computer ?, operating systems Options

[96bluevert]

ok, so some of you know I am building my own computer and at this time I am gathering all the parts that I need. I will have 4gb RAM (with the intent to expand later), so I know I will want to go with a 64-bit OS. Although I can't decide between Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista. I am used to XP, since it has been on my last few computers, although I have heard that Pro has problems with some older software. I've been reading up online about the differences and which would be a better choice, but it hasn't got me anywhere since half the reviews I read say Vista is the way to go, and the other half say XP is the better O/S to get. I don't want to spend $100+ on an Operating system, just to find out I should have gotten the other one .

so, any advice or experiences you guys have had with these two would be helpful.

also, I am assuming that I will want to get the software that is meant for "system builders"...? There are just way too many options on newegg with a very wide variety in price

[96bluevert]

Yeah, from what I've heard Windows 7 won't be much different from Vista, but by the time it comes out hopefully it is improved upon quite a bit and might actually be a pretty good OS. We'll have to see about that one though. It doesn't come out for over a year, so I think Microsoft can make some adjustments by then to make it something that'll take people away from XP and Vista. I just hate the fact that one company is making two different OS's that are pretty much competing. Makes decisions harder ...On the plus side, it also gives us choices if we don't like one of the two options.

[Taskbot]

Yeah, from what I've heard Windows 7 won't be much different from Vista, but by the time it comes out hopefully it is improved upon quite a bit and might actually be a pretty good OS. We'll have to see about that one though. It doesn't come out for over a year, so I think Microsoft can make some adjustments by then to make it something that'll take people away from XP and Vista. I just hate the fact that one company is making two different OS's that are pretty much competing. Makes decisions harder ...On the plus side, it also gives us choices if we don't like one of the two options.

I don't know if years down the line we're be telling this to our kids, like a Modern North-American Success Story about how Microsoft took the market share on operating systems a second time with Windows 7 and how everyone who had XP switched up to Windows 7. I think XP was probably Microsoft's Magnum Opus and they only really stand to lose market share. We've reached a really stagnant point in computing and unless you really care about gaming, you're not going to build a massive computer and unless you're going to build a massive computer you're not going to run vista.

The only foreseeable way for Microsoft to reclaim its former holding over operating systems would be to release a modular windows. People with XP are people who typically do not want the pretty UI, nor do they care about desktop composition, they care about outright desktop speed. The people who like Vista and typically people who want a pretty UI with tons of desktop composition that would really bog down an older computer. Most of the market share of XP still have computers that can only run XP because all they want is a computer that can stream videos or connect to the internet. Its two completely different markets and if Microsoft appeals to one they can't appeal to the other.

Which is why Linux is becoming a popular alternative and why I got into Linux in the first place. Its modular. There are many desktop environments and many toolkits that cater to your computers specifications and your own needs... and they're all free.

OS X is also on the rise. If you buy a Mac, you're guaranteed to be able to run its very pretty operating system and it will run fairly fast. Its also UNIX based, so like Linux, you can build on it. People can actually run KDE 4.1 instead of the OS X environment. However its not nearly as customizable as Linux since its closed source.