Need help with system

First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find suitable
place.
My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need help
getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a T9400
cpu.
We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open to
more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also is
the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.

Thank you very much.

"Phil" <> wrote in message
news:967F776E-1F3D-4D64-A942-...
> First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find suitable
> place.
> My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
> mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need help
> getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
> T9400
> cpu.
> We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open to
> more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also is
> the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
> really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.
>
> Thank you very much.


Buy the best laptop that you can easily afford. If the laptop is to be
connected to a college domain, Vista Business or Ultimate would both be ok..
Home versions of Vista will network, but not to a domain as is the norm in
commercial places..

Presumably, the math stuff would require a spreadsheet, in which case you
also need to consider MS Office 2007..

--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

"Mike Hall - MVP" wrote:

> "Phil" <> wrote in message
> news:967F776E-1F3D-4D64-A942-...
> > First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find suitable
> > place.
> > My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
> > mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need help
> > getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
> > T9400
> > cpu.
> > We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open to
> > more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also is
> > the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
> > really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.
> >
> > Thank you very much.
>
>
> Buy the best laptop that you can easily afford. If the laptop is to be
> connected to a college domain, Vista Business or Ultimate would both be ok..
> Home versions of Vista will network, but not to a domain as is the norm in
> commercial places..
>
> Presumably, the math stuff would require a spreadsheet, in which case you
> also need to consider MS Office 2007..
>
> --
>
> Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/
>
> Thank you for the input, as far as the 64bit for memory expansion would you go with that? From what I understand 32bit supports a max of 3gb. sounds like alot today but not sure about next yr. Maybe that is what you were referring to as far as get the best you could afford.

Thank you.

Phil wrote:

> First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find suitable
> place.
> My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
> mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need help
> getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
> T9400 cpu.
> We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open to
> more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also is
> the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
> really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.

Mike Hall gave you very good advice. I'd just like to add that you really
should check with the school regarding what program(s) is used and what
computer specs are recommended. While really large number-crunching is
normally not done with any consumer-level Windows operating system, it
seems unlikely to me that a school would expect a student to come with Unix
installed on his/her laptop. So I would have your son ask them before you
purchase a laptop. BTW, Thinkpads in general are excellent machines.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

"Malke" wrote:

> Phil wrote:
>
> > First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find suitable
> > place.
> > My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
> > mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need help
> > getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
> > T9400 cpu.
> > We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open to
> > more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also is
> > the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
> > really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.
>
> Mike Hall gave you very good advice. I'd just like to add that you really
> should check with the school regarding what program(s) is used and what
> computer specs are recommended. While really large number-crunching is
> normally not done with any consumer-level Windows operating system, it
> seems unlikely to me that a school would expect a student to come with Unix
> installed on his/her laptop. So I would have your son ask them before you
> purchase a laptop. BTW, Thinkpads in general are excellent machines.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>
> Good advise, i will pass that on, I do now the program they use is called matlab
I know on his HP desktop with an AMD 3200 processor. it has took longer than
4 hrs to run some computations.

"Phil" <> wrote in message
news:2EB28EEF-362F-411E-BB2D-...
>
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> Phil wrote:
>>
>> > First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find
>> > suitable
>> > place.
>> > My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
>> > mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need
>> > help
>> > getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
>> > T9400 cpu.
>> > We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open
>> > to
>> > more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also
>> > is
>> > the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
>> > really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.
>>
>> Mike Hall gave you very good advice. I'd just like to add that you really
>> should check with the school regarding what program(s) is used and what
>> computer specs are recommended. While really large number-crunching is
>> normally not done with any consumer-level Windows operating system, it
>> seems unlikely to me that a school would expect a student to come with
>> Unix
>> installed on his/her laptop. So I would have your son ask them before you
>> purchase a laptop. BTW, Thinkpads in general are excellent machines.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
>> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>>
>> Good advise, i will pass that on, I do now the program they use is called
>> matlab
> I know on his HP desktop with an AMD 3200 processor. it has took longer
> than
> 4 hrs to run some computations.


If the college is running Matlab 2007a or higher, it will work with Vista.
Checking with the college will confirm..


--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

"Phil" <> wrote in message
news:2EB28EEF-362F-411E-BB2D-...
>
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> Phil wrote:
>>
>> > First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find
>> > suitable
>> > place.
>> > My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
>> > mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need
>> > help
>> > getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
>> > T9400 cpu.
>> > We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open
>> > to
>> > more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also
>> > is
>> > the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
>> > really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.
>>
>> Mike Hall gave you very good advice. I'd just like to add that you really
>> should check with the school regarding what program(s) is used and what
>> computer specs are recommended. While really large number-crunching is
>> normally not done with any consumer-level Windows operating system, it
>> seems unlikely to me that a school would expect a student to come with
>> Unix
>> installed on his/her laptop. So I would have your son ask them before you
>> purchase a laptop. BTW, Thinkpads in general are excellent machines.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
>> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>>
>> Good advise, i will pass that on, I do now the program they use is called
>> matlab
> I know on his HP desktop with an AMD 3200 processor. it has took longer
> than
> 4 hrs to run some computations.


That would be Vista 32 compatible..

--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

For running math based programs there is no difference between 32 and 64 bit
OSes, likewise there will be no difference between 3gs or more of ram.
If you will be running custom apps they may not run on 64 bit oses. While I
find 64 bit Vista performs faster than Vista 32 on the right machine Vista
64 is not compatible with many programs coded for 32 bit and 16 bit OSes.
Mathematical calculations are CPU intensive: the fastest multicore CPU you
can afford, which will also maximize onboard cache, is what you should look
for.
There can also be significant differences in overall laptop performance by
specifying a 7200rpm spindle for the hard drive as there is of necessity
some use of the hard drive for virtual memory regardless of RAM.
I would strongly recommend you look at vendors like Sanger and its ilk:
these are the same, more often better, components than you will get in "name
brand" laptops, particularly and specifically anything named after a fruit,
at a lower price point.

Also keep in mind that Main Stream support for XP ends in April 09.
Which means no more updates, unless they are very critical.

XP is dead,,, Vista or Win 7 (when released).


--
Tepid

I would check with your son to see what software he will be using for these
calculations. I work in higher ed and some of the statistical programs
that are in use still don't fully support 64 bit windows.
"Phil" <> wrote in message
news:967F776E-1F3D-4D64-A942-...
> First of all I apologize if posting in wrong area, could not find suitable
> place.
> My son is currently going to school for economics. They do some large
> mathmatical computations. He would like to get a new laptop. We need help
> getting what he really needs. He is looking at the Lenovo T500 with a
> T9400
> cpu.
> We are wondering if he should go with the 64bit software so he is open to
> more memory upgrades? If so should we do xp pro or vista business. Also is
> the T9400 suitable. Any expert opinion is greatly appreciated. I do not
> really trust the opinion of a customer service rep.
>
> Thank you very much.