The new Windows XP, and Longhorn - a mixed bag

R

Ron Hirsch

I've been planning on geting a new system around the end of this year - a
very high end desktop.

I don't play games, and probably the only software that I use that can
really make use of many of the "new featurers" in the new CPU's, and
expected new Windows versions is Photoshop CS.

I plan on getting at least 2 GB of RAM, and at least 3 physical, large hard
drives, along with a top end video card, and all the usual bells and
whilstles

But, I'm getting concerned about the following

A new 64 bit Windows version will need all new drivers for everything on my
system - and that includes 6 printers, 3 scanners, and a bunch of other
stuff such as my Wacom tablet, card readers, numerous USB drives et al.
While it's probable that the USB drives will work with the system directly,
the generic drivers are usually the pits. And since the scanner was less
then 3 years old when I first got XP, Canon USA never wrote any drivers for
it. So I don't stand a prayer on that. I finally found XP drivers on the
Canon Euro site,but that won't happen again in this situation.

Even if the manufacturers do start to write new 64 bit drivers, it'll be a
long slow process, and they'll surely not write them for devices that are
say 4 years old.

And, I still have several important utilities that were originally written
for Windows 3.1, so they are 16 bit programs, and won't run at all under the
new 64 bit OS, as MS has stated that only 32 and 64 bit programs will be
supported.

The bottom line here is that I'll be very reluctant to give myself all the
headaches that the "new and improved" 64 bit hardware and software can
offer.

I'll have to decide between the 3 options below

A. Buy my new system with a 32 bit OS such as the lastest version of XP
Professional (will MS still offer 32 bit versions of Windows? I would think
they'd have to)

B. Set the system up as a dual boot system, with separate physical drives
dedicated to a 32 bit OS, and a 64 bit OS

C. Go for the new all new 64 bit OS only, and suffer through the lack of
drivers et al, and lose some of my hardware and software

Does anyone have any good words of wisdom on all this?

Ron Hirsch
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Ron said:
I've been planning on geting a new system around the end of this year
- a very high end desktop.

I don't play games, and probably the only software that I use that can
really make use of many of the "new featurers" in the new CPU's, and
expected new Windows versions is Photoshop CS.

I plan on getting at least 2 GB of RAM, and at least 3 physical,
large hard drives, along with a top end video card, and all the usual
bells and whilstles

But, I'm getting concerned about the following

A new 64 bit Windows version will need all new drivers for everything
on my system - and that includes 6 printers, 3 scanners, and a bunch
of other stuff such as my Wacom tablet, card readers, numerous USB
drives et al. While it's probable that the USB drives will work with
the system directly, the generic drivers are usually the pits. And
since the scanner was less then 3 years old when I first got XP,
Canon USA never wrote any drivers for it. So I don't stand a prayer
on that. I finally found XP drivers on the Canon Euro site,but that
won't happen again in this situation.
Even if the manufacturers do start to write new 64 bit drivers, it'll
be a long slow process, and they'll surely not write them for devices
that are say 4 years old.

And, I still have several important utilities that were originally
written for Windows 3.1, so they are 16 bit programs, and won't run
at all under the new 64 bit OS, as MS has stated that only 32 and 64
bit programs will be supported.

The bottom line here is that I'll be very reluctant to give myself
all the headaches that the "new and improved" 64 bit hardware and
software can offer.

I'll have to decide between the 3 options below

A. Buy my new system with a 32 bit OS such as the lastest version of
XP Professional (will MS still offer 32 bit versions of Windows? I
would think they'd have to)

B. Set the system up as a dual boot system, with separate physical
drives dedicated to a 32 bit OS, and a 64 bit OS

C. Go for the new all new 64 bit OS only, and suffer through the lack
of drivers et al, and lose some of my hardware and software

Does anyone have any good words of wisdom on all this?
Click to expand...

Happens every iteration of Windows..

Many people never upgraded to Windows XP because of a scanner (even though
they cost $30-$120) or a cruddy inkjet printer (where the ink costs more
than the printer itself in most cases.)

You have listed the only ways to deal with it - and to me (although more
expensive) - the only real way to deal with it and extend the useful life of
all your components is to buy all new hardware you are assured work with the
new software. This way you insure you get all the useful features of the
new product and for a year or longer - everything is also under warranty -
where even if your old stuff worked, it is surely out of warranty.

Printers likely won't be your problem - depending on their value before.
Scanners may be a problem - but that will also depend on their value before.
The Wacom tablet - well - Wacom treats their customers pretty good...
As for the computer hardware - internal like CD/Video/Sound/NIC/etc - likely
you will have little problem there.
 
R

Ron Martell

Ron Hirsch said:
I've been planning on geting a new system around the end of this year - a
very high end desktop.

I don't play games, and probably the only software that I use that can
really make use of many of the "new featurers" in the new CPU's, and
expected new Windows versions is Photoshop CS.

I plan on getting at least 2 GB of RAM, and at least 3 physical, large hard
drives, along with a top end video card, and all the usual bells and
whilstles

But, I'm getting concerned about the following

A new 64 bit Windows version will need all new drivers for everything on my
system - and that includes 6 printers, 3 scanners, and a bunch of other
stuff such as my Wacom tablet, card readers, numerous USB drives et al.
While it's probable that the USB drives will work with the system directly,
the generic drivers are usually the pits. And since the scanner was less
then 3 years old when I first got XP, Canon USA never wrote any drivers for
it. So I don't stand a prayer on that. I finally found XP drivers on the
Canon Euro site,but that won't happen again in this situation.

Even if the manufacturers do start to write new 64 bit drivers, it'll be a
long slow process, and they'll surely not write them for devices that are
say 4 years old.

And, I still have several important utilities that were originally written
for Windows 3.1, so they are 16 bit programs, and won't run at all under the
new 64 bit OS, as MS has stated that only 32 and 64 bit programs will be
supported.

The bottom line here is that I'll be very reluctant to give myself all the
headaches that the "new and improved" 64 bit hardware and software can
offer.

I'll have to decide between the 3 options below

A. Buy my new system with a 32 bit OS such as the lastest version of XP
Professional (will MS still offer 32 bit versions of Windows? I would think
they'd have to)

B. Set the system up as a dual boot system, with separate physical drives
dedicated to a 32 bit OS, and a 64 bit OS

C. Go for the new all new 64 bit OS only, and suffer through the lack of
drivers et al, and lose some of my hardware and software

Does anyone have any good words of wisdom on all this?

Ron Hirsch
Click to expand...


The end of the year is still 6 months away, and in computer terms that
is almost a lifetime. There will almost certainly be some
significant new developments in hardware and/or software released by
then. And also the prices will undoubtedly change signifcantly from
the current levels.

Keep your eye on the marketplace and on the new developments, but
don't make any firm commitments until you are ready to act. And
realize that whatever choices you do make will almost certainly be
superceded by newer technology within a year (or less).

With your older hardware it would probably be prudent to include a
dual boot configuration in your planning, with one of these being 32
bit Windows XP and the other being whatever new operating system you
install (64 bit Windows XP or Longhorn if it is released by then)

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
 
M

Morituri-|-Max

Frank Saunders said:
The Longhorn beta isn't even out yet. No one, not even Microsoft knows
what the final requirements will be.
Click to expand...

Is Longhorn 64-bit? If not are there 64-bit, Home, Pro, etc versions?

Thanks
 
T

T. Waters

Morituri-|-Max said:
Is Longhorn 64-bit? If not are there 64-bit, Home, Pro, etc versions?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Regarding your question about 64-bit XP:
I guess you don't get out much! There is now a 64-bit verson of XP, but you
may want to find out more at this newsgroup:
microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general
Also, R.McCarty posted this recently:
"MS has posted an interesting Word doc, that describes changes
in functionality of the new XP-64 Bit.

Download link here: (740 kB)"
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=21d930dd-8160-4e43-
95d2-f5c3a9037e68&displaylang=en&Hash=QR6DBM4
And, don't forget to Google.
 

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