Windows XP

[hayes]

Looking into getting a new computer. Most adds I see are including Windows XP Home as the OS.
How stable is this?

I currently run Windows 98, how different is XP? Any problems with the software application that I now
have running on XP?

Larry

 

[Bird]

Larry, I was running 98 (second edition) when I bought this new Dell with ME, then I "upgraded" to XP. Well, I like XP the best myself, but getting that upgrade done was a nightmare. And depending on the software you're currently using; some will be and some may not be compatible with XP.

 

[tc35dforme]

Larry,

I'm running XP on a laptop and it has been quite stable, even running applications like AutoCAD. I find that the built in applications that Microsoft stole...er...I mean developed are pretty convienient. For example, writing to a CD is a cake walk in XP with its built-in application.

If you looking at a new machine from one of the big vendors ( Dell, Compaq, Gateway, etc ) your only option wil be XP.

 

[rmorgan]

Two XP machines, one native and one upgrade, both fine. The OS has some decent extras in it, notably photo handling and using NT at work now, I kind of hate to admit it, seems a little clunky. Very few crashes and faster start times when it does.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

If I had a choice, I would not get XP until they get some more bugs worked out of it. I have 4 computers in the house on a network, 2 win 98se, 1 win ME amd 1 win XP. The XP is the newest one with the fastest processor by far but it does not seen faster than the ME machine, almost seems slower. Lots of our programs either don't work or work poorly on XP. XP frequently has errors that it asks to mail microsoft to report. Even an HP printer has trouble (yes I have the latest driver). This printer has been installed on both a win 98 and a win ME machine and been rock solid for years. Put it on the XP and more lock ups and strange things happening in a few months than in years of use on the other machines. I have even been thinking of removing XP and installing ME on that machine. XP does have a nice interface and nice features.

Andy

 

[Bird]

Andy, Hewlett-Packard's web site says they're still working on software to make their printers work right with XP.

 

[Bird]

Andy, Hewlett-Packard's web site says they're still working on software to make their printers work right with XP. Mine (OfficeJet G55) has been working right until recently and now the "copy" function doesn't work and I don't why; don't know whether it has anything to do with XP or not.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bird, I also have an OfficeJet G55, but it is on the win ME machine. It works great, no problems at all, I have had it for more than a year and a half. The good thing is with the home network any of the PC's can print on any of the printers.

Andy

 

[Bird]

Andy, mine has worked fine, too, with both ME and XP until this week, and now it won't copy black and white, and will only sometimes copy in color. Not quite as good a copy, but I can scan something into the computer, and then print it. In other words, a less than satisfactory work around that I use right now.

 

[Alan L.]

As long as no network is involved, XP is fine. Make sure your favorite application will run on it - most will. If the new machine will be part of a network I would go to Windows 2000. XP is VERY slow as a client on a network. I had to convert 7 new machines to W2K after farting with ZP on the network for 2 months. It's slow, and there's not a thing you can do about it.

If you want W2K or even Windows 98 you can still buy Dell's with that on them - the Optiplex series.

XP is cool as a standalone machine, but really sucks on a network.