Vista or XP for Games

[mms]

I'm planning to install Windows through Boot Camp on a brand new MacBook. Since I have never owned a Windows machine before, i'll be getting a brand new license. That means it should cost the same for me to get Vista or XP and that I will be buying a full version, not an upgrade version.

That being said, which OS should I choose? My main concern is that Vista may not fully support or work with some of the hardware (specifically the GMA950) since the only reason why I am installing Windows is for games. However, I'm leaning towards Vista because it will be upgraded more in the future.

Also, will I be fine with Vista/XP Home or is there a reason to get one of the pricier ones? Keep in mind that I am a lifelong Mac user and I know very little about Windows (it doesn't help that Microsoft makes it super confusing with multiple types of XPs and different pricing schemes).

 

[0007776]

For games go with XP I hope that you do realize that the macbooks graphics are not very good for gaming though.

 

[mms]

I understand that but I've already accepted that part.

Is XP that much better? Why? If it's because of the drivers, I would think that performance in Vista will get better as they are updated. Or does Microsoft not bother doing that?

 

[Eidorian]

I'd go with XP for now. Search for forums for posts on the GMA 950. I bet I show up in at least 70% of them.

There's less of a performance drop in XP then with Vista. (Overall and in frames per second.)

 

[Winterfell]

At the moment, and for the foreseeable future, XP is still the better gaming platform. But at some point down the road Vista will most likely eclipse XP as the preferred of the two platforms for gaming (probably around the time of the first service pack), just because more hardware will be able to keep Vista's ravenous resource hunger happy, and games will increasingly make use of Direct X 10, which is Vista-only (in typical Microsoft lock-in/forced-upgrade style).

 

[Mav451]

I'd go with XP for now. Search for forums for posts on the GMA 950. I bet I show up in at least 70% of them.

There's less of a performance drop in XP then with Vista. (Overall and in frames per second.)

Maturity in the drivers, mon ami. I didn't even go to XP until nearly SP1 and even then I wouldn't recommend it. Stay with the mature platform, and you will have the least headaches.

Also, as has been iterated, until there are "killer apps" or DX10 exclusives out in the wild, there's simply no reason to go Vista at all.

 

[METOO999]

I tried Vista just to see what it looked like, but the sheen wore off after I couldn't play or had problems with many older games. XP is more compatible right now.