Computer Questions: XP vs. 98SE

Self | 06/27/06 | 50sDad

[50sDad]

I am looking at buying, at long last, a better computer. I have the opportunity to buy a bundled WCS 761GX-M754 motherboard and AMD Athlon XP-M processor with 512K of PC-3200 memory. Problem is, my past expertise tops out at the Celron 333, PC-100 memory level, and the system comes without operating system. Can some wizard here tell me if I can install an oldstyle Win98SE installation on this, or will I have to drag my sorry caveman arse into the 21st Century and actually buy XP?

What kind of performance sacrifice would I make if I COULD put 98 on it? Would the onboard motherboard hardware (video, audio, network) demand XP drivers and gag trying to run 98?

Thanks in advance. I always get the best advice in here.

[Petronski]

Can some wizard here tell me if I can install an oldstyle Win98SE installation on this...

It will run, but you might have trouble getting drivers.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

XP will probably detect and install drivers for all your hardware. You will need to have the driver CDs for 98, if drivers even exist. If you are not very comfortable configuring drivers, XP is your best bet.

Or you could install Kubuntu for free. About the only thing it won't detect and install is Winmodems, but if you have broadband it doesn't matter. If you can get ahold of an external serial modem, it will work with that.

[ConservativeMind]

I would strongly suggest XP Home, which is only an upgrade price for you.

It is much more reliable and will let you run a number of programs 98SE now can't.

There's no more support from Microsoft for 98SE, if my recollection holds, so new exploits from the internet will kill it. However, if this is a standalone and won't ever be connected, then try 98 first.

[Robert A Cook PE]

98 is not a particularly stable op system. No more tech support, anti-virus updates, and other things are available.

I'd replace it. Consider that a 95 van would be about 200,000 miles now, then think about whether you'd buy a 95 or a 2005 when looking at used cars.

[Mixer]

For the new PC you can certainly istall Win98 on it but why would you want to. Finding drivers for newer hardware could be troublesome although not likely to be as big of a burden as you are likely to see wuith the OS and it's frequent crashes. As far as MS products go Win XP SP2 is pretty much as good as it gets at this point and although there are many MS critics here and elsewhere this OS has actually saved me a lot of times.

The restore feature alen makes the move to XP wothwhile. Imagine installing software that hoses up your PC and with a few clicks having the system back to the way it was before you did the install in fine working condition.

Unless you are willing to look into the Linux options I would suggest XP.

[RJS1950]

Win98SE is no longer supportable for a lot of software and MS is no longer supporting it. WinXP, service pack 2 should work very well. I have had no real problems with it at work or at home. I use XP professional at work both in my office and in the classroom and at home I use XP professional and the wife has XP Home edition. Other than loading the automatic updates they have performed very well.

[FReepaholic]

Go with XP. I waited and waited, not wanting to leave 98 for fear that XP would be crap. It's not.

I'm very pleased with the functionality and stability of XP.

[Chuck54]

Stay as far away from 98SE as you would AOL mail service. 98SE is the worst. Go with XP Home or Professional.

[ShadowAce]

[AppyPappy]

Win98 would be horribly insecure and unstable with today's applications.

[RSmithOpt]

Microsoft no longer supports Win98SE. If you are to go on to the Internet, you must either run Win2000Pro (NT based) or XP. There are so many security holes in the Windows platform, it ain't funny.

If you want to minimize the potential so serious hijack attempts of your PC and receive applicable security updates, you must have XP, Win2000Pro, or LINUX.

If you can afford it, get 1 gig of memory. Applications are growing in resource demands, so, in order to keep yourself technically viable for the next 5 yrs, get the i gig memory and at least a 40 GB hard drive and 64 MB or video memory.

[Space Wrangler]

XP is worlds better than 98SE. As some have already pointed out, many drivers may not even exist for some of your hardware for 98. XP is your best bet, or you can try one of the many flavors of Linux.

[taxcontrol]

If you have to go with Windows, go with XP.

[Ikemeister]

Windows XP Pro by all menas.

Before you go to Staples or some other high priced place to buy it, go to http://www.edirectsoftware.com or a similar site. I bought my last XP there for a laptop and paid something around $55 for it. It's legal and works fine.

[reagan_fanatic]

Go with XP. 98SE was OK in its day, but for functionality and program compatibility, XP is your best bet.

[P-40]

Perhaps you should give CP/M a shot. :)

http://www.sysun.com/museum/cpm.html

[arjay]

Do not go with anything other than XP. Microsoft has stopped supporting 98 and ME, which means so security updates. You will be leaving yourself open to all kinds of security problems with older operating systems.

XP Pro is worth the extra money simply because of its networking capabilities.

[TomGuy]

Two considerations, at least:

1. Win98 is old, outdated. Allot of the newer software will not run on it. In fact, many newer programs set WinXP Sp2 as a minimum.

If you are not running many current programs, Win98 might be faster. However, keep in mind that many drivers for newer hardware does not support older Win versions.

2. Memory. If your new machine is fast enough and has sufficient memory, you would be better going with XP. XP will run on 256 Meg of RAM, but 512 Meg is better. Memory strips are not that expensive any more.

If you say with Win98, you may find future problems upgrading virus programs, etc.

Computer components are relatively cheap, compared with just a decade ago. In 1997, I bought a pc at $2800. Last year, I bought a pc that has 50x the speed and capacity and it cost around $700.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Here's what I'm driving these days, with WinXP-Pro:

CASE: FULL TOWER... POWER SUPPLY: 500W... MOTHERBOARD: RAID & FIREWIRE... CPU: DUAL CORE AMD 64... CPU COOLER... HARD DRIVES: FOUR 250GB SATA II... MEMORY: 2GB... FLOPPY: BLACK... CD-DVD-RW, TV-Tuner Card.

Dump any Win98 stuff; it's unstable and unsupported these days.

The entire hardware set-up cost $1,245 and I built it myself. It's a speed demon and slick as heck.

ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!