Need computer OS advice

[Donk]

I have upgraded my computer and want to go to a 64-Bit OS.
Which would you recommend?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2C 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
· Professional Version


Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System - OEM
· Ultimate Version
·

[Taco John]

Just out of curiosity - why do you want a 64 bit OS?

[Taco John]

As for the answer to the question, I'd go with XP. I'm not sold on Vista at all. I hate the UAC.

[Donk]

Memory?

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by Taco John

As for the answer to the question, I'd go with XP. I'm not sold on Vista at all. I hate the UAC.

I would go with XP also.

Make sure what ever you use will run on the 64bit os.

There is not a lot that does.

I set up a test pc once to say I did it but I couldn't install anything

[Taco John]

I personally can't see a reason to install 64 bit. Nothing runs on it, and from what I can tell, it will be a good while before it becomes a standard.

I'd stick with 32 bit until 64 bit becomes popular - that's why I asked. I wanted 64 bit last spring when I got my new machine, but after asking around and doing some research, I couldn't find a good reason to do it. I was wondering if something changed that I wasn't aware of, and that's why you were installing.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by broncosteven

I would go with XP also.

Make sure what ever you use will run on the 64bit os.

There is not a lot that does.

I set up a test pc once to say I did it but I couldn't install anything

BTW I meant that I got the 64bit XP running on the PC but there were no Apps to run.

[Popps]

Sounds like you're on Windows, so I can't offer much except to say that all of Mac's operating systems from Leopard forward are 64 bit, standard and also run all 32 bit apps without any driver upgrades.

Boob is banned, so hopefully no one will break into tears simply because an OS besides Windows was mentioned.

64 bit is where it's going to end up. If you're doing anything involving video motion, rendering, graphics, etc... it's going to be in play.

That said, Taco's right. It's not standard.... yet.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by Donk

I have upgraded my computer and want to go to a 64-Bit OS.
Which would you recommend?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2C 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
· Professional Version


Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System - OEM
· Ultimate Version
·

Instead of questioning you or advertising competing products, i'll try to actually help you out.

XP 64bit has no support, so the selection between these two is easy.

The beta of windows 7 64bit runs faster, more stable, and much more efficient than Vista right now. It also carries a much smaller footprint on both your memory and your hard drive (7GB of space instead of 20GB, also uses up about half the amount of memory).

Best part is, its free so you can try it and if you dont like it, go buy yourself a copy of Vista.

[Rock Chalk]

Id get away from XP. A good platform it was but not secure and will never be secure.

Get Vista 32 bit if you can. Its way more secure out of the box than XP is with full out third party protection, it searches faster, has a cleaner look and now has zero hardware compatibility issues. As Isaac noted, the UAC is rather annoying but it takes all of 3 seconds to turn it off.

The problem with 64 bit isnt the software as these guys noted, its the hardware. If you upgrade to a 64 bit system and buy like from Dell or something, all your hardware will be 64 bit compatibile. 64 bit software just runs better on a 64 bit OS but it runs 32 bit software just fine. It does not however run 16 bit software. 64 bit Vista will not let you install any hardware with a driver that is not digitially signed by Microsoft (im sure most of you have seen this warning installing hardware and ignored it on XP and Vista 32, fat chance on 64 bit).

Now, the few software programs that are 64 bit on a 64 bit machine will run better than any software you have ever run on any machine ever. The performance boost is amazing, the problem is that 64 bit software is a bit rare at the moment. It migth be a bit early to jump into the 64 bit arena, but it is definitely the future as it processes code much much better than 32 bit (as 32 bit did with 16 bit and 16 bit did with 8 bit, etc).

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by Donk

Memory?

32bit supports up to 4GBs of memory, btw. What are you planning to do on this computer.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by Rock Chalk

Id get away from XP. A good platform it was but not secure and will never be secure.

Get Vista 32 bit if you can. Its way more secure out of the box than XP is with full out third party protection, it searches faster, has a cleaner look and now has zero hardware compatibility issues. As Isaac noted, the UAC is rather annoying but it takes all of 3 seconds to turn it off.

The problem with 64 bit isnt the software as these guys noted, its the hardware. If you upgrade to a 64 bit system and buy like from Dell or something, all your hardware will be 64 bit compatibile. 64 bit software just runs better on a 64 bit OS but it runs 32 bit software just fine. It does not however run 16 bit software. 64 bit Vista will not let you install any hardware with a driver that is not digitially signed by Microsoft (im sure most of you have seen this warning installing hardware and ignored it on XP and Vista 32, fat chance on 64 bit).

Now, the few software programs that are 64 bit on a 64 bit machine will run better than any software you have ever run on any machine ever. The performance boost is amazing, the problem is that 64 bit software is a bit rare at the moment. It migth be a bit early to jump into the 64 bit arena, but it is definitely the future as it processes code much much better than 32 bit (as 32 bit did with 16 bit and 16 bit did with 8 bit, etc).

Slipstreamed XP with SP3 is as secure and way faster than Vista on 99% of hardware. The only 3rd party protection Vista has is a package of bloatware so heavy that it protects you from using your own computer.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

Instead of questioning you or advertising competing products, i'll try to actually help you out.

XP 64bit has no support, so the selection between these two is easy.

The beta of windows 7 64bit runs faster, more stable, and much more efficient than Vista right now. It also carries a much smaller footprint on both your memory and your hard drive (7GB of space instead of 20GB, also uses up about half the amount of memory).

Best part is, its free so you can try it and if you dont like it, go buy yourself a copy of Vista.

I downloaded the beta of Windows 7 but I havent had the guts to install it. It'd be one thing if I didnt work from home on my computer. I suppose I need to get another box to test this stuff out on.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

Slipstreamed XP with SP3 is as secure and way faster than Vista on 99% of hardware. The only 3rd party protection Vista has is a package of bloatware so heavy that it protects you from using your own computer.

SP3 sucks ass. It ruined XP for me and I will never go back.

As for Vista, get AVG and you wont have a single problem and its got a footprint of about 20 MB, hardly bloatware.

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

Instead of questioning you or advertising competing products, i'll try to actually help you out..

I knew someone would wet their panties.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by Rock Chalk

SP3 sucks ass. It ruined XP for me and I will never go back.

As for Vista, get AVG and you wont have a single problem and its got a footprint of about 20 MB, hardly bloatware.

Slipstream XP has a HDD footprint of 200MB vs. Vistas footprint of 20GB after updates.

Xp takes uses up about 150mb of memory, Vista, with Caching turned off still touches 2GB.

AVG Free is available for both operating systems and is not needed for anyone who knows what websites to NOT visit, and uses a webbrowser with security features such as IE7, Chrome or Firefox.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by Popps

I knew someone would wet their panties.

I like to snipe at people who identify themselves with a brand so much that they feel the need to advertise it in a condescending tone across every opportunity they get.

[Willynowei]

Originally Posted by Popps

Sounds like you're on Windows, so I can't offer much except to say that all of Mac's operating systems from Leopard forward are 64 bit, standard and also run all 32 bit apps without any driver upgrades.

Popps this is called thread Hijacking, he asked about WINDOWS.

[Popps]

Originally Posted by Willynowei

Popps this is called thread Hijacking, he asked about WINDOWS.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by Rock Chalk

I downloaded the beta of Windows 7 but I havent had the guts to install it. It'd be one thing if I didnt work from home on my computer. I suppose I need to get another box to test this stuff out on.

Get another box, install Virtual server or VMware both are free. Problem solved.

[Donk]

Thanks! You all have saved me a bunch of problems and a few bucks.
I will stay with XP for a while.

I knew I would hear from Popps. I thought about going with apple but was advised to stay with windows. Because of the cost and my cheap beast would run faster then his Leopard.

[NFLBRONCO]

Dual Boot XP and Vista then you have both.

[enjolras]

Did you ever answer the why 64-bit question?

[Donk]

Originally Posted by enjolras

Did you ever answer the why 64-bit question?

I knew 64 is more than 32 so I was going bigger and better.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by Donk

I knew 64 is more than 32 so I was going bigger and better.

That's what I thought. I'm glad I asked because I have the same mentality a lot of the time. In theory, you're right here, but 64 bit just isn't a standard yet, and I suspect that it won't be for some years still - though I suppose we'll see about that.