Back to school is a big time for computer buyers and new PC's now come loaded with Microsoft's new operating system Windows Vista.
Local 12's Paula Toti shows you what you need to know if you're buying a new PC, or want a Vista upgrade.
"Windows Vista becomes the center for your digital memories."
Jeremy Estes of Pro On Call Technologies is very happy with Window's Vista ... and says enough of the bugs have been worked out since the January launch for users to jump on board.
He likes the speed, and the added graphics capabilities.
"The water and lighting it's so much better."
Jeremy says if you're buying a new computer and want to run Vista ... don't go too cheap.
"You'll see the $400 computer deals, for Windows Vista I'd strongly recommend against that. Mainly because they give you the smallest amount of memory that system can run."
And you won't be happy with how that runs Vista. If you want to upgrade an old computer to Vista...
"If you don't want to spend a lot of money and you want to go to Vista basically it's the memory upgrade to a GB."
And twice that memory, 2 GB, if you want to run something more than the Vista home basic ... such as Vista Premium or Vista Ultimate.
While Jeremy likes Vista ... a lot of software vendors have been slow to make their products compatible ... frustrating many users.
"A lot of people are having trouble with their anti virus programs, you have to make sure they're Vista compatible."
And here's a quick troubleshooting tip ... if you've upgraded to Vista and your Internet Explorer is running very slowly, then reinstall your Yahoo tool bar.
Finally Jeremy says most users will be happy enough upgrading to Vista home basic for about a hundred dollars. Only high end corporate users will need the full $400 version. If you're into games and even movies ... spend $200-$300 for premium or ultimate versions. Those are the users making home movies of cats ... or casual Friday's and sending them to You Tube.
For a new desk top computer with Vista that you'll keep five or six years ... expect to pay about $800-$900.
