XP or 98se on an older system?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ]v[etaphreak
  • Start date Start date
I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.

Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
recommend?
Click to expand...

Either one will work, and probably won't make much difference.
Personally, I'd go with Win98 due to the cost, authentication hassles
and security vulnerabilities of WinXP. Another good choice is Linux.
Why not ask what they want?
 
I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.

Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
recommend?
Click to expand...

My 2 cents worth would be to install a simple to use Linux distribution.
Use the money saved buying Windows XP to get a good external modem if its
connecting on dial up. The reason is quite simple: security. Your friend
won't be vulnerable to viruses, worms, trojans, browser hijackers, spyware
et al. The system will have all of the software needed to create a fully
functional home PC, and once installed with security updates and software
bugfixes, will run as a set and forget proposition.
 
Windows 98 is fine unless one reaches the point where you want add certain
kinds of new hardware then there is often no drivers available for older
systems. This is most likely a way of getting people to buy the latest OS
whether you like it or not. But for basic simple computer use older systems
are fine.
Isaac Kuo said:
"]v[etaphreak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.
Click to expand...
Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
recommend?
Click to expand...

I'd go with Win98SE. It's faster and leaner and is perfectly stable
when the user doesn't put a lot of extra junk on the machine. Also,
it's less vulnerable to worms and other attacks. It doesn't confuse
computer newbies with automatic updates or other messages that could
lead to user complacency when confronted with an official looking
trojan (like MyDoom). Just put Mozilla Firebird on it and tell the
user to close the window or say "no" to everything.

Also, Win98 is literally dirt cheap. You can scrounge up copies
with the original shrink wrap from a local computer store for free
since they'll never sell it.

For those and other various reasons, I still use Win98 even on my
newest P4 system. For typical home computer use, there's only one
thing WinXP can do better than Win98--recognize new hardware without
having to download the drivers. WinXP's basic library of drivers
is more extensive than Win98's, unsurprisingly. However, your
computer novice user isn't going to be adding hardware on his own
anyway.

Oh--I suggest trying out OpenOffice for the basic Office apps.
Besides being really really dirt cheap, it won't run Visual Basic
scripts. Voila, yet another unwanted vulnerability removed...

Isaac Kuo
Click to expand...
 
I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly
computer literate. They just want to be able to access the net and
use some basic Office apps until they figure out what this whole
technomalogical woo-hah is about. Anyhow I'm putting together a
pretty basic system using old bits and pieces I've got left and
it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz PII with
between 256-384Mb RAM.

Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of
resources to drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running
cutting edge software and that ease of use will be more important
than raw power, what does everyone recommend?
Click to expand...
The CPU and Memory should be fine for XP, but if you are using older
peripherals on this PC, then drivers might be a problem with XP.
You can check this out at MS site but I don't have the URL. If you can
get the drivers, XP would be a much more stable system.
 
Yeah, that's the main problem with Win98 - you have to reinstall the
whole sodding thing every 6 months to keep it running properly. Try XP -
at least you can stuff it full of 'unneeded crap' and it still
Click to expand...
works.

Huhh???
I'll admit to doing "some cleanup"; but this "install" of 98SE is
still alive in form from a "clean install" of 95B back in (?) 96
thru 98 "Memphis" build 1546 as techbeta thru 98SE RTM/"gold" ...
it still works .

I'll admit my registry would scare the crap out of most techs...

FWIW-- it (this "install" ) started on a Cyrix PR120 ; it's now
running on a K6/III + system; that's 8 mobos later/ 15 vidcards
later/ 5 HDs ...

The K6 box isn't my "overclocked power box"; but I've ghosted it
over and ran (this "install" ) on it; handles a 9700 Pro on a MSI
K7N2 and a Barton AMD..
 
I'm putting a PC together for an older friend who's not overly computer
literate. They just want to be able to access the net and use some basic
Office apps until they figure out what this whole technomalogical woo-hah is
about. Anyhow I'm putting together a pretty basic system using old bits and
pieces I've got left and it's going to end up with basic specs of an 866Mhz
PII with between 256-384Mb RAM.

Big question is Windows XP or 98SE? I know it meets the basic spec
requirements of XP, but I don't want it crippled by a lack of resources to
drive it. Baring in mind that it won't be running cutting edge software and
that ease of use will be more important than raw power, what does everyone
recommend?
Click to expand...

BigV:

Obviously ... WinME_4.9 --- friendly, robust, rock solid and virus_proof
10 hours at a time.
Granted, a careless or aggressive lusr will "over_reach" it ...
 
I think you have answered your own question. Pentium II is just not good
enough for XP. Are you sure you have a Pentium II or perhaps its a Pentium
III with that Mhz rating.
 
Professor said:
Windows 98 is fine unless one reaches the point where you want add certain
kinds of new hardware then there is often no drivers available for older
systems.
Click to expand...


Excellent point.


It is also nice to get away from the limitations of the FAT/FAT32 file
systems.


(*>
 
Well, you certainly received a lot of recommendations! I have systems
with Win98se and WinXp Home and one system with both in a dual boot
configuration. And I have tried Linux twice. For the use and user you
described, I would use Win98se. My Win98se has been as stable as my
WinXP, I haven't had the stability problems that other people say they
have had. WinXP seems to be a resource hog and I would be a little
concerned with performance. WinXP does have some nice features not on
Win98se, but for the user you describe it wouldn't matter. If your
user gets into the "technological thing", he will want to upgrade the
hardware at some point in the future and he could upgrade to WinXp or
what ever is the latest and greatest OS is at that time.

Linux would be a disaster. Only real nerds can use Linux in a desktop,
home user environment.

Good luck, jimbo
 
Linux would be a disaster. Only real nerds can use Linux in a desktop,
home user environment.
Click to expand...
How long has it been since you used Linux? Major strides have been
made.

For ease of use consider trying Mandrake 9.2. Installation is a
simple 2 CD affair. Auto recognized my video card, sound card, nic
and home network.

The graphical presentation is as simple as windoz and in many ways
easier to use. The basic install gives the user a wide range of
office, Internet, and CD burning applications. With multiple choices
of each. No later complications of having new software overwriting
the system files.

I have both XP and 9.2 as my primary use machines. While XP is the
finest OS I've ever used from MS I find my use of it to be
approximately 35% of the time compared to 65% with Linux.
 
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