Computers
9 December 2008Which Windows?
I recently built a computer from scratch. It’s not something I’d recommend - it’s like building with really, really tiny Lego blocks that each cost about $500.
The result sounded like several vacuum cleaners mashed together in a tiny box, but at least it runs fast. It’s like a boy racer building a custom car, only much geekier.
One question I had to face was which version of Windows to install. Normally I’d just grab the latest version, but a few things made me hesitate.
Windows XP has been out since 2001 and is by far the most widespread operating system. Its successor, Windows Vista, has been out for almost two years now - but it’s not a simple matter of installing Vista and being happy.
Windows Vista has a dented reputation. It was a long time in development, but upon release it was criticised for being bloated, consuming too much processing power and not working well with devices or programs that had run just fine under XP.
New features include a more polished graphical interface - if you have the computer to run it at its highest settings, it looks a lot flashier than XP. There’s a sidebar on the desktop that can store mini applications such as a clock, a calendar, a news feed, and much more. There are also upgrades under the hood: security is supposedly much improved (although the frequent security pop-ups get annoying); networking with other computers has been streamlined; and so on.
But is it good enough to replace XP? For a computer like the one I just built, sure - in theory. Vista can take better advantage of the components of newer computers. For example, my machine has 4GB of RAM, whereas XP can only use less than 3GB. On the other hand I already have a copy of XP and upgrading to Vista would set me back several hundred dollars. For my needs, the upgrade just isn’t enough to make me shell out.
At some point I’d like to actually use all the RAM I spent so much on, so an upgrade is inevitable. 2010 will see the expected release date of Windows 7 (or 7even if you want to be as clever as Microsoft’s marketing team).
What’s Windows 7? It’s the next full version of Windows and is expected to improve on Vista in almost every way. It promises to simultaneously streamline and polish the operating system and its early reception has been positive. It’s also only a year away, give or take a few months - so at this stage I’m tempted to leapfrog Vista.
I may end up caving in to my desire for Vista’s flashy bells and whistles, but if I’m smart I’ll tough it out with trusty old XP. Unless, of course, Windows 7 gets delayed - not that Microsoft has ever missed a release date ...
Tristan Clark - Technical Writer
Comments
I have Windows XP Home and another OS , called Ubuntu which is free , open source and without any security problems.
No cost to get a Word Processor which is as good as MS Office.
A spreadsheet and Database also available .
No Product Key , no MS sniffing around in my computer to see if I am a pirate, and terminating me if they think I am.
Via Ubuntu (Linux ).
I would recommend setting up Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com), and virtualising XP within Linux using VirtualBox. You use Ubuntu for most things and XP for programs which simply won't work without it. Contact me if you want help (grant at p-s.co.nz).
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I too am building my own pc and have come too simila point. However im running with vista 64 bit. reason is that they have service pack 2 out and that windows 7 apparently has simila interface, so me only ever using xp & 98 I want to spent the next 18months getting familia with the vista style.
@kombi: If you wait until June (or thereabouts) to get Vista, you might be entitled to a free Windows 7 upgrade! Google around for more info on that.
Suggestion for Consumer test or another Blog topic.
Computer repairs: recently my laptop suffered a failure and taking it back to the repair agency they discovered that the motherboard was in the first batch from HP/Compac that was built using lead free solder. So board to component connections were failing in a vast number of this manufacturers products. i had to wait for two months for a shipment of these boards to arrive from Singapore. But I was glad that the hard drive was OK and that all my files (that I had not adequateley backed up like 90 % of humans I imagine) would be safe. but the repair shop said that there was a harddrive virus and it needed reformating but they would forensicaly restore my data. But when i received the computer back what a mess! all my data was higgly piggly store in a single file, no drivers for the printer, word, and email and internet and Wi-Fi needed resetting. And all My email correspondence inbox, outbox and drafts were gone! My question is...if I hadn't got the barely adequate skills to load this stuff who would do it for me? Why cannot a repair shop offer a turn key plug and play repair service?
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