New PC - Use Vista or XP Pro?

[mokkapoop]

Ok. I got a brand new Dell Demension for really really cheap today. It has the following specs:

Dell Dimension E521 Mini Tower desktop
AMD Athlon 64X2 Dual Core 3800+
Windows Vista Home installed Original
2048M DDR2 RAM
160G SATA hard drive
16X DVD+-RW double layer CD/DVD burner drive,
Dell USB mouse
1 Year At Home warranty

Now, I have heard that Vista really isn't to be used as much as people anticpated, so I think I might just revert back to Windows XP Professional.

My only concern is this:

Will XP Pro take advantage of the Dual Core system, or is this something only Vista does?
What do you think I should do? I will be going to Fry's tomorrow to look at some PCI-E cards, but I might look at some deals from Newegg first. Anywhoo, I think I am really happy with this machine (considering I got it really cheap) and want to know what you guys think I should do next.

Another option is this, run a dual boot with Vista and XP Pro. Basically the reason is I need to get used to the Vista atmosphere - I am a tech guy at my work and need to be on the cutting edge of things. What do you think of this option?

[Dan_D]

Vista's fine. I use it and I haven't had too many issues with it.

[digital_exhaust]

I think you should go with Vista.

And if you find that there are situations when you need XP, you can always run it in VirtualPC2007..

[Dan_D]

I think you should go with Vista.

And if you find that there are situations when you need XP, you can always run it in VirtualPC2007..

Yep. I've got a virtual PC of Windows 2003 Server and Windows XP Professional on my laptop for this reason.

Two out of three of my physical machines are Vista now. The other one is Windows XP Professional.

[mokkapoop]

It's Windows Vista Home Basic.......what about a dual boot? Do you guys think I will like Vista?

[mokkapoop]

What is the "Aero" thing everyone is talking about? Will I need a PCI-E video card to run this or something? I know, alot to learn, but that's why I am here.

[Dan_D]

What is the "Aero" thing everyone is talking about? Will I need a PCI-E video card to run this or something? I know, alot to learn, but that's why I am here.

You don't need a PCIe video card necessarily. Aero runs quite good on my laptop with GMA950 Integrated graphics. (Surprisingly).

[swatbat]

It's Windows Vista Home Basic.......what about a dual boot? Do you guys think I will like Vista?

I you are the tech guy from work you want a better version of vista then basic. You need one really that supports the extras so you can learn them.

Personaly I would go with vista as long as your apps run in it. I run it on my desktop but pc anywhere does not run in it yet. I have a few clients that I need to use pc anywhere for so I need to either use my notebook(which runs 2k3) or log into one of my work servers and then use pc anywhere from it. Sucks.

[Russell]

Ok. I got a brand new Dell Demension for really really cheap today. It has the following specs:

Dell Dimension E521 Mini Tower desktop
AMD Athlon 64X2 Dual Core 3800+
Windows Vista Home installed Original
2048M DDR2 RAM
160G SATA hard drive
16X DVD+-RW double layer CD/DVD burner drive,
Dell USB mouse
1 Year At Home warranty

Now, I have heard that Vista really isn't to be used as much as people anticpated, so I think I might just revert back to Windows XP Professional.

My only concern is this:

Will XP Pro take advantage of the Dual Core system, or is this something only Vista does?
What do you think I should do? I will be going to Fry's tomorrow to look at some PCI-E cards, but I might look at some deals from Newegg first. Anywhoo, I think I am really happy with this machine (considering I got it really cheap) and want to know what you guys think I should do next.

Another option is this, run a dual boot with Vista and XP Pro. Basically the reason is I need to get used to the Vista atmosphere - I am a tech guy at my work and need to be on the cutting edge of things. What do you think of this option?

Definitely use Vista if you need to learn it for work. As long as all of one's hardware has drivers, Vista is great. The Vista naysayers are those whose software or hardware won't work under Vista, or are afraid that it won't.

The only sad thing is that with Home Basic you can't see Aero (Vista's visual themes & desktop drawing system). It's really quite awesome.

[mokkapoop]

Isn't there an easy way to upgrade to a better version.

[mokkapoop]

With my current specs, can I go for a 64bit version of Vista?

[swatbat]

With my current specs, can I go for a 64bit version of Vista?

You can but your best bet is the 32 bit version. The 64 bit one is not really ready for prime time yet.

[jldavid]

Go with Vista and get a higher version than Home. Dell should be willing to upgrade you for a price. If not, the Vista Welcome Center has a link to help you upgrade, or you can go to the Microsoft website. I posted a rather long review (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1171595) yesterday here of my initial impressions of Vista - you may or may not find it useful.

If you get Vista Home Basic, it will not have the Aero interface. Microsoft has a web page (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx) that shows what you get with each edition. They also have brief explanations of each feature here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/accessibility.mspx).

I agree with the other poster that since you are an IT guy it would make sense to get a more complete edition. Vista isn't XP and you will need to dig a bit to do some of the admin things you would do in XP, but it is all there plus more. Making some of the admin stuff more difficult to find is better from the average user's standpoint because it makes it less likely he'll shoot himself in the foot. :)

[zacdl]

Quite honestly, Vista is fine as long as it is compatible.

It would work for me 100%, but Dell has not gotten their lazy butts around to writing drivers for my printer (They have had what? 2 years now?).

As long as it works with everything, I haven't had a problem. Check all the hardware (printers, scanners, etc) you use for compatibility, as well as software.

[bbz_Ghost]

You can but your best bet is the 32 bit version. The 64 bit one is not really ready for prime time yet.

It would be really nice if people would stop offering this advice, seriously. The few people (and I mean the few) that report issues are almost always directly related to driver specific issues for older hardware or they're simply not satisfied with the slightly lowered performance for most 32 bit applications running under Vista x64.

But to flat out keep perpetrating the myth that "The 64 bit one is not really ready for prime time yet" needs to stop being spread.

If people don't use it it will never be ready for prime time and manufacturers will shy away from supporting it.

The proper advice is: Use Vista x64 editions if your hardware supports it meaning primarily that you have a 64 bit capable CPU (AMD Athlon64's, Semprons of some variety, Intel Core 2 Duo, some P4's of the D variety, etc).

MORE people need to use Vista x64 when they have the ability or else the manufacturers - the people providing the drivers - are going to simply ignore it and those that do use Vista x64 editions and don't have issues are going to be left out in the cold, so to speak.

More people should be running Vista x64 so more people can find out what does work and what doesn't so that more people can ask the manufacturers for more support.

More, not less.

[saturnine2]

But to flat out keep perpetrating the myth that "The 64 bit one is not really ready for prime time yet" needs to stop being spread.

If people don't use it it will never be ready for prime time and manufacturers will shy away from supporting it.

The proper advice is: Use Vista x64 editions if your hardware supports it meaning primarily that you have a 64 bit capable CPU (AMD Athlon64's, Semprons of some variety, Intel Core 2 Duo, some P4's of the D variety, etc).

MORE people need to use Vista x64 when they have the ability or else the manufacturers - the people providing the drivers - are going to simply ignore it and those that do use Vista x64 editions and don't have issues are going to be left out in the cold, so to speak.

More people should be running Vista x64 so more people can find out what does work and what doesn't so that more people can ask the manufacturers for more support.

More, not less.
QFMFT :) And I don't quote for truth very often.

XP X64 was the one not ready for release, only because of driver support. Vista x64 on the other hand is excellent, almost every good manufacturer has near flawless 64bit drivers available. Plus, it's been running fine for me so far, even faster than XP x64 if you can believe it. x64 is the future, get on board :)

[bbz_Ghost]

Besides, if you got Vista 32 bit on that Dell when you bought it (and you did), voila!!! For $10 you can get the 64 bit installer DVD direct from Microsoft. Install both and go for it...

'Nuff typed.

[mokkapoop]

How much would it be for Vista that includes remote desktop, aero, and other nice features? That is, how much would it be if I already have Windows Vista Home Basic?

[benplaut]

Personally, I'd do linux ;)

On a more serious note, I'd go with XP Pro. With some tweaking, it runs well with all the apps you want.

[zacdl]

How much would it be for Vista that includes remote desktop, aero, and other nice features? That is, how much would it be if I already have Windows Vista Home Basic?

As you probably know, MS doesn't charge the full amount going from a lesser version to a higher version- just the difference.

That being said, for all those features, you would need to get Ultimate.
Business lacks Media Center, DVD Makers, that sort of thing.

The Windows Anytime Upgrade should be able to tell you how much you are looking at (its built into Vista's Welcome Center- there is a link to it there)

[mokkapoop]

As you probably know, MS doesn't charge the full amount going from a lesser version to a higher version- just the difference.

That being said, for all those features, you would need to get Ultimate.
Business lacks Media Center, DVD Makers, that sort of thing.

The Windows Anytime Upgrade should be able to tell you how much you are looking at (its built into Vista's Welcome Center- there is a link to it there)

How much would the difference be going from Home Basic to Ultimate?

[Flyboat]

If you have already own a copy of Vista, then you should install it. Otherwise, you should wait for Vista SP1.

[zacdl]

How much would the difference be going from Home Basic to Ultimate?
Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Vista-Ultimate-UPGRADE/dp/B000HCTYTO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9883518-1278435?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1174708251&sr=8-1)says Ultimate upgrade is $260 and Home Basic (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Vista-Basic-UPGRADE/dp/B000HCZ9AC/ref=sr_1_1/002-9883518-1278435?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1174708301&sr=1-1)upgrade is $100.
My guess would be $160.


If you have already own a copy of Vista, then you should install it. Otherwise, you should wait for Vista SP1.

Thats the worst advice I've heard all day... You must be a diehard Linux guy :)

[Flyboat]

Thats the worst advice I've heard all day... You must be a diehard Linux guy :)

Close, I am an Unxi guy :D