Operating Systems OS

[Tintamar]

I'm going to be building a new machine for a friend here soon and just wanted some opinions.

Machine will be a AMD64 3500+ to 3700+ with MSI mobo. 1gig Ram
She will be using it mostly for downloading music, checking email, and maybe some light gaming. She knows Windows XP.

I dont have any hands on experiance with windows xp64 or vista.

Should I go with....
Windows XP Pro
Windows XP 64
Windows Vista

[CBMatt]

If XP is what you're both familiar with, then I see no reason to use something else.  Especially for a casual user, which is what she sounds like.  But this is just my opinion.

[Calum]

OK, here's my opinion.
Vista will be very different.
It is the newest OS, but she may find it hard to get used to.
XP Pro X64 Edition, she may find it faster on her machine, but it has major driver and compatibility issues.
So I wouldn't get that either.
I'd actually get XP Home, unless she has a reason to go fro XP Pro.
For most people, Home is fine, and cheaper.

[Neil]

You do realise it's possible for me to select all three options on the poll... which I just did?

[M1CH431]

I'd have to Vote Windows Xp Home, because she probably won't need the extra features of Pro and Vista like Calum said and also Vista still needs the kinks worked out of it.

[Calum]

You do realise it's possible for me to select all three options on the poll... which I just did?

I figured I wouldn't mention it, didn't seem worth it.
Anyway, could be an option, if you think all three are equally suited.

[GX1_Man]

There was no box to vote NO.  

[Calum]

Hehe.
No OS?

[GX1_Man]

No Windows.  

[Neil]

DOS.

[Tintamar]

Awesome thanks for the feedback on this.
I selected the option to allow people to vote for more then one just like Calum said incase you think more then one option would be a good choice

[Calum]

No Windows.  

That's what I thought you must've meant.
No OS would be a little silly.
But not using Windows may be a little confusing for some.

She will be using it mostly for downloading music, checking email, and maybe some light gaming. She knows Windows XP.

The recipient, correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't sound like someone who wants to mess around with anything too complicated, and most games do not run on Linux AFAIK.
It's definitely something to think about though, and it'd be far cheaper to use Linux instead.

[Tintamar]

Windows is the only option since thats what she has at work too. I highly doubt she would want to learn Linux. Thats why I didnt put a none of the above option. Its windows or nothing with her lol

[Calum]

That's what I figured to be honest.
Most people have genuine reasons to use Windows, other than that it's what they're used to.
For example, many games will not run on Linux, so Windows is the best choice for gamers.
And people with less technical expertise are highly doubtful of anything new, especially a major change like that.

[Fed]

W2K is cheap.
(Couldn't resist it)