Which Windows?

Sitting at home with the 'flu I'm thinking of a new PC. The one burning question remaining is what flavour of Windows to get with it? I can get several different OEM versions from the vendor...

a) Windows 98se
b) Windows ME
c) Windows 2000
d) Windows XP

The new PC will most likeley be a Duron 1000MHz / Soltek SL-75DRV2, DDR, 266FSB, 256MB DDR RAM. My needs are simple, not many games, mostly web, spreadsheet, wordprocessing. Hardware I use is a scanner, printer, multiple serial ports. I'm leaning towards 98se due to it's reputation and popularity. XP looks flash but I'm waiting for the first service pack (or will it be a hotfix NT style?)

Fellow Skyline drivers - give me your opinions please.
(of course I'll be running the SimR game)

Me personally don't get ME, piece of crap in my opinion for those who tinker with windows alot.

98 SE -ok, but crashes to often for my taste. Better for gaming.

2000 - If you like to play heavy intensive games don't go for this one. More dependable than 98 SE. It is basically the upgrade to NT.

XP - As far as I know much more dependable. I know a guy who tried to crash it, but to no avail. I will be getting it when I get around to it. The one thing that has been going around is that it has security problems with the internet.

the other issue Ihear with XP is that it is one machine only so ifyou are like me and have kids it can be a problem cause once it is confiured on one pc you cant get it to work on another :-) I use Me other bag it its ok but not great may be 2000 is the way to go but I haven't even seen it.
meggala

Originally posted by GraemeWi
Hardware I use is a scanner, printer, multiple serial ports. I'm leaning towards 98se due to it's reputation and popularity. XP looks flash but I'm waiting for the first service pack (or will it be a hotfix NT style?)

I would tend to aim for Windows 2000 as long as the scanner and printer are 100% compatible with it.

Yes, the Macintosh queen is posting in here, but I just wanted to say that if you want to do anything productive, avoid Windows ME...

In addition to my Mac systems, I have a Sony VAIO 1gHz AMD Athlon running Windows ME, and I think it is quite a junky system. But most of my Windows training came off Windows 95!!! :eek:

That's just my couple pennies.

Originally posted by meggala
the other issue Ihear with XP is that it is one machine only so ifyou are like me and have kids it can be a problem cause once it is confiured on one pc you cant get it to work on another :-) I use Me other bag it its ok but not great may be 2000 is the way to go but I haven't even seen it.
meggala


I am running win 2k pro, and XP pro on a dual boot. As soon as there is a camera driver for XP, I will be getting rid of 2k. With XP pro, you can put it on more than one computer, as it does not need to be activated. It does seem to be pretty stable as well. The one thing I would recommend, is get more RAM. If you can, I would say 512 is great for XP. That is what I have now. If you have any other questions specific about XP, let me know. I will see if I can answer them.

Go 4 Xp pro.I tried to crash it but been unable.
Better than the rest and it looks better

I've tried XP Corporate (I guess thats the term for Professional that they use) not long after it became 'available' for 'purchase' :P I didn't like it, now I'm happily back with Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 2. Never crashes, great memory management, etc etc.

But yea, either go for 2000 or XP IMHO.

Originally posted by GraemeWi
Sitting at home with the 'flu I'm thinking of a new PC. The one burning question remaining is what flavour of Windows to get with it? I can get several different OEM versions from the vendor...

a) Windows 98se
b) Windows ME
c) Windows 2000
d) Windows XP



Windows? :bloated:

Linux my friend. Specifically Redhat or Mandrake

If you have to go with windows then I suggest XP, but go with Kb 's suggestion. Make sure you got lots of ram. I would stay clear of ME, as I run that on my laptop, and it has been nothing but trouble in the end.

Originally posted by HuMMerMan
Windows? :bloated:

Linux my friend. Specifically Redhat or Mandrake
H.Man, I didn't know you were a Linux man! Shweet. I'd say Linux too but it's really for a more advanced user!
:D :D

I duel boot to Win98 but only for games. I doubt I'll ever upgrade even if future games require it, I just won't buy them.

Originally posted by G-Forces

H.Man, I didn't know you were a Linux man! Shweet. I'd say Linux too but it's really for a more advanced user!
:D :D



I am a Linux man, but its only on my desktop. My laptop has "issues" with it, (some hardware wont work [cause its a laptop], and the hd is too small anyways) and I have to have Winblows 98 on the laptop for school (VB6, MS Office 2k, Oracle, etc...) Im running ME on the laptop, (I have had nothing but trouble with it) even though its not supported by the school.(Im such a rebel :D ) I will be updating the laptop to XP as soon as a few more drivers are released, and as soon as I can get some more ram.

I currently am running Redhat 6 on my desktop duel-boot with XP Pro and I use linux exclusivly when I am on that computer. (Windows is there, only to humor my parents)

Lately, I have been doing quite a bit of shit for school, so Ive been stuck to the laptop, and end up just using it to post here, I have quite a killer workstation setup for the laptop in my basement (ill get a pic lator).

Anyways, G-Forces....What ver of Linux u running?

Im hoping to upgrade my Redhat 6 Kernel next weekend. Its been sitting around for quite some time,and needs some tender love and care.

I would suggest XP Pro or 2000 Pro.

I run 98 SE on my slower machine and I used to run 2000 on my dual machine. I recently got my hands on XP and like that more than 2000 because of certain compatibility issues.

Oh and avoid ME like the plauge. i would go with XP.

2000 Pro is your best bet. Its pretty damn stable. I've had my machine up for months at a time without any problems and (if you didn't know) I am a software developer so I pound the hell out my machines. 2000 has been the most stable and hassle free (including registration) of all the Windows OS's.

I have windows98se. I don't mind it, it's rock stable on my home desktop, but it's screwy on my school laptop. I just want to update to XP at home just to be up to date.

Thanks for the input everyone. Looks like a toss-up between se and xp (xp if I can find drivers for everything)

At this point, Linux isn't an option as I have to run a SAP front-end on my home PC for work.

Cheers,

GW

i don't know much about computers but 98 isn't that good.... i'd go XP, it seems to be the best Window :)

Originally posted by YogsVR4
2000 Pro is your best bet. Its pretty damn stable. I've had my machine up for months at a time without any problems and (if you didn't know) I am a software developer so I pound the hell out my machines. 2000 has been the most stable and hassle free (including registration) of all the Windows OS's.
Yogs, keep that Win2000 version close, once XP makes it onto you machine your Microsofts forever! Muhahahaha. You guys are a bunch of pawns...Bill 0wNz U! :hehehe::devil: :devil: :hehe:


Hummerman: I'm running the latest Mandrake distro 8.1.

We are running 2k pro on our server at the house with 2 other machines runing 98. One of the guys just intalled XP on his and seems to be ok, though the last 4 times he has turned the machine on it keeps asking for the cd.

Win98 has been very stable for me. I managed to last 17 months before a format was needed, and only because I did some major uninstalling and think I removed something I was not suppose to.

It really comes down to about 3 things when it comes to windows:
1. What is your hardware setup
2. What will it be used for
3. Who will be using it

You can run XP one a DDR system, like mine, and you'll love it...
You can also install it on a cheezi setup and you'll hate it...
My advice would be to ask one of your friends that's in the comptuer business and tell him your peripheral setup and he'll advise you on what OS to use...

XP runs SMOOOTHLY on a DDR system...BTW:D

Originally posted by G-Forces
Yogs, keep that Win2000 version close, once XP makes it onto you machine your Microsofts forever! Muhahahaha. You guys are a bunch of pawns...Bill 0wNz U! :hehehe::devil: :devil: :hehe:
Oh jeez... Here comes those "zealots". :rolleyes: FYI, I'm no MS cheerleader by any means.

As someone mentioned, avoid ME like the plague!!! Win98 is old technology. I'd suggest Win2000 Pro SP2. I'd wait for the WinXP service pack as well. (Actually, WinXP came with a service pack! Those with an internet connection were subject to download several fixes)