I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.

Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
recommend?

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:07:27 +1100, "]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
>literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
>Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
>about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
>pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
>PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.
>
>Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
>requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
>drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
>that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
>recommend?
>

I would go with 98se...it should fly with that setup, most of his
friends or relatives will know/understand win98, which will make it
easier to help and teach him.

Make sure it has the latest win98 updates, a good FREE firewall and
Antivirus program.

Free Online scanners.
---------------------------
Norton:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/

Under Virus definitions, click on...
Free Online Virus and Security Check

Trend:
http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/global/enterprise.htm

BitDefender:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php

Panda ActiveScan:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm
=========================================================

Free AntiVirus Programs:
---------------------------
AntiVir - (My Favourite)
http://www.free-av.com/

AVG
http://www.grisoft.com

BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com
=========================================================

Free FireWalls Programs:
---------------------------
Sygate Personal Firewall - (My Favourite)
http://smb.sygate.com/

ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall:
http://www.zonealarm.com/

Kerio Personal Firewall:
http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html
=========================================================

Free SpyWare Scanner Programs:
---------------------------
Lavasoft Ad-aware:
http://www.lsfileserv.com/index.html

Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/
=========================================================

RedBack

"]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
> literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
> Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah
is
> about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits
and
> pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an
866Mhz
> PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.
>
> Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
> requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
> drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software
and
> that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
> recommend?
>
>
98 is like a child's OS compared to XP. XP will run fine with those specs
and the remote assistance will come in handy as well as the lack of crashes.
Turn off the b.s. and go for it.
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm

Since your primary requirement seems to be ease of
use, go with 98SE.


On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:07:27 +1100, in
<c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)>
]v[etaphreak scrawled:

>I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
>literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
>Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
>about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
>pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
>PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.
>
>Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
>requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
>drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
>that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
>recommend?
>

--
Basic computer maintenance
http://uk.geocities.com/personel44/maintenance.html

"]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
> literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
> Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah
is
> about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits
and
> pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an
866Mhz
> PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.
>
> Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
> requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
> drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software
and
> that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
> recommend?
>
>

That machine should run XP ok. Although Win98 and XP are totally
different operating systems...from the user's point of view however
there is not a very big difference.

Although Win98 will run faster on that machine...it does not seem like
the user is going to care about speed. The advantage of XP is that it is a
more
stable OS and the user may very well prefer the stability

]v[etaphreak wrote:
> I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
> literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
> Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
> about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
> pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
> PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.

I'm assuming it's a P-III at that speed?

> Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
> requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
> drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
> that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
> recommend?

I'd go with XP - especially if you can put 384Mb of RAM in there. As
someone else mentioned the stability of XP should more than make up for
the extra speed of 98se.

"]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
> requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of
resources to
> drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge
software and
> that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does
everyone
> recommend?

I'm not 'everyone'; but I'd go with 98SE . Do all the WinUp
patches before it leaves your door; and install the "holy trinity"
of a firewall/AV/spyware-stopper as well . I like the freeware combo
of ZoneAlarm (firewall); Avast (AV); and Spybot DE... but there are
others probably just as good.

Do yourself a favor -- (actually good for any OS) and copy the
install disc(s) to the hardrive and run setup from there.

ms have withdrawn support for win98 (or will in the near future).
Think about xp. They don't have to understand every aspect of the os
to be able to use it.


"R. Asby Dragon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
> > requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of
> resources to
> > drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge
> software and
> > that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does
> everyone
> > recommend?
>
> I'm not 'everyone'; but I'd go with 98SE . Do all the WinUp
> patches before it leaves your door; and install the "holy trinity"
> of a firewall/AV/spyware-stopper as well . I like the freeware combo
> of ZoneAlarm (firewall); Avast (AV); and Spybot DE... but there are
> others probably just as good.
>
> Do yourself a favor -- (actually good for any OS) and copy the
> install disc(s) to the hardrive and run setup from there.
>
>
>
>
>

meant for op


"Paper Weight" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9%2Xb.54432$(E-Mail Removed)...
> ms have withdrawn support for win98 (or will in the near future).
> Think about xp. They don't have to understand every aspect of the os
> to be able to use it.
>
>
> "R. Asby Dragon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > "]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >
> > > Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic
spec
> > > requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of
> > resources to
> > > drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge
> > software and
> > > that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what
does
> > everyone
> > > recommend?
> >
> > I'm not 'everyone'; but I'd go with 98SE . Do all the WinUp
> > patches before it leaves your door; and install the "holy
trinity"
> > of a firewall/AV/spyware-stopper as well . I like the freeware
combo
> > of ZoneAlarm (firewall); Avast (AV); and Spybot DE... but there
are
> > others probably just as good.
> >
> > Do yourself a favor -- (actually good for any OS) and copy the
> > install disc(s) to the hardrive and run setup from there.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 00:10:18 -0800, "R. Asby Dragon"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"]v[etaphreak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:c0hpi3$15upf8$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
>> requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of
>resources to
>> drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge
>software and
>> that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does
>everyone
>> recommend?
>
>I'm not 'everyone'; but I'd go with 98SE . Do all the WinUp
>patches before it leaves your door; and install the "holy trinity"
>of a firewall/AV/spyware-stopper as well . I like the freeware combo
>of ZoneAlarm (firewall); Avast (AV); and Spybot DE... but there are
>others probably just as good.
>
>Do yourself a favor -- (actually good for any OS) and copy the
>install disc(s) to the hardrive and run setup from there.

a good idea is to burn an image of the sistem partition in case they
screw it on a bootable CD before giving them the machine ...

-- Regards, SPAJKY ®
& visit my site @ http://www.spajky.vze.com
"Tualatin OC-ed / BX-Slot1 / inaudible setup!"
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