| Author |
Message |
    
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 387
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 11:59 am: | 
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I have been using Windows 98 for six years. Is there any reason for me to upgrade? I feel so behind the times when people ask me what operating system I use! |
jamie
Moderator
Username: Jamie
Post Number: 448
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 12:34 pm: |
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I would say - if you're able to do everything you need to do on it - don't upgrade. I recently upgraded one machine to XP and it caused my scanner and tv tuner card to stop working. I needed to upgrade to get another piece of hardware to work.
Another machine in the house is still on 98 which I'll probably leave that way. |
shauna mc
Citizen
Username: Ladymc
Post Number: 21
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 1:39 pm: |
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I say upgrade. You'll have Less problems with new softwares, wont have to worry about it not being compatible.
Life Is GREAT....get your pc tuned up.
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2511
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 4:52 pm: |
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I'm also using an older computer (Presario 5190) which runs Windows 98 (the original version not SE). I have no plans to upgrade.
As long as the computer continues to run the applications you need and you have your hard drive backed up properly, I see no problem with continuing to run 98. The only caution is to check the systems requirements of any new software you are tempted to purchase to be sure it is compatable with your system. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3500
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 4:56 pm: |
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I just did that. I found that some applications could not run on Win98. My virus scanner for example had to run down version.
AOL 9.0 with the advanced anti-spam would not run and would only load up to version 6.0.
Just started hitting too many problems like that, and I could to kill the spam, pop-ups and what not.
I made the switch to XP and all is well now.
Later,
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2512
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 5:08 pm: |
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George:
Could your computer handle XP satisfactorily? I am afraid to upgrade this computer because XP might use too many resources for me to run any applications with it.
I have been able to run AOL 7 effectively on my old computer, have some problems with AOL 8 (frequent kernal 32 errors) and get all kinds of fatal error messages when I try AOL 9. Its nice to know I am not alone being unable to run their latest software. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3501
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 5:19 pm: |
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Yes,
From the Windows site, I down loaded and ran a program that tested the ability of the computer to run XP.
It came back as OK, and it has been.
If you have an XP CD, I think the program is in one of the folders on the CD.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.
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Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 341
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 8:25 am: |
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I say upgrade, XP is faster and more secure. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2515
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 9:30 am: |
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Can you just upgrade windows or do you have to re-install everythingin the windows registry? |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 91
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 1:46 pm: |
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If you have to ask, you don't need to upgrade.
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monster
Citizen
Username: Monster
Post Number: 122
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 7:23 pm: |
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Get thee to the Apple Store in the Short Hills Malls, buy a Mac and never look back.
Look Ma, no viri
and they look good to boot.
blah-blah-blah |
shauna mc
Citizen
Username: Ladymc
Post Number: 22
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 7:32 pm: |
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Upgrading to XP always sounds good but it can slow your pc down tremendously if the pc isn't fast enough. Take a look at your specs and see if it can take xp. Maybe windows 2000 would be a better option for an upgrade
Life Is GREAT....get your pc tuned up.
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shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 388
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 11:54 am: |
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Thanks for all the advice. Monster brings up an interesting point. Apple users swear by their machines. Okay. Let it all out. What's the vast difference between an Apple and a PC? Why should I switch? |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2529
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 2:30 pm: |
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In addition to the cost of the new hardware system, how much would it cost to purchase all of the software needed for basic opertions such as word processing, spreadsheet, and data base administration, basic graphics, etc.? Are any of the PC based programs apple compatable? |
Zeno
Citizen
Username: Eratosthenes
Post Number: 34
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 6:51 pm: |
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If your machine is connected to the Internet, upgrade now to XP. It's still full of security holes, but at least there's some effort to patch them in good time. I assume that you do not want your machine turned into a zombie that holds child porno. You should also install a firewall, e.g. www.zonealarm.com.
If your machine is too slow for XP, replace it.
Apple has historically had much better quality than M$, and I believe their current OS is essentially BSD Unix. The problem with Apple is that there is not as much software available as there is for Windows. Apple's big mistake was to stay with their proprietary hardware instead of competing with M$ on the x86 boxes. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2258
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 10:59 am: |
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I'd say that Apple's strategy works pretty well for them these days, and they seem content to have a market niche. They are gaining market share lately.
Even back before Apple's OSX (version 10 of their operating system), their OS was less robust than Windows, yet the applications worked better. Why? In my view, it's a cultural difference. In general, the authors take the time to test their stuff more carefully. The result is a more useful system. I don't have a Mac, but I respect them. Considering they take less time to set up and learn than PC's, they could cost you less, if you value your time as being worth money.
Windows XP is the best version of Windows so far. Or, I could say it sucks the least. It's quite reliable and has some really nice features. It uses more RAM than Windows 98. Often, a slow processor (depending on how slow) is adequate, as long as you have a lot of RAM. For most people, I recommend 512 MB. Yeah, that's a lot.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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