Topic: Thoughts in Windows?

[Clark Kent]

So I finally upgraded and bought a shiny MacBook Pro (I got a refurb unit w/ 2.4 GHZ Penryn and NVidia 8600GT), which makes me very happy.  Now that I'm running on an intel processor, though, I find myself asking what features  may want to take advantage of that I haven't had before now (other than the built in webcam).

One of those features I was thinking of is the ability to run windows natively.  I've found a way to at least partially run windows from an external drive, but the way Windows is built, it won't run entirely from an external (unless someone here has some genius idea of making it work).  I would like to do this so that if I wanted to use remote apps for work I wouldn't have to carry my Dell with me wherever I go and also so I could play SFC on the go, again without having to bring the bulky Dell everywhere. 

So here is the dilemma:  I wouldn't say that Vista sucks, per se, but I will say I am underwhelmed at the value.  Add to that that I have to try to sift through all the crap to decide which version of Vista to buy (what a rip off)  On top of that, release of Windows 7 is what?  A year away?  Then there is XP, which I think is still available through certain channels, which is familiar, and is the same as the OS I use at work.  Also, I know personally that XP works fine with SFC (though there are some issues getting SFC I to run properly). 

So, let's say I want a copy of Windows- what should I get?Should I not even bother until windows 7 comes out, or jsut go with an existing version?  ANy feedback o this would be helpful.

[Centurus]

When I first got SFC1, I installed it on an XP system.  I had no issues with the game.  Then again I had to patch the game to 1.03, and this was in the days before SP2.

As for obtaining a copy of XP, it's not really that hard.  Your best bet is places like Amazon.com or Newegg.com for a brand new, genuine copy.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Would highly recommend XP over anything else.
For Vista, well I've come to the conclusion that if you get Vista, get Vista Ultimate. All those other editions are just not worth it, and are not as clean as Vista Ultimate.

[Clark Kent]

I've also read that don't even bother with Vista unless you can run the 64 bit version. 

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Vista 64-bit is the best of the best you'll get with Vista, since there has been far fewer driver problems on 64-bit then 32-bit, but I'm running vista 32-bit on my laptop right now, and I've had no problems with it. Ranking it
XP Pro 32
Vista Ultimate 64
Vista Ultimate 32
...(down here, don't even bother with the Vista Home editions, worthless..)