Windows XP

I'm actually in a good place now, with everyone replacing their system I'm picking up good systems for next to nothing. Pop in the Linux disc and go.
I ran W2K Years ago then XP when it first came out and it was a lot worse than 2K, made the switch back then.
 
I thought I was going to have to buy a new computer too for that reason AND a new game I've been wanting to play (reason for that is, all of the compatible video cards listed are PCI Express and mine does not have any of those slots) but, I upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium, installed a bigger faster hard drive and on a wild hair, bought a $50.00 Nvidia GeForce GT610 512MB PCI graphics card and installed it.
I am now playing my new game, my computer runs faster than ever and all in all, I spent less than $100.00.
 
I have a Windows XP system, but it is "off the grid" and will remain so. I expect it to work essentially indefinitely(especially since I have a big cache of replacement hardware), and security updates are not a concern for a computer that never connects to the internet. I have a lot of software on that computer that will not run-or at least will not run well-on newer versions of Windows.

My main computer these days is a 13" Macbook Pro. I bought this computer before Windows 8 was released, but seeing the disaster it has become, I'm not sorry that I made the switch.

I also recently picked up a Powermac G5 for $100. As Macs go, this is a "dead end" as Apple quit making Power-PC based Macs about 8 years ago. I'm stuck at OS X 10.5 with it(the current version is 10.9). Even so, it's still a fast, powerful, and very useable computer. As a bonus, I really doubt there is anyone out there writing virus for Power PC Macs.
 
My computer recently crashed and since my wife has a windows 7 64bit system I shopped around and found a Dell 64 bit 7 system and although it is not the old trusty XP I had I really have no problems with it except for a few minor transition changes I had to get used to after using XP for so many years. I actually am for the most part satisfied with the 64 bit 7 version. However from what I'm hearing I wouldn't touch the 8 version with a ten foot pole. It really sucks. I haven't heard one person say anything positive about the 8 version. Windows 7 in fact has a few things with it I like that XP never had actually though I'll miss my XP puter gang. However I don't use internet explorer or much of the micro soft **** if I can go elsewhere. As for browsers there is Firefox, Google chrome, and Opera the three top choices in browsers I think. I sure don't care for the internet explorer programs. Bottom line is I use Bing as my home page and search engine and Firefox for my browser with the Thunderbird email program spyware, spybot, malware bytes and AVG anti virus programs right now. To start all over from what I hear from family and friends who have it I think I'd probably go with a MAC PC if you can afford one.
 
After years of running Windows 98SE and then XP, I made the switch to 8.1 last month. After a short learning curve, I am now fine with if. I don't see Windows 8.1 as a big disaster at all. It's just new and different and takes some getting use too. :):):)
 
I've switched 2 of 3 of my machines to win7 from XP. Today I swapped MS Security Essentials for Avast. I keep hard drives in each PC/LAPTOP to 500 gig and rather than backup info I Clone the drives to matching USB external drives once a month. $50 500 GIG drives are cheap insurance.
 
Comrad said:
True the world is full of Windows but the day of OS leading has passed and it's about content now. The platform really is transparent, most people live on a browser and one is as good as the next. If you need Windows applications they run just fine on a MAC. The extra cost is well worth not having to rebuild, buy virus scanning software and just not having to put up with any grief at all.
Click to expand...

The problem with changing to MAC is that once you realize how well Macs run, and how easy they are to use, you start to question what you have done to your life by using Microsoft.
Don't worry, there is life after Windows, and it is warm and fulfilling. Like changing from Chevy to Ford.
 
You should not need a new computer. You can buy online almost any Windows upgrade for less than $150.00.

The next version from XP (I believe) is Windows Vista. I had the original Vista and updated to Windows Vista Ultimate (complete install CD new in box) for $68.00. I'm still using it. It could hold you over for several years. It should be a smooth transition. You should be able to run the installer and not lose your data - but I would backup your special files before any update.

Windows Vista Ultimate: Operating Systems | eBay

Amazon.com: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate FULL VERSION [DVD] [OLD VERSION]: George Sansonm: Software@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418ejZRV7AL.@@AMEPARAM@@418ejZRV7AL

I hope never to have to update to Windows 7 or 8.
 
dougb1946 said:
The problem with changing to MAC is that once you realize how well Macs run, and how easy they are to use, you start to question what you have done to your life by using Microsoft.
Click to expand...
After thirty some odd years of dealing with PCs, I just don't really need to be protected from the operating system... and especially at a premium price.

If I ever ditched Windows it'd be for Linux. My mother sent me her old laptop when she hosed up the operating system to the point where I couldn't help her on the phone, and replaced it with a new Windows 8 machine. She'd screwed up the recovery partition and didn't send me the recovery disk(s). Although I got it more or less functioning with the existing XP, it was unstable, so I loaded 32 bit Ubuntu 12.04.

Ubuntu on that laptop does just about everything I need except run Age of Rifles, and when I get around to it, I'm going to install DOSBox to allow me to do that.
 
wittmeba said:
You should not need a new computer. You can buy online almost any Windows upgrade for less than $150.00.

The next version from XP (I believe) is Windows Vista. I had the original Vista and updated to Windows Vista Ultimate (complete install CD new in box) for $68.00. I'm still using it. It could hold you over for several years. It should be a smooth transition. You should be able to run the installer and not lose your data - but I would backup your special files before any update.

Windows Vista Ultimate: Operating Systems | eBay

Amazon.com: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate FULL VERSION [DVD] [OLD VERSION]: George Sansonm: Software

I hope never to have to update to Windows 7 or 8.
Click to expand...

I seem to recall men posting here that they had a horrible time with Vista and with Windows 8.0 and 8.1.

So, you like Vista? Is it hard to run for a computer incompetent who's been using XP? Like me...
 
Microsoft has just announced a fix for the Internet Explorer problem and IS making it available to XP users. Open your IE and do a Windows Update while it is still available.
 
Don't switch to Mac, they are like those expensive luxury cars, they break down just as much as a normal car but cost twice as much to fix.
 
EugeneNine said:
Don't switch to Mac, they are like those expensive luxury cars, they break down just as much as a normal car but cost twice as much to fix.
Click to expand...

My Macbook Pro has been about as reliable as any Windows laptop I've owned.

I beat on my laptop-any laptop-about 12-14 hours a day. For a while, I was getting about 12-18 months out of Windows laptops.

In two years, I've had two chargers go bad(about the same as I was getting out of most Windows laptops) and my trackpad(touchpad) went out. I also had a hard drive replaced, although it wasn't completely bad.

My cost out of pocket for all of this has been exactly $0.00, thanks to Applecare. Every repair has also been done either while I waited, or finished the next day at an Apple store, which is a lot more than I can say for my experience with Toshiba, Gateway, and HP.
 
Apple hardware is not magic, it's the same as others.

My iMac had a Seagate drive recall. Apple paid to have it replaced out of warranty. iPhone 4s did not survive the clothes washer. AppleCare replaced it for a charge of $50. Other than that... our iMac, MacBook Pro, original iPad, iPad3, two iPhone 4s, three iPhone5s, three AppleTVs, Airport Express and AirPort Extreme have operated trouble free. I also had relatively trouble free PCs (mostly Dell) over the years.

As far as Apple equipment being expensive.... eh.

The most expensive was the 27" iMac at $1500, but a Dell all-in-one with a comparable 2560-1440 monitor is just as expensive. The iMac is going on five years old. I expect it to keep on going for years to come. But even if I tossed it in the garbage at five years the cost would be $300/yr. That's about half the price of my Internet bill and just a small fraction of my cell phone bill. Doesn't make much sense to not buy what I want and stare at a junk monitor for thousands of hours just to save a few bucks.
 
If you are going to upgrade your old PC from XP, I recommend skipping Vista and going at least to Windows 7. Vista has some annoying problems that are fixed in Windows 7.

Since I have a Mac, I still think it is the best. One of its very good features is they don't come preloaded with a bunch of junk. Every new Windows PC I have seen is they come preloaded with tons of trialware. That is why PCs can be sold so cheaply - software vendors pay the computer manufacturers to preload their junk in the hopes that you will pay for the full version.
 
Texas Star said:
I seem to recall men posting here that they had a horrible time with Vista and with Windows 8.0 and 8.1.

So, you like Vista? Is it hard to run for a computer incompetent who's been using XP? Like me...
Click to expand...

I believe Windows XP was the best O/S MS ever offered. Second would be Windows 2000 and Vista tied. Windows 7 was a miserable transition for me and I'd quite the PC world if I ever am forced to Windows 8.

Vista is the closest O/S to Windows XP ever issued. My wife had Windows 7 and I hate it...so does she but it came on her PC.

Vista is pretty smooth. It has been very stable for me and easy to use.
 
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