Who makes the plotter? Odds are pretty good that you can find a driver
that will let you use it with XP. Staying with 98 is limiting you to
512mb max memory, which means that your hard drive has to make up the
difference. Also newer computers are sold with XP and the internals are
parts for which no drivers are available to use 98. Due to the use of
proprietary software I have been forced to keep several systems running
using 98 or ME and the problems when upgrades were required have been
enormous. 2-3 days to set up 1 computer using 98 vs 2-3 hours to set up
the same system running XP, which was already on system.
Video drivers have been notoriously a problem since many of the systems
use on-board graphics and the drivers were never written for 98 because
the video chips were never sold to anyone except OEMs that always had XP
pre-installed. Also the cost of a new system running an Athlon x2 3800
runs at $700 US (plus monitor(s) if necessary) with 1 GB memory, and an
upgrade to 2 GB is less than $100, giving a system that will crunch
those drawings about 8-10 times minimum faster than your current system.
coosbaylumberco@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> Main thing in staying with Windows 98 is that this makes the plotter
> compatible. The plotter is not exactly new, but keeps on going like a
> heartbeat. Zero repairs to it over past five years, so do not want to
> dispose of it.
>
> There is also some configuration problems is connecting up a digitizer
> tablet, large or small, to which I use once per week. Manufacturer says
> to "try this" or "Try that" and if not, well, it is not noted to be
> compatible with XP. Thus have decided to stick with 98. Am also using
> output to go to tool room running, and there are very few software
> vendors making compatible drivers that run under XP.
>
> I mentioned this on another computer forum, and they all thought
> operating Win 98 with a 1000 MHZ or faster is negligible help. It may
> save 1/2 second in an operation. Thus they mentioned to aim a bit
> slower for similar performance at much-much lower cost. However, they
> suggested to contact any other similar users before looking for one to
> find if any incompatibilities exist.
>
> Wm.
>
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