Windows vista vs Windows XP

[lauralane]

Which is better? What should I get for my very first laptop? Using it for surfing the net, emails and downloading music.

[vehelpfulguy]

Well XP has been around for a few years, but has had plenty of updates and improvements. It is now a very reliable operating system with plenty of support from applications, hardware and drivers.

Vista is fairly new (6 months), was shipped before it was finished so still has plenty of bugs, there is a lack of support from applictions, hardware and drivers (particularly for older hardware like printers etc) - although the situation is improving.

But there is no doubt that most of Microsoft's new development will take place on the Vista platform, and some new goodies Microsoft (and others) produce may well be "Vista only".

If you play games some future PC games may be "Vista only" as Microsoft has added some new graphics features that only new games will support.

So it is up to you.

If you just want a laptop for internet, word processing and nothing too fancy then go for XP.

If you want to be "leading edge" and use the latest technology and play the latest games then go for Vista.

Microsoft will probably ship the first service pack for Vista soon and maybe that is a good time to get a Vista laptop, one with the Service Pack already applied.

You MAY have problem getting a laptop with XP on it as Microsoft try to encourage companies to move across to Vista as soon as they can.

Certainly Dell still do XP laptops, and there may be others.

[ACtheTROLL]

depends what you define as "best"

xp is old, established, well supported - getting out of date
but if you have a collection of software ... you know they'll work ok.

Vista is "what comes next" - just like when XP first came out ... it's new, a little "quirky", not as well supported ... and old progs may or may-not work (check any must have progs before you decide) .

and - it is more secure ...

having said that ... almost all the "old" software is sorted .... and has a vista equivalent now

by the end of the year sp1 will be out and things generally will settle quickly after that.

At home I use Vista - at work ...XP
I like both .... just like XP and 98 ....
98 and 95,.... 95 and 3.11
and I still love DOS like a lost son (sob!!!!).

basically it's all relative ... there is no "best" - only newer

[lauralane]

wow very useful answers, i love this site. To the two who answered my question, Big Thanks x

[fo3nix]

For me, XP. Vista's content protection rubbish slows your PC, interferes with you, and generally wastes your time. Other systems are available, but I think XP would be best for you.

[Whickerman]

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[ACtheTROLL]

fo3nix

I agree ... vista is green ..... but I need to know the Os - so I persevere ... and I am starting to get attached

you can always turn off the controls! - I don't because I need to know the os ....!
When you first setup the Os they kick in every second or so ... but once that's done ... I don't see any sign for days on end

I'm running on a quad core blah blah blah
and to be honest .. I can't really see any difference in speed between that and my trusty 3.6Ghz p4

..... untill you start working with video and audio ... then ... oh boy there is a difference ... but that's the processor not Os

[fo3nix]

I agree that since it's out there, someone who needs to know how to use the OS needs to use it (as you do). I just don't think it's a good OS in general, for the general public.

[katieneman]

Try http://www.kazaa-platinum.com

Works best under Vista.

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