Is it the OS or the laptop?

[Finaddict]

So bought an HP laptop at the end of May, it came loaded with Vista. I didn't spend a lot on it, about 1/3rd of what I spent on my last laptop - a Sony Vaios.

I didn't use the Sony to its fullest potential and as a result, felt I did not need to spend that kind of money on another computer.

But this one frequently shuts down on me as I am working in email, or whatever, to run a reconfiguration update ... annoying as can be.

I would imagine it's the Vista program doing that, and not the laptop, unless because the laptop is a lower-grade model, it could be the computer as well.

Any thoughts?

Also, as soon as I can afford a new one, I will get a new Mac, which has an OS that bridges the Mac/MS gap. I know it's wasteful, but Vista stinks.