Operating System?

Billy d wrote on 10/13/2006, 9:29 AM
I run W2K sp4, and Vegas 6 on a P4.
I use W2K because it's just like all the operating sytems I have owned (and still own) going back to DOS.
When I upgrade my hardware I put W2K on it, no problem.
I have not bought XP because apparently I am not allowed to put it on my new hardware platforms when I build them.
1) Is this true?

I left Premier a few years ago when it no longer supported W2K and bought into Vegas, and have been very happy with Vegas except for the 5.1 surround sound not working properly (can't get the sound source to move properly around the sound space, most annoying :-).

However it appears Vegas is going the the same route as Premier, as some of its features in 7 only work on XP.
I'd love to upgrade from Vegas 6 to 7 and use the new Cinescore package but I'm not buying a new operating system just because I built a new PC, or upgraded Vegas.

What to do?
2) Linux is awfully tempting but does it have anything like Vegas or Premier? I don't think so.
3) Is Vegas likely to be ported to Linux? Probably not!
4) Will W2K support my next system coming real soon now when I finally get over the pouring through the specs choosing this or that, oh and maybe that as well and gee can I really afford that as well, to get my platform up to speed (current fave dream system: Core 2).
5) Will W2K make full use of the dual processors? Will Vegas 6?

Anyone got the patience to make suggestions on what to do? :-)
Cheers,
Billy d

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/13/2006, 10:01 AM
you can put xp on a new pc, you may just need to call microsoft support.

the only thing vegas requires for XP is themes & HDV capture, but I belive that's because XP has those features built in, not because they are trying to ditch 2k.

I have win2k & am waiting to upgrade to vista, completly skipping xp. I never liked XP myself & it doesn't look like i'll like vista, but i've got to upgrade eventuatly to run newer things. :(

But if you don't plan to run newer software (hardware will most likely still have xp/2k drivers) then there's no reason to move up from 2k.
Billy d wrote on 10/13/2006, 11:17 AM
Thanks.
Call MS support, that doesn't sound like a fun thing to do, I don't have a long distance phone plan.
I really don't need to spend several hundred bucks on a new operating system plus umpteen bucks on phone bills whenever I buy a new hardware platform.

I guess if I don't know what HDV capture is then I don't need to know :-)

Does anyone know if W2K supports dual processors?
Former user wrote on 10/13/2006, 11:24 AM
Normally, if you install XP on a computer and then later you install on another computer, if it has been a while since you activated (online) then there is no issue. Just reactiviate online again. Sometimes though you have to call a toll free number and activate with a person. They will ask some questions but it is relatively pain free.

Dave T2
Billy d wrote on 10/13/2006, 11:31 AM
Seems reasonable, thanks!
I wonder what happens when they discontinue support for XP though!
Stuart Robinson wrote on 10/13/2006, 11:37 AM
Your profile doesn't say where you are, but here in the UK many computer stores sell OEM versions of all the MS operating systems.

I build my own machines and buy from here:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/brands/a731x1y0z1p0s0n0m60

I've never had to contact MS support.
Billy d wrote on 10/14/2006, 9:39 AM
Vancouver, British Columbia.
Canada Eh!
The price is not the primary issue. My main concern is my ability to use what I buy for as long as I want to, and however/whenever I want to.
I have a copy of Acid 2 that tries to dial up a nonexistant phone number at Sonic Foundry before it will let me use it every time I put it on my latest hardware.
OK, I know to phone Sony instead :-)
Cheers.
Tom Pauncz wrote on 10/14/2006, 10:03 AM
Hey GasGas,
I didn't see an answer to your dual processor Q.

Yes, Win2K does support it. Was running that for around 4 years on a home built PC until a HDD crash required me to rebuild.

I decided to go with XP as I already had it on a laptop and didn't want to worry about two diff op systems. I am with you on using what I have for as long as I want to.

Cheers,
Tom
Billy d wrote on 10/14/2006, 5:16 PM
Ahh lovely!
Cheers Mate!
Stuart Robinson wrote on 10/14/2006, 9:00 PM
>My main concern is my ability to use what I buy for as long as I want to, and however/whenever I want to.<

If you install an OEM copy of an OS it behaves no differently than an upgrade or full version. It is fully registered with MS, has a unique key etc. You can use it for as long as you want, only if you radically change the hardware upon which it is installed will it ask you to re-register, and exactly the same thing applies to any version of Windows.
jaegersing wrote on 10/14/2006, 11:04 PM
Stuart is correct. My editing PC is home made and I have no problems activating XP Pro on it. When I make a major change to the PC config I sometimes have to reactivate, and once I had to call a local Microsoft number and go through an activation procedure with a talking machine. But so far, no delay in reactivating and no need for long-distance or international phone calls.

Richard
Frank Z wrote on 10/15/2006, 7:32 AM
[I have not bought XP because apparently I am not allowed to put it on my new hardware platforms when I build them.
1) Is this true?]

Technically true if it is a non-corporate install, you have to call Microsoft to get an unlock key. It is a pain, yes. I use W2K on my workstation as well for that and other reasons. The main being bang for buck performance is better on W2K.

[2) Linux is awfully tempting but does it have anything like Vegas or Premier? I don't think so.]

http://www.chainsawlinux.com/

I found this the other day and I'm tempted to check it out on one of my machines. My experience with Linux based products has been there usually is an equivalent but they never seem as robust as the "real deal". But then again, a good amount of the animation houses use some type of Linux/BSD variant on their clusters.

[3) Is Vegas likely to be ported to Linux? Probably not!]

You never know, the PlayStation developer kit is Linux-based, or I've heard heard.

[5) Will W2K make full use of the dual processors? Will Vegas 6?]

Neither is likely to happen since both are products that will eventually be end of lifed.

[Anyone got the patience to make suggestions on what to do? :-)]

One alternative that I'm going to experiment with isn't legal so I can't post it here (private message me). The other is to maybe go with Windows Media Center Edition. I haven't gone full boar but I wanted to research that as an alternative. I'm hoping it's cheaper than full blown Windows. For $99, it'd be worth it to go that route since it is supposedly media oriented.

I'm personally going to hate to see Windows 2000 go especially it's been the one Microsoft operating system that I've been 100% satisfied with.