Looks like I'm going to get to buy a new laptop to add to our existing home network (two elderly 98SE boxes, plus one running XP Home SP2). New machine likely to be used for browsing, occasional office work (including the odd bit of engineering spreadsheeting) and lightweight gaming (at the sort of Sims 2 level, or just a little busier). I'll almost certainly put Office Pro 2003 on it.
Although the laptops I'm looking at come loaded by default with Vista Home Premium, it looks like there are one or two where by paying a bit extra I can get XP Pro instead.
I know a few months ago (when I wasn't looking at buying new hardware) people advised me to avoid Vista at all costs. Has the general view softened at all since then?
If I buy Vista, will I see any problems running my mixed network? If I buy XP Pro, will I be pursuing a dead end? Is having to learn a third OS likely to confuse the wife and kids?
What do people think?
A.
Although the laptops I'm looking at come loaded by default with Vista Home Premium, it looks like there are one or two where by paying a bit extra I can get XP Pro instead.
I know a few months ago (when I wasn't looking at buying new hardware) people advised me to avoid Vista at all costs. Has the general view softened at all since then?
If I buy Vista, will I see any problems running my mixed network? If I buy XP Pro, will I be pursuing a dead end? Is having to learn a third OS likely to confuse the wife and kids?
What do people think?
A.
