Thinking of buying a new computer? Vista or XP?
@owlwings (43910)
Cambridge, England
March 6, 2008 5:47am CST
If you are in the market for a new PC and do not want to use Vista but would prefer to stick with XP, time is running out because Microsoft plan to withdraw XP from sale on Jun 30th this year.
To be honest, to me it only seems like yesterday that Windows XP was the newest kid on the block! At work I was still using Windows 2000 until about a year ago (though I have had XP on my home PC for nearly four years). I have used Vista occasionally on other people's machines and dislike it for its 'nannyish' behaviour and its streamlined 'hunt the function' look (when I want to shut down, I want a big red button, easily available, not to have to go hunting in hidden drop down menus for the function I want!) I know that all these things are configurable - if one cares to take the time - and I know, too, that security and connectivity are somewhat easier ... often TOO 'easy', so that if there is a problem, it's harder to work out how to solve it when the Wizard won't.
If you, like me, are thinking of getting a new PC or laptop and want it to come with XP not Vista, it's time to be looking!
Here is a very handy article http://windowssecrets.com/comp/080306/ which lists the things one should look for and describes the problems you might encounter. I have subscribed to Fred Langa's newsletters for many years and have found them very valuable. I can thoroughly recommend subscribing to the free edition (and, if you are more interested, there is a paid edition as well which is very good value).
2 people like this
13 responses
@seabreeze (659)
• China
7 Mar 08
my computer is a sony VGN-FZ15,FZ15 use windows vista.I like to use windows vista!vista system is advanced,being at a higher level than others.
2 people like this
@vincent_wong (8)
• China
7 Mar 08
My laptop is FUJITSU T4220,I replaced HD to 250Giga,I unintalled VISTA while I took back from market.I don't like the garish operation interface.I need it help me to layout some SW and 3DMAX testing.
I like XP 4ever.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
6 Mar 08
Owlwings my friend. Is not now the time to seek something much more intuitive and responsive. Stroll to you nearest Apple store or reseller, there are several including the ubiquitous PC World in the Cambridge area, and have a play with an OS that does so much more than Vista or XP could ever dream of. If my 84 year old father can do it, then we all can.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
6 Mar 08
Well now. I do so agree that Apple has been excessively protective of it's licensing rights. But depending what you want to do, I think that Apple do provide a solution to most normal business and home requirements. I run MS Office for windows. Use a great, and cheap, database program, also have Apple iWork (Spreadsheet, WP, Presentation suite), as well as the media software that all Apple computers come with these day. My major gripe is the lack of a reasonably priced DTP, Word just isn't up to the job. However, I could, but don't run XP on the Apple too if I wished. This would then enable me to run natively just about any existing XP compatible product. But I would also be opening myself up to the legions of viruses that target Windows products if I did so. (Assuming that I linked to the internet). To date, no one has managed to spread a virus within the Apple OS using community. Of course it is possible, but it aint happened yet. So I don't worry about viral attacks, in fact I don't use anti virus software at all. I have a spyware catcher. In 18 months it has had only one hostile report. There is a cost association I grant you. But spec for spec against say, a Dell machine, it works out to be pretty even, especially in the laptop area. Any way, just a thought for your list. One area that it is appalling for is modern games - but I don't really do that stuff.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
6 Mar 08
My daughter got a Macbook for her 18th from my parents. She has become welded to it. It has a 13 inch screen, which is big enough for most routine stuff and all the incredible software that comes standard. My line on the cost is that comparatively speaking there isn't much between a Mac and a PC. Hope that you get one eventually. I just cannot envisage going back to Windows, or even a PC. Too many towers and stuff to clutter up the house, Says he with an old PC under his desk that his wife would burn given half a chance.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8770)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 08
I would recommend sticking with XP, it might not be perfect but apparently Vista is being put on without bugs being ironed out.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
6 Mar 08
I am always in favour of sticking with the devil you know ... until the new one seems at least only as bad as the old!
@vincent_wong (8)
• China
7 Mar 08
I stick with XP.
There are 3 reasons
The first is my laptop only has 2Giga,VISTA need more memory.secondly,VISTA need very big installing space.my HD is only 250Giga and 15Giga for system disk. thirdly,XP is meeted my current using requirement.
Why does it change to VISTA?No,I'd like to use XP.
1 person likes this
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
10 Mar 08
I am using Vista ultimate on my notebook at the moment and I would recommend you to stick to XP if you can since Vista is very resource hungry and the installation took lots of space too. On top of that, Vista still have some compatibility issues with some other software.
However, if you have no choice, then make sure that your computer has at least 2 GB of RAM to ensure smooth running of Vista and the processor is preferably something in the rang of Core 2 Duo Intel processor.
1 person likes this
@nicksy (178)
• Philippines
6 Mar 08
stick with the XP, i heard there are some flaws in the vista version like compatibility with i-pod etc, and still Vista is in experimental version, where they can still improve the product, unlike the XP , which is more efficient, less memory that consumes, and i think much more productive.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
6 Mar 08
I have to say that I was appalled when I read the recommended specs for Vista. But then I was equally appalled at the recommended specs for XP, Win98, Win95 and (to a lesser extent) Win 3.11 when they first came out.
I used to work for a software company that produced versions of their software for Digital Gem and for Windows. Apart from the operating systems, the functions of the versions were identical. The Windows version, however, required twice as much memory and the program files were twice the size. With each successive version of Windows, application and operating system program code seems to increase out of proportion to the extra functions it provides.
I would agree with you that, if you MUST stick with Microsoft, then stay with XP (but don't forget that people said that about Windows 95 and 98 and are still saying it about Win 2000!)
@vishnu_badlapur (560)
• India
6 Mar 08
I don't understand why people hate Vista. I have been using Vista and I do not have any problem with the OS or it's compatibility with any hardware. But for me, its a bit slow but I cannot blame Vista as my hardware is pretty old for the requirements to run Vista. XP was no doubt very good one, but Vista too is a very good package.
@bayernfan (1430)
• Canada
6 Mar 08
If it isn't broken, then don't fix it. I use Windows XP 64-bit on one computer and Kubuntu 7.1 64-bit on another. My computers are more than capable of handling Vista, but I don't see the necessity to use an even more bloated resource hog of an OS. Why not consider a Linux desktop? You can take the Linux Distribution Chooser questionnaire at zegenie studios here:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
Linux OSes are very powerful and easier on the system resources than their Windows counterparts. Many distributions are easy to install and are ordinary-user friendly OSes.
@quetzalcoatl2435 (222)
• Indonesia
6 Mar 08
I'll stick with Windows XP for the moment. Heck, I'll even stick with the FAT32 file system, which is 'accidentally' not supported for Vista's boot partition. So, that's a big NO for me. First, I don't like NTFS. Second, Vista is still buggy as hell (and as slow as a snail, 2GB of RAM and 0MB free? Come on, Microsoft!). And since Microsoft still will have support for Windows XP for years to come (even after they stop selling Windows XP), I don't see any reason (yet) to migrate to Vista. Not to mention software compatibility, for which you will 75% of the time need to buy new versions of any software that you own...
1 person likes this
@leon_noel13 (10)
• Philippines
7 Mar 08
i prefer xp cause it have a lot of nice things beside you can apply the vista theme to xp and you can have lot of better games instead of vista the only thing anyone like vista is the aero glass theme and the only thing vista is more enhanced than xp because of its shortcuts
hey people it is still the same xp i read it on a forum
1 person likes this
@bradhart (659)
• United States
23 Mar 08
You're best bet is too build one and get an OEM version of Windows XP. If you are unfamiliar with this it really is easy to do, if you can follow a recipe you can build a barebones computer up and install windows. Barebones PC's most often come with the case powersupply motherboard and processor already installed. All you actually have to do is put the ram (it only goes in one way ), put in a in a hard drive (connect 2 cables), a cd/dvd drive (2 more cables) connect the monitor, mouse and keyboard of your choice, probably the one you already have on your desk, insert the windows disk and follow the onscreen directions. If you look on ebay for barebones systems you will find a lot of good retailers with great prices, many of them will actually build and install everything if you buy the parts from them.
Here are the best reasons for building your own even as a novice. First is getting getting an OEM windows disk, XP Professional is about $130 at the moment with a qualifying hardware purchase. What makes this better is you will be able to use this on what ever machine you like. If you move it too a completely different machine you will have to use the automated line and get a replacement key, but it takes like 5 minutes to do and you can do it over and over again, just remember registration information like name and email you use.
The second is availability of cheap parts. You will most likely want to use the onboard audio and video for your first computer, at least at first, but new hard drives and dvd drives on ebay are often 60% the retail price or less. I just picked up a brand new TB drive for $129. You are going to be hard pressed to find a home pc already made with that kind of storage space for cheap. If you don't pay attention you can get burned on prices, so you really need to add things up before you buy, but that is true of everywhere you shop.
Here is my example of the last system I bought vs the competitors price. AMD 5400+ 4gb ram, 750gb hdd, video card with 512mb onboard ram, soundblaster xfi soundcard total price delivered $678 I priced the same options out with 3 manufacturers the cheap on was $1650 Using only 1gb of ram and the onboard sound and video I could have dropped my cost by $250. if I had used a smaller HDD I cold have saved another $20 or $30. HDD are really cheap so getting half the space for not very much less is a bad investment when doing this yourself.
