Which version of windows should i get????

[GB348069]

I have a Macbook 2.16, with leopard....I need windows for school and with so many different version of windows, which one would be the best????

xp, vista, basic, premium, oem, retail????

I see ones that say system builders?? what does this mean???


thanks

[CWallace]

The System Builders OEM edition is licensed to be installed on one computer and one computer only. So if you change computers, you need to buy a new copy of Windows per the license.

Retail can also only be installed on one computer at a time, but if you buy a new computer, you can delete the Windows installation on your old computer and reinstall it on your new computer. You do not need to buy a new copy provided you delete the old copy (so you can't sell/gift/donate your old computer with Windows still on it).

As to what version to buy, I remain a fan of Windows XP 32-bit edition. I do have the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, but XP always served me well when it was my only OS and now that almost everything I do I can do in OS X, my needs in Windows are very basic so XP allows me to use less memory and HDD space vs. Vista.

[ant-macyourself]

For performance reasons alone, don't touch Vista. Go with XP and you'll be able to do anything you need to do. I don't see Microsoft dropping support for XP for a while given new systems are technically still being sold with it pre-installed.