OT: Which is better: XP or 2000? > Another Piracy Discussion

TerranC · #1 November 27th, 2003, 04:34 AM

In terms of security?
In terms of accessibility?
In terms of gaming compatibility?
In terms of stability?
In terms of Anything?
Which is better for SE4?

Which is better? Windows XP Home Edition or Windows 2000 Professional?

[ November 29, 2003, 00:23: Message edited by: TerranC ]

Suicide Junkie · #2 November 27th, 2003, 04:57 AM

DOS!
Then Win98(se)

Never ever XP

Fyron · #3 November 27th, 2003, 05:56 AM

In general, 2000 > XP. There are a few ways in which XP is better, but most of those are eye candy. This is because XP is basically 2000 v2.0.

XP Home is GARBAGE and you should stay away from it. Go with 2000 Pro over XP Home any day.

Slynky · #4 November 27th, 2003, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
In general, 2000 > XP. There are a few ways in which XP is better, but most of those are eye candy. This is because XP is basically 2000 v2.0.

XP Home is GARBAGE and you should stay away from it. Go with 2000 Pro over XP Home any day.

Not sure I agree about XP Home being garbage. Basically, XP Pro just offers some benefits the average home user wouldn't need. For 100 USD more, people need to consider the extra benefits of XP Pro. If you have some reason to say this, then please post...I'd be interested.

Beyond that, I'd have to tell people to move to XP (one or the other). M$ has dropped support on 2000 and according to the other I'Net forums I inhabit, most people say XP is more stable than 2000. And it usually takes some real convincing for people to let go of their 2000. I still use it at work and it's darn stable...just about as good as my XP at home.

I use XP and I use a few unusual pieces of software not to mention the various 3D apps I use and I have about 1 OS crash (in other words, BSOD or OS failure to the point of needing a reboot) about once every 3 months.

Slynky · #5 November 27th, 2003, 06:23 AM

To add another note ongaming compatibility, I can honestly tell you right away, W2000 has a harder time running (some) games than XP does. I gave our kids W2000 so I could give each their own logon. Besides running into games that required admin login to run, I ran into game that just flat didn't run under W2000. Having said that, I can't say those programs would run any better under XP since I haven't spent the money to upgrade to the newer OS.

[ November 27, 2003, 04:25: Message edited by: Slynky ]

PvK · #6 November 27th, 2003, 06:51 AM

I've heard from several people having problems with XP trying to run some older games.

I prefer Win98SE for myself, because I like my OS to be simple and do as little unwanted nonsense as possible. However, if forced to, I'd use Win2KPro sooner than I'd use XP. XP is an emoticon for cringing in pain and sticking one's tongue out. It's designed for the computer illiterate, which is about the only thing it does relatively better than Win2K. Since I already know how to use Win9x, WinXP's new design is mostly just insulting and aggravating.

WinXP has the evil activation scheme, too.

PvK

Slynky · #7 November 27th, 2003, 07:18 AM

Well, PvK, you failed to talk about the fact that M$ has dropped support for W2000. So, if a vulnerability arises, you have been left out. There will be no new updates for that OS.

XP is basically the kernal of W2000 improved. If you walk into Best Buy or Media Play (popular places in the US), and take a look at the OS's supported, you'll find backward compatibility for more games for 95 and 98 than W2000. W2000 was published as a platform for buisneses. Accordingly, a lot of gaming companies didn't bother spending time to test for compatibility. That didn't mean they wouldn't run but that they didn't "promise" it would. A lot of games run on W2000 that don't list it on the box. But some don't. They just don't.

This is also true of XP, since it was (kind of) based on W2000. But, you'll probably have more success installing an older game on XP than W2000.

Now, it may be that I went through some sort of activation scheme but I don't recall it. I never had to call or register. I installed and it ran. Now, IF it did some "stuff" behind my back, I don't really care. My Adobe PS "checks in" regularly and so does a few of my other software packages. I installed an additional HD on my system and I never had to call M$ and my OS never stopped working (like a lot of people feared). I've flashed my BIOS and still no problem. Of course, EVERY bit of software on the 4 PCs on my home network have been paid for. That goes for multiple copies of NAV, M$ Frontpage, and a few others.

As an IT professional, I advise people who approach me all the time. I don't think I'd be steering anyone wrong by recommending XP. NOt to mention a few other added features the average "village idiot" might find useful that XP has that W2000 does not. Besides all that, you can't even legally purchase W2000 any longer. IF you do find a copy legitimately, you will be lucky. Just try to order a PC with it and see what you get.

PvK · #8 November 27th, 2003, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slynky:
Well, PvK, you failed to talk about the fact that M$ has dropped support for W2000. So, if a vulnerability arises, you have been left out. There will be no new updates for that OS.

I assert that I was never under any expectation to completely discuss all aspects. I actually relish the non-support of Win98SE, because it means M$ is no longer (so often?) silently attacking my computer to hack my Version of IE, etc. Meanwhile, my XP system at work recently had the hated MS Outlook Express added to it during an "update", even though it Outhouse marked to not be installed at all in the Office XP installer and the Windows Components installer - apparently I'll need to uninstall the update in order to get rid of it.

Quote:

... Besides all that, you can't even legally purchase W2000 any longer. IF you do find a copy legitimately, you will be lucky. Just try to order a PC with it and see what you get.

Gee, when did that happen? My dad just bought W200Pro a week or two ago.

No comment about the amount of M$ software you've paid for. However... Front Page ... laugh!

PvK

[ November 27, 2003, 05:32: Message edited by: PvK ]

Will · #9 November 27th, 2003, 07:42 AM

Ummm... my school's CS department is still offering Win2k Pro to students. They just updated the group license about a month ago. So it's still being sold.

And as for no more support for the OS, I'm pretty sure that only means major updates. They will have to release security patches and such for some time to come (and in fact I just downloaded a security patch for 2kPro Last week that was dated around Nov 15). I could care less if they don't release any major updates, and don't blame them for not doing so, since they're already approaching their third generation OS removed from 2kPro.

Atrocities · #10 November 27th, 2003, 07:54 AM

I have to be honest, win2k has served me quite well over the years. The only issues I have had with it at ones that deal with my configuration and my AMD/MSI mother board CPU combinations.

Windows XP has also worked well for me. Be sure to turn off both the XP and Win2k instant messaging program, or you will get spammed regularly with window pop ups.