• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Which windows OS do I want?

C

Concillian

Diamond Member
Looking to upgrade my main computer, and Windows 2000 seems to have run it's useful life.

I don't actually need to upgrade my OS for any reason, as performance and features of 2k seem fine to me, but support phase-out is on the horizon and I've swallowed my "I don't need to pay for features I won't use" pride and decided it's time to actually pay money for features I won't use so I have an OS that people don't make a funny face at when I mention it to them.

Given 2k is from before the MS regulation of what hardware is considered an "upgrade" and what is considered a brand new computer requiring a new license, I'm a little concerned about this aspect and if there's a specific version I need in order to have as few issues here as possible. I used to upgrade very frequently and that has fallen a bit to once every 12-24 months. But I need a version where if I upgrade the motherboard / video card / CPU / memory that I don't have to purchase a new OS. There was a bit of an uproar about this when XP first came out. I don't hear much about it now, so I can only assume that MS is pretty open about what is considered an ugprade, but some discussion on this would be helpful for me.

So my list of needs is pretty basic:
- will have security updates from MS for ~8 years
- Has features on par with Win2k. I don't expect to be outputting HD over HDMI or any other special multimedia aside from normal gaming.
- Compatible with my networking (Linux server running samba is my file server for centralized e-mail, pictures, MP3, etc...). I'm assuming all versions of XP or Vista are good here.
- I will be able to upgrade motherboard, video card, etc... without having to re-purchase OS. Strong preference not to have to call MS for "permission" to upgrade my computer.
- Cheapest of the versions that meet these needs. (there seem to be 30 different versions at newegg, I can't figure out which I want that satisfies my needs cheapest).

My number one question is XP or Vista. Obviously this is somewhat preference. Currently leaning towards Vista just because it's most likely to be supported for another 8-10 years.

My number two question is which "mini-version". I look on newegg and there are like 30 different line items for Vista Home. WTH? Is there some special decoder? They vary in price from close to $250 down to around $100. Obviously I want to spend as little as possible, but I don't know all the differences here.

Thanks for any help,
Conc
 
Originally posted by: Concillian
Looking to upgrade my main computer, and Windows 2000 seems to have run it's useful life.

I don't actually need to upgrade my OS for any reason, as performance and features of 2k seem fine to me, but support phase-out is on the horizon and I've swallowed my "I don't need to pay for features I won't use" pride and decided it's time to actually pay money for features I won't use so I have an OS that people don't make a funny face at when I mention it to them.

Given 2k is from before the MS regulation of what hardware is considered an "upgrade" and what is considered a brand new computer requiring a new license, I'm a little concerned about this aspect and if there's a specific version I need in order to have as few issues here as possible. I used to upgrade very frequently and that has fallen a bit to once every 12-24 months. But I need a version where if I upgrade the motherboard / video card / CPU / memory that I don't have to purchase a new OS. There was a bit of an uproar about this when XP first came out. I don't hear much about it now, so I can only assume that MS is pretty open about what is considered an ugprade, but some discussion on this would be helpful for me.

So my list of needs is pretty basic:
- will have security updates from MS for ~8 years hard pressed for 8 years.

- Has features on par with Win2k. I don't expect to be outputting HD over HDMI or any other special multimedia aside from normal gaming. 2000 is way outdated, moving to XP will provide everything you need. Vista Ultimate otherwise.

- Compatible with my networking (Linux server running samba is my file server for centralized e-mail, pictures, MP3, etc...). I'm assuming all versions of XP or Vista are good here. Yup.

- I will be able to upgrade motherboard, video card, etc... without having to re-purchase OS. Strong preference not to have to call MS for "permission" to upgrade my computer. In most all cases, you'll never have to purchase a new OS. Don't know where you've been hearing that. You 'might' have to call Microsoft to activate it though if you do frequent reinstalls. It's not even a 10 minutes process, live with it. There's no way around it.

- Cheapest of the versions that meet these needs. (there seem to be 30 different versions at newegg, I can't figure out which I want that satisfies my needs cheapest). Purchase an OEM copy of Vista Ultimate, 32 or 64-bit you're choice. With or without, SP1, you're choice.

My number one question is XP or Vista. Obviously this is somewhat preference. Currently leaning towards Vista just because it's most likely to be supported for another 8-10 years.

I'll bet you in 2-3 you'll be looking to upgrade to another version of Windows.

My number two question is which "mini-version". I look on newegg and there are like 30 different line items for Vista Home. WTH? Is there some special decoder? They vary in price from close to $250 down to around $100. Obviously I want to spend as little as possible, but I don't know all the differences here.

Thanks for any help,
Conc
Click to expand...

 
Simply purchase a retail (not OEM) version of Vista. That alleviates any issues of the OS license being tied to one machine (its still one machine at a time, but you can move it at will)
 
The licensing is really not much different from that of XP. So, a rough comparison based on features and pricing...

Vista Home=XP Home

Vista Home Premium= XP MCE

Vista Business= XP Pro

Vista Ultimate = No direct comparison, but it has all the features of Business plus all the features of Home Premium.

Like XP. OEM is tied to the Motherboard, though some have been able to move it to another. Retail lets you move it to another PC.

Of course, there is the 32 vs 64bit thing. Retail versions of Ultimate come with both 64 and 32bit disks. All Retail versions allow you to order the 64bit media from MS for the cost of shipping and handling.

The product keys for all versions are independent of 32 and 64bits. You can have a 32bit OEM version and use the key with 64bit media if you have it. Same thing with Retail.

If you don't care about the media center app, Windows Movie Maker, etc... I recommend Vista Business. Shadow Copy and Previous versions are simply awesome and only available on business and Ultimate.

If you want everything, Ultimate.

If you are a student, or have a student in the family I would suggest going here:
http://www.microsoft.com/stude...esteal-us/default.aspx

Vista Ultimate Upgrade (retail) for $65 vs $185 at newegg.

Edit:
Oddly enough, I just looked at Newegg and Vista Business upgrade is $3 more than Ultimate upgrade. So if you go for retail versions, go right to ultimate.
 
Originally posted by: Tarrant64

hard pressed for 8 years.


I'll bet you in 2-3 you'll be looking to upgrade to another version of Windows.
Click to expand...


2000 is way outdated, moving to XP will provide everything you need. Vista Ultimate otherwise.
Click to expand...

Why is 2000 "way outdated"? and why are you recommending Vista whichis presumably less outdated than XP?


2k lasted 7.5 years, and the only reason aside from discontinuing security updates I see to upgrade now is DX10 which is not supported by XP either, yet XP is what you are recommending. I've never had any issues playing any software that is made for XP in 2k. Yet MS has declared Vista is the only DX10 platform.

Can you elaborate more, perhaps provide some real information instead of what looks like just opinion?
 
Originally posted by: Griffinhart

If you don't care about the media center app, Windows Movie Maker, etc... I recommend Vista Business. Shadow Copy and Previous versions are simply awesome and only available on business and Ultimate.
Click to expand...

What is shadow copy? Sounds like some sort of backup utility?

Any of my important information is on a network drive on the Linux box. That drive gets daily mirroring (like Raid 1, but not actually Raided, I run a script every night that incrementally backs up to a 2nd drive) and that drive gets copied again once a month to a 3rd drive that I keep at work in-case of some kind of disaster at my house.

So I have relatively un-important and recoverable data on what I call my client machines at home (Windows boxes). Though if it saves some client re-configuration it could be worth it. Especially if I can somehow bypasses some of the install process on recovery / hardware upgrades.

Vista Ultimate Upgrade (retail) for $65 vs $185 at newegg.
Click to expand...

Don't think I qualify for upgrade, I think upgrade is considered XP --> Vista, don't think 2k to Vista qualifies.

Thanks for the informative post Griffinhart
 
Originally posted by: Concillian
Originally posted by: Tarrant64

hard pressed for 8 years.


I'll bet you in 2-3 you'll be looking to upgrade to another version of Windows.
Click to expand...


2000 is way outdated, moving to XP will provide everything you need. Vista Ultimate otherwise.
Click to expand...

Why is 2000 "way outdated"? and why are you recommending Vista whichis presumably less outdated than XP?


2k lasted 7.5 years, and the only reason aside from discontinuing security updates I see to upgrade now is DX10 which is not supported by XP either, yet XP is what you are recommending. I've never had any issues playing any software that is made for XP in 2k. Yet MS has declared Vista is the only DX10 platform.

Can you elaborate more, perhaps provide some real information instead of what looks like just opinion?
Click to expand...

You seem to want to save money, so I'm merely suggesting if you pick up a copy of XP, you are much better off than Windows 2000. Time to move on.

You had mentioned you needed features on par with 2000, I can't imagine anything new not matching up to it, hence mentioning Windows XP. I technically never recommended it. If you didn't want it, I suggested Vista Ultimate as the other choice.
 
Seems like a nice feature, but not applicable to my setup. Only 1 drive per machine (except the server) and the serrver drivves are not NTFS. I'd have to use something other than SAMBA to get that working properly even if I did format them NTFS... and I don't see me formatting them NTFS anytime soon.

Thanks for the info.

And it's not necessarily that I want to save money, more that I want the version that suits my needs best, without spending money for features that are not applicable to me.

Looks like Vista Home Premium Retail is what I'm leaning for right now.
 
Originally posted by: Concillian
Seems like a nice feature, but not applicable to my setup.
Click to expand...
Assuming you are talking about Shadow Copy (in Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate), it has nothing to do with file servers in this case. Vista itself keeps copies of previous versions of files stored on your hard drive. If you accidentally overwrite or delete a file, you can restore the previous version(s) nearly instantly.
 
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Originally posted by: Concillian
Seems like a nice feature, but not applicable to my setup.
Click to expand...
Assuming you are talking about Shadow Copy (in Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate), it has nothing to do with file servers in this case. Vista itself keeps copies of previous versions of files stored on your hard drive. If you accidentally overwrite or delete a file, you can restore the previous version(s) nearly instantly.
Click to expand...

Yep, exactly. Nothing special needed. It's a fantastic feature. A great way to deal with those annoying oops moments when you accidentally overwrite that document you were working on.

It "reserves" 300MB of disk space, but depending on your particular system, it may use as much as 15% of its disk space for the feature. Given the low cost of hard drives ($150 a TB these days) It's very worth it.

Vista creates a restore point daily, a process that only takes a few moments. Once that's done it simply works. You just right click on the file (or folder) and click "restore previous version" The window will populate with a list of previous versions you can select from and restore. It's simple, it's elegant and doesn't require anything other than the disk space. I have only one complaint about it. It's only available on Business and Ultimate versions.

That's total BS IMHO. MS could have gone a lot of marketing miles with this feature alone had it been on all versions. It's what Time Machine on OSX should have been.

 
Originally posted by: Concillian

Don't think I qualify for upgrade, I think upgrade is considered XP --> Vista, don't think 2k to Vista qualifies.
Click to expand...


2000 Upgrade

You can upgrade from your current edition of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 to a corresponding or better edition of Windows Vista by purchasing and installing an upgrade copy of Windows Vista.
Click to expand...

So get the 64 bit edition upgrade to either Business or Ultimate.
 
Windows 2000 was basically the same thing as Windows XP. Since you're not getting driver updates (malicious software removal stuff) anymore I'd say get Vista, unless you need weird drivers.
 
Vista 64-bit is my suggestion because your going to want to be able to put more than 4GB of RAM in your computer as an upgrade.
 
Seems like a nice feature, but not applicable to my setup. Only 1 drive per machine (except the server) and the serrver drivves are not NTFS. I'd have to use something other than SAMBA to get that working properly even if I did format them NTFS... and I don't see me formatting them NTFS anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Talk about a luddite... it is prudent to wait a little before jumping on the latest windows iteration, but this is taking it to the extreme. Yea I also stuck with FAT32 for a long while before switching to NTFS, with starting with XP SP2 the issues became rare enough that it was worth the switch, and there are tons of benefits to XP and vista that go beyond "directX and official updates". The kernel is different, the drivers are different, there are much more solid security and stability options, there are built in improvements in the kernel that allows for better management of drivers and software and services... Vista was an under the hood upgrade. There are very little 'new features" but a lot of internal improvements which are not immediately obvious. And yes, it sucked at RTM version, but SP1 made it useable by anyone... I recall XP sucking before SP2, and 2K sucking before its SP... and 98 was terrible before SE (second edition), and 95... well it just sucked...
All microsoft OSes get released too early.

Anyways, things like USB capability, integrated driver libraries, etc, make upgrading a breeze... for example, windows vista is the first MS OS to have build in drivers for mobo based gigabit ethernet ports... Good luck downloading those drivers without a working ethernet port on windows XP...

Windows 2K was far too feature incomplete... it was supposed to bring the NT architecture to the home user and failed. I used it, and I used it over XP for a while, but than I eventually upgraded and it was a blast. With a few simple tweaks XP works better (just disable the themes service, etc).

I recommend you use vlite.net and nliteos.com

PS. None of us claim to be madam cleo, so we can not predict which OS will get 8 years of support from microsoft...
 
The best consumer version of XP is XP MCE - it's basically XP Pro without Domains (and of course, the media center stuff which you can disable if you don't need it). The equivalent is Vista Home Premium. I recommend Vista HP, but some people don't like it. You should find a friend with Vista HP or higher, or go to BBuy/CC and use one of their demo computers, to see if you like Vista.

Windows XP MCE is the best option for you if you want the familiarness of Win2k - it's going to feel more like it, and with Windows Classic, it'll look like it too. This is going to mainly boil down to what you feel most comfortable with vs the features Vista has over XP (which others have described better than I could). Also, price: XP MCE is 119.99 and Vista HP is 99.99; both OEM versions - while retail copies are more lenient in transferences, and it's against the EULA (but not illegal!), you'll most likely not have a problem upgrading to a new mobo and re-activating your OEM copy of either OS 2-3 years down the road.
 
If you are getting Vista, I suggest getting Vista Home or Ultimate with SP1. Choose 32-bit or 64-bit depending on your software and drivers compatibility. BUT you should get the one with SP1 integrated. If the item does not say "SP1" or "Service Pack 1", then it probably does not have SP1 integrated.

GET the item with SP1 clearly stated. Never get Vista Home Basic.

This will save you a lot of time and possible headaches by installing SP1 afterward.
 
If you plan on keeping it as long as you did 2000, then Vista is the only choice, seeing as XP will lose support in a couple of years.

Your probably not interested, but are you or do you know an enrolled college student? If so, they're giving away Windows Server 2008 Standard right now. It's what I'm using right now on my laptop, and it can be configured to look and act exactly like Vista, only 20% faster and more features 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top