XP or Windows 7?

Hello.

I wanted to get your opinions. I need a new computer and wondered if I should get XP or Windows 7. Please elaborate. I'm no tech, would have to pay someone to do the things that are second nature to you. Do I need to be concerned about a discontinuation of support for XP? Thank you very much.

M

 

Windows 7 of course.
Home Premium Edition has been impressive!!!

 

Windows 7 home premium I would reccomend getting the 64bit version.
I have windows 7 on both my laptop and desktop and I haven't had any problems with it.

I Think you will like windows 7.

Windows xp shouldnt be even considered these days, its old and isnt supported for much longer.

 

Thank you Espozito & Iodore I was just reading about x64. Don't you need to get 7 Pro to utilize your XP things? It seemed like it might be complicated migrating.

 

Hello,
If you give a list of programs you use and the versions i can help find out if they run on windows 7 or not.

the so called xp mode that comes with windows 7 pro is designed for legacy programs and is mainly aimed at companies who have application that was specially written for them. mainstream software should work fine on windows 7 without xp mode.

 

Really! So I could just transfer my docs in XP right over? I watched a YouTube that looked quite involved...gave me the impression the OSs weren't compatible. I'll have to compile a list, I know I've never bought anything for x64. So much has changed in a few years! Need to turn in, it's 0236 here. I'm so grateful to have access to the minds of Wilders!

M

 

Having been an XP user for many years I migrated to 7 a few months ago and haven't regretted it for a second.

You can't upgrade directly but would need to go XP -> Vista -> 7 which is laborious and not optimal - I strongly suggest you go for a fresh install.

Naturally you'll need to reinstall the programs you use and your data (this you need to have saved and backed up on an external drive or whatever).

It will take a little time but it's worth it.

 

My feeling is unless you have a specific need for XP (eg., old program requires it), you should move on. If you don't know for sure you need XP, then it's likely you probably don't. The most common users that must have XP are businesses using software that cannot support anything beyond XP. (And I know this from personal experience. We have a program @ work that the developer just recently added Vista support. Win 7 is still not supported!)

 

if you have 4gb ram or higher.
Windows 7 (64bit)

 

Like to go the 7 road but what me turn off is huge investment in 64 bit compatible software if i take that route.
Photoshop will fly on 64 bit with lots of ram for sure,so have to reserve a bit of money to buy the plugins.

 

Windows 7 professional or up if you want XP mode support.
But if you search around on the www for "P2v",you will find many links to software like,for example, Paragon's Adaptive Restore (even giveaways and promo's)that let you create a virtual machine of your existing XP setup.
Then you can instal VirtualBox or any other virtualisation software,and you can run your full,previous XP setup,with everything installed like you're used to,and it will run even under cheaper windows 7 versions,like Home Premium.

 

Haven't used Windows 7 so I cannot judge.

I use XP Pro and Vista home premium. If it is true what I have been told: "windows 7 is a working version of vista". I'll stick with XP Pro, I think it is a great OS. I cannot get used to vista.

 

Quote. As I told in another thread in the Forum, I have not real reason for use 7. I tried it and I don't see great progress. And I don't like his GUI.

 

Although I am a big, big fan of xp pro, who never liked Vista (for various reasons), I have to say that 7 is definitly the way to go.

I am on windows 7 the last 7-8 months and even though I do have xp installed (just in case I ever need it), not once I felt the need or had the necessity to boot in XP.

Panagiotis

 

If all you need to do is documents and emails, along with some surfing and watching movies, you don't need anything other than XP. It sounds like you arent exactly into the tech side of things, so you probably just need to be a user only, and perhaps an AV or some easy to use tool will suffice for your needs.

Windows 7 is more expensive, do you justify the price for what you will use it for? The advanced features of the upper versions, are you really going to use them? XP you can get an OEM license for very easily and cheap compared to win 7.

Win 7 offers nothing really for basic users IMHO that XP cannot also give. I like win 7, but just because it is the latest thing does not prove it to be the always correct choise. The fact that XP will be without support soon is a compelling reason to choose 7, for sure. But I really think it depends on what you plan to do with the machine.

Personally, I went back to XP again. For myself, windows 7 is just annoyingly slow at some things that I do a lot of that XP is instantaneous at doing. Pity really, not using that $$ paid for the ultimate license. Oh well, mabye SP1 will fix my issues, if not, I will stick with the venerable true-blue XP.

Sul.

 

xp does what i want so no real need for 7 i'll wait for 9

 

I've never used Win 7. I've never even seen Win 7 being used.

I have Vista HP 32 bit on my laptop and XP Pro on my desktop. The desktop is several years old with 512 RAM, so 7 isn't even a consideration there.

On the laptop, with 2G RAM and a 1.8 processor, it might handle the 32 bit version of 7, but I see no reason to upgrade. Vista has been just as solid and stable as XP pro for me.

If I was getting a new computer, I'd be sure and check first to make sure the software I currently have will run on Win 7. I don't want to have to go out and spend more hundreds of dollars for new software. If it won't, I'm sticking with Vista or XP, if possible.

 

I don't know how they made a transfer from XP look complicated...it's actually wonderfully easy. Got a USB thumb drive? Phew...that was hard!
E-Mail..easy peasy with wizards
My Documents....copy 'n paste...it's that simple!
Favorites...easy copy 'n paste
Other "data"...like accounting stuff like Quicken or something? Do a backup first..install software on new computer, and then restore/import from that backup, done! Might have to ensure your version of Quicken is relatively recent.

As for the arguements that Win7 is expensive..or more expensive, well...try purchasing a new computer with XP these days. Good luck! In most cases, the only "new" PCs you can purchase with XPp on them are business grade models, in which you have to specifically order an "XP Downgrade"..which.... costs $99.00 extra!

New computer, make sure you have at least 2 gigs..preferably 3 or 4 gigs...of RAM, and Win7 flies! It's a little quicker than Vista, and on newish hardware, it's quite equal to if not faster than XP on lots of newer hardware.

 

Tigerdirect sells a couple of brands with 7 and xp optional pre-installed. Just choose which OS you want. Systemax is one of them. Don't recall the other, and prices are pretty decent.

 

The couple of times I've allowed myself to wander to that surplus site in desperate search of something (I made sure nobody was looking)...I recall a few "off lease" and "refurb" products...of the decent reputable brands of course, like HP and IBM. Dunno if any "new" computers are avail with XP..but honestly I'd stay far away from those $399 specials they sell there...probably last you what...5 weeks til they croak?

 

Ok for the lack of ram, but you must have a lot of time to use for cofffee breaks, running Vista.
I'm running XP prof in my old PC (3.2 GHz with 2 Gb Ram) and Win 7 in my double processor 2,8 GHz 64 bits. These two are acting about the same.
Earlier I ran Vista Home in the 2,8 Pc and it was very slow.
So my suggestion is to go for Win 7 64-bit, but then you also have to take in account if you think if it is worth it, but that can only you tell.

/Don

 

Windows 7 can be very cheap for post-secondary students in tech courses supported by MSDN. My dad got the Pro (32-bit/64-bit) RTM version for free.

All up-to-date software supports Windows 7. Being a freeware-hunter guy, Windows 7 64-bit support was no problem. All of my software is updated regularly (RSS Feeds, and programs like SUMo/Secunia).

 

64bit ? LMAO . Yes . Go with that .

 

Just get Windows 7 x64 and move forward. Everything will run on it. XP is all but dead now.

 

Win 7