OT: Considering changing OS (Poll)

Atrocities · #1 March 28th, 2004, 03:20 AM

Upgrades are horrible. Better to spend the money for the full program and do a fresh install.

Buy a new HD and install it on it. Then slave your old one.

Phoenix-D · #2 March 28th, 2004, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Combat Wombat:
I have the same story here. This computer ran Windows ME and since I have installed XP Pro I have had no problems(except those I have directly caused due to my own stupidity). I have no idea how much XP Pro costs, I won my Version for free from a Microsoft event but an Upgrade Version of XP Pro couldn't be more than $100

The upgrade for Home is gennerally $99. Pro is typically twice as much, and I have yet to see a feature list that justifies that.

Electrum · #3 March 28th, 2004, 04:45 AM

you can get XP home for $95 - $100. XP Pro is about $150. I've used both, unless you need multiprocessor support or remote access to your computer, you probably don't need pro.
You can pick up oem Versions of either at:
www.directdeals.com

Slynky · #4 March 28th, 2004, 06:14 AM

I have a pretty fair working knowledge of all the Windows OSs. 'Cause of my job. Of course, at work, we all used Win2K. Now, we switched over to XP Pro. At home, we use XP Home (well, mostly because we don't need the extra benefits of XP Pro...go read the differences and you will see what I mean).

Though I loathe MS OSs, I have to admit XP Home has been the best yet. I don't load a lot of crap on my system...no IMs of any sort, no meters, no cute little programs to sit in the tray and screw around with stability...so this and XP may account for the lack of a crash in, well, I can't remember...perhaps a year or more.

If you have the opportunity, I'd offload everything you can (and need), wipe the HD clean, and install from the getgo. Then, get your antivirus loaded. Next, get your internet up and get all the virus updates and XP updates. If you are on dial-up, this will take a while but live with it. It's worth it. Once you are safe, rebuild the rest of your system.

You won't be sorry.

PvK · #5 March 28th, 2004, 06:20 AM

WinMe is my least favorite Version of Windohs.

I like Win98SE when I can get away with it, for myself, because of the reduced BS. But I wouldn't recommend it to Users who don't already know enough to keep from messing it up.

Next I'd recommend Win2K Pro. More BS but sturdier.

Next, for people who like to be trendy and/or like saccharine user-friendly condescending interfaces, or who don't know a whole lot about computers, I would sorta say XP, but I really dislike XP myself. Way too much MS BS, and the prime target OS of all hackers and viruses. Stupid changes that break or mess up old games. Animated puppies to kill. Still being "upgraded" by MS all the time, full of the latest bad MS ideas, etc.

Linux is a good choice if you don't mind geeking around with funky stuff, and perhaps having problems if you want to use Windohs software.

PvK

President_Elect_Shang · #6 March 28th, 2004, 06:33 AM

I use XP Home, been runing it since about July Last year or so. Never had one problem, not even the smallest of hic-ups. I don't feel that I am missing any features I need or can't get better Versions of from a third party company.

[ March 28, 2004, 04:34: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ]

Slynky · #7 March 28th, 2004, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PvK:
Next, for people who like to be trendy and/or like saccharine user-friendly condescending interfaces, or who don't know a whole lot about computers, I would sorta say XP, but I really dislike XP myself. Way too much MS BS, and the prime target OS of all hackers and viruses. Stupid changes that break or mess up old games. Animated puppies to kill. Still being "upgraded" by MS all the time, full of the latest bad MS ideas, etc.

"user-friendly condescending interfaces"...?

Well, now there is a good reason not to get an OS

.

Stability is the main goal, IMO. And XP is stable. Or the most stable of their home OSs. Sure, I didn't like the look but I just changed it to the old style.

As to being the target of hackers and viruses...I just say, "Give me your best shot." For a comfortable secure system, try this: A NAT router, NAV (auto-updated, of course), Black Ice (from ISS...app control and all), and a little common sense...after all, the idiots who receive email from people they don't know and just HAVE to click on the URL provided are just inviting trouble...otherwise, NAV doesn't let anything get by with a virus (that is known) and I don't open anything from people I don't know.

Yeah, I know if a serious hacker decided to go after me (like those security sites that invite hackers to try and breach their system), I'd probably have a problem but the chances of that are about as likely as a professional diamond burgler targeting my house. And if something like that were to happen, it wouldn't really matter which OS you had.