It's Gotta Be Windows...

Windows is the defacto operating system around the world, with over 95% of the computers out there running Bill Gates' software in some form. While Linux exists out there in various forms, it shouldn't be considered at all unless you are willing to spend several weeks tweaking it so everything will run. There's a reason why the rest of the world uses Windows, and there's one answer: compatibility.

With Windows, it's pretty much guaranteed that all of your software will work with it, while any other system, including Apple's, is a dicey proposition. I'd advocate holding off on any brand-new Windows Operating system until it's about a year old, so all the bugs can be worked out and the price will drop.

Windows Vista

Vista, formerly known as "Longhorn", is the next-generation Operating System issued by Microsoft. This OS, which was released in time for Christmas 2006, is radically different than Windows XP. You can see how Microsoft highlights the differences and new features in Vista here.

This OS requires a totally different processor, one with an architecture based on 64-bits (the prior generation of processors was based on 32-bits). 64-bit processors and motherboards are a mature, default technology for everyone looking to build a PC right now.

For the gamer out there, I recommend going with Vista. Why? Well, check out my video card review and check out how DirectX 10, a Vista-only feature, looks. Sure, it will be awhile before exclusive DX10 games are developed.

However, I think that it is a reflection of the growing advantages that Vista has, especially as the possibility of Vista-only games looms on the horizon. There really isn't a big price difference between XP and Vista, and for the gamer, the performance differences on the horizon are very real. Go ahead and get Vista (if you are a gamer), as you will realize the performance benefits soon enough; don't waste your money on XP as you'll end up needing to upgrade in ~1 year.

I stress that this is a recommendation for the gaming computer only, though. Everyone else (non-gamers) are looking for stability and reliability, not performance. Vista does not have a proven track record on this yet. Gamers are generally those on the cutting edge of adopting new technologies. For the average computer user, you will not realize any important functional benefits yet from Vista and in fact could realise crashes, 'blue screens' and other things that go bump in the night.

Windows XP

For the average home user, Windows XP is the choice. Two reasons for that:

Windows XP uses an entirely different system structure than Windows 98, the next newest mainstream Opearting System (OS). This means that probably around 1/3 Windows 98 programs will not work with Windows XP and vice versa. As to networking, the notion of people owning two or three computers was still a vague notion back when Windows 98 came out.

Besides compatibility and networking, Windows XP offers another advantage: stability. Windows 98 was very prone to random lock-ups and such, a problem that has been drastically reduced in XP.

While there is a 64-bit version of Windows XP (Windows XP 64-Bit Edition) out, it is targeted more toward a high-end, industrial user. It should not be considered for your operating system, even if you purchased an Athlon 64 processor.

Finally, as you are considering building a new computer (or maybe even upgrading your old one), you must consider that since Windows XP is the current OS, the majority of motherboards, hard drives, CD drives and such are produced with XP in mind and will be instantly compatible. This cannot be guaranteed with other operating systems.

Windows XP must be constantly updated to stay abreast of any new security problems or potential upgrades, so make sure and check Microsoft's Update Page frequently.

If you are not sure which version of Windows XP to get, check out Microsoft's Feature rundown to see whether you'll need XP Home Edition or XP Professional.

Windows 2000 Professional

This is the OS that I use. Windows 2000 is essentially an earlier version of Windows XP, but without several of the 'pretty' features that XP has. Windows 2000 is based on the same structural core as the Windows XP series, so very few compatibilty issues arise (I can't recall an instance where a game hasn't worked in 2000 but has in XP).

Windows 2000 was designed for the business world in mind. That was not a hang-up for me, as usually security and other features are emphasized more in the business world than the consumer world.

Windows 2000's networking capabilities aren't as 'plug 'n play' as XP's are, so this could very well be a deciding factor for you. For an intermediate computer user on up, this is not a problem at all.

 

Windows 98 Second Edition

Windows 98 was a considerable upgrade over Windows 95, with many stability and functionality problems fixed. Windows 98 is a fine choice I feel to run on a computer not networked, as it is a pain to configure every setting for the network.

Windows 98 was the last operating system built by Microsoft that still had DOS as its underlying support. For those who don't remember, DOS was the first operating system (appearing in the early 1980s) built by Microsoft, and it was driven by a text-command interface. Many programs built for Windows 98 or DOS will simply not run in Windows XP or beyond, including one of my all-time favorite games.

Also, Microsoft has stopped offering support on this OS. Once the support is gone, all the Service Packs, drivers, etcetra will magically disappear from Microsoft's site, only to be found on out-of-the-way websites on the Internet. For this reason alone, I'd advise you to avoid this OS, unless nostalgia drives you to give it a spin again.

 

Here again are my complete recommendations for building a computer with a great Hard Drive at a low price!

Next - Other Computer Hardware - Printers, Keyboards, etc. »

 

Tip: If you still long to run some of your old computer programs or games from the DOS/Windows 98 era (or before), you are actually now in luck. There is an 'emulator', known as Dosbox, which allows you to run these programs, with some very minor tweaking, on all modern computers. For nostalgic people like myself, it didn't come soon enough.