Hi
I have a HP Compaq 6720s notebook. It is a bit old (from 2008) but still works great
Looking at it's specs below (or online), which OS would you suggest?
I want the best performance, but also be relatively secure and overally, get the best of all I can.
Certification (sticker on-board): Windows Vista BASIC (grey badge, NOT the Vista Premium Badge)
Other badges: Energy Star, Intel Pentium Dual Core Inside
OEM OS: (came preinstalled, but since then reinstalled): Windows Vista Home Basic
According to HP's website, this notebook only supports Windows XP and Windows Vista. There are drivers for both of them.
There are no drivers for Windows 7 there, and even though most Vista drivers work (except for Graphics and part of chipset components, and HP QuickLaunch buttons - downloads on windows update).
HP Phone Customer Support confirmed this anomaly. They confirmed it is NOT compatible with Windows 7, only XP or Vista. I asked why, and I asked them this Vista-driver trick and they told me that this is only a partial solution, and if I install it, performance will be very poor, much worse than these two OSs. This actually seems to be true, I tested it. Graphics is terrible (youtube videos lag, and the computer heats up much more than with XP and Vista (is this a driver problem) and wifi speeds are worse too)
This unit seems to be using CUSTOMIZED Graphics drivers. I know this because Intel's auto-driver updater told me it won't update it because of the fact I currently have a driver customized by my computer manufacturer. I am able to install other drivers though, but performance seems to be impacted. Of course this could be related to any other drivers too.
What's the word with Vista Basic badge? Is it one that means this computer barely hits Vista's optimal requirements? Or does it just lack premium extras?
On some other notebooks from this year, I can see a white Vista Premium badge. Why is there a difference? Is it just a reference for the OEM installed vista edition or is it also an indicator of the computer's readiness of Vista?
I took a test-drive with Windows XP SP3 on this HP Compaq 6720s. It is very fast. It runs pretty good. But you know, it's still XP. No update support. That's scary. But should I be scared? Is an internet security suite (with, or without its own firewall enough?)
What I do like about XP though, is what we all always liked. It has a very small footprint, and does what it needs. It doesn't keep my computer busy.
I also took a test-drive with Windows Vista SP2. Performance is well... okay (not good, but tolerable) not nearly as good as XP. What's most annoying is that just like Windows 7 (although not that much) it heats up my notebook a lot. As if I was running an Antivirus scan all the time. Stuff like trustedinstaller, and search indexer keep using my CPU and theres always something.
What should I use?
I have a HP Compaq 6720s notebook. It is a bit old (from 2008) but still works great
Looking at it's specs below (or online), which OS would you suggest?
I want the best performance, but also be relatively secure and overally, get the best of all I can.
Certification (sticker on-board): Windows Vista BASIC (grey badge, NOT the Vista Premium Badge)
Other badges: Energy Star, Intel Pentium Dual Core Inside
OEM OS: (came preinstalled, but since then reinstalled): Windows Vista Home Basic
According to HP's website, this notebook only supports Windows XP and Windows Vista. There are drivers for both of them.
There are no drivers for Windows 7 there, and even though most Vista drivers work (except for Graphics and part of chipset components, and HP QuickLaunch buttons - downloads on windows update).
HP Phone Customer Support confirmed this anomaly. They confirmed it is NOT compatible with Windows 7, only XP or Vista. I asked why, and I asked them this Vista-driver trick and they told me that this is only a partial solution, and if I install it, performance will be very poor, much worse than these two OSs. This actually seems to be true, I tested it. Graphics is terrible (youtube videos lag, and the computer heats up much more than with XP and Vista (is this a driver problem) and wifi speeds are worse too)
This unit seems to be using CUSTOMIZED Graphics drivers. I know this because Intel's auto-driver updater told me it won't update it because of the fact I currently have a driver customized by my computer manufacturer. I am able to install other drivers though, but performance seems to be impacted. Of course this could be related to any other drivers too.
What's the word with Vista Basic badge? Is it one that means this computer barely hits Vista's optimal requirements? Or does it just lack premium extras?
On some other notebooks from this year, I can see a white Vista Premium badge. Why is there a difference? Is it just a reference for the OEM installed vista edition or is it also an indicator of the computer's readiness of Vista?
I took a test-drive with Windows XP SP3 on this HP Compaq 6720s. It is very fast. It runs pretty good. But you know, it's still XP. No update support. That's scary. But should I be scared? Is an internet security suite (with, or without its own firewall enough?)
What I do like about XP though, is what we all always liked. It has a very small footprint, and does what it needs. It doesn't keep my computer busy.
I also took a test-drive with Windows Vista SP2. Performance is well... okay (not good, but tolerable) not nearly as good as XP. What's most annoying is that just like Windows 7 (although not that much) it heats up my notebook a lot. As if I was running an Antivirus scan all the time. Stuff like trustedinstaller, and search indexer keep using my CPU and theres always something.
What should I use?
My Computer
- Computer type
- Laptop
- Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
- HP Compaq 6720s
- OS
- Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
- CPU
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU T2310 @ 1.46GHz
- Motherboard
- Hewlett-Packard 30D8
- Memory
- 4,00 GB
- Graphics Card(s)
- (1) Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family (2) Mobile
- Sound Card
- (1) Bluetooth Hands-free Audio (2) Bluetooth Stereo Audio
- Screen Resolution
- 1280 x 800 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 59 Hz
- Hard Drives
- (1) Hitachi HTS542516K9SA00 ATA Device (2) Multi Flash Reader USB Device
