I'm getting ready to buy a new computer. Funny that they want an extra $99 for XP. How is Vista working out? Should I pay the extra to keep XP?

I like vista. Its a memory hog but its nice. I had XP for years and I think its a matter of the individual. If you like XP that much then keep it but if you like the new look go with vista.

You should look into a Mac. I love mine. Its amazing how something thats only appx. 6"x6"x2" (Mac Mini) can be better than a giant POS PC. Another good thing about Mac is theres no need for anti virus software, and the tech support is second to none. I'd never go back to a PC.

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Hey there Mr Haller!

I'll give ya' my two cents there... Don't pay any extra for ANY MS OS.

60% of the cost of a new box is intellectual copyrights (Bill's operating system) Get a new unit from a manufacturer, and load it with Linux/Ubuntu. Many now come off the retail shelf with Ubuntu pre-loaded. Linux is EXTREMELY faster, greener, cheaper, and almost risk-free security-wise Linux is almost analogous to bein' invisible. Not only do you need no [clothes], but you can go ANYWHERE.

I think BMWGSA would probably agree, if he knows Linux like he knows MS OS's...

Oh yeah... almost forgot. My

I use both extensively and, although I prefer XP, it wouldn't be worth $99 to have it.

My concern is that I use my PC with Development software that may or may not run well on Vista. I guess I need to go to the individual software manufacturere's websites and check them each out. I think the Adobe apps will be just fine, but I have some other learning managment stuff and courseware development stuff that might be a little flakey on a new OS. My primary tool for creating online courses is a program called Lectora and I need to see if it will run under other OS.

Primary Aps are:

Adobe, Complete CS3 suite - primarily Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, SoundBooth, Premier and After Effects. I know these will work on Mac, but not sure about any other platforms. I'm leaning away from the Mac because we design for a large military customer base that is PC oriented.

Lectora may or may not...

If I was just using it for communications and web-surfing it wouldn't matter much, but I use it to actually do work.
The old one at the house is just killing me lately. The ones in the office are all pretty new but still running XP Pro.

For my business I use Adobe CS and some other programs related to the biz. I have used XP exclusively until I had to get a new laptop and it came with Vista loaded. Never had a problem with XP.

But, vista seems to wants to close programs because they "stop working". It makes it a PITA when you are working on something and it closes without being saved. I have had that happen numerous times. But I am sure the programs I am using were not made for Vista so there is some kind of conflict.

I am really, really debating switching it over to XP. For others, XP may not be worth $99, but it may be to you if you run into software and hardware conflicts. If I didn't already have a copy of XP, I would go out and buy it myself.

Its just a matter of finding enough "down time" to make the switch.

Now that you can run Windows application on a Mac, I'm going back to a Mac

BTW
Prices came down on the older ones.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iUe0Jv9jyccNkj-x7aWzb2YkA50Q

If I were to choose today, I personally would stay with XP.

Not because I "Hate Vista" or Micro$$oft is the evil empire or any of that, but because not all manufacturers have full embraced Vista.

This causes problems for applications and more importaintly driver software. So, your app works but you can't print because the printer driver isn't Vista compaitble.

Vista development is moving forward, but slowly.

I'd go with XP for now, you can upgrade to Vista at a later time when it's more supported.

I am of this mindset... know your customer.

If you are working in an environment where compatiblity is required, go with what they are using.

I will almost guarentee that corporate America is still exclusively using XP.

The 99.00 surcharge is because MS has stopped selling XP. So whatever they got is whatever they got - just be sure to get the XP discs, too. They are with the computer. Don't let them take them, because at some point, you will want the license.

I use both, actually. My laptop is Vista, and it seems ok. My desktop is still XP. I do have Vista Ultimate that I might install on the desktop one day, but I have some older components that I know won't run on Vista, and I ain't in the mood to give them up.

I know office depot around here still sells XP in the box.

A few weeks ago Microsoft extended the OEM sale of XP for another six months. We can all speculate as to why.

The same problem with business software that plagues Vista, has always plagued Mac's. Which leaves us to speculate as to why?

Let your "needs" drive your decision, not some silly commercial.

Yup, no such thing as a PC thread without mac fanboys.

Look there, outside, it's the sunshine and fresh air!

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Everytime Apple updates the Mac line, they revamp the entire architecture. That makes the old stuff obsolete. My brother runs on old school (re:Motorola) G5... and he cannot do much more than get revisions and minor upgrades.

It creates an automatic requirement that about every three years, you need new everything.

It is for this reason, I prefer the model that Windows uses. I may prefer some of the technology of Apple, but at least I don't have to buy new everything every couple of years.

if you plan on tuning go with XP. i have used burn1, (honda's) Turbo edit and JET chips dynamic tuner and they don't work well with vista at all. i found that out half way through loading a tune on a obd2 and the program shut off.