I have Windows ME, and have an opportunity to change over to XP at no cost.
Has anyone used both and have any opinions on which operating system is best?
Does XP use Outlook? Would I have to reinstall my virus scan?
Thanks! ************************************************************ 06-25-02, 09:59 PM TomGL2 XP is in most respects a big improvement over ME. The antivirus must be removed before upgrading to XP, then an XP version installed. ************************************************************ 06-25-02, 11:12 PM Good Ol' Boy 14 I can't stand either one of the useless, DOS-free operating systems! XP is flat out useless (yes, we CS folks discuss this one quite often). ME is a constantly crashing nightmare. I hate the XP interface. I hate the new closed ended architecture that Microsoft seems to be heading towards. I just hate the dang OS. The only things it really has going for it are that it is based on NT/2000 and that XP server is surprisingly halfway decent. But, on home edition, that second part doesn't even apply. You've used ME, so you know what kind of joke it is. Sure, a few minor things are a nice change over 98SE, but for the most part, it is an unstable piece of fluff that eliminated DOS and paved the way for a DOS free world. System restore (at least for the week it actually functioned before it decided it wasn't going to anymore) is NOT worth the loss of DOS. All of my personal thoughts aside, XP is slightly more stable, but is terrible with backward compatibility. Some people like the interface, some people don't. Simply put, if you like the interface on that ridiculous MSN Explorer piece of crap, you should feel right at home with XP. How I miss the days of Win 3.11.... -Cray, Senior in CS, Southern IL University Carbondale ************************************************************ 06-25-02, 11:59 PM gizmogram So, GOB14, what operating system would you recommend for a home computer? ************************************************************ 06-26-02, 02:33 AM TomGL2 My preference is for Windows 98 SE. I may switch to XP if the Service Pack resolves its more serious problems.
XP shares the stability of Windows 2000, because neither has any real-mode (i.e., DOS) components. XP operates completely in protected mode. Windows 98 and ME both (yes, both)have a real-mode DOS core, and subsystems switch the processor out of protected mode frequently (the CPU cannot operate in real and protected modes simultaneously). The result is an increased rate of crashing (dramatically increased, in the case of ME).
To say XP is "slightly more stable" is a rather large understatement.
Bear in mind that you can have the best of both worlds by installing Windows XP as a "dual-boot" system. This would allow you to maintain Windows ME (better yet, 98 SE) for those applications and games which require it, and have XP for all other purposes. The appearance and behavior of XP may easily be configured to resemble the 98/ME version. ************************************************************ 06-26-02, 09:26 PM gizmogram Thanks - I'm going to give this alot of thought ************************************************************ 07-04-02, 04:20 PM Good Ol' Boy 14
quote:Originally posted by TomGL2: Windows 98 and ME both (yes, _both_)have a real-mode DOS core, and subsystems switch the processor out of protected mode frequently (the CPU cannot operate in real and protected modes simultaneously). The result is an increased rate of crashing (dramatically increased, in the case of ME).
Yeah, I was aware that ME had a DOS core, but what I meant was that real mode was not directly accessible. A lot of that crashing in ME is caused directly by its attempts to hide that DOS core. If you think ME crashes a lot normally, try programming on it. Visual Studio seems to really aggravate the hornets' nest.
TOM's got a good idea about a dual boot setup. If I was doing it, it would be 98SE/2000 Professional dual boot system (unless I scrapped the whole thing and went Linux), but since you're getting XP for free, more power to ya. ************************************************************ 07-05-02, 07:44 AM rekaburb For my money 98 SE is the only one they got right. I, the user has more control over it in its entirity. The others are Microsoft Messy Experience and Microsoft eXPeriment ************************************************************ 07-12-02, 02:07 PM Skeez Scrap both of them and buy redhat...
LINUX FOREVER ************************************************************ 07-15-02, 11:59 AM cattywampus I use ME and have never had a problem with it. Could this be a case of a few bad experiences painting the whole thing black? roll eyes ************************************************************ 07-22-02, 07:09 PM Bamoob I agree with TomGL about Windows 98SE, which has served me quite well, and is quite stable. XP will probably be the upgrade of choice in a year or so, but it still has some issues. ME tried to stuff a few too many accessories under the hood. It is probably an improvement over Windows 95, but does not improved 98SE. Dual boot is a way to have the best of both worlds. Linux has a ways to go before it becomes a desktop platform for average users. It is a niche product, and will likely reemaion so for a while. Again, dual boot, or even separate machines, offers a wide range of options. ************************************************************ 07-23-02, 02:46 PM Good Ol' Boy 14
quote:Originally posted by Bamoob: It is probably an improvement over Windows 95
Nope, ME is as useless as they come. I liked 95. It was clean cut and not all cluttered. Add the enhancements that came with IE 4.0, and it was as good as 98. Of course, you shouldn't listen to me. I liked Windows 3.1. smile ************************************************************ 07-27-02, 10:50 AM JWooden271 Before upgrading to XP make sure to make a decent boot disk. XP does not make book disks that even compare to Win 98/ME. XP just copies command.com to a floppy without extra utilities.
And another note: Do not convert your Hard Drive to NTFS! NTFS is unreadable in DOS and will render all DOS boot disks useless. (Unless you use a boot disk to format the hard drive but in that case you will lose all of your data.) ************************************************************ 07-27-02, 12:00 PM gizmogram I've decide to stay with my current ME system...it serves me well. ************************************************************ 07-29-02, 05:43 PM Johnny Velo I bought my computer with Win ME. No problems so far. I've had it two years and no complaints. ************************************************************ 09-05-02, 09:46 PM ivnj ME is the worst! That's why CompUSA Doesn't sell it anymore! The made ME in a hurry and people who got it wondered why the even bothered! As for the virus NSW 2002 is the best and XP compadible! Mcafee has too many bugs!
and in the search field type in (norton system works) without the () of course! It's your call! Both are $8 but 2002 is missing hardware diagnostics which they felt wasn't important anymore! But for ME U only need 2001! 2002 is for XP! The only thing missing is the box which U always end up throwing anyway and the manual! But there is always plenty of online help on or on the CD!
ivnj ************************************************************ 09-24-02, 01:30 PM vansrme Given a choice of upgrading to either of these systems, I tend to lean toward XP, if only because its the latest release, and will be the standard before long. Although I will NOT upgrade to XP until it has had alot more time to get less buggy. I have 98se, and other than the fairly frequent freezes, and crashes, haven't had many problems with it. I've had more problems with IE6.0 than win98se, though I may have improved that by running the IE repair tool, (I hope). I have seen XP in action, though not ME, but have read constantly about the problems associated with both. I like the idea about dual booting, it sounds much better than one or the other (XP or 98se). I may even go that route, whenever I can afford it!
chris
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