majikTib

There was an article on ZDnet about how a lot of USB drives aren't fast enough to run with Vista. If you're buying a new flash drive, I'd suggest looking into the article first. You don't want to buy one and have it not work.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=186&tag=nl.e622 - ZDnet article
http://www.grantgibson.co.uk/misc/readyboost/ - list of USB flash drive compatibility with Vista

KMHT FF

The one I use (some unbranded/unmarked unit that looks like something that belongs in a chick's purse - who cares, I got it for free and it works) is recognized by Vista, and it has some partition (or whatever you call it) that is called "ReadyBoost Cache."

I've tried other name-brand flash disks that Vista has bounced back saying no can do.

ScottC

My own personal readyboost experience is with a Sony 2Gb TinyVault. Nice and small and fits right into the USB slot. $39 at Fry's last week.

http://www.provantage.com/sony-usm2gh~7SONY1E3.htm

You can also use a card reader with a regular memory card (SD, CF etc...). Since 2Gb high-speed SD cards are nice and cheap that may be a good solution.

PTravel

Okay, so I've just ordered a new laptop from Sony (an SZ), but it's only available with Vista. My tech guy here says that licenses are "backwards compatible" and I can install XP on this machine with the Vista license key. Has anyone ever tried this? I know it will install, but will I have trouble with Microsoft's WGA virus . . . uh . . . validation program?

ScottC

Never heard of that, and a quick Google search doesn't seem to give an answer either.

It would seem VERY weird if an OEM Vista license for a Sony would allow an installation of XP, so I'm going to go with "BS".

Save yourself the trouble and get a full retail license for XP.

ScottC

Actually, given your experiences with Microsoft I wouldn't ask for advise from "the tech guy" or anyone here. Call Microsoft and ask THEM. They are the only people I'd trust to give a reliable answer on something as important as licensing.

But if you ask me, buying a Sony and then trying to put a different OS on it than the pre-installed one is just asking for trouble.

Why not give Vista a try for a few days and see if you can save yourself the nightmare you've already been through once?

PTravel

I just called Microsoft. Evidently, it's something that business volume licensees can do (Microsoft calls it "downgrading"), but not an individual user like me.

I think I'll see if I'm happy with Vista first -- if everything works and the laptop talks to my other machines, I'll leave it as is. If not, I'll move over the license from the laptop it's going to replace. I was going to retire that one, anyway, as it's on its last legs. I'll either set it up as a Linux machine, or use it with an extra licensed version of XP Home that I've got sitting around.

PTravel

Great minds think alike.

Sony has the XP drivers for this machine, and bringing up new installations is easy for me -- I've done similar things on Sony laptops before (and, of course, on the desktops that I've been building for myself for the last 15 years or so).

I will. Based on what I've been reading, the performance hit of Vista isn't so great that I'm really concerned about it. I am concerned about multiple reports of inability of Vista to see XP machines on a LAN -- my system at home has 3 XP Pro and one Win2000 machine on it, and they all have to talk to each other reliably. I'm also concerned about Vista-compatible versions of some of the more obscure programs that I run.

However, we'll see. I should have the machine in about 2 weeks. I'm psyched -- the thing is beautiful.

KMHT FF

There, fixed it for you. ^