Articles about the Operating Systems

Best version of Windows, Works fine with WiFi

I had an old Pentium III, 733Mhz PC with 256 MB RAM sat in a cupboard, decided to try loading XP but didn't want to spend a lot on the software. This OEM version is a good price and loaded without issue, also registered with Microsoft without a problem. Ok as it is OEM copy you are unlikely to get technical support from Microsoft.

Windows XP (in my opinion) is by far the best version of Windows, very easy to install, stable and uses a reasonable amount of system resources (unlike Vista). XP Runs well on my old PC, which is now being used to serf the web.

A previous reviewer stated they had problems getting XP to connect to the internet using a wireless network; I've had no issues connecting my old PC using a Netgear WG111T 108Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter key, worked straight away, setup so XP is managing the connection. I have two other newer PCs running XP (Service Pack 2) and they are also connected wirelessly to the internet using a BT Homehub, one has a built-in adapter the other with a D-Link USB key.

Buy Windows XP while you still can.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional is the next version of the Windows operating system, which is designed for businesses of all sizes, and for individuals who demand the most from their computing experience. Windows XP Professional goes beyond the benefits

I have personally found 'Tiger' to be the most efficient OS X to date, and therefore a real favourite for a couple of years when I was working in a graphics department. Their is no doubt Leopard is a beautiful upgrade, containing a stated "300+ upgrades", however, it is by no means essential if you Mac is work work purposes. The extra features we've found are not for the productive side of things, but more for consolidating files, making things visually look better, and a few notable new programs.

In short, Leopard would no doubt be a great update for the Media orientated users, but if you're all work and no play, it's actually not that essential. "Snow Leopard" has already been announced for next year anyway, and was stated would improve performance and stability, rather than functionality, so that'll definitely be worth a look.

A few months ago I bought a new laptop which came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. I've now had the opportunity to compare Vista to my desktop PC's XP installation. In summary Vista doesn't make a compelling upgrade. Memory usage is considerably higher, the default User Account Control setup is so overbearing that I disabled it completely and from the perspective of the end user the new features seem to be mostly related to visual tarting up and transparency effects. These new features add nothing much to productivity. The frequency and volume of critical security patches to apply seems to continue as with XP. There are some useful features but most of these can be added to XP by using existing free applications. Not a worthwhile upgrade.

A few months ago I bought a new laptop which came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. I've now had the opportunity to compare Vista to my desktop PC's XP installation. In summary Vista doesn't make a compelling upgrade. Memory usage is considerably higher, the default User Account Control setup is so overbearing that I disabled it completely and from the perspective of the end user the new features seem to be mostly related to visual tarting up and transparency effects. These new features add nothing much to productivity. The frequency and volume of critical security patches to apply seems to continue as with XP. There are some useful features but most of these can be added to XP by using existing free applications. Not a worthwhile upgrade.

I changed my computer and Vista came with it. Many of my favourite digital photo programmes will no longer run, Vista no longer even supports picture it (thier own programme) and instead have a very limited photo programme where you can look at them or print them.
The drivers for my creative mp3 players are not supported nor the programmes that come with the players. The driver and programme for my wife's sony mp3 is not supported. The driver for my digital camera is not supported. This has become a total farce. I guess this would be a reasonable system if you are just starting out new but when you need to replace either the operating system or the programmes and players you already have then I afraid the vista gets evicted and I go back to XP.
Give it another few years and perhaps more stuff will be supported but at the moment it is very limited in what will run.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP3 OEM

In one paragraph...i took the chance and took a day out my life to upgrade with the Vista Basic OEM software and it worked, well. My integrated sound card worked straight away and this was probably due to being connected to the internet whilst loading Vista. I did delete a few programs on my now old XP running PC, but left Broadband and every other vital program intact. I had to reinstall Office 2007 and my printer etc. My video card is older and doesn't work with my new Vista DVD media Movie Maker nor 'some of the non essential DVD features' of my seperate new Roxio burn suite software 2009, really only the DVD player side, but other than that Vista has given my 2006 PC no problems. I had to download a Roxio driver for £9.99 for my Vista based DVD Windows Player to play DVD's. Possibly a Windows Media player 11 update would have done the trick? But I think Vista already came with media player 11. I would have liked to upgrade my 80gb hard drive to about 160gb but for now i'm leaving that. Probably a new PC in a few years time? I recommend at least 120+ gb hard drive, even for those who don't require much HD space. The only www problem is Internet Explorer 7 i found had problems with my PC and modem, and even with Explorer 8 which works 95% fine, there's a few sites that aren't working right or won't even open. Possibly due to my old PC running Vista or a Vista v's Explorer 8 Beta problem? Overall, everything about Vista is more than 98% in favour of being good and the chance i took on my Dell 3100c PC desktop using 2 gb ram and using an Intel 4HT CPU...Vista works and the better the monitor you have the more likely you'll like Vista. Load Vista using the Custom Installation which you'll need to click on and Vista takes about 1 hour to load with a total of 4 re-starts and a host of updates when connected to the internet. After the 3rd restart is when you have to enter the date, time and your registered name and computer name.

A few months ago I bought a new laptop which came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. I've now had the opportunity to compare Vista to my desktop PC's XP installation. In summary Vista doesn't make a compelling upgrade. Memory usage is considerably higher, the default User Account Control setup is so overbearing that I disabled it completely and from the perspective of the end user the new features seem to be mostly related to visual tarting up and transparency effects. These new features add nothing much to productivity. The frequency and volume of critical security patches to apply seems to continue as with XP. There are some useful features but most of these can be added to XP by using existing free applications. Not a worthwhile upgrade.