What's the better Windows OS, 2k or XP? Now another question: NTFS or FAT32???

[JackDawkins]

I'm still using 98SE but I'm getting a new box in a couple of days which has a P4 3.06 proc and 1.5 Gb ram. Regardless what others say about Win98, I like that OS and have never had any problems with it. Unfortunately, I think you can only use about 750 Mb ram with it.

Sooo, I'm debating whether to install Win2000 or WinXP in the new box. I'll be running the usual office and utility type proggies, not too many games but I do want to run a few, and I have a couple of 3D proggies like Cinema 4D and Bryce that I use. I'm leaning toward Win2k even though I have never used it before, because for some reason I just don't like XP.

Just curious what others think about these two OS's and in your opinion which one is better.

Edit: Also, trying to figure out what better file system to use NTFS or FAT32. If it makes any difference, the new box will have a single 200 Gb Western Digital Caviar 7200 Ultra ATA/100 with 8 Mb buffer. I'll probably pick up another drive and go to a RAID 0 later on but I'll reinstall then.

Any opinions on the file system? I've always used FAT32 and don't know if one is better than the other. From what I've read, NTFS offers better security for LAN systems but this is a stand alone box with just a cable connection for internet access.

 

[filmmaker]

Poll?

With a system like that, you better be installing XP.

 

[spanky]

i think they r both pretty good. the default xp theme is suck tho.

 

[Encryptic]

Both of them are excellent OSes and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either one. It's pretty much your personal preference, but I've found 2K and XP are both rock-solid in terms of stability.

 

[JackDawkins]

No poll, just interested in real opinions from people who have used both of those OS's.

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: JackDawkins
No poll, just interested in real opinions from people who have used both of those OS's.

Noted.

I love 2000 for slightly older systems, but like I said, with a brand new system like that, I would put XP on it and run the "classic" theme on it.

 

[JackDawkins]

I remember hearing back when 2k first came out that there wasn't much game support. Is this still the case. I don't play games much but I do play a few. Can I still play Starcraft?

 

[bunker]

I used 2k at home for a long time and was hesitant to switch to XP because of all the extra "features" that I thought were useless. I'm starting to like XP after using it for a while now.

It will take a little getting used to though, where as 2k is closer in appearance/function to 98 if you're afraid of change.

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: JackDawkins
I remember hearing back when 2k first came out that there wasn't much game support. Is this still the case. I don't play games much but I do play a few. Can I still play Starcraft?

XP has a feature built into it called "Compatibility Mode" in which you can mirror an older OS to run a game.

 

[waylman]

when i first started using xp i hated it b/c i was so used to 2k. after turning off all the annoying xp sh-t, I'm liking it alot and would say it is now my OS of choice.

 

[JackDawkins]

Originally posted by: filmmaker

Originally posted by: JackDawkins
I remember hearing back when 2k first came out that there wasn't much game support. Is this still the case. I don't play games much but I do play a few. Can I still play Starcraft?

XP has a feature built into it called "Compatibility Mode" in which you can mirror an older OS to run a game.

Ahh, very cool.

 

[CaseTragedy]

i hesitated to switch to XP also.
but i'm glad i did. convenience++

 

[JackDawkins]

Originally posted by: bunker
I used 2k at home for a long time and was hesitant to switch to XP because of all the extra "features" that I thought were useless. I'm starting to like XP after using it for a while now.

It will take a little getting used to though, where as 2k is closer in appearance/function to 98 if you're afraid of change.

Not really afraid of change, I just hate BLOAT. And everything I've seen and heard about XP smells of that.

 

[Kenny]

XP

No more blue screens unless there are screw ups with the hardware.

I think the best part of my XP experience was plugging in my printer via printer port, and having XP detecting and downloading drivers for it.

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: JackDawkins

Originally posted by: bunker
I used 2k at home for a long time and was hesitant to switch to XP because of all the extra "features" that I thought were useless. I'm starting to like XP after using it for a while now.

It will take a little getting used to though, where as 2k is closer in appearance/function to 98 if you're afraid of change.

Not really afraid of change, I just hate BLOAT. And everything I've seen and heard about XP smells of that.

You can very easily make XP look and run the way you want it to. Uninstalling "useless" components is easy.

 

[JackDawkins]

Originally posted by: filmmaker

Originally posted by: JackDawkins

Originally posted by: bunker
I used 2k at home for a long time and was hesitant to switch to XP because of all the extra "features" that I thought were useless. I'm starting to like XP after using it for a while now.

It will take a little getting used to though, where as 2k is closer in appearance/function to 98 if you're afraid of change.

Not really afraid of change, I just hate BLOAT. And everything I've seen and heard about XP smells of that.

You can very easily make XP look and run the way you want it to. Uninstalling "useless" components is easy.

That's excellent. From the comments from posters that have used 2k and switched to XP, I'm feeling better about that OS.

 

[Gyrene]

XP > 2K

But be a man, use Gentoo

 

[Spooner]

I'm a new fan of XP.

 

[ElFenix]

i don't like the default sharing scheme in XP. nor the dumbed down user control panel. and auto reading file information instead of just pulling a directory listing. makes things take forever. other than that its about the same.

 

[pulse8]

If that proc is hyperthreading, then get XP. Intel doesn't recommend you use hyperthreading on 2k unless something has changed recently.

 

[JackDawkins]

Originally posted by: pulse8
If that proc is hyperthreading, then get XP. Intel doesn't recommend you use hyperthreading on 2k unless something has changed recently.

Yeah, I'm running it on the Intel 875P chipset using hyperthreading.

 

[JackDawkins]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i don't like the default sharing scheme in XP. nor the dumbed down user control panel. and auto reading file information instead of just pulling a directory listing. makes things take forever. other than that its about the same.

What do you mean by the auto readin file information? I use the Windows Explorer a lot in 98. It's the way I've always worked since Win3.1. Is this going to make it slower for me?

 

[dbwillis]

I like 2000 Pro much better than 98se....but I like XP for a few features and the better themes I can use with it...

 

[Canterwood]

As your getting a 3.06, then I'd recommend XP for the added Hyper Threading support.
I find XP a little too noobified and annoying compared to 2K, and a default install of XP just plain sux IMO.
However if you spend a bit of time getting rid of the crap and tweaking then you can get XP pretty much like 2K.
If 2K supported HT properly , then I'd definately have stayed on it for main OS. (Thinking of switching back actually)
There's really not much between them as XP is just 2K with a crap interface and some extra legacy support built in.
2K also has a compatibility mode however, but its hidden by default.

 

[JackDawkins]

Originally posted by: Canterwood
As your getting a 3.06, then I'd recommend XP for the added Hyper Threading support.
I find XP a little too noobified and annoying compared to 2K, and a default install of XP just plain sux IMO.
However if you spend a bit of time getting rid of the crap and tweaking then you can get XP pretty much like 2K.
If 2K supported HT properly , then I'd definately have stayed on it for main OS. (Thinking of switching back actually)
There's really not much between them as XP is just 2K with a crap interface and some extra legacy support built in.
2K also has a compatibility mode however, but its hidden by default.

I don't like to screw around with the OS too much. Install and set it to my liking, get rid of the extra crap, a couple of registry hacks and that's about it. I do like convenience if it's not contributing to bloat though. The little I've used XP, I really haven't liked the interface but filmmaker mentioned the classic theme which sounds like it could be okay.