bah,
run softraid on win2k or winxp, with dual CPU's and then come back and tell me you want 98.
98 has its merits but I wouldnt diss xp or 2k so fast.

If you've done both 98 and 2k you would know that 2k is far better than 98 can ever be for audio...in fact there's an audible sound quality difference between 98 and 2k...2k is warmer and more alive...Especially with Dual Procs..98 doesnt support that...2k and XP do! Plus USB support and better driver support as well.
Please tell us what you do and what programs you are using? I'm curious...but the cat killed him didnt he?
:D
Opus

I run Cubase VST 5 with VST Instruments and plugins, linked with Rewire to Reason...
On 98 its bomb proof but with 2k and XP I have problems...

I have Pentium 1 gig processor, with 512 ram, two 40 gig hard drives etc.....

We use Dual processors at the studio with 2k, but have problems with some plugins and multi tracking and overall VST performance.....Changed to XP.... but are now going to change back to 98.... Most people we talk to feel the same... What progs you using ????? It could be a prog thing !!

Probably is a prog thing..I use Nuendo, Reason, Rebirth, Wavelab, Recycle, Pro5. B4, Waldorf PPG, Waves, TC Native, db-audioware...I get way better performance off of 2k than 98! I have on my articles page a Win2k Optimization guide that makes your system pretty damn streamlined..also in my Win98 guide there's tricks to setting up the drives for better throughput power. One drive to an IDE cable and putting the drives closer to the mainboard plug...
I think Cubase is a major culprit to most of the issues. Nuendo has been nothing but a flawless experience! With a PIII 650 512MB RAM I get close to 50 tracks with plenty o plugins a happening and my system starts to choke up...I cant wait to build a dual proc board...still debating on whether to bite the bullet and get a Dual AMD system or wait until a good Intel Chipset dual PIII Coppermine is available!!
Opus

Opus, I dont get it...the dual PIII is out for a long time, thats what I have.
I thought we were waiting for a dual AMD setup...ok Im confused

Yes Aaron...dual PIII has been out for awhile...BUT...they are not Intel based chipsets!! They are Via based chipsets...Via is unpredictable and AMD chipsets are just plain scary!!
I'm still debating in my mind whether to go with AMD or Intel! The arguments for both are good but still the chipset issue is what has me truly wondering!
Opus

Now as interesting as dual p3's are why not go for dual athlons?
http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tigermp.html

My plan of action is to wait till this is yesterdays news and the prices are slashed a bit...

I just changed my softraid setup from 2 to 4 physical drives, and I gotta tell you...
NOTHING I have ever done to a PC has ever made such an OBVIOUS performance boost...I mean ROCKIN 60 tracks at once, shake the zoom bar back and forth , no problem...

XpPro is great for audio and its more stable than any other Os. o and Comusic you can keep your hard drive fat32 with xp, you don't have to go ntfs.

Ummm..yeah..of course you can keep your drive at Fat32..you can do that with Win2k as well..XP is stable but the point is...XP is still needing some add ons to make it more stable and needs way more tweaking than Win2k does...and to be honest there's really no performance gain by going to XP at this time..unless you have the latest Athalon XP and newest motherboard will you even remotely see a performance gain. Processors need to be made to take advantage of new OS coding and so forth..
I guess my point is...I know all of this stuff..I dont mean to sound cocky but that was the most useless post I've seen...sorry. but I guess I need to express that I'm the moderator for a reason!! Nothing personal you see...just stating the obvious
Opus
:roll:

Well, for those of us with a LARGE number of I/O to and from the PC, XP allows you to use many more devices than win2k did...I think the limit is now 32 devices while win2k was 12

Originally posted by Opus2000:
If you've done both 98 and 2k you would know that 2k is far better than 98 can ever be for audio...in fact there's an audible sound quality difference between 98 and 2k...2k is warmer and more alive...Especially with Dual Procs..
Opus

Opus2000, this is one of the most absurd statements I've read in a long time! You really think that Win 2k actually 'sounds warmer' and 'more alive'?! FYI, this has NOTHING to do with the OS and EVERYTHING to do with the audio hardware and software. And you say say "I know all this stuff", dude, you don't know jack sh!t.
:roll:

Hmmm...you know..I guess you are absolutely correct..I dont know jack shit..in fact Apogee hired me because of that exact reason..I know nothing about audio and hardware..I never listened to a real recording in my life..I dont even know what an algorythm is!! Geez :roll:
A fucking statement..thats all it is bub..I'm not the only one to have noticed it. Grow up will ya
Opus