IraHayes wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:41 pm

This is not so much the case now. When I registered my new laptop with the MSI app that came built in the dealer was listed in the options of "where did you purchase..."
Also, genuine installations of windows are the rule now rather than the exception. I actually went through the First Boot up after I bought the laptop while I was still in the shop. They did ask me if I wanted any extra software installing for free but I declined that offer as I have all my own stuff.

Stravaiger wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:24 pm

daeum_tnaot wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:36 pm Yeah, it's not really about the cost, its more about a philosophy of making tech work as long as possible. I don't agree with the forced obsolete thing that some tech companies foist on you. Also, this laptop has been incredibly reliable with no issues over 7 years except that I replaced the battery cells.

I've been using an HP Probook for the last 11 years. A few years ago I doubled the ram to 8GB $26 and swapped in a 480GB SSD $59.

I prefer to use old software which is usually better designed, less bloated, and runs like greased lightning. And I also resent the industry scam whereby tools are marketed as if they were fashion accessories. I did buy an Asus machine running Win10 as a backup machine but I swiftly junked it.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:49 pm Weigh it up.
What is the minimum worthwhile size? Compatibility? How much? What’s the cost of a new machine against a serviceable update to carry you through 2-3 more years, assuming the rest of the machine is working fine. What future developments would this carry you beyond that would be worth holding on for?
These days, the main reason for a laptop is screen size in my case.

I think with pc compatibility, Kingston, Crucial, would provide a good choice with a sensible budget. I actually did this for a while with my old MacBookAir, which is 2013. I’ve since reverted to the original 256GB as Apple compatibility was a little more complex. The Air is still running fine.

As is my my old 13” pro from 2009, albeit considerably more slowly.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 3:39 pm

daeum_tnaot wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 1:55 pm

What is the MSI app?

I'm not sure if you can tell from booting up that the Windows is real or not. I went through this a few years ago and a friend that is like a Microsoft expert/Microsoft service provider told me that you have to look for this special sticker that indicates that the machine has Windows installed on it. Although when we bought my wife's computer the staff at the shops were very honest about which ones have real or fake Windows.

The sticker has been obsolete for at least two years now. When you buy a new machine with Windows, when you first start it, Windows will be installed from as special partition on the Hard disk which you don't have (easy) access to. The serial number is stored in that partition and will be used. There's no sticker anymore. You can find that code in you Windows settings, look for Product ID: