it... PERIOD.

If you are talking about whats left of that ram, then I know very well how
vista CLAIMS to use it...

I an on no crusade of the manner you say... I can assure you

 

[kirk jim]

Hello, I have no way of knowing the quality of an emachine since I have
never seen one up close. They are not available on all locations of the
earth you know.

From the specs it looks usable.. I don't know the quality of the components
though.

 

[philo]

OK, you've misunderstood as well. Vista manages the RAM differently from XP.
It doesn't matter how much RAM you have Vista will try to use it all. Free
RAM is meaningless in Vista.

Well I guess that would explain why it runs about the same as XP but shows
more RAM usage.
Thanks for the info

 

[philo]

..

Think of it as preparing for the future of things to come.
better video card.

Yep and I've upgrade my vcards.

For my purposes...I'm not yet ready to go with Vista as my daily OS...

It's been my main OS for well...since #5380 or 84...can't really
remember the exact beta number.
That's almost 1 year (I think).
Frank

Well with my junkbox hardware I'll still be using Win2k and XP for a
while...
though I'm going to be getting some better "junk" hardware pretty soon <G>

 

[Dan]

EMachines are the Yugo of computers. The cheapest parts and components
possible.

Dan

 

[kirk jim]

I dont know about emachines, but dont underestimate Yugos

I have seen yugos outlive and outlast cars that cost 20 times their price..
lol

 

[Dustin Harper]

I call BS on that one, man. Really.


--
Dustin Harper
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.vistarip.com

--

 

[Dustin Harper]

That's the problem. They use low end parts. And the power supply is the
lowest spec you can imagine.

Where you from, anyway, where eMachines isn't there?

--
Dustin Harper
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.vistarip.com

--

 

[Dennis]

It doesn't mater what you do to a eMachine it's still a eMachine which is

I agree...
In my workshop...Emachines must account for 50% of the dead motherboards

I believe that yes, eMachines had problems. Back in the computer stone age..
If you ask me eMachines learned from their mistakes. Back when the 3200+s
were kind of new (the 3000+ was dominant for Athlons at the time).. I bought
a 3200+ (32 bit) eMachines Athlon (Win XP) DVD and a CD drive both and a
floppy too, because the Athlon was an inexpensive way to go but had a bit of
power.. Everything inside it is nVidia driven and integrated into the
motherboard. It has performed flawlessly since new.

I recently bought a nice higher performance HP core duo (Intel e6700) and
passed on the Athlon to my father who needed an upgrade (had a ssllooww to
boot P3 500 MHz IBM Win 2000 but used daily).

The eMachines I am not even sure, is either a 250 watt power supply, but I
want to say it's a 300 watt power supply. My whopping new monster core duo
with 4 megs RAM and a 6700GT video card has a 350 watt power supply. ...OK
yea, maybe the parts have gotten better with power consumption.

But the fact is that the company (eMachines) was so professional feeling
that I bought the extended 2 year warrantee - mostly because before i bought
the added 2 year warranty, I could call them 6am to 12 midnight 7 days a
week with any question. HP on the other hand doesn't make me feel this way.

Of course Gateway?? right? and eMachines are the same company these days.

Anywho, a close relative of mine, 6 months after I bought the emachines,
said the same thing, and I argued back then, that maybe they weren't good
computers "before" but this computer I have runs solid and nothing looked or
feels cheap about it.

I only went HP this time and not eMachines because unlike before I was not
on a budget, and I wanted a semi-high performance machine that had separate
video (not integrated into the motherboard).