Olaf the Troll ,'Showtime'
Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
That's about one call a page, right?
I'm trying to figure out what I should do about a Windows computer for my school work -- Intel Mac Pro with Parallels, or true Windows machine? And if I can get one with XP installed (yes, there are some that come that way at MicroCenter) do I want to go with one of those, or am I just buying future trouble as the OS gets increasingly outdated and unsupported?
I'd go with Parallels. The downside is you gotta buy a second OS in addition to the Parallels software, so there's added expense.
Lots of people are sticking with XP instead of moving to Vista. I think you'll still be able to buy new machines with XP installed until the end of the year. MS only recently dropped support for NT 4, right? So I think they'll be supporting XP for a while. Also, the pace of OS advances has slowed a lot in recent years. A lot of people stayed with 3.1, 95 and 98 for a long time. I have a feeling this will be even more true of XP.
My biggest beef with Vista is its rather onerous DRM. A Vista machine actually devotes a fair amount of activity determining if you really should be able to play high-quality video - if the video you're playing doesn't meet all its criteria, it will intentionally downgrade the audio and video quality. I'm a little unclear on the details, however.
I just purchased three iMacs for the express purpose of running XP so I'd say go with a Mac.
I have a serious love-hate relationship with Vista. I don't like how many software programs aren't compatible with it. It isn't terrible, but it is inconvenient. I also find it is somewhat less easy to use than XP.
For the moment I'm still sticking with XP.
I don't think anyone should switch to tell you the truth. I got a new laptop that came with Vista installed.
The software that I use for audio playback under windows still isn't recommending Vista. There are all kinds of issues with drivers for audio cards and things like that.
If you are trying to choose between Vista and XP, try this flow chart (PDF): [link]
(It is a bit of humor with a serious point: if you have a choice, just say "no" to Vista.)
There are all kinds of issues with drivers for audio cards and things like that.
Oh yeah - another big reason to stay away from Vista. Although on a new machine I suppose it would at least have drivers for every bit of hardware on that machine....
On top of the nasty DRM issues that Tommy mentioned, there's also the whole "Windows Genuine Advantage" set up that treats legitimate users as potential criminals. In XP, if something goes wrong with the system, like, say, the WGA licensing servers go down, you get an annoying message. In Vista, the WGA starts disabling stuff if it can't phone home.
Also, Service Pack 1 for Vista isn't due out until some time next year.