x61s: Windows XP vs Windows Server 2003 vs 2008

[mrj47]

Hi guys,

I am currently using a nlite'd windows xp sp3, and it has been working quite nicely. But I plan to reformat and it has come to my attention that Windows Server 2003 performs and is way more stable than XP. I tend to leave my x61s for very long periods of time. Windows Server 2008/r2 also sounds very appealing, do you guys have any recommendations for one over the other?

Also, does anyone have the memory usage on startup comparing 2003 to 2008? Which would give more battery life? Which would bring out the best performance of my x61s?

Searching the forums has shown that windows 2k3 is more stable compared to 2k8, but with some additional tweaks 2k8 may operate much faster and offers better power management? But maybe 2k8 has changed to be more favorable, or is 2k8 still not ready for prime time so to say...?

I'm currently leaning toward 2k3, but I've never personally used 2k3 or 2k8. I do plan use nlite to remove any unneeded things to keep a slimmer install, of course.

Thanks for any help!

My specs:
Intel L7700 @ 1.8ghz
100gb Hitachi @ 7200rpm
2x1gb of ram

[ZaZ]

If it's running quite nicely, why mess with it?

[Neil]

Having never used any Windows Server Edition, I'm not really qualified to respond to this question...but...I would think 2003 might be more stable than XP for server applications, but for a laptop...I dunno. Same with 2008 being better for server applications than Vista.

Bottom line, IMHO, any Windows Server Edition is too expensive, if your not running a mission critical server.

[K0LO]

I have one server running Windows Server 2003, and would not in general recommend it as an operating system for a workstation. The defaults in Server 03 lock the machine down fairly well, and to do the kinds of things that you normally do on a laptop requires many changes to default settings.

For the X61S I would highly recommend consideration of Windows 7 instead of a server OS. I'm very pleased with the way it runs on my X61T.

[erik]

Searching the forums has shown that windows 2k3 is more stable compared to 2k8, but with some additional tweaks 2k8 may operate much faster and offers better power management? But maybe 2k8 has changed to be more favorable, or is 2k8 still not ready for prime time so to say...?

2008 not ready for prime time?   that's news to me.   i've had it running on two systems flawlessly for two years and have no complaints.   i just installed 2008 R2 RTM that microsoft sent me and am testing it on both my X61s and thinkstation.   so far, so good.

unless you actually need server features like IIS, hypervisor, finite networking control, or the various roles and services offered and are willing to give up many of the amenities found in standard windows, stick with a desktop OS.   you'd be much better off with windows 7 then you would with a server OS that leaves you with more headaches than it solves.   i've been using and administering windows server OSes since the days of NT4 so i speak from a tiny bit of experience here.

For the X61S I would highly recommend consideration of Windows 7 instead of a server OS. I'm very pleased with the way it runs on my X61T.

well, i wouldn't recommend a server OS on a tablet simply because it lacks TIP and tablet button driver support.   if you use these features then you'll have to live without them because they absolutely cannot be made to work at this point in time.

other than that, 2008 on a tablet works fine and the pen works as advertised -- minus TIP and the buttons on the bezel, of course.

[Zuke]

Windows 7 is a dream on my X61T. The new ink and virtual keyboard are just frakking awesome and it's become my new system of choice when I'm tending to servers here at work. Throw in RocketDock (www.rocketdock.com) and I rarely use the keyboard anymore.

[Temetka]

i've been using and administering windows server OSes since the days of NT4 so i speak from a tiny bit of experience here.

As a former NT 4 Admin and current 2003 Admin, I can certainly back you up on this.

[heelix]

You might want to take a look at WinXP-64. Shares the same code base Server 2003. I installed it on my x61s after I upgraded my RAM to 8G. Been rock solid.

Info http://heelix.multiply.com/journal/item ... s_Thinkpad.

[Kyocera]

I have run 2003 server standard and enterprise on several thinkpads, and have come to the conclusion that unless you really need it to do testing in a specific environment, need to run server applications, need some specific security features.....you will eventually go back to a standard OS.

From my experience XP installed correctly with correct drivers is very stable.

Dual boot is a better choice really. I've tried 2003 server with Virtual Pc and it sucked real bad. Get a big fast drive, cut it in half and dual boot, that is what I wound up doing for the stuff i needed at work.