v8kid
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 02:24 PM |
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Windows7 or stay with XP?
Going back to uni should I stay with XP or go for 7 - and which 7 is best? Its a V techy course and I will get my own lab but its a few years since I
was in this posn and can't decide. Most tricky stuff will be done on server but I'll have loads of reports to write up and some of my old
programmes are only 32bit (mathcad et al).
So is it worth going to 7? Should I update progs to 64bit?
Cheers!
You'd be surprised how quickly the sales people at B&Q try and assist you after ignoring you for the past 15 minutes when you try and start a
chainsaw
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designer
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 02:38 PM |
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Stick with what you know.
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 02:42 PM |
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When Neccesary?
I upgrade when I really need to not for the fun!
I have some favourite software which will not tun in Win7 anyway.
I try not to go looking for problems on my pc's.
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blakep82
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 02:44 PM |
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XP might be about 10 years old, but it does everything i think it needs to. can't see the need to go for 7 tbh...
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Pdlewis
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 02:55 PM |
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windows 7 64bit all the way why would you want to use a 10 year old insecure OS?
anything which wont run (I have not found anything yet) will happily run on a virtual machine. It is a much nicer faster experience running windows 7
Build Photo Album
Updated 05/02/2009
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mcerd1
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 03:08 PM |
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win7 x64 is nice and what I'd get if I was going to run loads on new software
I've had issues with some older software on it (mostly down to the 64 bit rather than win7 itself)
so I built a new win7 machine as my main one, but kept my old XP ones alive too 
[Edited on 6/12/2011 by mcerd1]
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jossey
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 03:33 PM |
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if it aint broke dont fix it.
Thanks
David Johnson
Building my tiger avon slowly but surely.
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 03:35 PM |
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Not everyone runs new hardware, for most usual purposes older machines are more than adequate.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 03:50 PM |
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Windows 7 64 runs like a dream on with up to date programs but if you are running some old 32 bit applications you may have problems.
Windows 7 32 isn't worth the upgrade if you have Xp
Some problems with XP upgrades have caused annoying problems with fairly ancient versions of Office --- Microsoft fix is to tell you to buy a more
modern version of Office. Office 2011 takes a bit of getting used to as MS mucked up all the menus but it is rock solid.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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James
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 04:17 PM |
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Have had XP and Offic 2000 for ages on here.
Got Win7 with latest Office on it on work machine.
Wow! I was actually impressed with M$ for the first time... ever! Some really cool features.
As BT says, they've changed all the menus so that takes a while to get used to. But some really cool stuff in there by combining the
functionality of the 2.
Cheers,
James
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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rgrs
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 04:24 PM |
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Sounds like you might want to investigate a technet license, if your going to start playing with things then the basic license gives you access to
all the OS's past and present and license keys for testing.
It also allows you run Win7 and Office 2010 for the duration of your license.
Roger
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morcus
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 05:17 PM |
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I don't have much luck with computors and I'd probably still be on XP if I did but got 7 on my new computor as I couldn't buy one
with XP (And really don't like Vista). I'd say don't bother unless you have too. 7 is good but it's changed things that should
have been left.
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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Furyous
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 06:24 PM |
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Without meaning to offend anyone, people who say XP is fine and 7 has no benefit are quite likely blissfully unaware. XP is 10 years old. It's
obsolete, unsecure, and unsupported. It's time to move on.
32bit programmes should work fine in 64bit Windows 7. The main problem with "bits" was when Vista 64bit was new and hardware manufacturers
gave poor driver support. Now that some time has passed, they've got their acts together and made 64bit drivers which don't have the
associated problems. If you get a 32 bit operating system you will only be able to use 4GB of ram, including video card memory. Windows 7 64bit Home
Premium has a 16GB limit and Ultimate, possibly Business, have either a higher limit or no limit. On a new PC you should be getting 4GB minimum.
We're just getting to the point where 4GB can be fully used. People who say otherwise probably only browse the internet or write the occasional
document.
There is a lot more to an Operating System than the GUI, and 7 has a lot of big improvements over XP under the bonnet. I can't recite them
without a list in front of me, so I won't pretend I know what they are. But they're worth the upgrade.
Pdlewis' comment above about running XP in a virtual machine only applies to Windows 7 Ultimate, which is much more expensive and doesn't
have many, if any, features that are worthwhile to the average user.
Don't install Windows 7 on an XP machine or you'll be one of the people who says it's slow and bloated. It would be if you install
it on unsuitable hardware. 
So my vote is for Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
[Edited on 6/12/11 by Furyous]
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blakep82
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 06:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Furyous
Without meaning to offend anyone, people who say XP is fine and 7 has no benefit are quite likely blissfully unaware. XP is 10 years old. It's
obsolete, unsecure, and unsupported. It's time to move on.
32bit programmes should work fine in 64bit Windows 7. The main problem with "bits" was when Vista 64bit was new and hardware manufacturers
gave poor driver support. Now that some time has passed, they've got their acts together and made 64bit drivers which don't have the
associated problems. If you get a 32 bit operating system you will only be able to use 4GB of ram, including video card memory. Windows 7 64bit Home
Premium has a 16GB limit and Ultimate, possibly Business, have either a higher limit or no limit. On a new PC you should be getting 4GB minimum.
We're just getting to the point where 4GB can be fully used. People who say otherwise probably only browse the internet or write the occasional
document.
There is a lot more to an Operating System than the GUI, and 7 has a lot of big improvements over XP under the bonnet. I can't recite them
without a list in front of me, so I won't pretend I know what they are. But they're worth the upgrade.
Pdlewis' comment above about running XP in a virtual machine only applies to Windows 7 Ultimate, which is much more expensive and doesn't
have many, if any, features that are worthwhile to the average user.
Don't install Windows 7 on an XP machine or you'll be one of the people who says it's slow and bloated. It would be if you install
it on unsuitable hardware.
So my vote is for Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
[Edited on 6/12/11 by Furyous]
i'd agree with you if it was a case of buying a new laptop, and trying to decide whether to keep 7, or install xp instead. however, thats not
how the OP reads.
quote:
Originally posted by Furyous
Don't install Windows 7 on an XP machine or you'll be one of the people who says it's slow and bloated. It would be if you
install it on unsuitable hardware.
so are you saying stick with XP?
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Furyous
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 07:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
i'd agree with you if it was a case of buying a new laptop, and trying to decide whether to keep 7, or install xp instead. however, thats not
how the OP reads.
quote:
Originally posted by Furyous
Don't install Windows 7 on an XP machine or you'll be one of the people who says it's slow and bloated. It would be if you
install it on unsuitable hardware.
so are you saying stick with XP?
That's a good point which I thought of after I hurriedly posted. It didn't occur to me that XP wouldn't even be an option if V8kid
was buying a new PC. Hardware with an Intel Core2Duo or newer should be ok with W7, although it's probably not worth getting a new operating
system without new hardware.
Serves me right for posting before I've woken up.
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McLannahan
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 07:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Windows 7 64 runs like a dream on with up to date programs but if you are running some old 32 bit applications you may have problems.
Windows 7 32 isn't worth the upgrade if you have Xp
Some problems with XP upgrades have caused annoying problems with fairly ancient versions of Office --- Microsoft fix is to tell you to buy a more
modern version of Office. Office 2011 takes a bit of getting used to as MS mucked up all the menus but it is rock solid.
There's Office 2011 for Mac but it's 2010 for PC.
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splitrivet
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 08:01 PM |
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Are you upgrading your machine to 64 bit or just looking at changing the OS ?
As far as 7 goes had a copy of it for yonks but didnt upgrade till I bought another HD so I thought I'd give it a go. What a revelation, loads
better and faster than XP, wish I'd changed yonks ago.
As far as 64 bit goes Ive had loads of issues with it regarding installing comms programs to clients machines in saying that they are highly
specialised.
Cheers,
Bob
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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v8kid
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 08:35 PM |
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Thanks for all the input chaps I'm now totally confused! Only kidding.
New PC and new laptop for a new(ish) student  . Think I'll go for 7 x 64 bit ultimate with the XP virtual backup. To be honest I never knew
this was possible and it seems the best of both worlds - I can run my old progs until I update them (if the new ones are better) and get the benefit
of all that speed from extra memory.
Re cost; I'm a student remember we don't actually pay full price for anything - I even am now officially invisible as far as council tax
is concerned!
Cheers ! and ta for the advice chaps
You'd be surprised how quickly the sales people at B&Q try and assist you after ignoring you for the past 15 minutes when you try and start a
chainsaw
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Davegtst
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 08:47 PM |
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Win 7 64 for me. I was an XP user for years and didn't really want to give it up but was kind of forced to change by a recent game that
wouldn't run XP. I use my desktop mainly for games/sims and it make a huge difference to them.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 6/12/11 at 08:56 PM |
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Running Xp as a virtual machine can be done in almost any operating system but I would only do if nothing else worked or I wanted a throwaway
virtual machine that could be completely reset to a virgin state with little effort.
I have an Xp virtual machine running on Virtual Box Linux host, but I only use it for running car diagnostic software.
[Edited on 6/12/11 by britishtrident]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Pezza
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| posted on 7/12/11 at 05:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Davegtst
Win 7 64 for me. I was an XP user for years and didn't really want to give it up but was kind of forced to change by a recent game that
wouldn't run XP. I use my desktop mainly for games/sims and it make a huge difference to them.
Same here, I had been putting it off for a long time, then along came BF3 and it was new rig time, damn game has cost me a fortune lol
You couldn't pwn your way out of a wet paper bag, with "PWN ME!!" written on it, from the "pwned take-away" which originally contained one
portion of chicken tikka pwnsala and the obligatory free pwnpadom.
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