Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

To XP or not XP

Windows XP was released today. Do the new features outweigh the gotchas like product activation and digital rights management? Are you buying WinXP?

I personally am not. I'm slowly moving my home network to the Mac and have no plans for upgrading any PC software or hardware. Even if I could get XP I wouldn't.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, Ohio 44067
Posts: 242

Sorry, my 600 MHz Athlon only has 128 MB RAM and XP suggests 256 MB.Not that I would have upgraded anyway.

Did you watch the special on TechTV? They say you should upgrade only if you are stuck with ME. But man are they marketing the hell out of this thing!!!

Edited my original post : Note : Tech TV originally suggested 256 MB RAM, the XP box suggests a minimum of 128 MB and could (very slowly) run on 56 MB.

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Last edited by Doggy on 10-25-2001 at 06:38 PM

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mineola, NY USA
Posts: 161

Ugh oh, Now what?

My office has already committed to buying all new servers and desktops, the desktops come with XP. But Handspring says it's version of Palm Desktop doesn't yet support XP, though they expect a download by years end....right.

Now what do I do?

I guess I'll have to keep two computers on my desk?

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-Michael-

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 278

I'm already running beta copies on two machines at home and need to upgrade those two if I don't want to lose all the data on them. The other two machines in my house I will not upgrade for the time being.

--David

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 24

quote:

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Originally posted by maddog
Sorry, my 600 MHz Athlon only has 128 MB RAM and XP suggests 256 MB.Not that I would have upgraded anyway.

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

To Linux

My computer is a pII 266 with 96 megs ram. It can handle win98 ok 90% of the time, but XP would turn it into a paperweight.

I've got a laptop that's considerably older, but should run Linux. Now if I could just get decent teacher software that was compatible with both Linux and Windows, I could switch the desktop over too and run nothing by microsoft (imagine that!)

The XP is evil rhetoric has seriously been toned down in the mass media channels. I'm torn. I do honestly believe that M$ has a right to integrate key software into their OS to improve performance and ease of use. What I disagree with is their hidden adverts and blocking of opponents software to integrate in the same way. It will be very interesting to see what M$ does with Yahoo Essentials, which takes over IE and turns it into a Yahoo monster, integrating yahoo's services with the browser's capabilities. A GREAT idea, IMO, but will M$ allow it?

That's my key issue with XP (aside from the fact that my boxes can't handle the bloat of it): Not integration, but blocking and hidden advertising.

...I mean really, the idea that advertising is built into the OPERATING SYSTEM of a computer? WTF?!

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Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, Ohio 44067
Posts: 242

I know there are plenty of articles and reviews of XP but here is one from TechTV : http://www.techtv.com/products/soft...3356195,00.html

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58

Funny, I just posted a rambling blog entry touching on this last night, and I didn't even realize today was the official WinXP launch.

In a word, No. I want nothing to do with WindowsXP or Microsoft's Hailstorm and .NET initiatives... I'll use it WinXP work if I have to, but I won't put it on any of my home computers - not that I could run it on any of my current equipment anyway. (256 Megs of RAM? WTF? What does the OS do with all that memory that its predecessors didn't?)

I'm currently stuck with an OEM version Windows ME at home, which is no picnic... but if something happens to my E-machine and I wind up buying another x86-based machine that comes with an OEM version of WindowsXP, the first thing I do will be to wipe the hard drive and install Mandrake Linux 8.1.

But, like the blog says, I'm hoping I can scrape together the $$ for a Ti Powerbook before something like that happens

-Andy

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

I've read the facts and I'm voting "No"...

WHen I first started hearing about XP (code name Whistler) I got pretty excited. All of the new features like Registry rollback, integrated "PC Anywhere" style software, enhanced security and the NT kernel are great, but I just can't condone the whole product registration bit.

I will be upgrading soon, but the farthest I'll go is Win2k.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Thanks, but...

I won't be upgrading to Windows FP (Fisher-Price edition) any time soon. I've been running the OS since Beta 2, and the only kind words I can offer is that it is the most stable OS MS has developed thus far. Aside from that its garbage. Most of the new "features" are nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to hook consumers into Microsoft/MSN services, and extend the company's dominance into other areas of computing...particularly Instant messaging, web audio & web services (.NET, Passport, Hailstorm). The interface is a cheap rip-off of Apple's Aqua GUI, and looks as though it were designed by Pippy Longstockings with Crayola crayons. There is only one visual style (LUNA) included, and it seems unlikely that there will be new ones in the future, so you're stuck with 3 ugly color schemes (blue, silver, and olive green).

The only type of user(s) who will benefit from XP, are newbies and technophobes. Anyone using Win2k should stay put. WinME users may want to consider upgrading, but the $100 pricetag doesn't seem justifiable.

XP won't save the PC industry, in my opinion. Sales will flop, and PC makers will topple. XBox will have more of an impact on the consumer electronics market than XP.

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My blog: Pocketfactory

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

I've been using ME on my "old" (as in 18 mos.) Sony VAIO laptop since early this year and just upgraded my desktop from 98SE a couple of weeks ago. I've never had a problem with it. I did make the mistake of upgrading Windows Media recently, so I've already got the Digital Rights Management stuff. But I don't want any more intrusiveness.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

As an aside, I'm decided. I'm putting linux on my mac (yellowdog flavor) and my laptop (debian or red hat flavor) because:

�it fits comfortably on both
�I can run Mac on Linux and keep everything I have - plus compatibility with my visor
�I'll be able to network my laptop and mac together - and both to the network at work
�it's cheap

I'm really hoping to use my optical mouse, though.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Last edited by dick-richardson on 10-25-2001 at 09:19 PM

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

I feel sorry for New Yorkers. First they are attacked by terrorists, and now Windows XP. j/k

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

You know what, I for one am going to get XP. Not today, and not tommarow, and not the day after that. But the day after that. . .

I don't understand what you all have against Microsoft. I can't stand Macs, and, whether you like it or not, there's much more software for Windows, so why not get a superior version of Windows? Product activation isn't that bad. I don't think it's too much to ask not to rip off Microsoft.

AND NONE OF YOU CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT WINDOWS XP IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT!!!

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"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

quote:

---

Originally posted by ernieba1
I don't understand what you all have against Microsoft. I can't stand Macs, and, whether you like it or not, there's much more software for Windows, so why not get a superior version of Windows? Product activation isn't that bad. I don't think it's too much to ask not to rip off Microsoft.

AND NONE OF YOU CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT WINDOWS XP IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT!!!

---

But it's ok for you to say XP is superior to earlier versions of Windows even though you don't have XP? As for "superior", that's subjective. XP is not going to add anything to my Dell Win2000Pro box at home that is used only for web browsing, email, and Office 2000. The new features that XP brings do not add any improvements to my current Windows "experience."

It is interesting that Microsoft chose the word experience to use with XP as that is what I was looking for -- a new experience -- when I bought my PowerBook G4 earlier this year. Every day I deal with Windows at my main job. I was tired of dealing with it when I got home. Every day I find new software to try out for Mac OS X. Now I look forward to opening up my TiBook and browsing with OmniWeb. I would give anything to be able to use a Mac at my main job.

I used to hate the Mac until I used them for more than 5 minutes when I taught computer literacy for a semester. Now I will never buy another PC.

I'm not trying to convert you; just like with handheld computers, use what suits your needs. The Mac was a fit for me but may not be for everyone.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 560

3 of the home PCs I control will be on xP as soon I get the CD from MS. Hey, they are free. :-)

I'm not installing it on my main PC which is on ME. I have no problems with it.

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Felipe Garcia
Happy Treo 600 user, so far. Thanx Cingular for having an unlocked phone.

My Treo 600 is my phone, my PDA, my watch, and my MP3 player. Oh yeah, I take a picture once in a while with it. Convergence is such a great thing.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

quote:

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Originally posted by ernieba1
Product activation isn't that bad. I don't think it's too much to ask not to rip off Microsoft.

---

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58

quote:

---

Originally posted by ernieba1
I don't understand what you all have against Microsoft. I can't stand Macs, and, whether you like it or not, there's much more software for Windows, so why not get a superior version of Windows?

---

"I don't understand what you all have against Macs."



What good does the superfluity of software available for Windows over Mac do me if I never intend to use most of it?

And as for not liking Microsoft, it's the growing frequency of moves like this that I have had an *ssfull of. I'm glad I never used MSN before, because I'm sure as hell not ever going to use it now.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

quote:

---

Originally posted by ernieba1
AND NONE OF YOU CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT WINDOWS XP IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT!!!

---

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Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, Ohio 44067
Posts: 242

Ernie, from what I have read Windows XP = "Windows for Dummies". It offers little benefit to the exisiting user over Windows 2000.

Additionally it stifles competition. For example, (from what I have read) there is no support for MP3 out of the box and you have to install third party software. If you choose to use Microsoft's Media Player, it will convert your MP3s to Microsoft's proprietary music file format but then it cannot be converted back.

Buying Windows XP to me is similar to taking the tour of the Coca Cola museum in Atlanta...you pay them for the right to watch a commercial and then give them more money. You buy XP so you can then be sent to affiliated Microsoft sites for printing digital pictures, buying music, etc.

They say 2000 does everything XP does without the Fisher Price environment. I will stick with 2000 as long as I can.

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What does it look like I am doing...I am kickin' my @ss!!!