# Is it worth switching from W2000 to XP? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169 "2005-07-26T03:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/21 "2005-07-27T04:57:24Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > The OP was thinking about buying a new computer, most of which come with XP. The OP was questioning whether it was better to standardize on W2K or XP. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/22 "2005-07-27T13:52:02Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > > [@RandomLetters](#): > > > > The OP was thinking about buying a new computer, most of which come with XP. > > The OP was questioning whether it was better to standardize on W2K or XP. Actually, you’re both right. If I get a new computer, it will come with XP. But I’d still have to buy copies for my other two machines, because I am more or less set on standardizing the setup on all of my computers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/23 "2005-07-29T17:09:58Z")
> [@sleeepy2](#): > > In talking to my computer buddies, I’ve heard XP Service Pack 2 can be a nightmare. I believe this is more with people installing SP2 as opposed to systems coming with SP2 already installed. Yeah, a lot of that had to do with trying to install the SP2 upgrade on systems with adware/spyware/virus trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/24 "2005-07-29T22:52:19Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > My favorite XP extra has always been ClearType. > Turn it on and you instantly give your flat panel monitor triple the horizontal resolution, making all fonts amazingly smooth. I tried ClearType and it looked dreadful. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/25 "2005-07-30T01:23:11Z")
Get XP on the new machine and keep 2000 on the old ones. XP has a few nice features but it’s not worth upgrading. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/26 "2005-07-30T03:00:21Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I tried ClearType and it looked dreadful. There are several factors involved:[ol][li]You must be using an LCD monitor. It will never work with a CRT[/li][li]Your resolution must be set to the monitor’s native resolution. I used to take for granted that folks knew this, but after everybody got LCD monitors at work, I saw that 90% of the people kept the resolution at 1024x768 when the native resolution for those panels is 1200x1024 – everything looks blurry on their monitors.[/li][li]You must set up ClearType for the correct pixel order: RGB or BGR.[/li][li]There are some tuning issues with flat panels that can cause blurriness. These should be resolved first.[/ol][/li]I find it hard to describe properly configured ClearType as “dreadful” – the effective horizontal resolution is tripled, so italic fonts look so much nicer. Here are some images illustrating ClearType in action: [Before](http://grc.com/image/ctpixel.gif) [After](http://grc.com/image/ctsubpixel.gif) From Steve Gibson’s page on [How Sub-Pixel Font Rendering Works](http://grc.com/ctwhat.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169/27 "2005-07-30T08:18:57Z")
I’ve just tried Cleartype again - got it on now, in fact - and the image looks slightly blurry. I don’t get the option to set the pixel order - perhaps I need a LCD with a DVI connector? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-switching-from-w2000-to-xp/314169.md?page=1)