Here is a post from one of your Australian neighbors. I still suggest that if you can you should try to get a machine with XP on it rather than Vista. Go to this link and follow it down for opinions.



http://www.ulrichandhelvas.com/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=7&TopicID;=1029&PagePosition;=1



There are two groups on this world. Those that like Vista and those that hate Vista. I have heard so many bad things that I will never even attempt to load Vista.

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Thanks for that site--however sooner than later we will all have to go to Vista as XP is on its last legs now--unless you go to Apple--and my Camera and printer I have been told won't work on Apple ?

You are still running Win98 with out many problems. My major programs will continue to work on Win98 as long as I keep them. The only problems are the spam gitters, virus programs, utilities that have been rewritten for the newest OS's. There is no need to upgrade except to fit a newer OS. That is a concern too. Vista may choke on some of your older programs so you may need to update them as well.



XP will run for several years yet without problems. Sales on Vista have been terrible and there are so many complaints I will just hold out. MS is supposed to be working on a replacement, maybe they will do it better this time. I am waiting, and using Linux dual booting with Win98 on my desktop, with my XP on my laptop, but hoping that MS will correct their mistake. If they do not I stay with Linux. It does everything that XP can do, and maybe Vista too. The cost is only $70 USD for all the stuff MS things do for their $200 and up.



Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

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You are still running Win98 with out many problems. My major programs will continue to work on Win98 as long as I keep them. The only problems are the spam gitters, virus programs, utilities that have been rewritten for the newest OS's. There is no need to upgrade except to fit a newer OS. That is a concern too. Vista may choke on some of your older programs so you may need to update them as well.



XP will run for several years yet without problems. Sales on Vista have been terrible and there are so many complaints I will just hold out. MS is supposed to be working on a replacement, maybe they will do it better this time. I am waiting, and using Linux dual booting with Win98 on my desktop, with my XP on my laptop, but hoping that MS will correct their mistake. If they do not I stay with Linux. It does everything that XP can do, and maybe Vista too. The cost is only $70 USD for all the stuff MS things do for their $200 and up.



Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

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I Simply love Windows XP and have tryed Vista but much prefer XP (then again no one likes change do they!?). I will be upgrading to Vista in the next year or two, because with most microsoft products, they release them too early and it takes a good couple of years to break them in. There are some very nice new additions to their software but i still prefer XP myself.

My youngest son is an I T specialist and will not load Vista for me until the problems with it are sorted out and this may take some while



The X P programe works perfectly .............I also have 19 systems to transfer if I switch over and this may take some time to do ................asuming that Vista will accommodate them



:coolsmile:

I usually only go for every second windows (if it gets good reviews which vista hasn't).

If it were my decision/dilemma I would have to decide on Win XP or wait until vista is replaced.

Win XP performs reliably and should continue until vista is replaced (which tends to answer the question)

Once again the MS folks are extending XP for smaller machines. Maybe this will allow the PC vendors to install XP into the machine you want to buy Jane, errr, justme.



I am also sure that you will be able to buy XP from some software discounters on the web. That is where I still buy Win98 CD's but I don't know if the US export laws will allow them to ship to your home. Probably some software discounters in your area to. Try going to your favorite PC dealer and see if he can support you with an XP installed PC. That would be much safer than moving to Vista at this time.



http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId;=9092898



Microsoft turnabout on XP follows user demands

And if customers and partners continue to press, it will capitulate again, says analyst



By Gregg Keizer



June 3, 2008 (Computerworld) Microsoft Corp.'s decision today to allow low-cost desktop makers to install Windows XP Home on their hardware until June 2010 reverses a move it rejected just two months ago.

"Vista is Fine its the Programs you run under it that are the problem,OK!"

Well I have Two computers with Vista and they are Great. NOW HANG ON! I had XP and was perfectly happy with it but I wanted to upgrade my computer so I did and guess what they come with VISTA.

I had heaps of problems like heaps!!! BUT HANG ON it was NOT VISTA!!! It was MOST of my programs I owned that would and do not run under Vista.

SO in the end I had to upgrade my programs and now BOTH my computers are real fine.

I SUGGEST STRONGLY YOU BUY A NEW COMPUTER WITH VISTA BUT ALSO BUY NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE MADE TO WORK UNDER VISTA. DONT GO BACKWARDS TO XP>

I have a Compaq from Harvey Norman, they come with preloaded programs like Word etc and you get 24/7 direct phone back up FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!so you will have NO PROBLEMS only if you dont try to load an OLD program will you have problems,OK!!

I have been in bussinness building and upgrading computers for years this time I bought a brand name and I am happy with the BACKUP in this moden world.

Regards,Trev

Thanks for that Trev--BUT does that mean that my MP460 Canon printer and my A75 power shot Canon camera will not work on the Vista ?

Kiwitrev, you are actually right in your comments. And that is why so many folks are not signing on to the Vista program. How many hundreds of dollars are folks supposed to spend to please MS? So many truly good programs have been scrapped out due to the Vista nasty ways. And I am not too sure there aren't also some other problems with Vista as well. I have read where so many hardware problems were not addressed so until the companies release new drivers the hardware is no good. And how many older retirees really know how to fix drivers and get things to work. There is such a general commotion in the US and other places that say so many things go wrong.



I am surprise you can not get PC's with XP on it in Australia. Those options were available in the US, and it looks like they will be around for a while.



Choosing XP is not 'going back', it is 'staying with' to avoid lots of unnecessary expenses while waiting for MS to get it's act straightened out. No one should be expected to toss all their software and buy new hardware just to please MS.



Of course, these are just my opinions. And for someone on a limited budget, MS can do without my dollars.

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Thanks for that Trev--BUT does that mean that my MP460 Canon printer and my A75 power shot Canon camera will not work on the Vista ?



I think the only way you could answer that question is to actually do it and if it did not work then you are in deep.........Therefore why bother unless of course you can get a definitive answer from an expert which I am not



Personally I would not take the chance ............

Hi PlanB,



Canon has Vista drivers for your MP460 and for the A75 so that wont be a problem - they can be downloaded from www.canon.com.au.



If you are looking at a new computer go for Vista, but make sure you get enough memory - get at least 2Gb of ram.



Cheers



Greg

Thanks Rallygreg--yes I want to get a big enough puter--to handle everything for many years--thanks for the info--

Thanks for that Trev--BUT does that mean that my MP460 Canon printer and my A75 power shot Canon camera will not work on the Vista ?



Probably not, but it is easy enough to download the compatible drivers so they work with Vista, had to do this to make ny Lexmark printer work...all ok now.