Windows 7 or XP

[Hagar (Doug)]

I now run windows7 on my 64 bit observatory desktop and my dual core laptop and have only had a problem running one thing out of a huge list of software. The problem is with the PS star rounder plugin. I can live without it quite easily.

Go W7.

[Exfso (Peter)]

I just bought a new laptop with Windows 7 home premium, it seems to operate almost everything that you throw at it. It is damn good at finding drivers and that is all good. Only thing if you want to run it in XP mode, you need a minimum of the pro version. I have just updated to that, cost $200 just for a key. Apparently all versions of 7 have the full monty on board, it just takes an appropriate key to activate them. Having not used Vista, I found it a bit daunting at first, but like all new operating systems, you will get used to it. I must say it appears very stable, thus far. (tongue in cheek). At this early stage, I reckon go with 7, it certainly looks to be the goods..I hope these arent famous last words....

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Gotta like Windows 7.

Cheers Petra d.

[AlexN]

I'm quite happy with Vista Ultimate at the moment... Running it on two desktops and my notebook, got XP on my EEEPC, Gentoo on my firewall/gateway and ubuntu on my file server...

Every OS has its place, As Chris said, it comes down to the hardware the system is required to run and the availability of drivers for that hardware... For and Astro-box, I think that something widely supported is the go... XP and Vista are both very good for astro work.. I'm yet to find a program that doesn't work, and have been through a ton of cameras that all work well under both....

[Manav (Yugant)]

Windows 7 Premium has support for Winxp compatibility, Ive just updated my desktop to it and am having no issues. Furthermore that stupid HDD paging issues seems to have gone away.

Mind you my astro laptop uses Vista and its been fine as far as drivers are concerned.

[OzRob (Rob)]

I have just bought Windows 7 Professional on ebay. I hope it all works when the change-over is complete. I have decided to change because my xp is running like a dog and my xp disk refuses to work. I think it was time to update anyway.

BTW if you want to upgrade definately check out eBay. I got the OEM version for $179 for the pro version (which includes the xp compatibility module) including postage.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Rob,

You'll love Windows 7.

Incidentally, that's what the OEM version cost me when I had my new machine built a couple of months back.

H

[Brundah1 (David)]

Originally Posted by Hagar

I now run windows7 on my 64 bit observatory desktop and my dual core laptop and have only had a problem running one thing out of a huge list of software. The problem is with the PS star rounder plugin. I can live without it quite easily.

Go W7.

G'day Doug,

Firstly I'm just dipping my toes in imaging!

Recently bought an Asus Eee Box 2Gb ram 320Gb HDD DVDRW, 6 USB2, Ethernet, supports 1900x1080 (1080p), Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed and runs off 12VDC. Its ulta compact and can easliy mount on the back of an LCD. Also have a 22in LED monitor to the above spec and iRocks red illum keyboard. All up cost less than $800.

http://www.asus.com.au/product.aspx?...aDVvtKZ9hHhda2

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/de...x2250wmled.htm

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=14794

IMHO the above is a better spec than a small laptop + large monitor and less load on a battery. Its also a lot less $$$ I'm calling it the "Super Astro PC".
The whole lot including a PSU will be all housed in a transport case, just 50mm wider than my wife's 14in Dell laptop bag! (Posting pics when finished).


Now before loading imaging software, I am interested in this discussion on Windows 7 or XP Pro for an imaging PC.

From your previous comments, you seem to be saying, Win 7 Home Premium is mature enough to switch over completely from XP Pro?

Perhaps you or others may be able to refine the above in relation to Atom powered laptops and Atom dual core Asus Eee laptops in particular?

My gut feeling from a bit of research is that it should be safe to skip installing XP in a second partition just for imaging. BTW I do have XP Pro 64 and Win 7 64 on my server PC - but this will not be used for imaging.

BTW thanks for your prev advice on QHY cameras, I have QHY8 + QHY5 + Meade DSI2. (Are there imaging Win 7 drivers for these?)

Cheers,

David

[Zaps]

The only Windows PC I run is used exclusively for astro apps, and it's running Windows XP Pro SP3.

Everything I use runs on it: MaxIm DL, PS CS4, CdC, SNPP6, TheSky6, Stellarium, etc.

Until those apps become Win7 only I'm sticking with XP because it works, and it plays nice with my existing hardware.

Maybe if/when that hardware dies and I upgrade to something new and shiny I will revisit the OS issue: But probably not.

Just my own 2c.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

That might be true in the home market. XP will last longer in the business world because of the number of applications that haven't been ported or the cost of porting - both in software and replacing hardware.

There are still servers running DOS 5 or NT 3.51 because the app won't run on anything newer.

Well my job is installing new systems in businesses the size of Bluescope steel and they are all going over to Win 7 and I haven't installed XP in over a year in any Business

[allan gould]

All my PC's are running XP pro with service pack 2 . I don't put it on the Internet except to communicate via team viewer with a laptop inside via wifi and I don't let it update anything at all. This runs fast and reliable and I've never had a breakdown or dummy spit from any of my laptops. It has no bloatware with just astro software on it.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

All my PC's are running XP pro with service pack 2 . I don't put it on the Internet except to communicate via team viewer with a laptop inside via wifi and I don't let it update anything at all. This runs fast and reliable and I've never had a breakdown or dummy spit from any of my laptops. It has no bloatware with just astro software on it.

I was a die hard XP user as well. I only updated to Win7 recently. I skipped Vista and all other OS in between. You'll love win7. It's as good a jump as XP was from 2000. Very robust.

[allan gould]

Originally Posted by multiweb

I was a die hard XP user as well. I only updated to Win7 recently. I skipped Vista and all other OS in between. You'll love win7. It's as good a jump as XP was from 2000. Very robust.

Marc
You may be right but at the moment if it ain't broke why fix it. I guess I'll only move to win7 or 8 when some program I absolutely need will not run in XP, but since they are all backwards compatible that may take a while. My wife has win7 on her laptop and yeah it's ok but I wouldn't redo my whole set up for a change in appearances. XP runs all my programs without a hitch so I don't see that win7 running in 64bit mode will make my guiding faster???
Processing images - yes that's a different kettle of fish. More memory and faster etc is better, but ATM I can plod along with PS3 extended in XP. Takes me so long to decide if I like a change to an image that the extra speed may be a moot point.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

Marc
You may be right but at the moment if it ain't broke why fix it. I guess I'll only move to win7 or 8 when some program I absolutely need will not run in XP, but since they are all backwards compatible that may take a while. My wife has win7 on her laptop and yeah it's ok but I wouldn't redo my whole set up for a change in appearances. XP runs all my programs without a hitch so I don't see that win7 running in 64bit mode will make my guiding faster???
Processing images - yes that's a different kettle of fish. More memory and faster etc is better, but ATM I can plod along with PS3 extended in XP. Takes me so long to decide if I like a change to an image that the extra speed may be a moot point.

Fair enough. If XP does the job no need to change. I'm just saying if you consider eventually moving up, Win7 is really good. It made a big difference for me, now I got used to it and wouldn't go back.