Need advice about business computer

[bobover3 (imported)]

I'm just about to start a business that requires the use of a private computer network for people in the field. Only computers with XP Pro can run the necessary software. My computer uses Vista, so I need to get an XP Pro machine. What should I get? The people running the network will sell me a Dell server with 2GB of Ram, 3Ghz P4 Processor, Dual 80 GB Hard Drives for a $500 one time payment. Is this a good price, or could I do better? Would I be better off buying my own machine? I'm also wondering about maintenance. All computers fail eventually (if not sooner), and my income will depend on this, so I think I need a back-up machine.

What do the experts here advise?

[Riverwind (imported)]

The PC is not that bad or good, its older tech and having said that, Windows7 is already out in test and beta.

So,

This PC they are offering, are the drives Sata II or IDE?

if there IDE you don't want it.

What kind of monitor does it come with?

Can you upgrade this PC to Windows 7 pro when its out and will it be able to upgrade to a 64bit OS?

Can you add memory to at least 8 gig with the OS upgrade?

What is the size of the power supply?

Does the power supply have Sata connections?

Lots of questions,

River

[speedvogel (imported)]

You also could just get an XpPro CD and backdate your current system. If you do that, be sure you copy anything you have on your system to CDs or something as you will have to format your hard drive before you install the OS.

Speed

[bobover3 (imported)]

I put this question to the Microsoft Forum, and was told to try Compatibility Mode. Apparently, you can ask a Vista computer to run older software as if it were an XP computer. I still have questions - many comments from people suggested Compatibility Mode didn't always work for them; the Compatibility is to XP SP2 - is this the same as XP Pro?

What do you think?

[Riverwind (imported)]

In a word, NO.

River

[bobover3 (imported)]

Go for more than one word please. Why no?

[Prudence (imported)]

I'm just about to start a business that requires the use of a private computer network for people in the field. Only computers with XP Pro can run the necessary software. My computer uses Vista, so I need to get an XP Pro machine. What should I get? The people running the network will sell me a Dell server with 2GB of Ram, 3Ghz P4 Processor, Dual 80 GB Hard Drives for a $500 one time payment. Is this a good price, or could I do better? Would I be better off buying my own machine? I'm also wondering about maintenance. All computers fail eventually (if not sooner), and my income will depend on this, so I think I need a back-up machine.

What do the experts here advise?

If it is truly a "Server" class computer (ie: with better / professional / robust) power supplies, hard drives, and ECC Memory, then $500 is good. I would buy it if I were in your shoes... But, if it is just a regular desktop computer, then $500 is a bit high since the techology is a couple years old. A true "Server" class machine is going to last a whole lot longer than a regular machine will. Kind of like the difference between a tank and a cheap economy car. Both will get you from place to place. But you will have more failures/problems sooner with the car, than you would with the tank (the tank just keeps going and going, unstoppable, and even when problems come up it has redundant systems and can just keep going). Tank = Server Machines. Car = Regular Machines.

Anyway -- that machine will be more than adequate for Windows XP. You can still get WinXP Pro CDs from most websites (try NewEgg or MWave or TigerDirect or Amazon).

Backups are totally a must!!! Definitely get an external drive and be sure to copy all your data onto it at least once a day. Also you should occasionally burn data to CD or DVD (two backup copies better than one!). If it is really critical/important, then having a second computer with all you software installed and ready to go is an excellent idea. Should something happen to the main computer, just turn on the second one, copy your data (from the external drive) and you are ready to go.

[bobover3 (imported)]

Thanks Prudence! Much obliged.

[Riverwind (imported)]

I put this question to the Microsoft Forum, and was told to try Compatibility Mode. Apparently, you can ask a Vista computer to run older software as if it were an XP computer. I still have questions - many comments from people suggested Compatibility Mode didn't always work for them; the Compatibility is to XP SP2 - is this the same as XP Pro?

What do you think?

your question was is XP SP2 the same as SP PRO, the answer is NO.

I don't know anything about Vista except that is it maybe the worst OS ever produced by any company. Not my opinion but that of everybody in the know including several laptop company's that have refused to install it on there new laptops for sale.

River

[bobover3 (imported)]

You may well be right about Vista, but I'm stuck with it. There's a simple procedure in Vista in which you can tell the computer to run a specific application as if the OS were XP SP2. I'm trying to confirm that this would include an application written for XP Pro.