Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 for System Builders - OEM

Pros: none

Cons: I waited too long to try to install on my laptop that I put in a new HDD.

Pros: Easy to install on older systems. Not much RAM requirements. Lower processor requirements.

Cons: Getting harder to get help/updates/drivers.

Other Thoughts: I bought this because this is what I learned on, and what I'm comfortable with. Didn't really want to go with the Vista option and didn't want Windows 7.

Pros: Trustworthy. Runs all my older software and peripherals.

Cons: The well has run dry, no more copies to be had. All future builds/rebuilds will have to get Win7 (or Ubuntu).

Other Thoughts: I bought a five year old laptop from a friend. The HDD failed, so I had to slide a new one in and install an OS. The hardware was not Win7 compliant and I didn't want to throw too much money at it, so I installed XP SP3. All is well.

Money spent:
$100 for the laptop
$110 for Win XP SP3
$80 for a new battery
$0 for the HDD (salvaged from another old laptop)
--------
$290 total for a perfectly good laptop. Cheaper than a netbook!

Pros: It's Windows XP. It's the most stable operating system from Windows so far, as Windows 7 hasn't gone 1 full year without major updates/flaws.

Cons: Unusually not cheap. Windows 7 is about the same price as this OS. Plus the 40+ updates I needed from Windows Update wasn't very happy about that.

Other Thoughts: In response to "Code Guy", there were a few hardware issues when I built a rig for my sister, but Windows had an update for almost of all of the hardware to make things run smoothly.

Pros: Works fast when you have compatabile programs

Cons: Dindn't know I was going to need to replace so much hardward and software. Cost of this is becoming way to much and I'm going back to the tried and proven XP!

Pros: It's Win XP: it works, it's stable, it's proven. No unresolved issues in basic functionality, unlike Win 7 at the moment.

Cons: Can't utilize all 4GB of RAM we paid for and installed in the new rig, but losing 500MB is a small price to pay for functionality--losing $100 on an OEM version of Win 7, unfortunately, is not.

Other Thoughts: I liked Win 7 RC, but then again, I never tried to print. Win 7 HP x64 would not print. Reinstalled OS from scratch: still wouldn't print. Found online this is common, and usually because print spooler service won't start. Verified its dependencies are all already running, then tried to start it: wouldn't run. It was already set to auto, but toggled it from then back to auto, reboot: didn't run.
Print spooler doesn't run, printing will not work, and you're done. Win XP time. Wasted $100 on an OEM version of Windows 7 that doesn't have basic functionality.

Pros: Good Ol' XP what more is there to say?

Cons: None

Pros: Relatively simple to install and use.

Cons: Too expensive. Getting scarce at many stores.

Other Thoughts: Bought this for a low-budget computer that will be primarily used for running older software and simple applications.

There's no reason in the world why the most common piece of software on the entire planet should cost $90, especially since it was released nearly ten years ago. And it really chaps my hide that large OEMs pay only a small fraction of the price that small builders are gouged with.

Pros: Great OS for anyone who doesn't have extensive knowledge of computers or software. This disc comes preloaded with Service Pack 3, so its even less hassle for the everyday users.

Cons: Its not 64 bit, and its out dated.

Pros: I'm gonna miss XP. This is the last time I'll be purchasing this operating system. We had a good run, and many laughs during service pack 1, when it chewed up my hard drives and made me lose about 10 years of music. But hey, no hard feelings XP. You finally got it right with SP3 right around the time that every company was ditching it and going to Vista.

Cons: This held me over until Micro$haft was done messing around with that Vista nonsense and finally got back on track with Win 7.

Other Thoughts: Goodbye, XP. It was fun while it lasted. But now I'd like to use more than 3.25 GB of ram. I'd like to be able to use DX10 and DX11. This is where we must split up and go our separate ways. You can go keep the old folks at the nursing home company now. They're afraid of new technology and they appreciate relics. GodSpeed XP!