Your right I did mean 4ghz, been a hard morning lolz. Yes I keep a redundancy of my school work on my slave drive on my desktop. If I do decide to go to windows 7, if I have problems how hard is it to go back to windows vista? edit* Will an OEM version of windows 7 work, or must it be the non-OEM type? I am pretty sure it has to be ultimate so I can get the 64 bit package, why go 32 bit and lose ram right? Just to be certain will this version work, I keep running into nothing but OEM and upgrade versions. http://www.destinationnerd.com/2280_page_846323.htm
my reasons for installing linux- I used to run red hat and I enjoyed it, very easy to learn albeit once you get passed the learning curve, I am relearning programming and will be getting back into writing programs, ( I am a criminal justice major working towards joining FBI computer forensics division) I also have a friend who swears by it, and says the new version is much better than it ever was, just have been worried that If I use it I will be stuck with a mac like pc that won't play modern games lolz.
http://www.ecrater.com/p/12891539/windows-7-ultimate-32-64-bit-full-retail http://www.destinationnerd.com/2280_page_846323.htm will either of these work? if they both will would it be worth it spending a few extra dollars and getting ultimate?
In response to your edited post above my previous reply: If purchasing new from a store... OEM = purchased with new hardware, just a disc and product key. Comes in 32 bit or 64bit versions, not both together. Retail = Full retail version that can be used as a fresh install, comes in fancy box with 2 discs for each OS type. e.g. 32 and 64bit. Upgrade = Can only be used to upgrade an existing qualifying Windows Vista install. Yours will unlikely qualify. Windows 7 is available in 32 bit and 64bit for Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions. I would recommend Professional or Ultimate if you want to better integrate with network systems at your school/college. The one you linked should be fine -- but true OEM needs to be purchased with hardware, in order to get it. Whether the supplier makes you is another thing. Fedora will be a natural home for you, if you can't get hold of Red Hat. EDIT: First link: http://www.ecrater.com/p/12891539/windows-7-ultimate-32-64-bit-full-retail Yes. This is a full retail version that can be installed on any computer capable of running Windows 7. Second link: As I answered above. Yes. This looks like a 64 bit OEM version. I'd personally spend the little bit more and go with the retail one above.
I had good experience with the older linux, (98 era) and I have a close friend who is a programmer (who actually took an idea to microsoft and was told they weren't interested, later they used his idea) who swears by ubuntu. My uncle builds pc's and swears by seven though. I am actually considering seven with maybe a dual boot or vm copy of kubuntu so I can test kubuntu out. Part of why I am now reconsidering 7 (aside from everyone's input) is it is a little cheaper and more readily available.
