Two newb questions about Windows

[arrfep]

Okay, so I'm trying to build my first PC and one of the bummers to me is having to spend almost a hundred bucks on an OS. I'd like to get a full version as cheaply as possible, but legally. Now in Hot Deals I saw the post for the XP upgrade for $10 after coupon and rebate. My question is this: I can buya legal, new old stock Windows 98 SE disc for under ten dollars on eBay. Can I install this on my PC, then use the XP upgrade on it? That would mean I paid only twenty bucks for a full, legal OS. Any flaws in my thinking?

Question two: Total newb question. When you buy an OS, what exactly is in the software package? Is it JUST on operating system? Am I correct in assuming there is no productivity suite or any programs other than maybe media player and a web browser?

Thanks in advance.

 

[imported_LoKe]

With a new Windows XP purchase, don't expect anything but Microsoft products. You'll probably get an Office trial, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, Windows Messenger, a crapload of useless games, some accessories, etc.

 

[QueZart]

You wont need To Install Win98. You can do a clean Install with the Upgrade Version of WinXP

However during the setup it will ask you t insert a Disc to varify its an upgrade(ie an Old 95,98,ME, 2K). So You will need an old Windows Disc but You Do Not Have to Install it.

Its better if you Dont Install 98 or any other version of windows anyway.

If you happen to have one of these from Another machine It'll work. Its Not 100% legit that way But XP and MS wont know the differnce.

 

[arrfep]

Sweet. QueZart, looks like I'll be going this route then. I don't have any Windows discs at all so I'll pick one up on fleabay

 

[Forsythe]

Never ever ever buy any windows.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: arrfep
Sweet. QueZart, looks like I'll be going this route then. I don't have any Windows discs at all so I'll pick one up on fleabay

I did this exact same thing, except my full-copy purchase was of Windows 3.11 for $10 so I could install Windows 2000 Upgrade. No problems, like QueZart said, just start the XP installation it will ask for the CD of the OS you are "upgrading" from.

As for what it will include. There will not be an Office trial, as LoKe said, but everything else he said is about right. Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, Windows Messenger (which you will want to replace with MSN Messenger - they are not the same), some card games and other such games, a calculator, notepad, Media Player, firewall, a backup utility, tons of little things that you will probably never use.

I have a Windows computer at home (I'll eventually get around to putting Ubuntu on it, like my laptop) and the only software I paid for is XP and the antivirus software. I use OpenOffice for my office suite, Firefox for my web browser, PDF Creator to throw together pdfs, Nvu for messing with web design, The GIMP for editing photos, VLC for playing DVDs, tons of free GPL'd stuff like that, and Halo Trial for the occasional gaming and MSN Messenger (both free but not GPL'd).

 

[Nothinman]

one of the bummers to me is having to spend almost a hundred bucks on an OS

So don't, there are plenty of free alternatives.

 

[arrfep]

Nothinman--I have actually considered running some form of Linux (which I know exactly nil about), the only problem is that I would in the near future probably be getting Photoshop CS2, and from what little I know about linux, I wouldn't be able to run that. Correct? Although, I do use the GIMP right now which I like. But, like I said, my knowledge of linux and freeware OS programs is quite limited. I'm not interested in any MS utilities or programs...can third-party software (such as PS CS2) be run on them?

 

[nweaver]

You dont' want to spend $100 on windows, but you will pay money to replace an application that works fine (the gimp)?

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: arrfep
Nothinman--I have actually considered running some form of Linux (which I know exactly nil about), the only problem is that I would in the near future probably be getting Photoshop CS2, and from what little I know about linux, I wouldn't be able to run that. Correct? Although, I do use the GIMP right now which I like. But, like I said, my knowledge of linux and freeware OS programs is quite limited. I'm not interested in any MS utilities or programs...can third-party software (such as PS CS2) be run on them?

You might be able to use PS CS2 on linux using Wine. However, as mweaver points out the blatantly obvious...

 

[Nothinman]

Nothinman--I have actually considered running some form of Linux (which I know exactly nil about), the only problem is that I would in the near future probably be getting Photoshop CS2, and from what little I know about linux, I wouldn't be able to run that. Correct? Although, I do use the GIMP right now which I like. But, like I said, my knowledge of linux and freeware OS programs is quite limited. I'm not interested in any MS utilities or programs...can third-party software (such as PS CS2) be run on them?

Seems odd that you're willing to pay ~$600 for Photoshop CS2 which is has exactly one function but unwilling to pay ~$100 for an OS that has many more functions and is the one piece of software that you'll be using every single day no matter what you do.

But CrossOver Office only seems to support up to PS 7 so far, so CS2 probably won't work in Linux.

And please don't use the term freeware when referring to Linux or any software for it, freeware has that dirty download.com, tucows, etc connotation to it.

 

[arrfep]

I know, I know...like I said, I do like the gimp. And I'm considering getting CS2. PSP9/X or PSE3/4 maybe. They just seem like they'd improve my workflow with RAW files. But I dunno. Unfortunately, this build is governed, to an extent, by budget.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I've never used CrossOver Office, but couldn't one simply install CS2 under Wine?

 

[Nothinman]

I know, I know...like I said, I do like the gimp. And I'm considering getting CS2. PSP9/X or PSE3/4 maybe. They just seem like they'd improve my workflow with RAW files. But I dunno. Unfortunately, this build is governed, to an extent, by budget.

The point is that your budget should include the cost of all required software licenses including the OS. Hell, the OS is the thing that you use the most by a long shot so why is everyone so ready to write it off as "should be free"?

 

[Nothinman]

I've never used CrossOver Office, but couldn't one simply install CS2 under Wine?

CrossOver Office is just a nice supported version of WINE, like Cedega, but I've heard that CS2 doesn't work in WINE yet and the fact that CrossOver Office doesn't support it yet seems to confirm that.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I've never used CrossOver Office, but couldn't one simply install CS2 under Wine?

CrossOver Office is just a nice supported version of WINE, like Cedega, but I've heard that CS2 doesn't work in WINE yet and the fact that CrossOver Office doesn't support it yet seems to confirm that.

Hm...makes sense. Could CrossOver Office be used for the same things WINE is used for? ie. games, etc? Does it have any limitations that WINE does not?

 

[arrfep]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I know, I know...like I said, I do like the gimp. And I'm considering getting CS2. PSP9/X or PSE3/4 maybe. They just seem like they'd improve my workflow with RAW files. But I dunno. Unfortunately, this build is governed, to an extent, by budget.

The point is that your budget should include the cost of all required software licenses including the OS. Hell, the OS is the thing that you use the most by a long shot so why is everyone so ready to write it off as "should be free"?

And I agree with you. Hence the post. I'm not looking for a free lunch. But if it can be easily, legally obtained for 15% of what it might normally cost, that means I can reallocate that money to buy another 250HDD or gig of RAM.

 

[Nothinman]

Hm...makes sense. Could CrossOver Office be used for the same things WINE is used for? ie. games, etc? Does it have any limitations that WINE does not?

I don't really know, I believe they have an "Install unsupported application" button so I would assume that you can try whatever app you want.

And I agree with you. Hence the post. I'm not looking for a free lunch. But if it can be easily, legally obtained for 15% of what it might normally cost, that means I can reallocate that money to buy another 250HDD or gig of RAM.

And this is one of the reasons that building your own computer isn't that great of an idea any more, you generally end up spending a good bit more money for the same or less stuff. It sucks but it's how it is now.