To XP or not to XP...

[baloo]

or should I bite the bullet with Vista.

My PC needs it's annual rebuild which will mean a complete reformat etc etc. I wondering though if it's finally time to bite the bullet and move to Vista Ultimate instead. That might mean an upgrade to a Dual Core quad CPU as well, just because I can.

Thoughts ?

If I'm right, Jedi's the only 'geek' with Vista loaded and running.

[Raffles]

Won't claim to be be a geek but I use Windows Vista too, seems ok but will be a while before I have learned the various features. Should mention it's Windows Vista Business I have.

[Fat Bob]

My mind is I will only do it when I upgrade my PC, and make sure I have minimum 2GB or RAM if not 3 or 4GB. and yes, uping the processor etc is also useful.

Luckily my Dell isn't p!$$!ng me off too much and tehrefore I don't need a new PC yet.

[Lichtgestalt]

XP for me... Diana has Vista on her laptop and I haven't found anything on it that's better than XP

[Burbage]

Does vista significantly improve the complete arse of a job they did with networking in XP?

[baloo]

Nothing wrong with XP's networking.

[Burbage]

Apart from being five hundred times more complicated than networking in any other operating system.

[baloo]

Certainly easier than any other Wondows version I have played with. Not proficient enough in Mac OS, *nix, or OS/2 to comment.

Actually, I don't think I've ever had to do anything after a rebuild. It assumes the network card in the machine will use DHCP, which it does, and automatically connects to the router. very easy, very simple.

[Burbage]

It's the connection to other computers that's the real trick. I don't think I've ever got it to work effectively. Any tips. And please don't suggest the Network set-up Wizard. My guess is that more people have committed murder as a result of that software than any violent computer game.

My desktop these days is just used for playing games, but because of the network issues with xP I'd like to network my printers so they're available via the router rather than the PC. Any suggestions for hardware? They're both USB printers.

[Bender]

I'd like to network my printers so they're available via the router rather than the PC. Any suggestions for hardware? They're both USB printers.

Belkin Network USB hub (I think that's what it's called, if not, that's what it is!). Small black box with an ethernet port and 5 x USB ports.

[baloo]

I do it at home via a router, but it shouldn't make a difference if you direct connect.

I setup sharing on the folder or drive I want shared out and tell XP to make it visible and people allowed to edit.

I then make sure the login ID I use on my pc is also available on the 2nd PC. Make sure the password are the same.

I then map a network drive to the other PC and tell it to automagically connect all the time.

Once setup, I have never had a problem.

One trick I like to do is map the drives consistently on both PCs even if it's a local drive or folder. i.e. I can use Microsoft Money on both PCs. Both PCs find the file on M:\msmoney\ drive and both save a backup file to S:\msmoney. m:\lives on one PC, S:\ lives on another. But both PCs use the same live file and both backup to the same backup area.

WRT to Network Printers, we only have one and it has built in networking so it's connected to the router via lan cable/wireless. Though in the past I had it direct connected to one PC, shared it out and the second PC had no trouble printing to it.

[Fresh Mint]

I have got so pissed off with how slow my PC has been running that yesterday (good old Dell) I used their "restore to factory shipping" function. It feels as if I've traded in a Morris Minor for a Porsche now. Like having a brand new PC.

[Fat Bob]

Yeah, mine is getting slowly slower. Might just do that as well Minty. And then slow it all down again with my downloaded stuff.....

[Morrolan]

i installed Vista Home Premium on Fyn's dual core laptop after XP mysteriously crashed it after downloading SP 3. it runs very well, it's functional and looks good. to be honest, on the outside you wouldn't say it's fundamentally different from XP and some of the features take some getting used to. under the hood however, is a machine that can now finally use its 3 Mb RAM and that makes quite a bit of difference speed-wise.

have had no compatibility issues other than that the Bluetooth stopped working after installing Vista, but 5 minutes of Googling gave me the solution to that one.

i think a lot of the earlier issues with Vista were solved when they brought out SP1.

go for it, i say.

[Spike]

My advice, DON'T DO IT! Just as XP was becoming pretty stable I decided to upgrade to Vista and it's nothing but a pile of trouble. I'm so pissed off I'm seriously thinking of dumping my two Windows PCs and laptop and buying Macs.

All the Mac users I know give you a knowing smile when you tell them you've got PC problems. It seems to be like a religion where the faithful are wise and all-knowing, looking down sympathetically on us poor heathens who suffer torment at the hands of the Messiah, Bill Gates.

[Burbage]

I do it at home via a router, but it shouldn't make a difference if you direct connect.

I setup sharing on the folder or drive I want shared out and tell XP to make it visible and people allowed to edit.

I then make sure the login ID I use on my pc is also available on the 2nd PC. Make sure the password are the same.

I then map a network drive to the other PC and tell it to automagically connect all the time.

Once setup, I have never had a problem.

One trick I like to do is map the drives consistently on both PCs even if it's a local drive or folder. i.e. I can use Microsoft Money on both PCs. Both PCs find the file on M:\msmoney\ drive and both save a backup file to S:\msmoney. m:\lives on one PC, S:\ lives on another. But both PCs use the same live file and both backup to the same backup area.

WRT to Network Printers, we only have one and it has built in networking so it's connected to the router via lan cable/wireless. Though in the past I had it direct connected to one PC, shared it out and the second PC had no trouble printing to it.

On the macintosh all you do is click to indicate the computer you wish to connect to. Then click to say how much connection you want. Then you are connected. Unless, of course, you're trying to connect to a computer running XP and windows firewall. But then the best thing to do is set up the Mac to be a network host which requires one click and a name typed in, then you can try to connect the PC to that.

On the Palm it's just as easy.

On the PC it's far easier to get the USB key out, because even if you get it working, the whole bloody thing needs to be set up again after every security update.

[SunshineAfterRain]

My Dell XPS (Core 2 Duo CPU) laptop runs on Windows Vista Home Premium and am happy with it. Works even better/faster after OS being upgraded to IE8. I would say go for it.

[baloo]

...blah...blah...

On the PC it's far easier to get the USB key out, because even if you get it working, the whole bloody thing needs to be set up again after every security update.

Fine, get your USB stick out but quit your moaning. I detailed the solution. Quite easy. I've yet to have to repeat the process after having set it up once. If you really think it's that difficult then maybe you shouldn't be attempting something as sophisticated as "networking".

[Fat Bob]

Burb, go out and buy more macs.

Never had a problem with networking myself, and that's going between various Windows OS from 98, 2000, NT, XP Home and Pro. Not used Vista yet. Also linked out to Unix with these, and got printers working between all computers.

Why do you need more than one pc at home anyhow? Reduce your usage!

[baloo]

Anyway, back to the original question. Having had a good think about things especially with the potential fallout of what's happening on Wall St, I think now is not the time for spending money on things I really don't need......

XP Pro SP3 stays.

[Burbage]

So that all the computers can use the printers, obviously.

So anyway, the question was does vista make networking straightforward? Or is it the same old thing as XP? Particularly wireless networking.

[Bender]

Funny thing that, all these complaints and all this angst...

Vista is fine if your computer has the oomph to run it. So is XP and so is any other OS as long as it does what you want. How about you back up your data, install Vista and see whether you like it? You can always ditch it and go back to XP.

[Burbage]

Think I'll get one of those belkin usb thingies. Looks the business. If I can get the printers and a couple of back-up disks directly on the network then I won't need the PC to do any networking. I have a usb sound card as well. There's potential to connect up the audio wirelessly there as well.

Ah so. Some fun with hardware coming up.

Actually, that's another thing XP has never handled well; multiple sound cards. Do the vista users see any improvements there?

[Morrolan]

Actually, that's another thing XP has never handled well; multiple sound cards. Do the vista users see any improvements there?

soundcards? no one uses those anymore, do they? nowadays you get Soundblaster Audigy quality from your mobo, so even if you need a special card for specific professional purposes, you'll still only need one card.

[Burbage]

Depends how many separate channels you want to record simultaneously. Also how may separate output channels you want.