Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Workstation - Any Good?

[Princeman]

I got one of these for cheap. Is it worth installing? Looking for web surfing and word processing, no games, but need sun java runtime to run in IE, and that won't run on 95. XP processors work with this?


EDIT: Thanks for all the replies!!

 

[Czar]

its stable, very stable, no directx though

 

[JSClark]

Windows 2000 is soooo much better

 

[Matt84]

If your computer is P2 or higher, get Windows 2000. Anything less then NT4.0 is reasonable as long as you don't want to play any games. No proper direct X support

 

[Sunner]

For office duties, WinNT 4 is fine, Win2K is definately better IMO, but WinNT 4 will get the job done just fine.
And yes, any x86 CPU that Im aware of will work fine with it, including XP's.

Edit:
One thing to considder though, is driver support, you never know for how long HW manufacturers will support NT4.

 

[SaigonK]

Originally posted by: Sunner
For office duties, WinNT 4 is fine, Win2K is definately better IMO, but WinNT 4 will get the job done just fine. And yes, any x86 CPU that Im aware of will work fine with it, including XP's. Edit: One thing to considder though, is driver support, you never know for how long HW manufacturers will support NT4.

Since Windows NT is officially a dead product from Microsoft, dont expect much in drivers or support for it.

 

[foofoo]

also,
dont forget, no usb with nt4.0

 

[rbV5]

NT4=Stable, but poor hardware support.

 

[13black]

It's a big step up from 95, 98, very stable, great business OS. Works well on older PC's. I ran it on an old 486 here at home no problems. As mentioned no native USB support and drivers may be a problem. If you already have it give it a try. You could dual boot with what you have now. 2K is much better, that's what I am running now. I have XP but don't like it much, seems to be a big resource hog. If you like it and decide to go one better you would probably be better off buying XP. Just my 2 cents.

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: Princeman
I got one of these for cheap. Is it worth installing? Looking for web surfing and word processing, no games, but need sun java runtime to run in IE, and that won't run on 95. XP processors work with this?


EDIT: Thanks for all the replies!!

Obsolete OS with soon to be discontnued M$ security patches!!!! Kind of like buying a betamax 15 years ago. It works, but why bother when there is MUCH better support for alernatives.

 

[Princeman]

Thanks! Good points all! I bought this for $10 off ebags. Will try it with a box I have laying around. Sounds like I got my $10 worth. Definitely some limitations. HW drivers are no prob if I don't try and upgrade anything. Security probs may mean limited internet exposure.

 

[Codewiz]

Keep in mind that software vulnerabilities will no longer be patched by MS. So if some big hole is found and it affects NT4 then you will likely be SOL.

 

[13black]

Use IE 6sp1, it's still supported so you could at least patch it. Most of the big holes are in IE so that will get you some security. Depending on what version of office and windows media player you use you can still get updates for them too. It's not all bad news.