XP or Vista

[Guest]

Neither, Just FYI. My Operating System's Of Choice Is: Either Microsoft
Windows Server 2008 RTM, Or Open Source Linux Ubuntu 7.10 RTW, Just FYI. I
Am Very Proud To Call Myself Alias Number 2, Just FYI.

 

[Alan Justice]

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer. I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review? (I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

 

[Steve Thackery]

Either would be fine for your needs. Sounds like you've a number of legacy
programs, so probably XP would be more appropriate.

SteveT

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I
have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer. I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that
Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review? (I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

If you can hold off until some time in March, you will then be able to buy a
computer which has Vista SP1 pre-installed. Ensure that you do actually get
Vista SP1.

Vista has come a long way since the early days, and the SP1 update takes
Vista to a new level (higher). What you might want to do in the meantime is
check that all of your external devices and programs are Vista compatible.
This requires donkey work, going from one manufacturer/author website to
another..

 

[Previously Tiberius]

Hello.. you will get the best unbiased view from me.

Listen Vista indeed was terrible before SP1... I was the biggest vista
basher of the galaxy!
It was slow, unstable and well the total experience was not good.

But now I got my hands on SP1 (service pack 1) and I have installed vista
and I can say that
its a nice experience... It works only slightly slower than XP now... but
apart from that its ok.

What you will have to know before you decide to get Vista:

1) I would suggest you reasearch and get Vista Ultimate or buisness from a
seller that gives DEGRADE rights from Vista to XP.
What is this? Well if you get one of the versions I mentioned above, then
you also have the right to install XP for free.
This gives you much flexibility.

2) Check and reasearch if the printers or scanners or other peripherals you
may want to use from the OLD system have drivers for Vista,
or if the XP ones work with Vista, or if vista has built in drivers for
these

3) Have in mind that you will probably lose some time (and money) if you
have old versions of programs that will not work well with vista.

And most of all you will get a computer that has vista WITH SP1!!!! Without
SP1 Vista is horrible!

I hope this helps a bit, and if you need any clarification ask and I will
help you.

 

[Rojo Habe]

If you're buying a PC with a preinstalled operating system you probably
won't have much choice - it'll likely be Vista. Either should suit your
needs. Vista took a bit of getting used to for me, but since you're coming
from Win98 the same will probably apply to either of them for you.

XP is no more buggy than any other OS (cue the hail of Linux supporters but
you did ask for an UNBIASED opinion). If it's a choice of XP or Vista, and
you're going to buy one of those separately and install it on a fresh
machine yourself, Vista will almost certainly be cheaper.

Do check for compatibility with all your old software before buying. Vista
is notoriously incompatible in this regard. It doesn't even fully support
Office 2000, and that's a (albeit obsolescent) Microsoft product.

Both versions include a compatibility wizard for older programs, and quite
often running a program in Windows 98 mode will solve any problems you may
have. If in doubt, XP might be the safer option here but bear in mind it
too is eventually going to become obsolete.

 

[George W. Barrowcliff]

Hello.. you will get the best unbiased view from me.

Listen Vista indeed was terrible before SP1... I was the biggest vista
basher of the galaxy!
It was slow, unstable and well the total experience was not good.

But now I got my hands on SP1 (service pack 1) and I have installed
vista and I can say that
its a nice experience... It works only slightly slower than XP now...
but apart from that its ok.

What you will have to know before you decide to get Vista:

1) I would suggest you reasearch and get Vista Ultimate or buisness from
a seller that gives DEGRADE rights from Vista to XP.
What is this? Well if you get one of the versions I mentioned above,
then you also have the right to install XP for free.
This gives you much flexibility.

2) Check and reasearch if the printers or scanners or other peripherals
you may want to use from the OLD system have drivers for Vista,
or if the XP ones work with Vista, or if vista has built in drivers for
these

3) Have in mind that you will probably lose some time (and money) if you
have old versions of programs that will not work well with vista.

And most of all you will get a computer that has vista WITH SP1!!!!
Without SP1 Vista is horrible!

I hope this helps a bit, and if you need any clarification ask and I
will help you.

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6).
I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer. I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that
Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review? (I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other
computer is
the workhorse.)

I bought a new Compaq with Vista Home on it and have had quite a bit of
problems with my existing software that I had installed on my (now) dead
XP Pro laptop.

I put Office 2003 Pro and most programs work except when saving files to
a different directory than the default causes a 30 second delay that
seems like everything is locked up. Then it frees up and the directory
will change. I am still trying to figure out where my outbox emails go
when I send email from Outlook.

I spent a day and a half trying to get Motorola Phone Tools installed
only to give up and go to my XP Pro desktop.

I had to buy a new antivirus because the Norton V10.2 would not run on
Vista, I needed Norton 10.4 and it was a cost to upgrade.

I would be happy to go back to XP Pro if I had known about the DEGRADE
capability or for that matter is the DEGRADE capability built in and
just has to be purchased? Or can I purchase XP Pro and have it install
over the top of Vista?

Is the SP1 going to have more software compatability than the original
or is it more for stability, security and speed?

TIA, GWB

 

[ray]

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I
have little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer. I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that
Vista has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review? (I only
need minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other
computer is the workhorse.)

IMHO - if there is no particular reason why you would want vista then it
might be better to do xp. DELL, for one, offers computers with xp
installed instead of vista. It will require some looking to find
computers with xp or another alternative instead of vista, but they exist
- it's up to you whether it's worth the bother.

 

[Frank]

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer. I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review? (I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

Go with Vista...it's more secure and why buy old technology?
Frank

 

[Previously Tiberius]

MS does not give degrade rights to Vista Home.. only Ultimate and Business.
BUT, you can always ask the guys you bought it from WHAT you can do to get
the degrade rights (they will allow you only if they offer the same computer
with XP drivers... unfortunatly not everyone produces XP drivers for new
model computers so they dont offer support).

Apart from that.. wait a few weeks to see how much Vista will improve with
SP1...

As I said in my previous post.. everything seems to just work with SP1 while
before that Vista was full of frustration.

I would bet that problem you have with office2003 will be fixed...
There is a latest service pack 3 for office2004 that boast vista
compatibility improvments.. have you installed that?
Here is a link for that
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010798601033.aspx

Is the SP1 going to have more software compatability than the original or
is it more for stability, security and speed?

From what I have seen on this PC running Vista with the FINAL version of
SP1, its like a totally different experience!
It works far faster more compatible and stable... I didnt think MS would
fix vista but it seems they have done a good job.

About norton.. well I avoid all norton products ! You should have posted
here and asked.. I would have told you about
avast HOME free edition that is free and its good...
if you are curious have a look here and look for the free home edition
www.avast.com

Tell me if this helps somewhat... I really think you should wait until SP1
for vista will be available (in a couple of weeks they say mid March)
and try installing SP3 for Office.

If you need anything else Ill be around

 

[Previously Tiberius]

correction I meant "There is a latest service pack 3 for ****office2003****"

 

[Michael Jennings]

I would be happy to go back to XP Pro if I had known about the DEGRADE
capability or for that matter is the DEGRADE capability built in and just has
to be purchased? Or can I purchase XP Pro and have it install over the top of
Vista?

Home versions of Vista have no downgrade rights. If Compaq does not
provide XP drivers for the computer you bought from them, it will be
difficult or impossible for you to run XP on it, even if you purchase XP.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer.

Why? It would seem that if "all [your] programs are starting to screw
up," worst case, you could solve the problems without any
troubleshooting by reinstalling Windows and all your programs. Why do
you need a new computer?

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying a new computer if that's what
you want, but that reason makes no sense to me.

I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review?

Here's my view:

1. If you're reading about problems *here* for example, in the
newsgroups, this is where people come with their problems, not with
their successes. You get a very distorted view of what's going on in
the real world here; as someone once said, "hang around a transmission
shop and you will think that all cars have transmission problems."

2. Most problems, by far, that people report have nothing to do with
defects in the software. They result from people's ignorance, from bad
or inadequate hardware, from old drivers, from viruses, from spyware,
and so on. And except for very rare situations, they always get a fix
for their problems, and in most cases, that fix is a very simple one
to implement.

You may not think my view is unbiased, but I run Vista here and am
very happy with it. I have no problems with it at all. I know many
others who have experiences similar to mine.

(I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

Then if you get a new computer I see no reason for you not to get
Vista. But note two things:

1. make sure you get a powerful enough machine. In particular, I would
get 2GB of RAM

2. Vista is different in many ways from XP, and it will undoubtedly
take you some time to learn and get accustomed to the differences.
That experience can be frustrating at first.

 

[Bill Yanaire]

Another useless answer.

The best thing to do is reinstall XP from scratch and install your programs
again. This should fix the issues with your system. If you want a new
computer that's another story, but if you are looking to save money, do a
reinstall and your system will seem like new again. Once you reinstall XP,
do the updates immediately, install the Virus software and you should be
good to go.

Neither, Just FYI. My Operating System's Of Choice Is: Either Microsoft
Windows Server 2008 RTM, Or Open Source Linux Ubuntu 7.10 RTW, Just FYI. I
Am Very Proud To Call Myself Alias Number 2, Just FYI.

 

[thetruthhurts]

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer. I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review? (I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

For minimal computing either should work. I would go with XP though
as it has better performance so you won't need to buuy as much
hardware.

 

[Alan Justice]

All good points. But tell me: To reinstall all the programs, won't I lose
what's on the computer now? Not everything is saved in "my documents," so I
may not even be able to find it all to back it up. Or will reinstallation
leave that all alone?

--
- Alan Justice

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer.

Why? It would seem that if "all [your] programs are starting to screw
up," worst case, you could solve the problems without any
troubleshooting by reinstalling Windows and all your programs. Why do
you need a new computer?

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying a new computer if that's what
you want, but that reason makes no sense to me.

I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review?

Here's my view:

1. If you're reading about problems *here* for example, in the
newsgroups, this is where people come with their problems, not with
their successes. You get a very distorted view of what's going on in
the real world here; as someone once said, "hang around a transmission
shop and you will think that all cars have transmission problems."

2. Most problems, by far, that people report have nothing to do with
defects in the software. They result from people's ignorance, from bad
or inadequate hardware, from old drivers, from viruses, from spyware,
and so on. And except for very rare situations, they always get a fix
for their problems, and in most cases, that fix is a very simple one
to implement.

You may not think my view is unbiased, but I run Vista here and am
very happy with it. I have no problems with it at all. I know many
others who have experiences similar to mine.

(I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

Then if you get a new computer I see no reason for you not to get
Vista. But note two things:

1. make sure you get a powerful enough machine. In particular, I would
get 2GB of RAM

2. Vista is different in many ways from XP, and it will undoubtedly
take you some time to learn and get accustomed to the differences.
That experience can be frustrating at first.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

All good points. But tell me: To reinstall all the programs, won't I lose
what's on the computer now?

If you reinstall Windows cleanly, yes, you will lose everything that's
on the computer.

But that's no different than if you buy a new computer. That won't
have what was on the old computer either.

Not everything is saved in "my documents," so I
may not even be able to find it all to back it up.

Then that's a very serious issue that you need to address. But again,
you have that problem whether you reinstall Windows on the old
computer or buy a new one.

And most important, you need to be aware of the need to *always* have
a current backup of anything that you can't afford to lose. That need
doesn't suddenly appear when you are considering reinstalling or
changing computers. You are always vulnerable to the loss of
everything on your drive, for a wide variety of reasons.

Read this article I recently wrote on backup:
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

Or will reinstallation
leave that all alone?

--
- Alan Justice

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer.

Why? It would seem that if "all [your] programs are starting to screw
up," worst case, you could solve the problems without any
troubleshooting by reinstalling Windows and all your programs. Why do
you need a new computer?

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying a new computer if that's what
you want, but that reason makes no sense to me.

I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review?

Here's my view:

1. If you're reading about problems *here* for example, in the
newsgroups, this is where people come with their problems, not with
their successes. You get a very distorted view of what's going on in
the real world here; as someone once said, "hang around a transmission
shop and you will think that all cars have transmission problems."

2. Most problems, by far, that people report have nothing to do with
defects in the software. They result from people's ignorance, from bad
or inadequate hardware, from old drivers, from viruses, from spyware,
and so on. And except for very rare situations, they always get a fix
for their problems, and in most cases, that fix is a very simple one
to implement.

You may not think my view is unbiased, but I run Vista here and am
very happy with it. I have no problems with it at all. I know many
others who have experiences similar to mine.

(I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer is
the workhorse.)

Then if you get a new computer I see no reason for you not to get
Vista. But note two things:

1. make sure you get a powerful enough machine. In particular, I would
get 2GB of RAM

2. Vista is different in many ways from XP, and it will undoubtedly
take you some time to learn and get accustomed to the differences.
That experience can be frustrating at first.

 

[Alan Justice]

Okay, thanks. One more thing. To reinstall, should I first format c:? It
seems that's the only way to be sure to eliminate all the accumulated
viruses and such.

--
- Alan Justice

All good points. But tell me: To reinstall all the programs, won't I lose
what's on the computer now?

If you reinstall Windows cleanly, yes, you will lose everything that's
on the computer.

But that's no different than if you buy a new computer. That won't
have what was on the old computer either.

Not everything is saved in "my documents," so I
may not even be able to find it all to back it up.

Then that's a very serious issue that you need to address. But again,
you have that problem whether you reinstall Windows on the old
computer or buy a new one.

And most important, you need to be aware of the need to *always* have
a current backup of anything that you can't afford to lose. That need
doesn't suddenly appear when you are considering reinstalling or
changing computers. You are always vulnerable to the loss of
everything on your drive, for a wide variety of reasons.

Read this article I recently wrote on backup:
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

Or will reinstallation
leave that all alone?

--
- Alan Justice

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:26:13 -0800, "Alan Justice"

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6).

I
have

little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer.


Why? It would seem that if "all [your] programs are starting to screw
up," worst case, you could solve the problems without any
troubleshooting by reinstalling Windows and all your programs. Why do
you need a new computer?

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying a new computer if that's what
you want, but that reason makes no sense to me.



I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard

that
Vista

has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review?


Here's my view:

1. If you're reading about problems *here* for example, in the
newsgroups, this is where people come with their problems, not with
their successes. You get a very distorted view of what's going on in
the real world here; as someone once said, "hang around a transmission
shop and you will think that all cars have transmission problems."

2. Most problems, by far, that people report have nothing to do with
defects in the software. They result from people's ignorance, from bad
or inadequate hardware, from old drivers, from viruses, from spyware,
and so on. And except for very rare situations, they always get a fix
for their problems, and in most cases, that fix is a very simple one
to implement.

You may not think my view is unbiased, but I run Vista here and am
very happy with it. I have no problems with it at all. I know many
others who have experiences similar to mine.


(I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other

computer
is

the workhorse.)


Then if you get a new computer I see no reason for you not to get
Vista. But note two things:

1. make sure you get a powerful enough machine. In particular, I would
get 2GB of RAM

2. Vista is different in many ways from XP, and it will undoubtedly
take you some time to learn and get accustomed to the differences.
That experience can be frustrating at first.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Okay, thanks. One more thing. To reinstall, should I first format c:? It
seems that's the only way to be sure to eliminate all the accumulated
viruses and such.

This is Windows 98? Yes, format the drive first.

All good points. But tell me: To reinstall all the programs, won't I lose
what's on the computer now?

If you reinstall Windows cleanly, yes, you will lose everything that's
on the computer.

But that's no different than if you buy a new computer. That won't
have what was on the old computer either.

Not everything is saved in "my documents," so I
may not even be able to find it all to back it up.

Then that's a very serious issue that you need to address. But again,
you have that problem whether you reinstall Windows on the old
computer or buy a new one.

And most important, you need to be aware of the need to *always* have
a current backup of anything that you can't afford to lose. That need
doesn't suddenly appear when you are considering reinstalling or
changing computers. You are always vulnerable to the loss of
everything on your drive, for a wide variety of reasons.

Read this article I recently wrote on backup:
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

Or will reinstallation
leave that all alone?

--
- Alan Justice

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:26:13 -0800, "Alan Justice"

All my programs are starting to screw up (PC with Win 98, OE6, IE6). I
have
little confidence in my ability to trouble shoot (my PhD is not in
computers), so I may just buy a new computer.


Why? It would seem that if "all [your] programs are starting to screw
up," worst case, you could solve the problems without any
troubleshooting by reinstalling Windows and all your programs. Why do
you need a new computer?

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying a new computer if that's what
you want, but that reason makes no sense to me.



I have XP on my other
computer (although the hard drive did crash once), and have heard that
Vista
has too many bugs. Where can I get an unbiased review?


Here's my view:

1. If you're reading about problems *here* for example, in the
newsgroups, this is where people come with their problems, not with
their successes. You get a very distorted view of what's going on in
the real world here; as someone once said, "hang around a transmission
shop and you will think that all cars have transmission problems."

2. Most problems, by far, that people report have nothing to do with
defects in the software. They result from people's ignorance, from bad
or inadequate hardware, from old drivers, from viruses, from spyware,
and so on. And except for very rare situations, they always get a fix
for their problems, and in most cases, that fix is a very simple one
to implement.

You may not think my view is unbiased, but I run Vista here and am
very happy with it. I have no problems with it at all. I know many
others who have experiences similar to mine.


(I only need
minimal configuration, for internet, and no network. My other computer
is
the workhorse.)


Then if you get a new computer I see no reason for you not to get
Vista. But note two things:

1. make sure you get a powerful enough machine. In particular, I would
get 2GB of RAM

2. Vista is different in many ways from XP, and it will undoubtedly
take you some time to learn and get accustomed to the differences.
That experience can be frustrating at first.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

*False. Office 2000 is perfectly compatible with Vista.*

"Perfectly"? Are you aware of the issue of Outlook not remembering
your password? I wouldn't call that "perfect."

Other than that, though, I'm not aware of any lack of compatibility.