Will sticking with XP on a new computer screw me down the road?

I want to like Vista...I do. I felt that maybe if I gave it more time I'd like it...but I still like XP better.

Is there something I'm missing? I see Apples and I like the multiple window thing, looks cool, but doesn't seem to have the functionality in Vista...

My question is, I'm returning this Vista Pro computer (for other reasons) and getting a Dell Vostro. Will getting an XP OS screw me down the road as they stop updating it?

Also, XP Pro give me anything as a student? its $29


Thanks!

 

XP's mainstream support end-of-life is on 4/14/2009. At that time, you can just migrate to Vista (which will have more maturity by this time)......

 

Not really. You could probably stick with XP for the life of your new computer (assuming useful lifespan 5ish years). Plus, the next version of windows should be coming out in a couple years, keyword should.

 

Hopefully beta Windows 7

 

And XP Pro is just for having two processors?

 

lol. Upgrading to a beta version of Windows is almost an oxymoron.

 

You could get 64-bit XP Pro, which is more future-proof.

 

XP will have extended support (security updates) until 2014.
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect

And XP SP3 is yet to be released. So I'd say there's still quite a bit of life left in it.

What multiple Window thing? You mean multiple desktops (Spaces)? Or do you mean Expose? In either case, you should be able to get that for either XP or Vista using 3rd-party software.

I disagree. 64-bit XP Pro was never widely adopted... it was always more of a developer thing. And now that Vista's here, it probably never will be widely adopted. So no one's going to test hardware or software compatibility in 64-bit XP... no one's going to write the drivers for it, etc. By contrast, 32-bit XP has a very large installed base of users.


I'm not really recommending choosing XP over Vista... I much prefer Vista myself, due to better security, nicer visuals, more bundled programs, more intelligent defaults systemwide (sounds, power options, automated defrag, etc.). But plenty of people say they prefer XP, and if you'd rather use XP, there will still be a lot of people using it for years to come.

 

Yes, that and some additional tools and features such as remote desktop. Google for more comparison info.

I still used XP Pro because I find much of the software I use for development is still not supported for Vista.

 

Haha...ya and some people upgrade from Vista to XP, myself included lol.

 

True, but I was also thinking of it from a program compatibility standpoint. As more stuff gets written specifically for Vista, the side effects in XP may start becoming noticeable (just a theory though)...........

 

I don't think anyone other than the people at Microsoft knows when support for XP will be completely phased out. It seems like the general date and/or time frame for the move is different every week. We only have rumors to go by at this point. As Swarmer said, the latest word on the issue is sometime in 2014.

My feeling is that if Windows 7 gains commercial success and is an all-around stable and effective operating system, then Microsoft will completely phase out XP and Windows 2000. Vista, at that point, will still be relevant and they'll tweak it and make it as good as XP currently is. Personally, I'm not too confident in Windows 7 because we've all been promised the next greatest OS for years now, but Microsoft finds a way to mess up every time. To those of you who refuse to part with XP, that should be encouraging news, as it means that XP will likely stick around for a while longer. OP, you should be fine if you decide to stick with XP for a few more years.

 

Not really, as it has not changed for the last 2 years. You are thinking of the oem licensing cutoff, which has jumped around much since the Vista launch. The end-of-life support dates have remained unaffected by this, according to past and present Microsoft lifecycle policy........

 

Some people have legitimate gripes with Vista, but most people "just don't like it". This typically comes from the fact that people simply like to stay with what they are comfortable with. If you take the time to get comfortable with Vista, you won't have a problem with it (usability wise).

That said, if there are programs that you need that don't work in Vista, then stick with XP.

 

Just install both Vista & XP. It's the best of both worlds... and it's not difficult to do.

 

I was toying with this idea, but I honestly am content with Vista and plan on sticking with it exclusively. I'll consider dual-booting in the future should I run into problems with Vista.

 

If you're concerned about possibly needing Vista down the road, I'd buy the Vostro with Vista, buy XP for $30, install XP, and then you'll have a valid Vista license should you need it down the road but won't have to endure using it now.

But I don't think you need to be concerned that you'll be left in the Stone Age by sticking with XP another four or five years. Mainstream support will last until at least March of 2010 (remembering that service packs are supported for at least two years, thus bumping it up from April 2009), and you certainly won't be alone in using XP. Microsoft may release a few Vista-only programs (think Halo 2), but I doubt anyone else will for a few years yet - it just costs them too much of the market. And some manufacturers will likely still be supporting XP on new computers for some time - I checked a Lenovo spec sheet this week and they still support Windows 2000 on ThinkPad R Series. So driver support shouldn't be an issue either.

 

halo 2 isn't made for vista, it was artificially prevented from running on xp as an experiment to attempt to boost vista sales.

of course, it didn't... it just led to poor halo 2 pc sales.

you can run halo 2 in xp with a crack...

 

halo has version 2??? never heard of it since no one playing it, no one i know running vista anyway

 

I just ordered my computer with XP specifically because several apps key to our hospital won't run on Vista; I predict support for XP will easily outlast the useful life of my new computer.

 

You can also run Vista and then also run XP in a virtual machine, like virtualbox (free), vmware server (free), or virtual pc (free).

 

I wouldn't run a virtual OS without a compelling reason; I have another Vista desktop machine and other than some pretty graphics I really haven't seen any such reason for me to want to go with anything but XP for now.

 

This has absolutely nothing to do with the purpose of this thread (no disrespect to the OP), but I'm curious. What do you specialize in? I know your name is lungdoc, but I thought I'd pose the question anyway.

 

Respirology (in US called Pulmonology). I also chair the informatics committee at our hospital, so I have a reasonable IT enthusiasm.

 

Thanks for indulging my curiosity (once again, no disrepect to the OP).