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Thanks everyone, if I describe myself as someone who knows how to 'drive' a computer, but has no idea of what goes on under the bonnet, in fact don't even know how to get under the bonnet, then I can see how perhaps I won't notice the difference. Actually, one of the VERY important things I want to do with this laptop and didn't mention aleady, is to take it abroad with me on my travels (usually around the usa), and to be able to access the internet in hotels, stations, airports etc. so that I can keep in touch with my grand-kids - which obviously will mean having msn seeing as that appears to be the way that teenagers communicate with each other these days. Again, I presume that Vista/XP will make no difference to this function.