Vista or XP? Little help!

Hi guys,

I have finally decided to change laptop. I am thinking about buying a dell with the following config, but I am still quite unsure about the whole vista vs xp thing. I can choose XP but should I?
Any advice on that? And please feel free to comment on the config too!

Inspiron 1525

My Components

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache

OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Business Bonus

OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works

HD DISPLAY High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1440x900)

MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz

HARD DRIVE Size: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

VIDEO CARD Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE CD / DVD Writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)

WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Intel Next -Gen Wireless -N Mini-card

INTEGRATED WEBCAM Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam

BATTERY OPTIONS 9 cell Battery

SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0

Vista should run fine with those specs, so it's all down whether you're cool with adjusting to the quirks of a new operating system (assuming you're used to knowing your way around XP).

Thanks.
Yeah I am so used to XP that I am tempted to keep it. Plus I have a few data processing software that I know won't work on vista, so I am a bit wary. But at the same time I don't want to miss out on vista if it gives you some advantages that you don't get on xp.

I have to admit I have not been paying attention on the advantages of vista. Working in a lab where vista is not allowed I really do not know what it is worth.

if you had a better gfx card, i would say vista. go with xp

I love Vista Home Premium. No problems so far after 18 months.

Vista is on it's way out anyway, with Windows 7 coming soon. They even have a beta version that runs on netbooks, which even Vista Basic can't do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PixelPusher

Vista is on it's way out anyway, with Windows 7 coming soon. They even have a beta version that runs on netbooks, which even Vista Basic can't do.

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Windows 7 isn't coming out until early 2010, so I wouldn't say that Vista is on its way out.

Well, I do need a new computer now so, windows 7 is not an option.

What I need is a computer with a OS to handle large data processing and the use of a virtual machine to run linux sometimes without lagging.

I know some are going to say that Mac might be best but I just don't like it. So vista or xp are my options.

XP Pro Edition

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leemajors

if you had a better gfx card, i would say vista. go with xp

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I agree on this.

I prefer XP Pro, though Vista is just as good as XP. You'd just have to get used to the little differences in Vista, but either one is just fine. Vista isn't as bad as you think.

I find Vista actually runs better than XP if you have the RAM to handle it. Either way you're going to be fine.

Thanks guys.

I might give Vista a go! I am guessing 4Gig of RAM should be fine. I just want the the OS that run the most smoothly, mostly under heavy work.

Get XP or at the very least, dual boot...

So you think dual boot would be better than say run XP in a virtual machine for things I can't do with VISTA?

Vista is ok, I'm on it now. It's a lot better than it was before the service pack updates, but at the same time it's still not as good as XP. There are just a lot of little bugs, glitches, and annoyances here and there, and if your software won't work with Vista, might as well get XP...

Yeah, I am leaning toward XP, but I have a change of heart and I think Dell XPS would fit more needs for me and they do not give a downgrade option. So I have a big dilemma.!

It's no dilema, you can't let an operating system be the reason you choose one system over another, just get the XPS with Vista.

If you really need it I'm sure you can find a way to get XP on there...

True.

I will try to buy it through my employee discount, maybe they'll let me get XP, otherwise, either I will downgrade (which I have no idea how) or VMWare will be my best friend.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by caribbean_spur

True.

I will try to buy it through my employee discount, maybe they'll let me get XP, otherwise, either I will downgrade (which I have no idea how) or VMWare will be my best friend.

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Vista isn't great, but it's a hell of a lot better than running XP virtually.

Oh, I would only run XP in VMware for the few software that will not work with vista.

My data processing software is super expensive so I have no intention in upgrading it now . It will not work on vista so, I don't have a lot of options. Either I downgrade or I run XP virtually when I need this software. And this is assuming it will work smoothly enough in the virtual machine.

Vista sucks, run XP or get a Maccc

-Mars

Your software has to dictate what operating system you have, and I'd honestly avoid running software virtually if I could.

As I mentioned earlier though, you can always acquire, or simply buy XP....

You might be right. I will have to downgrade. Any advice or link that might help me with this?
Sorry if I ask too much, but for mostly lurking on my beloved spurs board I have seen how you guys can be nice and helpful :-).

You could just buy Windows XP retail, or acquire it by other means..

Yeah, but I have a friend who try to downgrade and had all sorts of problem while doing so. Not sure why but it seemed that a normal clean install just did not do it for him. I have been surfing the net about downgrading and it is quite a challenge but, well, if I have to do it I have to do it. Hopefully this is not going to take me to much time and frustration.

Thanks for the answers though, you guys are great!

format, reload. there shouldn't be a problem unless the HDD has issues.