This is true. But people need to get over software incompatibility, nonetheless. It's happened before, and it will certainly happen again. I don't see why we need to make this any different. Believe me when I say I'm no fan of Microsoft, and they do make very large mistakes from a consumers point of view, but they deliver what they describe. Vista works fine, and incompatibility is just something people need to get over.

The only good thing about Vista is it's look and the fact that it can support DX10+

You can tweek XP to look (not 100%) like vista, and you can get all the desktop stuff as well.


Lolol, why don't you just install both?

Do you have XP already??Why do you want to another XP then??I don't get it.You could install that on the new computer

My parents only use it for checking their e-mails,everything else is of my use.

I personally like XP better myself, but in 1-2 years it won't be able to run any new game that comes out (as they will require DX-10), So Vista is a better choice and at some point they will get the kinks worked out of it just like in XP and it'll be a very nice OS.

Sorry for the double post but I just noticed this post you had.

The answer to your question arcadeplayer987 is that with most OS the licence only allows it to be installed on one computer, installing the same product key for a OS on two systems is illegal (I'm pretty sure of this but not positive).

True, but also you should be able to uninstall it and reinstall it on the new computer. I think this may involved contacting Microsoft and getting your key "cleared" from the old computer though. But don't quote me on that, I only recall reading something about it once, and I've never had to install the same copy of any OS on any two computers.

Any way you slice it though, go with Vista. Yes, I won't deny there are some minor issues with it, but they are generally very minor, and chances are SP1 will fix a good chunk of them.

I'd recommend XP.

In my opinion, Vista is just plain horrible. I hate all the warnings and restrictions Microsoft has put on this OS, hindering people from making changes to their systems "for their own safety." Please! If I want to run IE with minimal security, that's MY business, and I don't want to have to click thru warnings and ultimately a message that Vista can't/won't make the changes.

Vista came pre-installed on my laptop, but when I decided I wanted to move that computer to XP, the process was a real pain requiring a total reformat of my hard drive. "Upgrading" to Vista is a largely mindless process, l-o-n-g install time aside.

Mainstream support for XP will expire on 4/14/2009, however extended Microsoft support will be available until 4/8/2014.

Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search

Regarding gaming and DX10, that *may* be a consideration, however I'd guess that you'll upgrade your computer again before that becomes a requirement, making such assertions a moot point.

I rarely jump on with new operating systems, most often because, in my opinion, they're buggy until at least the first service pack release. XP is now largely "fixed." Vista is waiting for SP1. I opt for the side of ease and proven reliability vs. new and buggy. (I'm not a n00b, I remember using DOS, 3.1, WFW, 95, 98, 98SE, NT4, ME, 2000, and XP, and I regularly beta for Microsoft)

Hang on to XP, let others work out the problems, then take the leap.

That depends on what he does with his current computer. Generally speaking, if he pieces it out for parts or formats the HDD and sells the system barebones, he is legally entitled to install that copy of XP on a new system. (But only on ONE computer) There may, however, be exceptions if it's an OEM version of XP.

WPA is a pain in the butt, especially for people like me that routinely upgrade their computers and/or do a lot of beta testing and format their HDD a couple of times a year. The process is fairly painless though, simply requiring you to call the Microsoft activation line and explaining the situation.

If it's a pre-built machine then it will almost certainly be OEM, and I believe Microsoft can get a bit tetchy about those unless the machine it's on has actually died.