Hi all,
I just finished building my new system, and I want to install the OS but I can't decide which one I should use !!
I can install my good old Win XP Pro...In the other hand, I also can go with the new Vista RTM Final...
My worries with the Vista are compatibility with drivers, everyday softwares like WinRAR, Nero, DC++ etc, and of course games !!!
Does the final (RTM) release support all of these things or should I stick to my XP Pro ?
Does anyone know when the Vista Ultimate is going to be release ?
And, Does other softwares like Office 2003 will work on Vista or Do I must use Office 2007 ?
Thanks a lot guys !!!!!

I can say that when I ran MS's compatability scanner Office 2003 did not show any compatability issues with Vista. As for the rest, I guess it's up to their developers to release Vista-capable editions if there are conflicts. You can bet that the newer versions of software will be compatible with Vista, but maybe not at Vista's launch.

 
Well, that's a very good question you're asking there. Let's be honoust with you about software compatability. Vista will support every programm that XP runs. The only difference you will notice when you are not using a machine that has 2 or more gigabyte of DDR2 memory is that your Vista will run as slow as a snail. In other words....Microsoft will force you to buy a whole new PC to make Vista that is not even much better then XP run. Yes, I hear you thinking...WHat tha heck are they doing there at Microsoft. Indeed it's totally crazy. They just make deals with hardware companies to get their money. It's the reason that more and more germans are using some other platform....
If you don't like this you can choose for Linux. I don't really know what you are using your pc for. If it's only gaming I would advise you to stick with XP for at least a few years till Linux goes DX10. Vista on the other hand also has big security problems they just can't fix in such a short period of time. It got hacked bigtime at a testsession and their whole security system was trown overboard. In fact...Windowns XP SP2 is even saver. Microsoft tried to trow the company mcafee and other security firms overboard by trying to get their own security system perfect. How stupid can you get as a bigass company called Microsoft.....well bigass it ain't....it's more like microass cause they are making a mess out of their Os's...they only have money in their minds.  
If you think DX10 games are not that important to you I would say Linux is the way to go. While I'm saying this there are programmers working on DX10 compatible Linux updates too. It will come when the time is ready. Also Linux is way cheaper...in fact...when you use the open source version you get everything for free. If you want to see a little example of Linux you can view this movie about what Linux is capable of:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq5-N1EljB0
 
It goes beyond the holy American Vista theme Aero.
 
Ok so, let's put it all together. Vista? You need to upgrade your pc for sure unless you allready have a bigass pc like a intel E6300 duo overclocked to 2.8 ghz with 2 gb's of memory and a very good videocard. Also hope that you won't get some virus from some pissed off guy that just hates microsoft for their monopoly games they are playing which causes millions of dollars of damage to the ecomomy worldwide. Yes Microsoft knows how to make money. They are damn (good) at tricking even business men. But smart people just dont fall for their tricks. With Linux you can do just the same....for free! You dont'need spyware/virusses do you? Playing Windows games with Linux is also easy....just usetheir emulation options. Suse 10.2....try it...and you will be out of the troubles microsoft puts you into with they crazyness for money. Don't listen to people who are brainwashed allready and will buy Vista nomatter what...they are lost allready. You want to learn what Linux is? Watch this movie.....it will show you what freedom means instead of being forced with Microsofts goal to force you to buy new hardware all the time. Check this out:
 
http://video.google.com/videoplay? [...] 2627775409

 
well, no Wonder M$ endorses SuSE...

I'm using Vista RTM Ultimate...
 

 
Nope, at least, not yet. I've not been able to burn CD/DVD using Nero and a Plextor Premium, though possibly there've been updates in the past week or two. Also my printer will definitely not work without Vista drivers, which are not yet available. The point is, a lot of glitches will be around for a while yet. In the long-term everything still under development will work, but if you're thinking of going to Vista now you may well encounter problems.
 

 
Nope, I'm running it fine on my server (1.7Ghz P4 with 512mb RAM). It depends on what you want to get out of it. I'm not using that system for gaming.
 
 

 
XP will be fine for most games I agree, though there will be DX10 only games - looks like Crysis might be DX10 only from talk so far.

some ( ? lots ) of hardware and software will not work or
work correctly with Vista ( at least rc1 and 2)
my lexmark MFD for example and many older and even
more recent versions of some software ; read the supported
sticky for more info.  I had to replace a/v , cd/dvd software  
and lose the printer for now.  
the major MS programs work Office etc or for me anyway,just lost some functions "printing"

Yes true Arkus, offcourse it depends what you use it for but there are many people that run heavy appz. I'm sure you are not running appz that will stress out your pc right? Mircosoft admitted that you will need 2 gb too let vista run smooth....I don't think they will lie about that. It's a recommendation
 
What I ment with Vista supporting all programs is that patches will be released for a lot of programs to make them compatible with Vista but that will take a long time for some.  
 
Linux on the other hand is still keeping up with their directx compatability and Crysis has been delayed. So by the time Crysis will show up Linux programmers might (I say might) be able to add DX10 functions to their distributions. We will see...it's all a big guess for now. One thing is for sure...Linux is free. But XP will also do for now.