Windows Version preference

[jhibbs]

I got my computer last year, and use it mainly for photoshop and painter, so speed is a must. It has Windows XP on it though, and from the start I didnt like it. NOW as I'm sure you've all heard, there are some system weaknesses in XP that are being taken advantage of by viruses (i got at least one of them and had to reformat) and there are STILL problems (constant freezing, shutting down for no reason, etc)
Alll of this still occurs even after I just bought more RAM (now at 640MB). I have been considering finding an older version of Windows, both to save RAM/disk space, and to avoid all these virus-related problems. Anyone else have similar feelings about XP? Which version are you running? Advice?

[gekitsu]

i saw windows xp installed on the computers of 4 friends.

one of them is into graphics, 2d, digital painting stuff, one is into video editing, one is into games and one is mostly hanging out online playing mechwarrior (age old game).

all besides the last one uninstalled it after 2 weeks because it was filled with unnecessary crap that no one needed. also, the huge checkbox "uninstall and deactivate silly shit" is nowhere to be found.

the one riend who still runs xp has serious problems on every lan he visits. the other three all run windows 2000 with the newest service pack and patches installed. as do i.

right now, win2k seems to be the most simple & effective windows to use.

be careful not to clutter it with too much stuff, though, because that is what will slow 2k down quite a bit. install what you need and nothing else. keep the pc a workhorse, you professional tool. just like you keep your pencils in good shape.

[WildSpruceMoose]

xp had a few bugs in it when I first got it Basically, no virus, but cookies were never saved and programs were never saved had to keep reinstalling. Finally reformat its fine, but there are still HUGE compatibility issues and the way it interacts with some games/programs makes errors. The sleep mode is bugged IE: Wacom Drivers shut down after 2 sleep mode visits so it can't be used w/o a reboot, auto start used to be a nice feature on message programs, but when new versions came out it stopped o.0

Most likely it can all be fixed without a refomrat, but I figure, if you have xp expect to reformat more often than using other operating software. I am a computer newbie though, only had it for a year, so my knowledge of problems is mediocre at best

[Fipse]

I have to agree with Gekitsu. In my experience WIN2000 seems to be the most stable of all windows systems. We´ve got all our PC´s in our firm working with WIN2000 (mainly used for Office and Internetprogramming , Dataprocessing and a bit image manipulation) and they simply show no probs. I tried with my own computer XP after 98 but since I installed last year May WIN2000 I still have no problems - I haven´t got a single systemcrash in the whole time and I have a bit delicate constellation (2 video cards, SCSI-controller etc.).

So from personal experience I would choose WIN2000.

Fipse

[Pontemonti]

I have had no problems whatsoever with Win XP. You wouldn't have got this "virus" if you would have used Windows Update regularly, and there's really no reason not to do that.
As for freezing and "shutting down for no reason", there is of course a reason for this, and this is most likely (99,9% or so) because of crappy video card drivers, or maybe some other drivers...get new drivers or get rid of new drivers and use Microsoft certified ones instead and it shouldn't be a problem.

[Orban]

I have used XP with a lot of digital apps with no real hassle. Most problem i've seen in XP can be duplicate in 2000... since it's the same kernel. You can allways shut downs inapropriate service if you don't like them, a list of unuseful service exist on many website.

To talk a bit about the latest worm : it work all the same on Win2003(all version), XP(all version), 2000(all version), NT4(not all version. Some other arch didn't suffer of it it seem).
But erhmm, the patch for this (and other) vulnerabilities exist for a loooong time on the Windows Update main site - if you don't upgrade your computer and make it up to date...
All software has bugs.Painter has a lot, Photoshop too(wtf did my tablet wok one time and not the other??), and an OS is bigger than all those software. So keep up to date to avoid problem, don't open blindly attachment, don't accept file of someone you don't trust entirely(uhmm. Trust no one is a better deal :d).

About virus : it's the same. Trust no one . And ALL Windows version are nearly sensitive to the same win32 virus. NT(and his followers) was nearly immune from old dos virus with is memory schemes... but Win32 virus uses another "hole". The only way to change that is to user another security model, and changing the user habit(you don't want that you know. Trust me).

But has pontemonti has said.. crappy driver is the explanaition of nearly all problem in XP. Windows 2003 has break compatibility with most of them, and the future Longhorn will continue.

[Szyslack]

well, i'm using xp on this computer, and it seems ok. on my own computer i run windows 98 se, mainly because it is good for games. i also use OSX with the macs at school. the only system that gives me any real problems is OSX, though it may be because the way the school set up the network.