Your advice sought: 64-bit WinXP or Win7

from Elemental Forums

I do want to get a computer at some point in the next year (probably a year away) that has 64-bit capability.  That's not an issue.  The question for me is, what advantages does Win7 offer over WinXP that go beyond a few apps that I already own separately?  Can Win7 manage memory better than WinXP?  Can it handle more RAM than WinXP?  Can it do serious, deep things that WinXP can't?  Or is it largely a case of a few free programs, a prettier taskbar, and Windows Touch?

83,110 views 33 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Win XP 64 bit should be avoided as you will find app support was poor even when it was current.

Go with 64 bit Win 7 or 8.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

I held out for a long time with XP (on the "Why fix what ain't broke?" theory) until forced to buy a new rig, with Win7 as the only option.

Go with Win7.  Don't look back.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Win7. It is worth it. Besides WinXP is no longer supported by Microsoft so any issues that may come along (like more viruses) will be all on your own to fix.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

win 7

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Win 7 no doubt!

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Win 7 definitely.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Win 7 no bout adoubt it.  XP is so yesteryear that even Moses refuses to use it. :-"

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The question for me is, what advantages does Win7 offer over WinXP that go beyond a few apps that I already own separately? Can Win7 manage memory better than WinXP? Can it handle more RAM than WinXP? Can it do serious, deep things that WinXP can't? Or is it largely a case of a few free programs, a prettier taskbar, and Windows Touch?
End of quote

Win7 is the first MS OS that actually works....;)

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Yeah, Win7 is really good. I understand misgivings updating from XP, but thier really is no downside to the upgrade. Win7 is the new XP ;)

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 8
Win7 is the first MS OS that actually works....
End of Jafo's quote

Not just the first.  Quite possibly... the first and only.

Although XP kinda works.  But kinda's a long way from actually.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Ryat, reply 3
Besides WinXP is no longer supported by Microsoft so any issues that may come along
End of Ryat's quote

Not true. MS will still support XP until 2014. Do your homework.

I would say go for a Mac. If you can't then go with Windows 7 and stay away from the disaster called Windows 8.

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

Windows is a lot like milk.

When it's past the use by date, Microsoft updates tend to leave a funky aftertaste.  Performance rapidly degrades as they hose the OS with each update.  Once they don't care, it goes downhill pretty fast.  You're stuck reinstalling every few months when they corrupt this or that file on a botched update and cripple performance.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 11

I would say go for a Mac.
End of kona0197's quote

Only insane and clinicaly braindead individuals makes such a choice.

Quoting Jafo, reply 8

Win7 is the first MS OS that actually works....
End of Jafo's quote

For some, maybe. Definitely not for all.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Go for Win 7 then leave 8 by the wayside and hope 9 is just as good.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Snowman, reply 13
For some, maybe. Definitely not for all.
End of Snowman's quote

For everyone except people whose name starts with 'Snow' and ends with 'man' ....;p

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Win 7 however you say that you may not be doing this for a year. May not be easy finding a machine with win 7 on it a year from now as win 8 will be out soon.

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

win7 is worth it also if you buy it now and want to upgrade to windows 8 you only pay 15 USD =)

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Windows 7 accesses and manages a lot more memory in an efficient manner for sure.

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Windows is a lot like milk.
End of quote

Good idea for a new windows ad: Got windows? :grin:

 

As for the idea of getting Win8: *shivers*

Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting BOTA99, reply 10
Yeah, Win7 is really good. I understand misgivings updating from XP, but thier really is no downside to the upgrade. Win7 is the new XP
End of BOTA99's quote


Assuming you dont pirate it, there is ...... Win 7 costs money. And for what it does cost, there is little you get for that money, as most functionality that is actually better in 7 than in XP can be easily upgraded to XP free of charge. IDK what Win 7 cost ATM, but I doubt it is cheap enough to justify its price tag.



Quoting LightStar, reply 19
Windows 7 accesses and manages a lot more memory in an efficient manner for sure.
End of LightStar's quote



True - for the 64 Bit version.


As you need 64 Bit support for what you are doing, there is however NO point at all in getting Win XP 64 Bit. As it has been mentioned before, XP64 has suffered from poor support from the beginning....


If you need 64 Bit now... go for Win7 64


Considering how terrible Win 8 is (I played arround with the preview version) buying a - not locked to the machine version - of Windows 7 now might actually not be a bad idea...

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks for all the responses.  I have a quick followup question:

 

Does Win7 manage memory better intrinsically than WinXP, and if so, how?

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 12
Not true. MS will still support XP until 2014.
End of kona0197's quote

Not the 64-bit version.  That was swept under the carpet a while ago.  Didn't even get SP3...

Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

XP is limited to accessing 4MB of RAM max.  Win7 64-bit can access 8MB in Starter & Home Basic, 16MB in Home Premium, and up to 192MB for Pro & up.  Whether it's 'better managed' or not, I can't say.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Daiwa, reply 23
XP is limited to accessing 4MB of RAM max
End of Daiwa's quote

Well, that explains why my laptop is so slow. :P

Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Glazunov1, reply 22
Thanks for all the responses.  I have a quick followup question:

 

Does Win7 manage memory better intrinsically than WinXP, and if so, how?
End of Glazunov1's quote

 

The memory management of an operating system is a very complex matter.

 

An awesome article about Memory in general and windows memory management can be found here:

 

Pushing the Limits of Windows by Mark Russinovich

 

In general, since Win Vista and Win 7 system core is built on the foundation of Windows XPs system core, changes are good they tried to improve it.

If those improvements have been made,  are they noticably to the end user? I personally doubt it, but that an opinion.

 

For your personal situation Win 7 64 is the choice to go.

 

For a discussion about the deeps of operating system memory management, there are probably better forums out there though^^.