Robert Gammon wrote:

J. Clarke wrote:
Corinne wrote:


The ONLY reason I want to replace it is that my machine is eight years
old, but in excellent working condition.

But, I am still using Windows 98 SE and Microsoft is no longer offering
free updates, and I am told this opens me up to viruses, and I certainly
don't want to pass it onto others.

I was told that my machine will not support Windows XP Home Edition.

Can you tell me what I need in a computer in order to support Windows
XP?

Thanks for your help.


Thinking further, you might want at this point to wait another few months
and get a Vista machine--it will have teething problems at that point
(all Microsoft operating systems have problems when first released) but
if you only upgrade when the OS is no longer supported then you'd do
better to start with the newest one than one that is already four years
old.

I disagree. WinXp is the way to go NOW. Get Vista ONLY after the
first or second major fix pack is released. Vista is ONLY for those
that ride the bleeding edge and are willing to put up with the new
release faults when they crop up. In other words, wait a year AFTER
Vista is released before getting the new S/W.

If in fact she is willing to do that.

Any decent machine you buy new from Dell, HP/Compaq, e-machines....
With WinXP on it is ready to run Vista in its minimum mode. Upgrades
will be needed to get the full experience of Vista as Vista wants more
RAM than most machines are presently sold with.

And she has to buy Vista.

WinXP with SP2 installed is a good platform that will provide you YEARS
of good service before you need/want something else.

But it will be EOLed 4 years or so before Vista.

And I have a 1993 Acura Integra with 240,000 miles on it. I'm keeping
it as the engine still runs fine and I see no need for a new car payment.

You don't seem to be paying attention to what the OP wrote and trying to
work out the practical ramifications.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)