I have been hearing some not so great reviews of the new windows coming out. Slow, takes up a ton of memory, doesn't run with older printers ect.

When this POS buggy Compaq that I am typing on gets replaced this year I'm getting a Mac! So long Windows.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Unfortunately, not everyone has that choice. I require MS Windows for my work, and the OS that I use must be supported. Therefore we can't run NT4.0 for new installations, for example. At some point, Windows Server 2003 will also be EOL'd and I'll use something else. But moving to Apple is not an option.

It looks like it has some cool features tho. Haven't installed it yet. I'll probably wait for a bit, in case (what am I saying 'in case') I mean WHEN, there are bugs found.

I really do like the 3D multi-windows bit though. Very cool feature. I have a nice new widescreen LCD, so it should come in handy.

I do some PC gaming as well, so DirectX 10 is going to be cool!

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

I don't do much gaming anymore. I just want a computer that works! If I can type, go on the net, wach TV/movies/DVD's and play a few games I'll be happy.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

"If I don't make it . . . I want you to have my peripherals . . "

Hatterasguy, don't I recall that you are a young guy who is in college? Don't I recall that you have some business aspirations?

If yes, then be sure you preserve your Windows skills. Windows is a fact of life in business. The fact that your Compaq is buggy, doesn't make Windows XP buggy. Here is my perspective.

I am what I call, a pretend Geek. I taught myself database programming at age 50. I developed, and market, a very elaborate application that runs small privately held manufacturing plants in my industry.

I have experienced, hands on, the progression from Windows 95, to 98, to NT, to 2000, and now XP with Server 2003. From my perspective the stability of my application in these networks has vastly improved over the this transition. I am on call 24x7. The number of network related trouble calls now is virtually zero, I think 2 last month.

I have used Thinkpad laptops for the last 8 years or so. I don't have virus problems or buggy application problems. I am really happy with Windows XP. It allows me to make my living sitting in my chair at home. Broadband internet and remote control software has vastly reduced, but not eliminated, my need to be onsite.

just my 2 cents,

Steve

You are correct. But I was under the impression that I can now run windows and IE on Mac's. Is so why shouldn't I go with a more relaible system?

Granted a lot of my problems are probably from this tired computer.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I wouldn't mind your 2 cents regarding Windows XP as it runs on this machine:

I also agree that the platform is significantly more stable than it's predecessors. The problems with XP are probably 10% of the problems that would occur with '98.

My question concerns the speed of the machine. When new, approx. 4 years ago, it was lightning fast. Almost all applications would start in two seconds or less. The page loading capability for the internet was under 1 second. The machine had 512MB at that time.

Four years later, after the installation of another 512MB, for a total of 1024MB, the machine remains slower than when originally purchased. The software is basically unchanged. It runs anti-virus......always has........and it has anti-spam running in the background. But, I'd probably guess that it's speed remains at 33% of when it was first purchased.

Just to be clear:

It has no spyware, viruses, or any superflous internet pages.

It runs three different anti-spyware programs and also cleans out the dead files when I use "clean-up" on a periodic basis.

It's defragmented every month or so........never made a bit of difference.

It's had the benefit of "registry mechanic" to remove 400 items in the registry that were superflous.

None of these tasks has returned the machine anywhere near close to the original performance.

I remain suspicious of the operating system because of this malady. Others have commented that a full reinstall of the OS is required to cure it. This would confirm my belief that it's not a system that is properly debugged and suffers from ongoing maladies that infect its registry.

I refuse to spend 16 hours to reinstall the OS and all of the programs and data. After five years, it's time for a new machine anyway. It just confirms my opinion that the OS is not capable of running indefinitely without corrupting itself.

If you're running Mcafee or Norton for your virus scan, that will slow you computer down considerably. Try switching to AVG Free for virus and spyware apps. I'm running Vista and have been for a couple of months as well as Office 2007. It's ok, but nothing earth shattering.

__________________
99 ML320
94 SL600
92 SL500
95 E320 Cabriolet
87 560SEC
86 300SDL Grease Car
80 380SLC Euro

13 Fiat Abarth
02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
00 BMW Z3
90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
80 Ferrari 308 GTSI
88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition
99 Land Rover Discovery

Project Blackcomb aka Vienna is going to revolutionize the way a PC is used and how it works.. Vista is just.. Windows NT V7.1

Im upgrading to a mac next month

Wish I could help, but I really am a pretend Geek. Sounds like you have done all the things you should do. I doubt it's XP.

Seems to me that something is running in the background, like anti-virus, and slowing your machine down. Is your hard disk almost full? That will slow things down. I share your opinion about not having the time to mess the PC.

I often am asked about what to do with PC's that are say 4 years old. Now this is in a business environment, but has validity in the personal use situation. They call and say that they want to have the PC's upgraded. I tell them that I think they are nuts. In my opinion, PC's and laptops are disposable. They have gotten so cheap that you almost can't afford to fix the bloody things.

Wish I knew the answer to your slowness problem.

Steve

Running Windows on Mac. Yes, that's what I understand. I really don't know anything about a Mac. For me it would simply having to learn and remember two different systems for clicks and keystrokes.

Hey, your young, should be no problem.

Steve

Thanks. Nobody really can put a firm answer on it. Yes, anti-virus runs in the background, as it did when the machine was brand new. The speed that it operates at today is about 30% of the speed that it operated when new. Understand that it's still relatively fast, but, when new, it would open programs so fast that it was simply striking.

The hard disc has 8GB remaining out of 27.8GB, so, I'm doubtful that it's the culprit.

I agree completely regarding the disposable aspect of the machine after four years. The 286 powered machine lasted four years ('90-'94). The 386DX machine lasted five years ('94-'99). The 486 machine lasted four years ('99-'03). This machine is approaching four years and it's the best of the bunch after that time. The previous machine with windows 98 exhibited the same behavior. The problem became so severe that running applications became a problematic endeavor. It crashed at least five times per week.......sometimes more. Discussion with MS about the issue generally didn't solve much except in the very short term. The machine finally was replaced with this one.

The learning curve for Mac is about one week. I don't get this compatibility BS because Mac seems to network and share files with windows computers better than window computers.

For remote desktop RDC works perfectly one the Mac.

ActiveX is an issue and I think winders is going to run into another DOJ lawsuit because of it.

There's more to computing than user-level applications. "Compatibility" here means that you can accomplish the same tasks using different software written to attain the same ends. Since there are many users, it's profitable to port the software to multiple platforms.

When a programmer talks about compatibility, he means the operating system API. It's nontrivial to port software that uses the Windows API to anything else. This goes for pretty much any other OS architecture; porting OpenVMS software to Windows is also fraught with peril. If you have custom software, the cost to port to a new platform is enormous. Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single server application. Millions, in many cases.