Which operating system is the best?

[dew7]

Does Linux give you features that are unavailable in Windows?

[copycat]

Does Linux give you features that are unavailable in Windows?

It has games I don't have in Windows XP, it's got an Office Suite I haven't got in XP, but more than that I cannot say without doing more testing. Testing has been halted temporarily, awaiting a solution to the bootmanager/-loader-problem.

[Yonkey]

I have a personal gripe with Win98SE (which I happen to be using right now).  It can't handle having two Macromedia 2004 MX programs open at the same time.  It complains of being out of resources, when I've installed 384 MB of ram!?  

I forgot about the memory leak issues Win98SE has and that's probably the one thing I miss most about 2k/XP.  The NT Kernel handles multitasking and virtual memory way better than in 9x.  

[dew7]

Definately, agree with you there, Yonkey.  Memory management with the NT source code is much better than the 9x code.  The 9x code strives to maintain backwards-compatibility with true MS-DOS mode and the sacrifice with this is poor memory management.  Windows XP has a MS-DOS shell that is executed at a command.com prompt that allows some MSDOS programs to work but definately not all of them.  According to a MVP the Sasser worm targetted a service that was not available in the 9x code but it was available in the NT code.  I think that it is ironic how when you have too many features in a system then it can undercut the overall security of your pc.

[Yonkey]

I guess it depends on what you want out of an operating system.  For me, #1 is stability which is why once I switched to XP, I never considered going back.  I even loved Windows 2000 for the year I had it.

For other people it's security, compatibility, sustainability, maintainability, and so on.  Personally, I'd say just use whatever works best for you.  I never run DOS-based programs, so the fact that it exists in Win98 doesn't make a difference to me.  Also, most software developed today is designed for Windows, Mac and UNIX (probably in that order) anyway.

[dew7]

I am one of those users who will have to have a dual-boot system of 98SE and XP Pro. to allow for the best of both worlds.  I currently am saving my funds to allow for an upgrade of my computer and to allow an upgrade to 98SE and XP Professional edition.  I want it all.  LOL  I want to be able to play my old school MS-DOS games and also be able to run the most current hardware through XP.  I may upgrade to dual-boot after Microsoft has released SP2 for XP and wait to see if it fixes a majority of the security issues with the XP operating system.  Heck, I may even try to get a job at Microsoft someday.  Who Knows.  :>  

[copycat]

Have you heard about how the Sasser worm affected the NT source code in XP and 2000 while 98SE was not affected?

The Sasser Worm was the one that didn't come in through e-mail, was it not? Anyway, anything attempting to connect to the internet first has to pass through my firewall and I haven't seen anything suspicous trying to get out.
I wouldn't recommend XP Home to anyone, XP Professional is probably the better way to go.

[Storm]

I wouldn't recommend XP Home to anyone, XP Professional is probably the better way to go.

And the differernce between them is...??

[dew7]

XP Professional offers a few more features but is supposed to become better as time goes on.  We will see.  I know the Microsoft lifeline for XP Home is less than XP Professional but I am not sure of all the differences.  Perhaps Neil could enlighten us?  Any recent polls but XP first, then 2000 and finally 98.  LOL  98SE in third place -- not too shabby for an operating system that was first released in 1999.  :>
Anyway, the Sasser creator was caught in Germany -- the reward money influenced people to turn the young adult male "script kiddie" in LOL  Sasser targets
(weblink courtesy of Microsoft) :>
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.asp

[Yonkey]

AFAIK, there aren't much differences.  Pro just has a few more features than Home.  I think Pro supports dual cpu's, NTFS file encryption and possibly better multi-user support.  

<MS spokesperson>For more details on the differences between Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp and find out which product is right for you.</MS spokesperson>

[Storm]

I was just asking because I used both, and couldn't really tell the difference. Of course, I didn't use dual cpu's, file encryption or multi-users

[copycat]

And the differernce between them is...??

For one, XP Pro probably can't be anymore unstable than XP Home.

[Storm]

It could be AS unstable though...
I assumed XP pro didn't crash as much because I haven't tried running any old games on it, like I did with XP home. Or in the words of the XP home owner: "My computer was just fine before you got here!"  Sure, it's fine as long as you don't ask it to do anything weird, like, I dunno, run a program?

[Yonkey]

I've had XP Pro crash on me when trying to run LSL6, 7, MoE (except the program itself crashed, not the O/S) and KQ7 first edition was kinda wacky with Win95 for me.  

[dew7]

It is nice to know that critical updates for 98, 98SE and ME will continue until 30 June 2006 via the Windows Update site.

[dew7]

Upgrading my PC to a dual-boot with 98SE and XP Professional.  Thanks to my mom and dad for providing me with some funds for the upgrade.  I am really excited about this.  

[dew7]

Anyone care to comment about Longhorn, XPsp2, or anything even remotely connected to Windows, Microsoft or Linux/Unix, etc.?

[dew7]

What does everyone think about BHO (Browser Helper Objects)?  Do you think they should be allowed to install on a computer or by installing on a computer are they making the system less secure?

[InvertedSilence]

Something Lousisiana left out,
In my personal opinion AVOID WINDOWS XP! Not only does it cost more but if you EVER want to play another kings quest game (excluding VIII and IX hopefully) and dont have extensive knowledge of dos, keep away from xp. I'd personally reccomend windows98 which seems to have the least problems. Im hoping to God that xp wont conflict with IX in any way, although it shouldn't seening as it only really ahs problems with older games.

[Jeysie]

Which, I presume, only works on DOS games.

Peace & Luv, Liz