RE: choosing an OS and getting comfy with a new pc

I'd second that.  W2KPro is pretty good, but XP is just a bit nicer.
And since it's newer it'll be supported for longer.  It also has a
built-in zip handler and image viewer -- a couple of minor features that
really make it nice (to me, at least).  The Luna interface is
controversial but can be turned off in favor of a W2K-ish look and feel.
Oh, XP also has better/more reliable support for large hard drives, USB
2, etc.

Whichever way you go, before you start torturing the PC be sure to hit
the Windows Update site and download every critical update listed and
any of the other updates you think would be beneficial.  If you've a
broadband/DSL type connection, I generally encourage the use of the
auto-update feature to pull down critical updates.

Other 'essentials' include anti-virus software, a 3rd party firewall
product (2K lacks one and XP's is too rudimentary right now), and a
spy/ad-ware killer like spybot or adaware.  I toss in endpopups from
endpopups.com to eliminate nearly all popups while surfing.

What I've read in other places is that, if you're already running W2K,
the upgrade to XP may not be worth it.  But if building/buying a new
box, XP Pro is the way to go.

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Lang [mailto:aalang@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 2:55 PM
To: PC Technical Discussion for iSeries Users
Subject: Re: [PcTech] choosing an OS and getting comfy with a new pc


Go with XP over Win2K.  You'll have better support and stability, in the
long run.  As well as less headache from Microsoft.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rick.baird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "PC Technical Discussion for iSeries Users" <pctech@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 3:53 PM
Subject: [PcTech] choosing an OS and getting comfy with a new pc


> Hey all,
>
> i'm soon to be the proud user of a new pc.  IBM thimkpad, I thimk.  
> big.
i
> mean really mindbogglingly big, at least compared with my current 
> desktop.
>
> It's been a LOOOONG time since i've had to set up a new one and try 
> and
get
> it as 'comfy' as my old one.
>
> Mostly, I'll be running CODE, client access, IE, notes, domino 
> designer, sametime, most of office, maybe a little VB and VRPG, and 
> probably a lot
of
> playing around in and about the whole websphere family (low end, not 
> the one with enterprise java beans - yet) until I get comfortable with

> what would fit our goals. - then I expect to hit that side of it 
> heavily.
>
> the last time I did this, it took me at least a day or 2 to transfer 
> the stuff I needed from one to the other, and to configure the new one

> to the way i like it. - you know, keymapping, shortcuts, taskbar 
> options, folder options, and all of the little things that you grow 
> accustomed to that you never remember how you changed it in the first 
> place.
>
> my questions are:
>
> 1.  we're in a mixed desktop OS environment - some W98, W2K and XP - I

> can probably have my choice of OS - based on the above, do you prefer 
> W2K or XP? 2.  does everyone go through the same thing I described 
> above, or is there a shortcut or series of shortcuts that could speed 
> the above process
along?
>
> thanks,
>
> Rick

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