Should someone currently running Windows 98 buy a new computer with XP or Vista?

Question

A friend has been running Win 98 for years, but his machine has died and he needs a new one. He's concerned about the learning curve for a new operating system. Would he be better off getting XP or making the leap to Vista? Will 98-to-XP be easier than 98-to-Vista, in the short run? In the long run? He uses his computer for word-processing, taxes, and Internet access, mostly. He's unlikely to do much gaming or multimedia work, if any.

Answer 1

If your friend is comfortable with MS Windows on 98 (i.e. not walking through a written down set of steps to do anything on the OS), they should be able to use either XP or Vista with minimal learning. XP and Vista are similar enough to each other from an interface perspective that a competent computer user should be able to work with both. Where the real change comes in is with the administration. For some reason Microsoft feels it needs to do a reorganization of the Start Menu, Administrative Tools, Control Panel, etc... from version to version. Going from Windows 98 to either XP or Vista for administration will require a bit of an adjustment. Windows 98 was very much a single user system while XP and Vista do have user profiles and security roles (can't say multi-user as only one user can be on the system at a given time still).

I would recommend your friend take an inventory of their existing applications (and any hardware...fax machine, cameras, etc...) to see what is supported on XP or Vista before deciding which to go with. Applications written for Windows 98 may not work for either OS or maybe just with XP.

Answer 2

Well, Vista is highly misunderstood. Vista is a very much "dumbed-down" operating system. People fail to comprehend just how simple it is to use due to being so used to Xp. Also, Vista still has some compatibility issues.
With that said... If he is used to how 98 runs and operates, Xp is probably best for right now. Vista SP1 comes out in March 2008, that would be a better time to get Vista.

Answer 3

They are both very easily to learn if regardless that he is had Windows 98. The problem would be price. Vista is expensive but has many new features. On the other hand, XP is less expensive and is reliable but doesn't have some good features that Vista does.
In my opinion, XP is the best option for your friend because it is not a complicated a Vista and will easily do what your friend wants to do.

Answer 4

Yes get one. At least you will have a better security considering Win 98 has no real log in and password. Plus it hasn't changed that much with the interface. It still has a start bar! Give it a shot. Just make sure if you get Vista to grab a PC with at least 2 gigabytes of ram in it!!! Trust me, you will thank me for it! I am dual booting XP and Vista (using 2 operating systems). I am warming up to Vista. With all the applications you listed, you would benefit from the added security. With any new OS it takes a little time to get used to new things. But why go with older technology. Go with Vista.

Answer 5

Vista and XP seem to be on different wavelengths. Vista seems (to me) a lot more complicated but in the long run I bet it will outlast XP (since it's newer). It seems like your friend is not very computer savvy though so I doubt he'd want to mess around too much learning the intricacies of Vista.

I'd say if he's up to a challenge definitely get Vista just because it is good technology and the future. But he doesn't need it per say, XP has all the things he needs, is stable and a bit more user friendly not to mention cheaper.

Answer 6

Depends on what you want I'm a pretty hard core user. Vista isn't that bad. I have personally only found maybe four things that are wrong. Get xp if you want something that is completely stable. But think about this after windows vista sp1 comes out next year vista will be a little better and more users are going to switch over. So you might as well get vista because your eventually gonna get it once vista really takes off after all the bugs are gone.

Answer 7

Firstly, I don't believe you can use your mom's cd to install Windows 7 on a second computer if it's installed on another computer. I think the MS registration process will put a halt on that pretty quick, unless you have other means of circumventing that. Next, a laptop that runs Windows 98 is probably to underpowered to run Windows 7. I would just spend the four hundred bucks or so and buy yourself a new laptop with Windows 7 already installed. I mean any cheapo laptop you can pick today can surely beat the pants off of an old Windows 98 laptop.

Answer 8

XP is very similar to 98. It can be customized so it looks like 98, and there are very few diferences for the kind of tasks your friend do.

I'm not very experienced with Vista, but it is more different. I would recommend XP (besides, XP requirements are lower).

Out-of-topic: if learning curve is an issue your friend should NOT install Office 2007 because it is VERY different from previous versions (this applies to both XP and Vista).

Answer 9

I'd recommend going to XP. It's much easier to customize the look and feel of XP to make it behave like Windows 98 than it is to make Vista behave like any earlier version of Windows, as there were so many changes in Vista that some elements of the older Windows versions just can't be emulated by Vista. Any new version of his tax software should be able to import old tax returns, and the other general use functions are easily served by XP and the wide variety of available software for XP.

For a new XP PC, you should ask your friend to consider the small business lines from Dell, HP, and smaller vendors like MPC that still preload XP. MPC recently acquired Gateway's business division.

Answer 10

I would suggest taking the dive and going with Vista. The end of life for XP support is coming and since he seems like someone who keeps a PC for a long time, he should go with that which has the longest lifespan.

The learning curve is going to sharp whether he goes XP or Vista. It makes sense to get as far ahead of the curve as possible to maximize the interval until the next big jump.