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emperoruriel

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 27, 2008
41
0
I know Vista has come out with SP1. Because of that I wonder if I should buy vista and install it under a bootcamp partition or should I still use Windows XP? As this is my first mac computer :D, I do wonder what my new fellow mac users use for their mac computers.

PS. If you like to know what will the Windows OS be used for, the answer is the OS will be used for gaming purposes.
 

72930

Retired
May 16, 2006
9,060
4
While XP will give you better performance, Vista is more expensive and some games are Vista-only.
 

steveza

macrumors 68000
Feb 20, 2008
1,521
27
UK
Windows Server 2008 is probably the best MS OS I've ever used (since DOS 6.22 anyway :) ) I'm only running it in VMWare fusion at the moment but I'll see how things go in boot camp over the weekend.
 

Link00seven

macrumors regular
Mar 6, 2008
133
1
NYC, USA
I haven't tried Vista (too expensive considering i'll rarely use it) so I installed my copy of XP Pro SP2 via boot camp and so far it works great on my MBP.
 

BigHungry04

macrumors 6502
Mar 14, 2008
465
32
Kentucky
I use Vista. It runs smoothly. I've never had any problems with it. It ran slowly on my Dell XPS laptop I had, but that was because the computer was two years old when I put Vista on it. It does run a lot faster on my macbook pro though. I use it mostly for games.
 

alleycat

macrumors regular
Mar 23, 2008
121
0
Wait until you start moving or copying files with 32-bit Vista. It moves slower than a tortoise.

I'd have to say the best option is Windows XP 32-bit, however I am tempted to try Windows Vista 64-bit to see if the bloatware gets any better. :eek:
 

The Flashing Fi

macrumors 6502a
Sep 23, 2007
763
0
If you have XP, then just stick with it. If you're looking to buy a new MS OS, then I think it's a bit dumb to buy an outdated OS, unless you know that Vista won't work with a certain program.

P.S. Comparable versions of Vista to XP are the same price for OEM copies, and MS just lowered the price of retail copies of Vista, which would make it cheaper than XP.
 

tsice19

macrumors 6502a
Feb 16, 2008
703
0
I vote XP




Vista's interface is great, and I love how aero looks. However, once you start having to actually use Vista (ex: copy a file to an external HDD, make a *.zip file, etc;) it becomes incredibly slow and freezes. Not to mention, the user account control will treat you like you are 200 years old and have never ran a program on a computer before.

Like I said, Vista=Pretty
But XP gets the job done
 

The Menacer

macrumors member
Oct 22, 2007
79
0
I would go with whatever you prefer! If you don't have a lot of experience in Vista, go down to BestBuy and see if it's worth the extra cost. I like Vista a lot, personally. But make sure you stay away from Home Basic. Go with at least Home Premium, and try to go for Ultimate.

NewEgg has some good prices on OEM versions of Vista; you might want to check it out.
 

Radio Monk33

macrumors 6502
Dec 4, 2007
309
0
I tried vista but didn't care for it much. The UAC is just too awful. I was more comfortable with XP, a very refined product late in it's lifecycle. I'll be happy using it for another 2-3 years while my computer can handle the games and the next windows OS comes out. :) I think I can skip Vista altogether.
 

BigHungry04

macrumors 6502
Mar 14, 2008
465
32
Kentucky
You can disable UAC by running msconfig -> on the Tools tab click on "Disable UAC" -> click "Launch" -> Reboot.

But that would defeat the purpose of that feature. There is nothing more entertaining than having to click Allow when you're trying to play WoW.
 

allbrokeup

macrumors regular
Mar 6, 2008
249
0
Melbourne, Australia
I use Vista Ultimate on Boot Camp with Leopard. Tiger 10.4.11 is also on another Partition just in case an app won't work with Leo.

allbrokeup.

P.S. Vista is awful, the UI is terrible (Aero's OK but only just OK), and the 'Cancel or Allow?' dialogue boxes annoy the hell outta me, but its stable.

P.P.S. Mac OS X is better.
 

sushi

Moderator emeritus
Jul 19, 2002
15,639
3
キャンプスワ&#
My vote would be for WinXP. WinXP with SR2 and all updates is very stable, works well, and IMHO, seems faster/more responsive.

If you already have WinXP, it also will save you $.
 

katejones

macrumors regular
Feb 6, 2008
119
0
Australia
I use xp pro for gaming, after a quick google halo2 is vista only, and halo3 will be vista only, but thats just MS being retarded. I don't think any big game company would destroy there own sales by making a game vista only, unless MS was putting some serious cash in there pocket.
 

sushi

Moderator emeritus
Jul 19, 2002
15,639
3
キャンプスワ&#
I use xp pro for gaming, after a quick google halo2 is vista only, and halo3 will be vista only, but thats just MS being retarded. I don't think any big game company would destroy there own sales by making a game vista only, unless MS was putting some serious cash in there pocket.
Good point reference some games. If you choose of these games, then there is no choice, you have to run Vista.
 

The Flashing Fi

macrumors 6502a
Sep 23, 2007
763
0
Good point reference some games. If you choose of these games, then there is no choice, you have to run Vista.

Halo 2 has been cracked to run on XP, but I don't know if you can go online and play, which kind of defeats the purpose of playing Halo 2.
 

Father Jack

macrumors 68020
Jan 1, 2007
2,481
1
Ireland
xP seems to be the best of a crap lot.

If I had to install one M.S. os it would be xP. (but I'd much prefer not to) .. :cool:
 

steveza

macrumors 68000
Feb 20, 2008
1,521
27
UK
But that would defeat the purpose of that feature. There is nothing more entertaining than having to click Allow when you're trying to play WoW.
I don't play wow but I'm sure you are kidding :) . If UAC is the only reason why someone doesn't want to use Vista then turning it off is OK.
 

intoxicated662

macrumors regular
Feb 29, 2008
165
3
If you're going to be gaming, then Vista would be the choice as most games nowadays are only Vista compatible. If it's for anything else, i'd recommend Windows Xp Media Center Edition or even Professional Edition would be good.
 
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