Buying HP 530 notebook

Hi all,

I'm considering buying an HP 530 notebook, with the following specifications:

- Vista business
- Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (1.83 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 cache)
- 1 GB of RAM
- 120 GB hard drive
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer
- Wireless: Intel 802.11a/b/g; Broadcom 802.11 b/g

here is the full list: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/321957-321957-64295-3251176-89315-3375953.html

My Questions are:

1- I'm a student and I need this laptop for programming (java, .NET .. etc) beside the normal user activities such as internet, DVD movies, music (NO GAMES).. so would it be good for these tasks? (and fast?)

2- Is windows Vista Business good for programming softwares and platforms such as Java, .NET?

Thanks very much!,
zeid

 

I'd get Vista Home Premium over a Business Edition of Vista. I'd also get at least 2gb ram with any version of Vista for it to run properly(or buy after market ram and put it in yourself). As far as programming goes, as long as your editor will load in the Vista environment then it will be just fine.

-Reby

 

Thanks for replying! .. why Home Prem? what's wrong with the Business edition?

Would the home prem be good for running programming platforms?

 

Home Premium comes with the Windows Media Player/Center so if you get a TV tuner you can watch or record TV or watch DVD's in WMP/WMC (Otherwise you'd need to download a different media player, see Windows forum section for free software). The Business version does not include WMP/WMC. Vista Business is more or less a stripped down version of Home Premium, so why settle for a stripped version? If ya do a google search on Vista you can read about the exact differences between the versions but more or less its WMP/WMC.

To answer this I would need to know exactly what languages and tools you will be using to write the code in order for me to say if it would be compatible or not. It probably is but you'd better check now before you buy a Vista laptop because if it isn't compatible it will be a PITA for you.

-Reby

 

Languages are: Java, .NET (visual studio), Databases (such as mysql, sqlserver) ..

something like this

 

maybe not all of them .. but in this range

 

Even Vista Basic and XP can do it as long as you have the right development tools.

 

Besides which, Home Premium is not an option on the 530.

 

so .. is the 530 a good option for a student? and (normal user activities) ?

 

It would be fine for any basic activities (non-3D related).

I don't think the battery life will be spectacular with a 4-cell though.......

 

ok thank you