Desktops: Windows XP or Windows Vista Basic?

If you're on a budget, be aware that Vista is a virus.

Vista Basic is basically a virus to computer hardware if you don't have more than 512MB. My HP laptop came with 512mb and Vista Basic. The hard drive was almost constantly working away as virtual memory to compensate for the lack of memory. That said, it is do-able if you have some basic knowledge of Windows. You can use the msconfig command to stop non essential programs from running at startup. Check the startup list against Google to see which you can safely disable. You can then adjust Vista's performance settings to run for performance rather than appearance. These things make a big difference, quieten down your hard drive a lot, reduce heat and so on. Otherwise, as I say, Vista Basic is a virus of the very worst kind. Is that Microsoft's fault or the computer supplier who put Vista onto a computer with only 512MB. Probably the latter, but even so... That aside, you have the obvious issues of compatibility. Vista's time hasn't arrived, yet. Stick with XP and you will be a lot less frustrated and retain a quality of life. I'm tempted to say that to those on a tight budget, Vista is far worse of a nightmare than was the half baked product that was Windows Millennium. When I bumped the memory up, though, Vista ran as fast as XP. Is that progress, though!