Vista or Xp Installation

[John]

I am presently using 96SE. my ISP no longer supports this version as do
some programs....my unit is not powerful enough for either xp or vista
I am in my eighties and some of my colleagues tell me that vista has a
pretty high learning curve, have found both windows 95 and 95se very
user friendly. I can get a new unit from Dell loaded with either XP or
Vista, i would like to keep current but do not want to become
overwhelmed by new technology. I am not a power user but did not find
the older window operating system too challenging, the tasks i presently
perform are pretty basic my question is given my age and experience
level could i handle Vista or should i opt for the XP version. Any
opinions would be appreciated....thanks

 

[April]

I would personally go with xp at the moment. It handles more programs since
vista isnt compatible with alot of programs or devices quite yet. It seems
to me that XP is more user friendly as well.

however if you buy a new computer it might be harder to get xp since most
places sell nothing but vista on the machines. You might consider taking
your old machine to someone who can upgrade it to handle xp for you.

 

[philo]

I am presently using 96SE. my ISP no longer supports this version as do
some programs....my unit is not powerful enough for either xp or vista
I am in my eighties and some of my colleagues tell me that vista has a
pretty high learning curve, have found both windows 95 and 95se very
user friendly. I can get a new unit from Dell loaded with either XP or
Vista, i would like to keep current but do not want to become
overwhelmed by new technology. I am not a power user but did not find
the older window operating system too challenging, the tasks i presently
perform are pretty basic my question is given my age and experience
level could i handle Vista or should i opt for the XP version. Any
opinions would be appreciated....thanks

First off...
a lot of ISP's make the statement that they do not support win98...
but that is fairly meaningless...as connecting to DSL, Cable or even dial-up
has nothing really to to with the operating system.
As long as the operating system can support a network card (or a modem for
dial-up) you canget on-line.

As to software...some of it might not work with Win98...so that might be a
good reason to get a new machine.
For the best help...please post back and mention which software you have
that is not win98 compatable...
Though I'm sure it would work with XP...
Vista is another question altogether...
though I'm sure most software that works on XP will also work with Vista

 

[Tom Ferguson]

Having read your words carefully, I must say that I believe you would have
no trouble handling Vista. First of all, you showed foresight in checking
the idea out here before making a change. So, I suspect that, should you
encounter one, you will soon overcome some or other temporary difficulty by
a similar tactic of research and application.

In short, do check out the feasibility of upgrading your present system or
seizing the opportunity to get an entirely new system.

Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007

 

[Ron Martell]

I am presently using 96SE. my ISP no longer supports this version as do
some programs....my unit is not powerful enough for either xp or vista
I am in my eighties and some of my colleagues tell me that vista has a
pretty high learning curve, have found both windows 95 and 95se very
user friendly. I can get a new unit from Dell loaded with either XP or
Vista, i would like to keep current but do not want to become
overwhelmed by new technology. I am not a power user but did not find
the older window operating system too challenging, the tasks i presently
perform are pretty basic my question is given my age and experience
level could i handle Vista or should i opt for the XP version. Any
opinions would be appreciated....thanks

You should probably choose Vista, as it is the newer operating system
and therefore will remain supported by Microsoft for a longer period.
The one possible complication would be with your accessories such as
the printer and/or scanner. If these are of the same vintage as your
existing computer (e.g. 1998 or 1999) then it is possible that Windows
Vista drivers for these devices may not be available. You need to
check this out before making the final decision.

p.s. Most new computers sold today come with a woefully inadequate
amount of RAM. With Windows XP you need at least 512 mb and
preferably 1 gb of RAM in order to get the best performance from your
computer. For Vista, the RAM requirements are much higher and I
personally would not consider a Vista system with anything less than 2
gb of RAM.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[John]

You should probably choose Vista, as it is the newer operating system
and therefore will remain supported by Microsoft for a longer period.
The one possible complication would be with your accessories such as
the printer and/or scanner. If these are of the same vintage as your
existing computer (e.g. 1998 or 1999) then it is possible that Windows
Vista drivers for these devices may not be available. You need to
check this out before making the final decision.

p.s. Most new computers sold today come with a woefully inadequate
amount of RAM. With Windows XP you need at least 512 mb and
preferably 1 gb of RAM in order to get the best performance from your
computer. For Vista, the RAM requirements are much higher and I
personally would not consider a Vista system with anything less than 2
gb of RAM.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

appreciate your constructive replies, i should of mentioned my present
system is about ten years old, the only accessories i use are a
HPprinter (3Yrs 0ld) and a Cannon scanner (2 yrs old} It has 10ghz HD,
128MB memory, mainboard houses a Duron Athlon Processor chipset FSB
@200MHZ ( so the manual says}.The system i can afford is Intel®Pentium®
dual-core processor E2160 (1MB L2 Cache,1.80GHz,800 FSB), English
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition, English
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
Dell 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
16X DVD+/-RW Drive
Its on sale till tomorrow...sorry for longwinded reply again thanks

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

There is no doubt....

XP

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

I am presently using 98SE.

I am also posting with a 3.2 Gig machine built just last year, using 98SE.

I have Zero problems addressing my ISP.

my ISP no longer supports this version

I'm not so sure about that. The ISP really has no clue of anything except
your network card (DSL) or Modem (dialup) interface card. If it can see
either of those cards, your connection is pretty much assured.

as do some programs....

Possibly. However, there are usually work-arounds for compatibility
with older versions of most software. Where you will find issues is
when you have to purchase new hardware, such as printers, scanners,
etc..

my unit is not powerful enough for either xp or vista

Not for VISTA, that's a certainty.... Vista was essentially designed to
assure that fact.

I would imagine that a little added RAM would allow you to handle XP.

Can you provide some details on your computer? Right-click on the
My Computer desktop Icon, select "properties" and tell us what the
processor speed is and the amount of ram you have.

You will need a hard drive that's at least 8 gigabytes in size.
(Open My computer, right click on the "C" drive, select "properties"
and tell us what size your hard drive is).

I am in my eighties and some of my colleagues tell me that vista has a
pretty high learning curve, have found both windows 95 and 98se very
user friendly.

They are. And XP only differs in it's redundancy and capabilities for
multiple users to have total privacy on the same machine. You will
probably not have need for the latter. You can also set up the XP
interface to look and operate a great deal like WIN98SE.

I can get a new unit from Dell loaded with either XP or
Vista, i would like to keep current but do not want to become
overwhelmed by new technology.

By all means.... choose XP then.

the tasks i presently
perform are pretty basic my question is given my age and experience
level could i handle Vista or should i opt for the XP version. Any
opinions would be appreciated....thanks

I personally don't think you will have anything but grief from VISTA.

I am 54 and just moved to XP on most of my machines a couple of
years ago because of my fondness for 98SE. I have tried two versions
of VISTA and find it to be extremely cumbersome. As I already mentioned,
the boxes I have attached to the internet are all still running Windows 98SE
with excellent results.

If you don't need any specific software applications that require XP, then
I see no reason at all that we shouldn't try and keep you on 98SE or XP.

Being comfortable, confident, and happy, is 90% of the requirement
for enjoying your experience with a computer. Don't give that up now.

;-)


DM

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

appreciate your constructive replies, i should of mentioned my present
system is about ten years old, the only accessories i use are a
HPprinter (3Yrs 0ld) and a Cannon scanner (2 yrs old} It has 10ghz HD,
128MB memory, mainboard houses a Duron Athlon Processor chipset FSB
@200MHZ ( so the manual says}.

The system i can afford is Intel®Pentium®
dual-core processor E2160 (1MB L2 Cache,1.80GHz,800 FSB), English
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition, English
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
Dell 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
16X DVD+/-RW Drive

Its on sale till tomorrow...sorry for longwinded reply again thanks

I apologize for not reading the entire thread before replying.

That's a very powerful machine you're looking at.

I suggest that you pass on the VISTA operating system and move to Windows XP.


--
David Morgan (MAMS)
Morgan Audio Media Service
http://www.m-a-m-s DOT com
Dallas, Texas (214) 662-9901
_____________________________
http://www.januarysound.com

 

[Mick Murphy]

"If you don't need any specific software applications that require XP, then
I see no reason at all that we shouldn't try and keep you on 98SE or XP."

Do you EVER read what you write!
You say if he does not need XP, to go on 98SE or XP!!!!!!!!

 

[Andy]

appreciate your constructive replies, i should of mentioned my present
system is about ten years old, the only accessories i use are a
HPprinter (3Yrs 0ld) and a Cannon scanner (2 yrs old} It has 10ghz HD,
128MB memory, mainboard houses a Duron Athlon Processor chipset FSB
@200MHZ ( so the manual says}.The system i can afford is Intel®Pentium®
dual-core processor E2160 (1MB L2 Cache,1.80GHz,800 FSB), English
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition, English
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
Dell 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
16X DVD+/-RW Drive
Its on sale till tomorrow...sorry for longwinded reply again thanks

Make sure your printer and scanner are supported by Vista before
pulling the switch.

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

Make sure your printer and scanner are supported by Vista before
pulling the switch.

There will be no question as to their being supported by Windows XP.