Need Freeper Input on Computer OPerating Systems

[Maceman]

OK. I've held off as long as I could, but now I REALLY need to upgrade from my 1997 Dell Dimension Desktop with Windows 95. I have decided on a desktop over a laptop, but am unsure about which WINDOWS operating system to get.

I have a home-based consulting business to Fortune-1000 type clients, which requires heavy use of the Internet and MS Office apps (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and some basic Access). I'm sure that before I buy the next system after this new one, I'll be heavy into video meetings and such (since I don't plan to upgrade again for at least 3-4 years).

I don't need to have any local networking, as I am a one-person shop.

Question: What are your thoughts about Windows 98 vs. Windows 2000 vs. Windows ME vs. Windows XP?

Also, what is the best thing to use for back-ups? Is it a CD-RW? Zip drive? Or is there something better? (The tape drive on my current system just died, so I don't have an easy way to make back-ups at the moment).

I really need the input, and appreciate your help. Thanks.

[JayNorth]

I have decided on a desktop over a laptop

I would re-think this and get a laptop with docking station. Reasons? Built-in UPS, ability to take it with you when you want to, 14.1" or bigger screen fine as an everyday screen, and with a docking station you have your network, mouse, full-size keyboard, etc.etc. Regardless of laptop or desktop, I would make sure I bought DELL or COMPAQ. Anything else (and I've bought a lot) is a constant headache. Minimum 192K memory, the more the better. It's usually cheaper to buy it with lots of memory upon delivery than to try and add it later.

I don't need to have any local networking, as I am a one-person shop.

I would keep the old DELL and network it. It's cheap and you can run stuff on both at once. You can also back up one to another quite easily so you always have an easily restored copy of key files. I wouldn't stop doing real backups to CR-RW however!

Question: What are your thoughts about Windows 98 vs. Windows 2000 vs. Windows ME vs. Windows XP?

Definitely 2000 or XP, ME is ridiculous!

I would make sure I had a DVD drive. Compaq has notebooks with a DVD/CR-RW drive that would cover all your needs.

[TechJunkYard]

Windows 2000 Professional. Period. End of story.

Agreed. Starts up fairly quickly but shuts down rather slowly; fairly stable but a little sticky when switching apps on the desktop (I have hung it up to the point where it's Big White Switch time). Best Windows release I've used so far.

Be careful about installing things that you're not going to use, which can be exploited, like IIS (standard disclaimer for all systems these days, but especially W32), and install a good anti-virus suite and firewall.

[ArcLight]

Using XP Pro right now. Excellent--very stable. Go for it.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The general concensus among professionals is that CDR is NOT a safe backup medium. CDs can become unreadable.

Tape is still your best bet for reliable backups.

My personal opinion is that, if you insist on staying with Windows, go with Windows 2000 Server or Professional. I have to admit it is a pretty good operating system. ME and XP are snoopware that constantly phone home to Microsoft to let Bill know what you are up to, plus the installation of XP requires you to get permission from Microsoft when you reinstall it.

Windows 2000 is the way to go.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Failed to say I run Win95 on the system!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What are the specs on your system?
I am trying to decide whether to do something with my current sytem!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I have a Mac G4 running Virtual PC with Windows 98, MS Office, and a bunch of other PC software, as well as OS 9.2.1 and OS 10.1, with Apple Works, etc. As far as future video presentations and other high quality graphics, Maceman could not beat a Mac. He should consider that. With my configuiration I can run everything he can plus tons more and do it all easier.

[Mr. Thorne]

Re: backup; Bingo.

But does anyone sell a DDS tape drive for a reasonable (read: home office) price?

Re: OS;

Maceman, maceman. Sell that contraption to the annoying kid on the Dell commercials and buy a Quicksilver PowerMac.

If you really MUST do windows, use Virtual PC. That way, when you're done with fighting the beast, you can just quit and return to a real, user friendly OS.

[CheneyChick]

Well, as the saying goes, 'you can lead a horse to water....'

The new Apple stores are the best place to discover Macs. No pressure sales, all hands-on, lots of 3rd party peripherals, software titles, etc. You can try everything out before buying. I think once people have a chance to really try out a Mac - it will be a no-brainer. Don't know why people fight it..... Mac users are the most brand loyal computer users around.

[Mr. Thorne]

It's not even the hard/soft ware MNR, it's the people. We just got done dealing with a client (banker type) who freaked out when she couldn't open our supposedly cross-platform file.

Turns out she didn't realize that you have to download files (attached to e-mails) to the hard drive of your computer before opening them becomes an option.

[Mr. Thorne]

re: apple stores

Ours just opened in Columbus, Oh.

It is... kewl.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Being an old MVS guy, that will be amazing to see it done . Should be awesome!

[FastCoyote]

Use XP if you are (rich and can afford IT help)/(never reformat your hard drive)/ (use only a few programs like MSOffice)/(are not a computer wiz). XP I'm sure is superior to the other Microsoft OSs, but you will be assimilated.
If you are a bit more advanced user, it's likely that you will thrash your system at least once every six months, more if you are like me, and need to reinstall. Constantly reformatting? blown software installs? etc? I'd go 2000. Win98 SE isn't too bad, you can usually recover from the screwups long enough to get your data. WinMe bites the big enchilada, complete unprofessional trash.
I'm starting to slowly migrate server stuff to Linux myself, probably a dual universe in my future (and my clients).

[savedbygrace]

Memory is SO cheap now, you can get 256MB for about $40 or less.

I just bought a Kingston 512MB module of PC133 RAM for less than 60 bux.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[medved]

I'm have not "experienced" XP yet but stay away from ME, the rest are fine.

Can't agree with that. ME appears to be a substantial improvement over 95 and 98. If nothing else, all the drivers work. I was never able to get 98 to run on any of my desktops and have only seen it work on laptops.

[shadowman99]

Hey Maceman- Don't get me wrong, but are you looking for advice on operating systems, or just looking to justify your decision to go XP? There are many good alternatives to Windows, and I am pleased to count myself among those who have found Linux. Linux does not belong to a single company, but I use Redhat's distribution.

You mentioned that you are concerned with maintaining compatablity with your clients. Linux has a wide selection of software, and often times that software can interchange files with Windows software. Unlike Windows, most of our software is free.

With Microsoft, you've had to wait since Windows 98 for your product upgrade (if you don't count bug fixes). Linux users enjoy frequent, reliable updates. And rock solid stability. My home computer had an uptime of more than 120 days before my most recent kernel upgrade.

There are numerous office productivity suites available from IMB, Ximian and Sun Microsystems. There are several strong desktop environments, including KDE, Gnome, and even a few Window managers that look like Windows.

With Microsoft's ever-intrusive licensing and pay structures, I would strongly urge you to install Linux on a test machine and give it a try. Linux is available for download free from redhat.com.

[Glenn]

I have one of each (operating system) and I believe to be prepared for the next five years you should make the investment in Windows 2000 with the hardware to back it up. Don't buy retail. Get an OEM version on ebay. It's cheap and reliable to buy from well-known sellers there. Memory is the primo concern. Invest in lots of it.

My 2 cents.

[athiestwithagun]

What client are you using? Sometimes I have to log onto one of the Solaris or Linux servers from an NT4 or Y2K box and the VT emulation on the Windows telnet client sucks the hairy banana.