Computerworld has posted some excerpts from internal Microsoft emails that seem to imply that Walmart was not happy with “Vista Home Basic.”
There’s currently a class action lawsuit over the marketing of computers that were marked “Windows Vista Capable,” even though the PCs couldn’t run all of Vista’s heavily advertised features—and instead were only able to use a limited “basic” version of the OS called “Vista Home Basic.”
From Computerworld:
Wal-Mart was particularly unhappy, both with the Vista Capable scheme, and more than that, with the fact that Microsoft was releasing Vista Home Basic, which is such a stripped-down version of the operating system that even some Microsoft officials don’t consider it Vista.
On February, 2006, Microsoft exec Robin Leonard wrote this to other Microsoft officials about what Wal-Mart had to say:
Wal-Mart was very vocal regarding the Windows Vista Capable messaging. They are extremely disappointed in the fact that standards were lowered and feel like customer confusion will ensure…They also went so far as to say that they wished Windows Vista Home Basic was not even in the sku line up. The would totally support the higher ASP, but feel that competitors will be offering Windows Vista Home Basic machines and as such they need to support that for their opening price point.
Doug Degn (EVP-Electronics) spoke about how we could be creating the biggest nightmare by giving editors the opportunity to simply say don’t buy a Windows Vista Capable machine because you can’t trust the logo.
Wal-Mart: Microsoft should kill Vista Home Basic [Computerworld]
(Photo:cpchannel)
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When it’s too crappy for Walmart…you know it’s crap.
One of countless reason’s why I went Mac. Once you go Mac you never go back.
@jamar0303: see page 23 of the manual, which you can find here -> [catalog2.panasonic.com]
there is typically an access panel on the bottom of the computer for RAM expansion (some old IBM thinkbooks had an access panel under the keyboard). if you look at the bottom of your laptop, you should see a metal panel with a screw – that is most likely where the RAM is found.
from what i could find on a quick internet search, you may only have a single slot for RAM. if you have 2 slots, remember that usually you have to “pair” 2 chips – 2 X 1GB or 2 X 2GB, NOT 1GB (slot 1) + 2 GB (slot 2).
considering most (or all) RAM is manufactured in SE asia & is super-cheap, i doubt you’ll have a problem finding genuine chips. good place to identify your chipset & compare prices so you can expect what to pay -> [www.newegg.com]
@mac-phisto:
You rarely need to pair memory now. That’s an obsolete notion. You only ‘need’ to pair it if you want to take advantage of dual-channel speeds – not terribly important unless you’re a gamer.
@jrmtrx:
64-bit OSes are currently bad for the average consumer. Companies largely do not have working 64-bit drivers, and they do not produce 64-bit applications. 32-bit applications will run markedly slower on 64-bit Intel architectures. AMD is a little better, but still not ideal.
@RvLeshrac: i don’t think his model has two memory slots anyway, so it’s a moot point.