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XP - Getting too old to use?

M

mathcolo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 14, 2008
860
16
Boston
As are most people these days, I'm running Windows XP in a virtual machine. I've been doing it since 2007, and it has handled the Windows programs I need it to run very well. In fact, it still runs them well. No doubt about it.

But, recently, I've been faced with reviews, forum threads, and people talking about how XP is getting dated. Which, I guess, it is. It has been out since 2001, around the same time as Mac OS X 10.1, which if you think about it, would seem crazy to be using these days.

So, I create the thread in the spirit of asking this question... That is, whether or not I should upgrade my virtual machine to something newer, like Vista, and then getting 7 shortly after?
 
mathcolo said:
So, I create the thread in the spirit of asking this question... That is, whether or not I should upgrade my virtual machine to something newer, like Vista, and then getting 7 shortly after?
Click to expand...

I would agree that it is getting dated but in the sense that its old, yes but still your best option! I wouldn't use Vista if you paid me, wait until Windows 7!
 
BlackiBook said:
I would agree that it is getting dated but in the sense that its old, yes but still your best option! I wouldn't use Vista if you paid me, wait until Windows 7!
Click to expand...

Do you think it would be better to buy Vista now and then get my free upgrade copy of 7 in October or just wait until October?
 
BlackiBook said:
I would agree that it is getting dated but in the sense that its old, yes but still your best option! I wouldn't use Vista if you paid me, wait until Windows 7!
Click to expand...

+1

Vista was and still is a complete piece of trash. For some reason you'll always have the Vista defenders but its pretty bad when Microsoft admits Vista was a screw up.

Windows 7 from what I've used is much better then Vista. Its faster, no "mystery lags" no problems copying large volumes of data from one drive to another. Id say stick with XP since unlike Vista, XP works for more then just basic computer use. Upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out.
 
chrono1081 said:
+1

Vista was and still is a complete piece of trash. For some reason you'll always have the Vista defenders but its pretty bad when Microsoft admits Vista was a screw up.

Windows 7 from what I've used is much better then Vista. Its faster, no "mystery lags" no problems copying large volumes of data from one drive to another. Id say stick with XP since unlike Vista, XP works for more then just basic computer use. Upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out.
Click to expand...

Yeah just stick with XP until 7 is out! That is the plan for me at the moment!

Chrono - When did you get to use 7 and where? I have wanted to play with it for a while now but no such luck for me....
 
BlackiBook said:
Yeah just stick with XP until 7 is out! That is the plan for me at the moment!

Chrono - When did you get to use 7 and where? I have wanted to play with it for a while now but no such luck for me....
Click to expand...

I used the most recent release. Its supposedly the final beta before Windows 7 ships. Its available to download online apparently but I'm not sure where : / Some guy just brought it to work on his thumb drive.

They did make a lot of nice changes and I'm sure the windows users will be quite happy. It runs really well on slower hardware too. It'll still never make me switch from Mac though :D
 
I still use XP too through virtual machine. I am waiting for Windows 7 which hopefully is better than Vista. I don't think it is too old to use... you have to remember it isn't like you are using the 2001 edition of it, they release service packs which somewhat update it.
 
upinflames900 said:
I still use XP too through virtual machine. I am waiting for Windows 7 which hopefully is better than Vista. I don't think it is too old to use... you have to remember it isn't like you are using the 2001 edition of it, they release service packs which somewhat update it.
Click to expand...

Somewhat is the right word to use! Very limited upgrades!

Chrono - Yeah I have tried searching around and talking some people I know that are "in the know" (however far that really goes). None of them have gotten to play with it :(
 
BlackiBook said:
Yeah just stick with XP until 7 is out! That is the plan for me at the moment!

Chrono - When did you get to use 7 and where? I have wanted to play with it for a while now but no such luck for me....
Click to expand...

You should have gotten the Win 7 Release Candidate from MS while it was still available. The download period ended just this month. However, if you get the ISO image or DVD from someone else, you can still get a product key from MS.

Seth
 
mathcolo said:
As are most people these days, I'm running Windows XP in a virtual machine. I've been doing it since 2007, and it has handled the Windows programs I need it to run very well. In fact, it still runs them well. No doubt about it.

But, recently, I've been faced with reviews, forum threads, and people talking about how XP is getting dated. Which, I guess, it is. It has been out since 2001, around the same time as Mac OS X 10.1, which if you think about it, would seem crazy to be using these days.

So, I create the thread in the spirit of asking this question... That is, whether or not I should upgrade my virtual machine to something newer, like Vista, and then getting 7 shortly after?
Click to expand...

You're just now realizing how old and outdated XP is? It's all good, at least you get understand that. Some people never do.

I still don't understand how people think it's still somehow better than Vista or 7. Drivers? Compatibility? Stability? Vista (and now 7) had/have all of those for a long time. Anyway, if you're thinking about upgrading, buy 7. You can probably pre-order it at this point.
 
Stridder44,

If you are planning on purchasing Windows 7 when it is released it may be helpful to know you don't have to wait until October to reserve your copy of Win 7! You can pre-order your copy of Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional today. For more information, see the Windows 7 Pre-Order offer page here: http://tinyurl.com/nldc8p

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team
 
JessicaD said:
Stridder44,

If you are planning on purchasing Windows 7 when it is released it may be helpful to know you don't have to wait until October to reserve your copy of Win 7! You can pre-order your copy of Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional today. For more information, see the Windows 7 Pre-Order offer page here: http://tinyurl.com/nldc8p

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team
Click to expand...

Wow, I never thought I'd see this. ;)

Too bad SL is out 2 months before 7.
 
Rodus said:
If XP still does what you need it too, still runs what you need it too then why upgrade at all?
Click to expand...

I agree, spending the unnecessary money on 7/Vista might not necessarily be a smart idea.

However, a lot of people are saying there are quite a few "under the hood" improvements in Windows 7 that make it more stable. I'm not really sure if that is relevant to me or not.
 
Dated?

The code for XP was written on stone tablets. I believe it's mentioned in the Domesday book at one point.
 
If you only use Windows to run a few programs, and those programs run fine under XP, why change anything? I say stick to XP for now.
 
i use xp n it works fine for everythin i need it to, though i ll prolly switch to win 7 in a bit. i've noticed xp works fine but is getting too old so its time to switch! wait for win 7, dun but vista!!! vista sux goat nuts!
 
Wait for Win7 to ship, then upgrade. It's stable from the testing I've done with it, and that includes hardware and software based RAID.

Vista was lousy when it first released, especially for 64bit. Now's another story, as there've been a couple of Service Packs (it was at least usable after SP1). 64bit drivers are available now, so you won't be stuck with unusable peripheral devices with Win7. ;)
 
Dude. Just wait for Windows 7 (October 22nd) and get it. Unless you want to screw up the installation with Vis *beep*. Don't make me say the V word.

I have a MacBook (10.5.8) with Windows 7 RC on VirtualBox.
 
mathcolo said:
I agree, spending the unnecessary money on 7/Vista might not necessarily be a smart idea.

However, a lot of people are saying there are quite a few "under the hood" improvements in Windows 7 that make it more stable. I'm not really sure if that is relevant to me or not.
Click to expand...

If you are running Windows in a VM, I'd strongly recommend sticking with XP for now. I've found that Windows XP runs far faster in a Virtual Machine than Windows 7, particularly with limited (below 4 GB of) RAM. Windows 7's optimisations will shine through when you are running in Bootcamp as it has better support for modern hardware features than XP does. However, VM's such as VMWare Fusion and Parallels don't use/virtualize this hardware quickly (or at all) so you will find that 7 is slower than XP in a VM.

Also, don't upgrade your OS for the sake of having the latest. Upgrade for a reason - if your apps are no longer supported, it doesn't take advantage of your new hardware, or if the OS no longer has security patches and you use it online.

Do bear in mind that XP's days are numbered, though. It is still in use by major businesses, but once 7 has been around for a few years, and if it manages to gain market share and acceptance, XP will begin to die off.
 
BlackiBook said:
Somewhat is the right word to use! Very limited upgrades!
Click to expand...

Actually, the service packs & upgrade have brought entire new security subsystems, new media players, new device support (little things, like USB 2.0, SATA, the NX bit, large HDD's...), IPv6.

These are pretty major upgrades - and why you can't easily install XP RTM on a Mac, the initial release is too limited.
 
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