New System... which OS!?!

[rsfnatik]

I just built a simple workstation for a friend of a friend:

AMD XP 1800+
ASUS A7N8-X
256MB DDR333
Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM
52X CD-ROM

He's tossing his old system and already has Win98SE on disc. Can anyone offer some significant reasons for/against upgrading to XP Home versus staying with Win98SE? Keep in mind that the user is 56 and will use the system primarly for Internet access, Word and a few other apps. There will no DVD, graphics or heavy gaming.

[Midknyte]

as long as you stay at or below 512mb ram, you should be cool with win98. there's a lot more in xp, but it's that much more stuff he can screw up.

[Johnny Fist]

With that sort of system and given the choice of XP or 98 only, I'd say go with XP. Its way more user friendly for the inexperienced then 98 is. And the restore option is going to be a godsend for you in the event he does mess something up.

[rsfnatik]

I was leaning towards XP myself if he's willing to spend the money.

[Baddog]

Windows 2000 is the only way to go for me. Very reliable.:t

[ukulele]

For what he needs, the only significant reason to stay with what he has is money. One thing to look into with a new install of 98 is security updates. Check and make sure they are still available.

[nothing]

I would go with Windows 2000 too, or Linux :p

Windows 98SE is still nice IMO, but it's been long since I last used it.

[Swordfish]

Keep in mind that the user is 56 and will use the system primarly for Internet access, Word and a few other apps. There will no DVD, graphics or heavy gaming.

stay with 98se and save the bux.

[Plaster]

Unless you intend to add another 256mb of ram I'd say stick with 98.

[bushmaster]

What $$$ ?.

Buy an OEM copy of XP home from newegg.com for $96 or even better if you have a 98se CD and you are or have a student living in the house you can buy XP pro academic upgrade pack for $81 from newegg.com, do a clean install of pro by simply placing the 98se CD in the drive when asked for verification of an older MS OS.

[rsfnatik]

I'm in Canada so Newegg is out of the question - they don't ship outside the US. :( I can get a copy XP Home OEM for $138CDN... i'm thinking that I might just do that. At least he'll end up with a new system and a new OS.

Baddog: I'm still using 2000 mysef. :)

[Logan2002]

xp more user friendly. Just have over 256megs of ram. 256 being the minimum. It is best at that amount not 128 they say is ok.

[DVOM]

"Keep in mind that the user is 56"

What the heck is this supposed to mean? That he's developed a fondness for lockups and BSOD's? Maybe the stability of XP vs. 98 might be to much to get used to in his old age?...LOL

At that "advanced" age, who could possibly want to say goodbye to constantly needing to monitor resources? I'm nearly 52 and not a day goes by that I don't miss watching my resources steadily drop and the inevitable lockup, hard shutdown and scandisk.

Of course that's because I now try to run 98 like I run XP.

[rsfnatik]

XP was installed this weekend.

DVOM: Take it to mean whatever you want.

[genesound]

I think you made the right choice, an old (unsupported) os can be a pain on hardware that's 5 years newer ;)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Easy peasy, windows 2000 Pro

--Jakk:t

[rsfnatik]

That's why I chose to go with XP in the end. For me, 98SE has always been a very stable OS, but I figured a new OS was in order for this machine.