Which OS best for video/PhotoShop work?

[jaybird]

I do a LOT of video and PhotoShop work.

I have a dual PIII box with 1 gig of ram, 2 hdd's, one for os's (98SE/WIN2K Pro) and apps plus a 60 gig drive for video editing and capture.

I only have 98SE because some older apps do not function in 2K (games! ).

I would like to know if XP Pro might be a better solution (I am having some issues with 2K drivers, my vid card and my Gigabyte VIA Apollo Pro mobo).

I may still have some issues with older apps and XP Pro so can I dual-boot also?

I use:

VirtualDUB, Premiere 6.5, AIST Movie DV, TEMPGnc Plus!, VirtualVCR, DVDit! PE, Nero 6.0 and a host of others.

My vid card is a Matrox G400 MAX, 32 meg dual hd, sound is a SBLive Platinum 5.1 and my capture card (believe it or not!) is just a simple WINTV GO! card. I use dual Viewsonic 19" flat screen CRT monitors.

I use a Canon ZR series mini-DV camcorder through a Sony studio grade VCR to capture and edit in analog, edit with either Premiere or Movie DV, convert in TEMPGnc Plus and author and burn in either DVD IT! or Nero.

I know, sounds like a lot of work but the results (at least to me) are well worth it!

Again, the basic issue is "which OS is better for video/PhotoShop work?"

WIN2000 Pro or XP Pro?

Input please!

Regards,

jaybird

[Ward River]

Windows 2000 Pro. Same kernel but a stripped down better performer. You might have to work a little harder getting your drivers squared away at first for some hardware but it's worth the effort.

[lordsmurf]

I use WinXP Pro and use Photoshop a couple hours per day. I use PS6 because 7/8/CS are resources hogs and really do not add anything beyond what PS6 can do.

Sure, that silly "heal" brush, but nobody really uses that anyway. Otherwise 6=7=8=CS

[winifreid]

What are your specific issues with the video card and mobo?

[northcat_8]

Although, video machines and gaming machines are quite different and issues will arise from trying to do both on one machine.

I use XP Pro, Photoshop CS <I use the heal brush>, Premiere, and AE 5.5

Personally I like PS CS, smurf is right, there is not much difference between PS 6 and PS CS. I think the main difference is in CS they made a concerted effort to make some tasks simpler and put more things right in front of you...like changing brush sizes, among others. I only have it because where I work has a Photoshop site license.

I personally would suggest that you upgrade to XP Pro, and setup 2 different profiles...one for video and one for gaming.

Of course...you could always just load XP Pro on a HD and then boot to it or boot from the 98 HD. Keep the 98 for gaming, and use the XP for video.

[reboot]

XP Pro, with different profiles. Much easier than a dual boot system, and you can run stuff in win98/95 compatibility mode, if XP won't run it.

[dipstick]

I dual-boot 98se and XP pro. No problems and I recomend it. I think XP is MS's best OS yet, after you clean all the crap off of it.

XP is used soley for Photoshop and Video / Audio editing. I use Photoshop CS, but I prefere Photoshop 7. Photoshop CS really is a big resouce hog.

[dfluke]

Get a Mac

[Gurm]

You realize that 98 isn't using that second processor, right?

All things being equal, you could either... run Win2k, or strip down XP. Either one is fine.