XP or Windows 2000

[ParkPro]

Hi, I want to build more computors, but I do not want to spend $83 a pop on XP and then have to call and beg to change something. Does Windows 2000 Professional work as well or better than XP? 2000 is $62 with shipping on line. Perhaps it will work in more than one machine? Any help? Thanks, Gary
(ParkPro) ;)

[MrSlacker]

you need special version of all drivers for Win 2000. you will need a separate CD key for each PC.

[Zeus]

what is going to be the main function of said computers?

[MisterChief]

Get XP... for now. If you get Pro, you can get x64 edition, but I wouldn't bother just yet; wait for some worthwhile x64 software. Longhorn is in the pipeline, but the release date is anyone's guess.

[Zeus]

2007 is my guess

[ack ack]

2000 is better for older mobo/cpu configs since its power management is a bit more flexible. it also installs slightly smaller and uses fewer resources once you minimize all the extra background processes.

tho, if your building a high end top o the line gaming system/beast, go XP. networking is easier, finding / updating drivers us better, and XP has better support for gaming / graphics overall when compared to 2000.

[Pascs]

Legally you can install Win2k and XP in one computer only but there are some softwares which will modify XP so that you don't need to register. I guess Win2k is the same now but it used to be that you just needed the CD key.

Some games will not install on a win2k machine only on XP

[Xato]

Registration isn't the problem... activation is...
If you change a certain amount of hardware on your comp, with winXP, it recognises it as a new computer, and says OMFG! TRYING TO MAKE ILLEGAL COPIES! DIE! and wants to be reactived. So u have to call Microsoft and tell them u upgraded and its only on the one comp etc etc.
So yeh, its easy to get around the system of the XP activation (so i've heard)... But working in a comp shop we did everything legit (seriously)...
I think diff versions of XP go differently with activation... some need, some dont.

[MrSlacker]

if you get Corparate Edition, you can install it on as many comps as you want and dont need to activate it

[cygnus_x_1]

thats what i gots...corp is the only way to go. it was part of my uhh severance package when i left my last job. xp corp, office xp pro, and a bunch of other useful software :D

[MisterChief]

thats what i gots...corp is the only way to go. it was part of my uhh severance package when i left my last job. xp corp, office xp pro, and a bunch of other useful software :D

How much is corporate?

[cygnus_x_1]

thats a real good question...just did a quick search for it and couldnt turn up anything. it pays to get freindly with the IT staff at work... ;)

[MrSlacker]

How much is corporate?
its a lot. i got mine from my school

[Xato]

Corporate edition is a few thousand dollars i beleive... (in AU$ anyway)
Just like most of the no-liscence products u find... like 3ds max commecial edition, between 1-2 grand US$

[Pascs]

I'm not sure that Corporate edition is legal to use on a home computer but I guess it would be hard for MS to know.

[nil8]

It is illegal to use for anything but business.
If a company doesn't buy individual licenses for it, they must buy volume licensing and has to have an MS audit to see what they run.

MS could care less about home users being legit, all they care about is business.

[MisterChief]

If you don't have Windows XP by now, don't bother upgrading from 2000; unless you want XP64, it's pretty much done, maybe one more service pack.

It's safe to say that Microsoft Windows Longhorn is well in the pipeline, and should be arriving Q2 2006. But then again, paper launches are almost always off by at least two to three months.

[MrSlacker]

cant wait for Longhorn. i bet they will have presentations all over the US where they will give out free windows to everyone, just like they did with Office 2003.

[MisterChief]

cant wait for Longhorn. i bet they will have presentations all over the US where they will give out free windows to everyone, just like they did with Office 2003.

Yeah, the overhauled user interface is gonna be a huge relief.

[Xato]

The final longhorn release -from what i've heard- will have a 3D UI (i dont know if its true 3d or just faked) But it will still be cool to check that out.

[MrSlacker]

yeah they will have like 3 different versions. 3D, cool looking 2D and just regular simple 2D

[cygnus_x_1]

i just read about it in MaximumPC when i was on the bowl...looks like it will be pretty cool...graphics card recommedation was minimum of 256 mem for full boat 3d desktop... :eek:

[nil8]

Longhorn looks like a letdown to me. They have stripped it of all the things about it that I wanted.

The new file system, the better encryption methods, etc etc.

The only thing that slightly interests me is the new command line interface.
And it's not worth the price to play around with cmd.