XP or 7?

[chadmanning222]

i have ubuntu 12.04 right now and i am disliking it due to software compatibility but my family is on a budget and windows 7 is a bit much but would xp be worth it? whats your guys opinions?

 

[inerax]

I love windows 7. Its amazing.

Even though it is against the Microsoft terms and conditions you can get a OEM windows 7 for $99.

If you have any problems they will not support it because it is windows 7 OEM.

Depending on your computer go with windows 7 if it can run it good.

If your computer is older then run xp

 

[geekapproved]

Would XP be worth what? Your not actually considering buying XP are you?

I run Vista64 love it, best OS since Win95. Probably won't even go Win8, probably wait till Win9.

 

[RetiredChief]

Pros and cons.
windows 7
.. Has much better default drivers,
.. generally easier to install
.. Has much better security, and less prone to BSODs.
.. If less than 2 Gigs ram, windows XP may be better choice
some cons.
.. May not work with some older hardware such as scanners and printers.
.. Windows XP may be faster if on say a 5 year old low end CPU and less than 2 gigs of ram.

As stated above OEM is OK. But a OEM windows 7 is Tied to the Computer first installed on. You can not say upgrade MB and reuse your OEM version.
If You own a copy of XP, THAT is NOT inuse. You can buy the Upgrade win 7 version and do a clean install
DO a google search on "using win7 upgrade to do a clean install.

I was a die hard XP initially, but love win7 (vista was OK for me)

 

[chadmanning222]

my system is brand new just built it last week but i was considering buying an oem version i was just wondering is the support and ability to reinstall worth it for the retail version?

 

[the great randini]

it would be silly to consider xp now, its unsafe and only in extended support.


mainstream support ended in 2009 / extended support ends in 2014
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&C2=1173

 

[inerax]

i run OEM and have no problems.

If you need support toms is the place to come

I did having problems installing windows 7 with raid 0 but i think that is because of the raid/mobo drivers.

I am now running 1 SSD with windows 7 on it and it runs very good.

I came from XP pro, skipped vista and went to windows 7.

Best choice i have made. get windows 7

 

[spentshells]

I have vista xp and 7 all running at once, I like them all, with a newer pc get vista it will be cheapest due to your budget otherwise get win 7

 

[larkspur]

my system is brand new just built it last week but i was considering buying an oem version i was just wondering is the support and ability to reinstall worth it for the retail version?

If you are on a really tight budget, you could try out the free Win 8 Release Preview: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download

But if you want to stick with a finished OS then Win 7. The OEM version is the same software just no free support and you can only install it on the same machine so no changing the motherboard and cpu. But it's the same OS for a LOT less. On modern hardware, Win 7 is so much better than XP, I don't even want to get started.

 

[captaincharisma]

XP? you might as well go buy a copy of windows 98 or windows 2000. get windows 7 just for futureproofing your computer

 

[RetiredChief]

Forget Vista, go for the win 7 OEM
Much better on line support, You may not get Telephone support, but you still have access to online support such as KBs
Ex. You goof up and use IDE and want to convert to AHCI. You can still go to Microscoft KB xxxx (Forgot Number) and click on the link "Let MS fix the problem.
MS support (ie updates) is better. I think MS would just prefer that vista would go away.

Only other negative (minor one) is that windows 7 does NOT include a email client.
1) They are tring to move more toward "cloud" computing, ie You can use microsoft Life.
This is even more pronounced with windows 8.
2) They stuck all the email program files in windows 7, But then DISABLED IT. I think the main reason is the legal problems, but also as stated in #1.
.. Alternatives are (A) Microsoft live, (B) 3rd party email programs and (3) what I did for wife's system, ported Vista win mail over to win 7 - Difficault but doable.

Two other distinct advanges of win 7 over both Vista, and XP.
(1) Better support for SSDs, Win 7 has trim cmd, vista/XP do Not.
(2) MS has added a Backup program (in control panel) to alow imaging the C drive, and restoring this image - EXCELLENT program. For Vista and XP need a 3rd party program for this.

Added, Win 9
1) this only delays paying for it
2) This is still Pre release so more than normal first release bugs, may have problems with some drivers.
3) Windows 7 was really a Vista overhaul with a new name, Windows 7. MS had to get rid of the name VISA as Busseniss community would NOT buy. Most Companies skipped Vista and went from XP -> Win 7. Windows 8 is a Major jump, and from what I've read so far is that this may be shuned by the bussiness workld just like ME and Vista.
4) Myself, I downloaded and installed windows 8. Played with it for two days. Removed from computer and trew the DISK in the trash. Only really great thing was increadable boot time, as to the rest of it, well If I wanted a tablet, windows 8 would be OK, O'Hel* I have a tablet and do not need a Hugh NON-PORTABLE tablet!!!

 

[womble]

As said by others, depends a little bit on the hardware. Are any of your family in school or higher education? You may be able to purchase it as an academic licence at a substantial saving (full product to if I recall, no oem restrictions).

 

[spentshells]

Vista can be found xtra cheap and gives you all the same stuff

from win 7 machine

 

[nhasian]

i have ubuntu 12.04 right now and i am disliking it due to software compatibility but my family is on a budget and windows 7 is a bit much but would xp be worth it? whats your guys opinions?

On another note, if you need assistance with Ubuntu you could post questions in the linux forum here on on ubuntu forums as well. Even though I have a windows 7 license, I dont even have it installed on my computer. Been using Linux happily since 2008.

 

[drwho1]

I always use OEM, never ever a retail version.
The only difference between the 2 is the extra $200plus overprice and the cardboard box.

Get Win 7 64bit even if low in memory because then you will be able to upgrade your memory in the future.

Worried about some software or games compatibility?
After installing you OS go to Microsoft and download Windows Virtual PC, now you will be able to run anything that you did on XP and is FREE.

About OEM, I always do upgrades from time to time, and sometimes a little "too many"
according to Microsoft, but a simple CALL to Microsoft solves this problem if you run into it. I have sometimes even go as far as changing motherboard and ALL other major components, so if they ask you, just tell them the truth, you ARE upgrading.

Simple as that.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://news.softpedia.com/news/1-000-Days-until-Windows-XP-End-of-Life-210897.shtml

End of Life for XP ^