Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
As far as the PC goes Alienware and Polywell are both excellent high-in PC makers. On the OS I would go with XP MCE 2005 due to a very bad experience I had with Vista.
"If they give you ruled paper write the other way"-dedication of Fahrenheit 451
Stick to games Microsoft! Leave the big stuff to the real programmers. Support Linux, Mozilla, and Open Office.org in the Open Source Revolution!!!
"If they give you ruled paper write the other way"-dedication of Fahrenheit 451
Stick to games Microsoft! Leave the big stuff to the real programmers. Support Linux, Mozilla, and Open Office.org in the Open Source Revolution!!!
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
Do not jump based on someone else's bias either pro or con on the machines or the operating system.
Go on the internet sites for the suppliers you are considering and browse through their support sites for the models you are considering. I believe you will note a big difference between HP and Dell and the rest of the crowd. HP and Dell have in my opinion the best information available for the consumer on the web. Then also sit down and list your periphials and research the drivers available.
Going through your listed items -
DSL router/wireless access point - should not have a problem. If you connect to the router via ethernet, you might have to set or turn off the software firewall on either XP or Vista. If you connect wirelessly, then you will need to reset the default name in the workgroup when you go through setup - XP uses the default mshome while Vista uses the default workgroup.
Typical printers. Depends on how typical they are. Most recent printers already have Vista drivers. If you have an HP Laserjet (except the 1000 series) they have used a common print language and the Universal Printer Driver works on all Laserjets ranging back to the 1980's Laserjet II. If you are uncertain about the available drivers, a quick visit to the printer's website will let you know if the drivers are available.
USB devices - there is no reason any USB device would not work with Vista as well as it does XP. Ipod's may use a specific program, and I will leave it to others to say whether it runs well under Vista, but I have not seen any postings on the community forums about any problems.
I am not familiar with how the RCA Wireless transmitter connects, whether it is USB or Audio plugs. Either way, there should be no reason for it not to work. If there is a special program with it, there could be a problem, as the research I have done indicates that this product is no longer available from the new retail supply chain.
Serial connection to an automotive performance meter. Serial ports are not universially available on machines any longer. The serial and parallel ports of yesteryear have been replace by USB and Firewire. Add in serial cards are available.
Make a list of each program you have on your machine and determine if an update for Vista exists.
1. Virtually all Microsoft programs run without modification. I say virtual, because somewhere there may be one that won't. I have run 1993 MS games designed for Windows 3.1 without a problem. Any office programs should not have a problem.
2. Quicken 2006 runs, but the cashregister ka-ching does not work. It uses a direct access to the sound card bypassing the central kernel. This path is closed in Vista (finally - it was a secuity problem).
3. Open Office - I am currently evaluating Open Office on one Vista machine without any problems with the OS.
4. Adobe Reader 8 runs fine.
5. I have also run Registry Mechanic, Superantispyware, Acronis, AVGFree and others.
Programs that use direct writing to sound and video that was necessary in DOS (each program had to have its own drivers, so if you had Lotus 1-2-3 for spreadsheets, Wordperfect for word processing and MS Chart for charting - you had drivers for each program for your printer). Some programs have kept this practice up rather than go through the central kernel and those bypass routes are now closed).
The vast majority of problems currently with Vista are programs that are written as above (major games are the worst offenders) and have not been updated, and older scanners and printers. I have been using Vista on a daily basis for 5 months, and the only device I have that would not convert is a 5-6 year old scanner. I had to replace a printer because of mechanical problems, so I purchased an All-In-One to replace it. I also have XP on an older machine and Vista on a new build (the one with Open Office) that I am experimenting with.
If you have any other questions, please come back and ask.
Go on the internet sites for the suppliers you are considering and browse through their support sites for the models you are considering. I believe you will note a big difference between HP and Dell and the rest of the crowd. HP and Dell have in my opinion the best information available for the consumer on the web. Then also sit down and list your periphials and research the drivers available.
Going through your listed items -
DSL router/wireless access point - should not have a problem. If you connect to the router via ethernet, you might have to set or turn off the software firewall on either XP or Vista. If you connect wirelessly, then you will need to reset the default name in the workgroup when you go through setup - XP uses the default mshome while Vista uses the default workgroup.
Typical printers. Depends on how typical they are. Most recent printers already have Vista drivers. If you have an HP Laserjet (except the 1000 series) they have used a common print language and the Universal Printer Driver works on all Laserjets ranging back to the 1980's Laserjet II. If you are uncertain about the available drivers, a quick visit to the printer's website will let you know if the drivers are available.
USB devices - there is no reason any USB device would not work with Vista as well as it does XP. Ipod's may use a specific program, and I will leave it to others to say whether it runs well under Vista, but I have not seen any postings on the community forums about any problems.
I am not familiar with how the RCA Wireless transmitter connects, whether it is USB or Audio plugs. Either way, there should be no reason for it not to work. If there is a special program with it, there could be a problem, as the research I have done indicates that this product is no longer available from the new retail supply chain.
Serial connection to an automotive performance meter. Serial ports are not universially available on machines any longer. The serial and parallel ports of yesteryear have been replace by USB and Firewire. Add in serial cards are available.
Make a list of each program you have on your machine and determine if an update for Vista exists.
1. Virtually all Microsoft programs run without modification. I say virtual, because somewhere there may be one that won't. I have run 1993 MS games designed for Windows 3.1 without a problem. Any office programs should not have a problem.
2. Quicken 2006 runs, but the cashregister ka-ching does not work. It uses a direct access to the sound card bypassing the central kernel. This path is closed in Vista (finally - it was a secuity problem).
3. Open Office - I am currently evaluating Open Office on one Vista machine without any problems with the OS.
4. Adobe Reader 8 runs fine.
5. I have also run Registry Mechanic, Superantispyware, Acronis, AVGFree and others.
Programs that use direct writing to sound and video that was necessary in DOS (each program had to have its own drivers, so if you had Lotus 1-2-3 for spreadsheets, Wordperfect for word processing and MS Chart for charting - you had drivers for each program for your printer). Some programs have kept this practice up rather than go through the central kernel and those bypass routes are now closed).
The vast majority of problems currently with Vista are programs that are written as above (major games are the worst offenders) and have not been updated, and older scanners and printers. I have been using Vista on a daily basis for 5 months, and the only device I have that would not convert is a 5-6 year old scanner. I had to replace a printer because of mechanical problems, so I purchased an All-In-One to replace it. I also have XP on an older machine and Vista on a new build (the one with Open Office) that I am experimenting with.
If you have any other questions, please come back and ask.
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
I provided a non bias recommendation on the actual PC Alienware and Polywell are very respected PC makers, and I said why I didn't like Vista. Oh and any OPINION is biased.
"If they give you ruled paper write the other way"-dedication of Fahrenheit 451
Stick to games Microsoft! Leave the big stuff to the real programmers. Support Linux, Mozilla, and Open Office.org in the Open Source Revolution!!!
"If they give you ruled paper write the other way"-dedication of Fahrenheit 451
Stick to games Microsoft! Leave the big stuff to the real programmers. Support Linux, Mozilla, and Open Office.org in the Open Source Revolution!!!
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
I originally had XP MCE on my HP m7690y Media Center PC. When I got the free upgrade disc to Vista, I was ready to get rid of MCE. Basically MCE is a patchwork job splicing the media application on top of what is essentially XP Pro. Unless you want the media center features, you would be better off with XP Pro.
We had a member posting about problems he had with his edition of MCE, it kept asking him to insert the second CD, but XP only has one CD, right! Well, we found out we were wrong. XP MCE comes with two CD's, only no member of the forum had ever installed XP MCE since it was only available as an OEM version, pre-installed on a Media Center PC. Another member stumbled upon a listing for MCE at an online site and I checked on the Newegg site, and he was right. What really cinched it for me was the description of what one customer had to go through to install MCE. I have attached a link to the site so you can judge for yourself.
Make no mistake, XP MCE is visually more pleasing than XP, it has a lot of Vista elements in it, the rounded window corners, and the frames go transparent when you move a window. They have more natural desktops available that the traditional XP, somewhat like some of the Vista ones. Unless you are going to have a TV tuner and record video onto your machine from the tuner, I would not get MCE. There are some very good books on XP and Vista (I have the David Pogue series of Missing Manual books for Windows 2000, XP, XPsp2, and Vista and use them a good deal. I have to use the XPsp2 book more often now that I use Vista almost full time).
For video editing, for photo editing, for music, you can do all of that perfectly well with either XP or Vista. To do the best job, you would need 3rd party programs. For music, I would recommend mp3 files without the rights attached and in the highest sample rate. You can rip from a CD you own legally, you just can't sell or give them away.
[
|http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116049]
We had a member posting about problems he had with his edition of MCE, it kept asking him to insert the second CD, but XP only has one CD, right! Well, we found out we were wrong. XP MCE comes with two CD's, only no member of the forum had ever installed XP MCE since it was only available as an OEM version, pre-installed on a Media Center PC. Another member stumbled upon a listing for MCE at an online site and I checked on the Newegg site, and he was right. What really cinched it for me was the description of what one customer had to go through to install MCE. I have attached a link to the site so you can judge for yourself.
Make no mistake, XP MCE is visually more pleasing than XP, it has a lot of Vista elements in it, the rounded window corners, and the frames go transparent when you move a window. They have more natural desktops available that the traditional XP, somewhat like some of the Vista ones. Unless you are going to have a TV tuner and record video onto your machine from the tuner, I would not get MCE. There are some very good books on XP and Vista (I have the David Pogue series of Missing Manual books for Windows 2000, XP, XPsp2, and Vista and use them a good deal. I have to use the XPsp2 book more often now that I use Vista almost full time).
For video editing, for photo editing, for music, you can do all of that perfectly well with either XP or Vista. To do the best job, you would need 3rd party programs. For music, I would recommend mp3 files without the rights attached and in the highest sample rate. You can rip from a CD you own legally, you just can't sell or give them away.
[
|http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116049]
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
"I'm thinking that I should buy a computer capable of running either XP MCE or Vista. Start with XP MCE, and only upgrade the OS when/if necessary."
Hi RW99. Welcome to PCWorld.
I will do you one better. If you need the functionality of XP MCE and the style of Vista, why not get both. Create a Dual-Boot system and you can choose which Operating System you want to use.
If you would like, please read this Document. There are tutorials in there that will walk you through the steps of creating a Dual-Boot system.
This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself
Hi RW99. Welcome to PCWorld.
I will do you one better. If you need the functionality of XP MCE and the style of Vista, why not get both. Create a Dual-Boot system and you can choose which Operating System you want to use.
If you would like, please read this Document. There are tutorials in there that will walk you through the steps of creating a Dual-Boot system.
This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
RW99 - one little fact has slipped past us until this point. You said you needed XP MCE to serve content to the XBox360. I do not know of of a current PC in the retail market available with XP MCE. Most of these machines are classed as Media Centers, and the major suppliers of them have all shifted to Vista Home Premium.
Dell offers only XP Pro and Home on the 4 consumer desktops it offers, and likewise on it's business line. HP offers XP Home and Pro on its business line, but no XP on its consumer line. However, there are still a few in the retail chain pipeline. Newegg has two, this example on their website is the most capable. Actually since the package includes the W22 22inch wide monitor, its a pretty good deal. I have a similar model the m7690n that I ordered last October and it arrived in Nov. I also received in the timing the HP supplied Vista upgrade. This is now my main machine running Vista Home Premium. I later added the 22W monitor. Both have now been replaced in the product line, the PC with one running Vista in a black case and the monitor with a gloss screen also in a black case.
My machine also has a TV Tuner (which I am not currently using) and wireless network cards. This model has a modem which could easily be removed and a wireless PCI card installed, or you could use the built in ethernet port.It has a good processor, but not an outstanding Intel C2D E6300, but much stonger than any of the Dell consumer desktops with XP Home or Pro (they offer at best the E4400).
This machine has the capabilites to support three internal hard drives. The supplied drive is in an unusual position mounted vertically (short side up and down) between the two front doors on the fascia. The second hard drive mounting position is flat on the bottom and the third would be the Personal Media Drive inserted into the cavity behind the left hand door. I have all three in mine. I keep my musin on the PMD, and when I travel, I just pull it out and take it with me. I connect it to my laptop with the external power converter and a standard USB cable.
If you decide this machine will suit you purpose, you need to make you decision quickly. Otherwise, you would have to purchase a Vista machine and then add hard drive for the XP MCE installation. Keep in mind that only OEM versions of MCE have ever been available, and MS offers no support for OEM versions - that is provided by the builder who installed the software - YOU. The first thing I would do to this machine is the same thing I did to my new HP laptop - remove the Symantec Norton's Internet Security.
Are you sure that Vista will not serve content to the XBox360? The XBox360 is of course a Microsoft device and would be surprised if it does not work well. Do you know of anyone that has tried to use Vista and had problems?
Dell offers only XP Pro and Home on the 4 consumer desktops it offers, and likewise on it's business line. HP offers XP Home and Pro on its business line, but no XP on its consumer line. However, there are still a few in the retail chain pipeline. Newegg has two, this example on their website is the most capable. Actually since the package includes the W22 22inch wide monitor, its a pretty good deal. I have a similar model the m7690n that I ordered last October and it arrived in Nov. I also received in the timing the HP supplied Vista upgrade. This is now my main machine running Vista Home Premium. I later added the 22W monitor. Both have now been replaced in the product line, the PC with one running Vista in a black case and the monitor with a gloss screen also in a black case.
My machine also has a TV Tuner (which I am not currently using) and wireless network cards. This model has a modem which could easily be removed and a wireless PCI card installed, or you could use the built in ethernet port.It has a good processor, but not an outstanding Intel C2D E6300, but much stonger than any of the Dell consumer desktops with XP Home or Pro (they offer at best the E4400).
This machine has the capabilites to support three internal hard drives. The supplied drive is in an unusual position mounted vertically (short side up and down) between the two front doors on the fascia. The second hard drive mounting position is flat on the bottom and the third would be the Personal Media Drive inserted into the cavity behind the left hand door. I have all three in mine. I keep my musin on the PMD, and when I travel, I just pull it out and take it with me. I connect it to my laptop with the external power converter and a standard USB cable.
If you decide this machine will suit you purpose, you need to make you decision quickly. Otherwise, you would have to purchase a Vista machine and then add hard drive for the XP MCE installation. Keep in mind that only OEM versions of MCE have ever been available, and MS offers no support for OEM versions - that is provided by the builder who installed the software - YOU. The first thing I would do to this machine is the same thing I did to my new HP laptop - remove the Symantec Norton's Internet Security.
Are you sure that Vista will not serve content to the XBox360? The XBox360 is of course a Microsoft device and would be surprised if it does not work well. Do you know of anyone that has tried to use Vista and had problems?
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
If I were you, I'd get MCE, because Vista cannot run many of the games that XP can, and if you want the xBox connections, you'd have to get MCE. Not to mention the numerous problems and glitches that Vista has. I'd just use Linux, though it can't run games like Micro$oft Window$.
I would never buy a computer from Dell, since they do not specify the PSUs and motherboards on their computers, and I give no mercy when it comes to that. You might want to look into Cyberpower, because they have increadibly cheap computers and have a very good reputation, along w/almost all warranties being @ least 3-yrs. standard. http://www.cyberpowerpc.com is their site. Aeoncraft, AVA Direct, or Xi are also good choices.
Core 2 Quad Q6700 @ 3.44GHz | Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling | 2 x eVGA SSC GeForce 8800GTS G92 |512MB (SLi) | 2 x 150GB 10,000-rpm Western Dig. HDD RAID-0 array | MSI P6N Platinum 680i | 1.0KW PC Power & Cooling PSU | Lite-On DVD +/- RW
Re: New desktop: XP MCE or Vista?
All my games are (relatively) old so I should be able to run them on Wine when I get Linux.
"If they give you ruled paper write the other way"-dedication of Fahrenheit 451
Stick to games Microsoft! Leave the big stuff to the real programmers. Support Linux, Mozilla, and Open Office.org in the Open Source Revolution!!!
"If they give you ruled paper write the other way"-dedication of Fahrenheit 451
Stick to games Microsoft! Leave the big stuff to the real programmers. Support Linux, Mozilla, and Open Office.org in the Open Source Revolution!!!
QUICK LINKS:
cheap laptops
cell phones
laser printers
HDTV reviews
LCD TV Plasmas
digital cameras
laptop reviews
security antivirus
windows vista reviews
digital camera reviews
inexpensive desktop
LCD wide screen monitors
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
