Future XP problems

[quandam]

Thanks for the info guys. I think I might wait until Service Pack 1 is issued or at least let a year elapse before making the move. Have to say, that XP has been rock solid for me without any security probs (that I am aware of) for many many years, crashes really have been minimal, it has been a good friend.

[zappaDPJ]

I as you know have had a few issues running the 64 bit version of 7 but it won't stop me running it as it's clearly a better product than Vista. I will however install and run the 32 bit version to try and get a little more compatibility with some older hardware I have and a few of the applications and gizmos I use regularly that won't run.

So far I can't find much to criticise although I don't like the visual appearance of the launch bar. It uses a lot of space but is quite stark graphically, particularly on the right hand side. The only other thing that concerned me a little is how much memory my default installation was using, well over 1 GB. That seems a little excessive to me and quite a bit more than Vista filled with start up applications.

[talos]

I shall stick with XP as long as I can, it's the only Microsoft OS I feel I can trust

[Gary]

I as you know have had a few issues running the 64 bit version of 7 but it won't stop me running it as it's clearly a better product than Vista. I will however install and run the 32 bit version to try and get a little more compatibility with some older hardware I have and a few of the applications and gizmos I use regularly that won't run.

So far I can't find much to criticise although I don't like the visual appearance of the launch bar. It uses a lot of space but is quite stark graphically, particularly on the right hand side. The only other thing that concerned me a little is how much memory my default installation was using, well over 1 GB. That seems a little excessive to me and quite a bit more than Vista filled with start up applications.

My copy of Vista was about 1.5Gb startup, I guess it varies on what flavour you had, I have Vista Ultimate on my old Laptop

[zappaDPJ]

My copy of Vista was about 1.5Gb startup, I guess it varies on what flavour you had, I have Vista Ultimate on my old Laptop

That's interesting because that's the version I'm using and even now while browsing and running a number of small apps it's sitting at 1.05GB. Perhaps it's dependent on hardware and drivers etc 

[Rik]

That sounds like a challenge. 

[zappaDPJ]

 

Sounds more like Microsoft performing as expected to me 

[Rik]

 

[D-Dan]

Ubuntu  Ubuntu  Ubuntu 

[Gary]

That's interesting because that's the version I'm using and even now while browsing and running a number of small apps it's sitting at 1.05GB. Perhaps it's dependent on hardware and drivers etc 

Mine had some other bits and bobs maybe to yours at startup and was a laptop, must admit its a dim memory since i got the Mac, and Windows 7 is so much nicer in many ways, although I prefer the OSX dock. I do wonder were Microsoft will go from here, Windows 8 would have to really pull something magic out of the hat.

[Simon]

Ubuntu  Ubuntu  Ubuntu 

Who are you calling a bunt?   

[D-Dan]

Who are you calling a bunt?   

I really can't be sure if that's genuinely funny, or a drop of amber nectar has lowered my standards.

I'll get back to you tomorrow, but in the meantime 

Steve

[Simon]

My standards are pretty low, Steve. 

[Rik]

With an avatar like that, what can you expect.

[Inkblot]

So far I can't find much to criticise although I don't like the visual appearance of the launch bar. It uses a lot of space but is quite stark graphically, particularly on the right hand side.

I thought that as well but I changed mine back to the XP/Vista look with proper labels along the bottom on a single height taskbar rather than pictures on a dual height one, the other change is always make is icon size and position - I prefer them slightly smaller and close together so a few minutes tinkering and I now have something that resembles my old xp desktop

[Simon]

That avatar follows me everywhere, Rik. 

[Rik]

 

It's eyes follow me everywhere.

[zappaDPJ]

I thought that as well but I changed mine back to the XP/Vista look with proper labels along the bottom on a single height taskbar rather than pictures on a dual height one, the other change is always make is icon size and position - I prefer them slightly smaller and close together so a few minutes tinkering and I now have something that resembles my old xp desktop

Now that sounds much better, I wasn't aware you could do so much customisation. I shall have a fiddle 

[Inkblot]

Now that sounds much better, I wasn't aware you could do so much customisation. I shall have a fiddle 

Thanks

Taskbar is easy - right-click it and look at properties and then select the 'use small icons' checkbox and the 'Combine when taskbar is full' option for the 'taskbar buttons'. Don't think I did anything else but even if I did it's all in those menus!

Desktop icons are trickier to find but one way is to right-click the desktop and select 'personalize' (Bloody American spellings) and right at the bottom of the window are the settings for the current theme - 2nd button in is 'Window Color' (Another American spelling). Select this and then pick 'Icon Spacing (Horizontal)' or indeed any other setting to be able to play around with it - I go for 30 for both Horizontal and Vertical on the Icon spacing but then I do have fairly small icons to start with