Going back to a few posts I made about me deciding on a new computer, reworking the desktop or building a new one….I decided on buying a new one. A laptop actually. And it has Vista on it. Before you reach for that submit button below the comment box, hear me out first.

Yes, I prefer Ubuntu (Linux) to Windows. No argument there. However, until I get a handle on running Windows in a virtual environment that I can trust to be there when I need it, I need a Windows machine for my projects. The software and applications I’ve bought over the years will mostly work on Vista with few exceptions but didn’t work out very well via Wine in Ubuntu.

Remember, I’m no programmer or code expert when it comes to operating systems.

Thus, I needed a machine that would be there for my projects which in turn leaves me the option of upgrading my desktop the way I’d like to over time instead of taking a general approach in a short time frame. I much prefer this alternative as it will give me the time to upgrade certain components first without causing any issues with the OS (operating system) just yet.

Now, on to the new machine in the house. It’s a Toshiba X205-SLi1 (link to specs) and has the 17″ widescreen with harmon/kardon speakers and a subwoofer under the bottom. It runs the Vista Home Premium OS with the Media Center and has one hell of a brick for a transformer for the AC power supply. You could conceivably damage your foot if you bumped into it.

So far the only complaint I have, although it’s minor, is that the graphics card doesn’t support all of the Aero effects I’ve heard so much about. No big deal as I can set my Ubuntu Desktop to run pretty much the same effects if I wanted to. Instead, I keep the display set to the middle selection which allows for some effects but not all. I like it this way so far.

Of course, the first thing I did after starting up the Toshiba for the first time was to download the following:

• PC Decrapifier
• Firefox
• Thunderbird
• Avast
  
• Open Office
• DeepBurner
• Notepad++
• Pidgin

Once I was rid of some of the bloatware that Toshiba had installed (which to their credit wasn’t much) I got the rest of the applications installed and set up making Firefox my default web browser and Thunderbird my default email client. The rest were personal choices as I prefer them for many reasons.

Installing all of my preferred project applications went fairly well with the exception of a few. Some needed an upgrade to work with Vista and was easily remedied by a visit to the manufacturer’s website. Others were just not being accepted so to speak by Vista for some reason. Probably more driver issues.

Getting the wireless set up was a snap though as well as assigning it to the workgroup so I could share the office printer and files from the other machines on my network.

One thing to mention here is the thing about the verification prompt that I’ve read so many complain about. I don’t understand why they complain about this. Linux and Mac use much the same concept when it comes to installing things to the system. The system will ask for Administrator verification before continuing with the task at hand. If you have set up a user account (and I hope you have) and want to install something, Vista will ask for the Admin password before allowing you to proceed.

Ubuntu will also ask for the Admin password before allowing me to install anything as well. Even updates. I like that because it helps to keep the system secure. Makes sense to me.

So far, I’m well pleased with the laptop and look forward to using the Toshiba for a long time. Vista however, I’m not so sure about. I’ll reserve my thoughts on it after a period of playing with it.