HELP! XP 64 bit, XP 32 bit, or Vista??

[*NastyJeff*]

I need advice from any and everyone!
I do not know what to put in our new systems.
I hear horror stories about Vista, then I hear GREAT stories.
I would like to install SOMETHING 64 bit, or amI nuts? (ignore that last question, lol.)
If you have Vista, or XP 64 bit, please advise.

I will load XP Pro 32 bit for Missy. Her machine will probably never go over 4 gigs of ram, and I am not going to make her a test rat.
If things go well with me, I can upgrade her later....

So....XP 64 or Vista Ultimate?

[Youngard]

I got the Vista 64
I gotta say i do like vista, i got 8gig of RAM in my PC and it flies, BUT there is ALOT of crap running in the background that just doesnt need to be there theres several sites that say how much there is, if you want a quicker machine and better suited to games, go for the XP 64, if you want all the 'fancy' desktop with the little perks and still runs pretty good with games then go for the vista (http://www.blackviper.com/ this being one of the sites that shows all the crap on vista)

Youngard x

[Penny]

Hi Jeff,

I'm running XP x64 edition on my rig - 8 gigs of RAM. I was going to run Vista initially, but after trying it out and seeing it running (or, rather crashing!) on friends' computers I went with the more mature and stable OS.

XP x64 flies along, and all is pretty solid with it. Some older DOS stuff doesn't run at all - as Microsoft have removed all of the old legacy DOS-like subsystems. But if you really need to run old DOS stuff you can do what I do and run DOSBox - which works superbly.

So - in a 64-bit head-to-head between XP x64 and Vista Ultimate I would go XP... For now! Vista will, ultimately, be more future-proof - but (for me) it still has too many issues.

Of course, you could always go over to the Dark Side and run Linux!!

[*NastyJeff*]

Thanks.
My biggest concern was Q3 on Vista.... but if it can be played on XP 64 bit, it's a done deal.

[*NastyJeff*]

OK, after HOURS of studying vista vs XP I have come to the conclusion:
-Vista had major issues when first released, but SP1 seems to have corrected them and people seem happier with it now.
-XP 64 bit is solid, but there are not as many drivers/programs out there that will run properly on it
-Vista is a memory HOG
-Vista Ultimate vs Vista Premium- Ultimate is not worth getting for the extra 3 or 4 items that are on it, people don't need or use them anyway.
-If I am planning on having the system for the next 4+ years, Vista would be a better choice, AS LONG AS IT RUNS Q3 INSTA!

Youngy is using Vista 64, and it runs q3. Did you have to do anything "special" to it?

Ordering in 3 days.....

On another note. Since Missy WILL use XP Pro 32 bit with a 1 gig video card, I will only get her 2 gigs of memory. Since XP 32 will only see 4 gigs total of ram, it would be a waste to get her more.

[*NastyJeff*]

OK "throws hands up in the air" I give up...... I will try the new breed....i give in....
Bought a copy of Vista Ultimate x32/x64 Retail on Ebay, got a GREAT DEAL.
If I decide that I do not like it, I have XP Pro at the house that I can install. I just want to see what all of the hype is about; call me your test rat.

[*NastySlowhand*]

you may need to download some hotfixes for the high end graphics card ;D

[*NastyJeff*]

I have already downloaded and burned copies for both of our operating systems. Thanks for the heads up Slow.