a question about windows OS'.

whats better? Windows XP or Windows Vista?. what are their good and bad points?

Windows XP is the best by far. Windows Vista is extremely slow and resource heavy, and it often has compatibility issues with drivers and software. Additionally it has an annoying feature that asks you if you are sure every time you try to run a program or change a setting. This feature can be disabled but it is not immediately obvious how to. It has a very fancy appearance compared to Windows XP, people seem to like it but I personally find it an annoyance which also contributes to Vista's unreasonable resource usage and system requirements.About the only bad point of windows XP, is some of the newest hardware can be hard to get drivers for, and the fact that it's no longer sold.

XP is a lot better definitely. If you like the look of Vista, you can get a Aero theme or something.

Definitely XP. It's faster, less resource hungry, and has much better compatibility. Plus, file operations (copying, deleting and moving files) are really slow in Vista. Microsoft claimed they improved with SP1, but they are still far slower than in XP.

For graphical use: Vista
For just normal stuff: XP
For photoshop hardcore use: MAC

If you have a cpu that can handle it (Pentium 4 or 3.00 ghz), then Vista is the way to go. Besides, it is installed on all new computers so might as well accept it.

n0thealthy · #4Definitely XP. It's faster, less resource hungry, and has much better compatibility. Plus, file operations (copying, deleting and moving files) are really slow in Vista. Microsoft claimed they improved with SP1, but they are still far slower than in XP.

vista doesn't like it when i have to copy a big file like the Common.mpq for Wow. It also takes like 6 hours to copy multiple files, where it would take you 10 minutes to do them individually.I get this dumb stupid error when i try to copy large files TO the vista computer saying that they data may have changed or something and then has to restart the transfer.XP just does it, no questions asked.

Replying to #7

Exactly.

XP Blows everything away, except for the graphical design, the aero style of vista blows everything away

actually, i hate the vista visual, and for xp, i either use a custom theme or the windows 98 look.i hate how vista made their icons so big that even the blind can see them.on mine, all of my icons are really small so i can fit more per screen.

All the nice looking futuristic looks and such slow Vista down a lot. Such as when you scroll over a icon on the desktop or a browsed folder etc., it highlights itself.

even with XP i don't use the fancy XP theme.
even though the little speed gain you get is trivial, it IS a speed gain.

I generally keep my theme on Classic, with no shading etc., I change my theme to the nice ones when I take screenshots and stuff, people usually hate bad looking themes.

i use alt+prnt scrn for screenshots and it doesn't show the desktop, just the window.

Loonylion · #2About the only bad point of windows XP, is some of the newest hardware can be hard to get drivers for, and the fact that it's no longer sold.

My work actually still sells XP. I've converted several people from vista to xp.

insanecrazy07 · #7vista doesn't like it when i have to copy a big file like the Common.mpq for Wow. It also takes like 6 hours to copy multiple files, where it would take you 10 minutes to do them individually.I get this dumb stupid error when i try to copy large files TO the vista computer saying that they data may have changed or something and then has to restart the transfer.XP just does it, no questions asked.

That is odd, i never get that its actually faster for me. Vista is harder to make things work because of that "admin permission" thing. I would choose XP for programming and graphical use but for just normal stuff i would use vista.

waylonn · #5For photoshop hardcore use: MAC

ooohhhh... i only dream of having a mac myself or just being able to feel the system *sad*

XP is much better. Vista is too much of a RAM whore. You really need at least 3GB of RAM to have it running smooth, and if you want more than 3GB, you have to get the 64-bit version, which raises more issues.Or you could just go with Linux/Ubuntu. :P

Replying to #18

That is also true of XP at this point

Yes, but XP isn't as much of a RAM whore. So unless you want some serious gaming, aka Crysis, you should be fine with 3GB