Should I switch from Vista to XP?

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Dual Trace

I have just bought a brand new Gateway computer from COMPUSA. The computer
was completely dead, but could not exchange it because COMPUSA is closing all
the stores, so I sent it back to Gateway. While waiting for the repaired
computer to come back, I browsed the web (wished I had done it before) and
found complaints about this particular model not working well with Vista. Is
there such a thing? Why would a particular model be more prone to Vista
trouble then others?

I will see how it behaves, but I am also contemplating some options:
uninstall Vista or re-format the hard disk and install Windows XP. If you
advise me doing this, what should I get: XP Home or XP Professional?

Thanks,
Dual Trace
 
Dual Trace said:
I have just bought a brand new Gateway computer from COMPUSA. The computer
was completely dead, but could not exchange it because COMPUSA is closing all
the stores, so I sent it back to Gateway. While waiting for the repaired
computer to come back, I browsed the web (wished I had done it before) and
found complaints about this particular model not working well with Vista. Is
there such a thing? Why would a particular model be more prone to Vista
trouble then others?

I will see how it behaves, but I am also contemplating some options:
uninstall Vista or re-format the hard disk and install Windows XP. If you
advise me doing this, what should I get: XP Home or XP Professional?

Thanks,
Dual Trace
Click to expand...

Hello

At the end of the day only you can answer your own question,
I still have XP Pro running and love it and won't upgrade because I don't
need to. It does everything I need it to do.
There are problems with Vista and drivers but that is really down to the
manufacturers of the software to get moving and provide new drivers for Vista
not Microsoft. Not knowing your specs on your machine, to run Vista and all
the bells and whistles you will need a high spec machine.
For XP Home and Pro
Check out this: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx
It tells you the difference between XP Home and Pro.

If there is little in price then go Pro.
Regards
Stuart
 
Dual Trace,

Here is a purely subjective answer.

XP Pro rather than Vista Home Premium. I have XP Pro on one system and
Vista Home Premium on the other. XP Pro system is faster and less
troublesome.

This is purely a subjective answer.

If you are technically inclined, then definitely choose XP Pro. If you plan
to use the computer on a network, definitely go with XP Pro. I don't have my
list handy of features which exist in XP Pro and which do not exist in Home
Edition.

In my mind, to buy Home Edition is to buy a cripple.

Either way you go-XP Home, XP Pro, or Vista-there are pluses and minuses.
If you put your faith in Microsoft and all software suppliers to have Vista
versions of their products to work just as well as their XP versions, then go
with Vista.

Incidentally, I removed Vista from to install XP on the the computer running
XP.

Good luck,
Karl Snooks
 
First be aware that Vista requires more memory than XP and a better video
card than XP would need.

XP vs. Vista Features:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/138195/xp-vs-vista.html

For Vista PC requirements see:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx

Choose the edition of Vista that best meets your needs:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

Windows XP Professional System Requirements:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/sysreqs.mspx

For XP Home PC requirements see:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx

Just keep in mind that these are minimum requirements and in reality XP
really likes 348 to 512MB of memory and Vista at least 1GB of memory
although 2GB is preferred. Vista also needs a mid to upper end graphics card
if you plan to take advantage of the 'Aero'

Also be aware that if you purchase a PC with Vista and then decide to
install
XP on it, not all new Vista computers and associated hardware may have
XP drivers available and therefore you may be stuck with Vista. Always check
with the manufacture before you buy. Remember it's your money and you only
get to spend it once.

JS
 
I have just bought a brand new Gateway computer from COMPUSA. The computer
was completely dead, but could not exchange it because COMPUSA is closing all
the stores, so I sent it back to Gateway. While waiting for the repaired
computer to come back, I browsed the web (wished I had done it before) and
found complaints about this particular model not working well with Vista. Is
there such a thing? Why would a particular model be more prone to Vista
trouble then others?

I will see how it behaves, but I am also contemplating some options:
uninstall Vista or re-format the hard disk and install Windows XP. If you
advise me doing this, what should I get: XP Home or XP Professional?
Click to expand...


Three points:

1. My experience with Vista is that it works fine if your hardware is
adequate for it, and I see no reason to take a step backward to
yesterday's operating system.

2. Your thought that you might want to replace Vista with XP is
greatly premature, in my view. You haven't even tried Vista yet, if
the computer arrived dead. Try Vista and learn to use it before you
even consider changing operating systems.

And recognize that Vista is different from XP in many respects. Don't
just try Vista for a couple of days, and decide that you prefer XP;
anything new can be difficult and frustrating at first. Give yourself
time to learn and become accustomed to the differences before you make
such a decision--a month or two at least.

3. If you do decide to go back to XP, whether you should get Home or
Professional depends on *your* needs. Beware the person who tells you
that you should get Professional because it is somehow *better* than
Home. It is *not* better. XP Home and Professional are identical
except that Professional includes a few features (mostly related to
security and networking) missing from Home? Most home users don't need
and would never use these extra features and will see no benefits by
upgrading.

For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp>

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note another point, not included in any of the above:
Professional allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only
five.
 
Thank you all for posting.

The computer in question is stuffed with:
AMD dual core 3GHz
2G RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8500GT

I guess it’s not bad.

It will be used by my son mostly for games. A friend scared him by telling
that games that work flawlessly with Windows XP may not with Vista. Therefore
I searched the net and found the comment about this particular computer that
supposedly has some Vista related bugs. I guess I will wait for it to come
back and then test drive it.

Thanks again,
Dual Trace
 
Thank you all for posting.
Click to expand...


You're welcome. Glad to help.

The computer in question is stuffed with:
AMD dual core 3GHz
2G RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8500GT

I guess it’s not bad.
Click to expand...


That sounds fine.

It will be used by my son mostly for games. A friend scared him by telling
that games that work flawlessly with Windows XP may not with Vista.
Click to expand...


The friend is right. Although *most* XP-era programs (games or any
other kind) work fine with Vista, a few do not, and may have to be
upgraded to newer versions.
 
Many people bucked upgrading to XP when it was released. Likely some of
those same people are now running XP and stating that they wouldn't upgrade
to Vista. Unless you have good reasons for sticking with XP why not move to
Vista?
 
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