Is it better geting a new PC with Vista or Xp.?

Question

Our old PC (from Evesham) has crashed for the 4th time :-(
so my dad wants to buy a new family computer. He has been to a local shop where they tried to sell him an xp machine, they also told him that Vista is bad at the moment and that he should buy an Xp machine and upgrade later. I think that it is better to get a vista machine for only 60 pounds more which has got better specifications and because Vista is the future.

Is Vista really that bad?
How could i convince him that it is better than Xp?
Do you know of any good quality, cheap and reliable vista models which PC world sell?

Answer 1

Vista, it's brand new and i have it.
BUT, some programs aren't compatible with it yet because it's so new.

Answer 2

I have Vista Business at home it works just fine. Most if not all drivers for any program or hardware you install will offer drivers on their web site or with the disk they ship with the hardware.

The only issues I've had is with permissions. There is an easy work around that is all over the internet.

I did an upgrade to Vista from XP Home. Didn't go to smoothly. I suggest buying Vista pre installed. I use both XP and Vista regularly. If you have to you can run the program in XP mode just as you can with programs on XP as in running them in legacy mode. You can type any of these questions into the help search bar included with Vista and it will give you step by step instructions.

I have worked with Vista since RC1 went to the some of the Vista release parties and have MCSE tested for Vista. I have seen vast improvements to the operating system. I did feel that through out the whole testing and working with Vista that it was a clone of the Mac OS.

I recommend buying Vista preinstalled and on the computer or go the Mac route. You will have to learn how to use the OS just as you did when you purchased the XP system. Once you get past the learning curve you will love it. I recommend getting nothing less than Vista Business, but if you cannot afford that than get Home Premium nothing less.

Answer 3

If I were you people, I would NEVER go back to that STUPID shop that gave you such HOGWASH advice.
The only reason they want you to buy a comp with XP is because they may never sell it. If you get a chance, see what their own computers have installed in the shop. Twenty bucks says "Vista".
If you buy a comp with Vista installed, you won't have to upgrade later, ($150-$250).
AND they will have made another sale.
I upgraded from Windows 2000 Professional to Vista Home Basic and I'm ready to upgrade to Vista Premium because I have had no problem at all.
When buying, remember, the Bigger the Better, the Faster the Better, etc.
Don't forget, get the most RAM (Random Access Memory) you can afford, you won't regret it.
Get the biggest hard drive you can afford.
Why? Well, your gonna love it so much as a family, a small HDD will fill up before you can say "capacity".
I don't know where you're from, but I just bought a top of the line HP (Hewlett Packard Compaq), for about $500. You do the exchange.
There are other reliable PC's out there, so compare before buying.
;-)

Answer 4

Vista isn't so bad. I'm using it right now and I like it. But it has a lot of bugs. The main problem is that many programs are not compatible with it. You should buy the computer with Xp and upgrade it later with Vista, after most of the bugs are corrected and programs for Vista are launched. Vista needs a lot of resources. The computer must have at least 512 MB of RAM (1GB recommended and 2 GB or more for the best performance), a processor with at least 2 Ghz, and a good video card.

Answer 5

Vista, does have it's problems, mostly compatibility issues, for instance, certain programs you already own, may not work on a vista machine. And certain devices such as a printer and even a flash drive may not play nice with a Vista machine. I have even ran across some people, that had to buy all new devices just so they would work with Vista, printers, routers and all.

Now Vista should be okay I'd say by fall, most of the flaws to it should be worked out.

But I would say for now, that XP still is the better or the two. I have talked to too many people who had Vista, that all wanted to switch back to XP.

I will however recommend getting an HP model. The only one I would not suggest getting is a dell.

Answer 6

XP Pro.


Do not buy software when they start working on the service packs before the software is available.

If Vista is the future, then the future is buggy, over-hyped, glitzy without substance, not compatible with everything that is here already and too expensive.


I suspect that the future is Linux, but they need to get the fit and finish better and the software out there. But Ubuntu + Firefox + Thunderbird + Open Office (Free OS + free browser + free E-mail + free office suite) would cover most of what 80% of people use a computer for.

Answer 7

xyz1016 is correct. You can upgrade to Vista later but if you buy a new system with Vista installed as Default you cannot go back to XP or install XP over it you are stuck with Vista and it has a lot of issues XP is going very well.

PS Stay away from PCWorld Big trouble/rip off just ask a question and you will get more than one negative answer.

Good Luck

Answer 8

Unfortunately vista is still a bit shaky with drivers and so on so i think you should opt for an xp at the moment and upgrade to vista later when it gets more stable. What you should look for is that your PC must have the specifications to support vista later that is 256MB video card and 512MB(minimum) ram and so on. read more about it on the Internet than you can make a better choice of what you buy. Read reviews these can be helpful.
Good Luck

Answer 9

Vista is still very new. As with any software, the new operating system will take many updates before all the problems are fixed, compatibility issues resolved. XP has been around for a while so it's established itself well, many programs will work for it, drivers compatible with it. It will be a risk with Vista. I recommend you use what's safest (XP) and upgrade when Vista is cheaper and less buggy.

Answer 10

I think that you are right when you say that Vista is the future, when they bought out Xp they had trouble with it but it didn't take them to long to get it right. In six months time you with get a good quality and cheap one for the price you will pay today.

Answer 11

It's never a good idea to get a new Windows operating system right when it is released.
I don't know if you remember this but when XP first came out it took about two years until most of the initial bugs were resolved.
I just bought a Vista laptop and it's a mess, so many things go wrong and a lot of programs (e.g. my broadband provider software!) are not even compatible yet.
Oh, and keep your hands of Norton's 2007 Security system. It's useless.