I went to buy a little netbook so I could take it to work easily. I mainly want it for internet access, microsoft word, excel and powerpoint. At Pantip Plaza in Bangkok I got confused, so many options. Acer Aspire looked the right size, don't really know what the difference in each model is, technology seems to be passing me by and I don't know how to keep up with it. I guess I am getting old.

So I was going to buy one, after staring blankly at them for a while. Then I realised none of them come with Windows.

The options were:

Linux (no idea)

DOS (no idea)

Windows 7 starter ...?

Windows 7 for 4,500 baht extra

Lots of other windows options at various additional prices

Fake windows for 200 baht.

My last laptop I unwittingly bought with Linux and a kind friend put a genuine windows xp on it for me. I remember before having a fake windows and couldnt download drivers etc.

So can anyone tell me the difference in operationg systems. I am only familiar with windows xp. Will 'windows 7 starter' do, or will I be better to pay 4,500 for a full version?

I am sorry if this sounds a little stupid but I have been a little left behind in the technological age and any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I ended up coming home with nothing and a head full of meanigless numbers and operating systems which left me spinning and confused. I wish it could be simple. I only wanted a baby laptop to do some work.

Thanks to anyone who can help me

It's not really worth spending more for a full version of Windows 7 unless you plan to upgrade the RAM to 2GB. Windows 7 Starter is ok.

If you have your own Windows disc, you can buy a DOS or Linux machine in order to save money.

Possibly best to start with your budget and requirements and then to go from there.

There is really no need to be installing and depending on stolen VLKs in this day and age.

I got an Acer Aspire at Softworld in Central Pinklao and the put W7 ultimate (copy) on for 300B or so.

I'm well happy with it

It's not really worth spending more for a full version of Windows 7 unless you plan to upgrade the RAM to 2GB. Windows 7 Starter is ok.

If you have your own Windows disc, you can buy a DOS or Linux machine in order to save money.

Possibly best to start with your budget and requirements and then to go from there.

There is really no need to be installing and depending on stolen VLKs in this day and age.

But what is the difference, what can windows starter do/not do? and what is a VLK? please assume i am an idiot and understand nothing, as this is the case.

Cheers for your help.

P.S The Ram on one model is already 2GB, though I don't even understand what this means :'( I don't have my own windows disk either.

I want my old spectrum 48k back, it was much easier!

Windows 7 Editions comparison

VLK= Volume Licence Key. Usually it's a licence key that belongs to a large corporation.

Will be interested to know how they activate the dodgy copies of Windows 7 that they install on these netbooks. Using loaders and timer resets can bring you trouble along the way.

VLK was popular during the Windows XP days since it didn't require activation. Unlike retail and OEM keys, the VLK can be used to bypass activation and has no technical limits on the number of possible activations. However, all that has changed with the release of Vista. To prevent abuse, VLK licensing now requires KMS or MAK for activation.

Will be interested to know how they activate the dodgy copies of Windows 7 that they install on these netbooks.

It can't be done; hence, the widespread use of loaders or softmod in bootleg copies. Then there's the 'make it or break it' method (aka BIOS mod), which, if applied incorrectly can result in irreversible damage to the motherboard BIOS.

In the end, it's better and safer to go legit.

If all your doing is some basic web browsing/emailing with a bit of MS Office work as well Win7 starter will be just fine for your needs.

VLK was popular during the Windows XP days since it didn't require activation. Unlike retail and OEM keys, the VLK can be used to bypass activation and has no technical limits on the number of possible activations. However, all that has changed with the release of Vista. To prevent abuse, VLK licensing now requires KMS or MAK for activation.

Will be interested to know how they activate the dodgy copies of Windows 7 that they install on these netbooks.

It can't be done; hence, the widespread use of loaders or softmod in bootleg copies. Then there's the 'make it or break it' method (aka BIOS mod), which, if applied incorrectly can result in irreversible damage to the motherboard BIOS.

In the end, it's better and safer to go legit.

You can usually recover from a faulty BIOS update. Some may like to unlock the extra features of their BIOS.