Off Topic - Windows XP

[N11Porsche]

Just a note to anyone who is thinking about upgrading to Windows XP...I think this is the best Windows to come to market, by far! This is a totally new program. The changes, are numerous and extremely useful. One feature lets you log on to Microsoft, checks all drivers on your computer (not just MicroSoft drivers but video, modem, audio, etc.) and lets you know if any, more current drivers are avaible and will let you download them. I don't work for MicroSoft but just want to give them credit for a great product. I was thinking about getting a new monitor, my 17" is 5 years old, but Windows XP makes both text and graphics look much better. Well worth the price of admission..........





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Bill Carcot
1979 911SC
Diablo Region, P.C.A.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Especially if you do not mind Mega-Rip getting all your personal information for their own data files!!! Lovely tool they added for Windows XP. Does data collection for them and sends it to their own data storage/processing facilities. All behind the scenes. Imagine if IBM had tried this years ago......

[Saffs]

Us Mac users have been enjoying stability and a good OS for years.
A new montior is a must. I find that after a year they start to loose clarity and defintition. Get the biggest and best you can afford. (This is someone who works at a computer most of the day!)

[kstar]

Yup, saffs.

And now us Mac users have OSX 10.1!


Now that is a "real" OS; Mac UI elegance with the robust underpinnings of BSD Unix.

XP would make Orwell say "I told you so!".

Best,

Kurt

[Adam]

I've heard that XP is pretty nice to work with. The only thing that's keeping me from upgrading is that it's over US$200 here in Australia. I think I'll wait for a little while.

[Bill Douglas]

Hi Bill, are you sure you don't work for microsoft or trying to offload a lot of MS stock. I find programs that want to update drivers a real pain in the as* as they install something that upsets something else. I love a nice stable system. Bill, the guy that fixes computers.

[Doug Zielke]

My neighbor just installed xp.
Just as Bill Douglas said, he's having a ton o' trouble with the driver issue. The new program does not recogize the "old" drivers for his scanner, printer, cd burner, or zip drive. None of it works!

So, go get new drivers you say...
Easy, except many peripheral makers have not yet made xp drivers available for their "old" equipment. Needless to say, he'd like to kick Bill Gates in the arse!

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Member: SCWDP
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website
"If it ain't broke...we'll help you fix it 'til it is!"

[mwbaum]

How old is his system?...I thought XP had most of the necessary drivers for recently purchased computers and accessories.

[epbrown]

I can't see upgrading for a while - I need more than new whiz-bang features to move. I'd still be running Windows 95 if it had better USB support - I can't help thinking how kick-ass it would be on my current system (700Mhz, 320MB RAM, 15GB drive). I get sick of the hardware guys giving and MS taking away...

Emanuel

[mwbaum]

FYI...

http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749-8-7004399-1.html?tag=prmo

[ebradway]

I've been in the software business for twelve years. I've written programs for just about very operating system out there, including most flavors of Microsoft Windows. I strongly advise against upgrading for XP for a number of reasons. First off, it is a resource hog (I believe it requires 2GB of hard drive space to install and expects 128MB of RAM). Second, Microsoft is constantly gathering more information about you, the users, both in the XP registration and in the Microsoft Passport (which essentially lets you store all of your critical personal information in their database - which Microsoft says is secure (no comment). Finally, XP further pushes the envelope as to what is considered the operating system. How many companies are going to go out of business because Microsoft is including their competitive package in XP?

I used to make computer games for Windows. We had to use Microsoft's operating system to develop on, Microsoft's development tools, and Microsoft's APIs, only to compete with Microsoft's own games on in the stores.

If you want an operating system that takes care of the details for you, use a Macintosh. It does a much better job than any version of Windows because Apple controls the hardware it runs on. Otherwise, stick with an older OS that lets you control what you have installed and doesn't demand you give up your first born to use it.

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Eric Bradway
'86 911 Targa
http://www.bradway.net/porsche

[911pcars]

Eric,
Although us Mac users are in the distinct minority, I'm glad to hear of a somewhat unbiased view of Windows OS. My wife has a Pentium at home that she purchased because of her office machine. I used the PC platform up through the time Windows 3.11 was around before switching to a Mac and I never looked back (nor purchased needed books on managing memory). Looking at a current Windows OS, it still seems clunky compared to even my old version of Mac OS 8.6.

Don't even get me started about MS's bailout by the Justice Dept. We'll see what happens when the various state attorney generals provide ruling feedback this week.

Sherwood Lee

[cabman]

most Microsoft products are garbage.

they want to control the universe, they want to control you by collecting as much info as possible to try and sell you their crap.

ever wonder they have a billion Service Pack downloads on their site? that's becasue they sell crap that doesnt really work, they just want you to visit the website to download drivers and so forth so you can read the ads.....it's all marketing bs.

and then they have the nerve to charge you for technical support on the phone. what a joke?

I just hope the government has enough balls to split this company up.....

[ebradway]

I did try to post without mentioning that I use Linux (Red Hat 7.1 actually) and the Opera browser. MSN.com doesn't work but Pelican Parts and Rennlist sure do. Who needs anything else?

Oh yeah, Red Hat doesn't ask for ANY information. You can buy the software or download it for free and install it as many times as you want. They do ask that you pay for their automated upgrade system but it's not necessary.

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Eric Bradway
'86 911 Targa
http://www.bradway.net/porsche

[Rollins]

I bought my system new with XP on it, so I have had very few issues with drivers and the likeness. It is all really a matter of time though. Companies need to upgrade their software to work properly. For the time being you can use the compatibility wizard. It has worked on several programs for me. All in all I like XP a lot.

[N11Porsche]

I guess I opened a can of worms! Windows XP is not a good idea for an older computer. Microsoft said that, up-front. It is not a "jazzed up" version of Windows 98 but a totally new operating system. I am not a MicroSoft employee and I sold my Microsoft stock several years ago, so I feel I am unbiased. Microsoft is a lot of things, most good, some not quite so good. Having said that, they sell a lot of software, because most of it beats the competition. I use Microsoft Word 97, to publish a newsletter for my cycling club and it is easy to use and I can easily import pictures into the newsletters. Microsoft Internet Explorer is a much better program than Netscape Navigator(in my opinion) and it dominates that market. I haven't talked to anyone, who has Windows XP installed on their computer, that doesn't think it is a very good operating sysem. Your mileage may vary............





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Bill Carcot
1979 911SC
Diablo Region, P.C.A.

[kstar]

Originally posted by N11Porsche:
. . .Having said that, they sell a lot of software, because most of it beats the competition.

Depends on how you define "beat"!

Now you have really opened a can of worms!

If it works well for you and gets the job done, that's all that really matters.

Best to you,

Kurt

[Zendalar]

I still use DOS whenever there is a chance.

What have you gotten after win95 that is worth mentioning?

Win95 takes 40MB, works even with 8MB memory machine. Works on DOS

Win98 takes 110-250MB, needs 32MB memory to work sluggishly (running with 256MB now), works on DOS

Win2k Poor excuse for an OS, still kinda works on DOS, NTFS to the rescue.

WinME Heavy, buggy, and no better than 98

WinXP Should be less heavy than WinME, should work better, register thingie sux, MEMORY HOG!

[Saffs]

Ahh....Beat.
What did MS do with Apple Mac? Something like, if you don't put Internet Explorer on Macs supplied new we won't make another version of M.Word for the Mac! And Mac sales then relied on being able to run MS products on Macs - sadly. I think we'd have a lot more Software choices if it wasn't for MS manipulating and eliminating it's competitors.
A can of worms indeed!

[firecall999]

Originally posted by N11Porsche:
It is not a "jazzed up" version of Windows 98 but a totally new operating system.

Actually its not a new OS. Its Windows NT. Windows NT is 10 years old.
Nothing wrong with that though, Unix is 30 years old.

I am not a MicroSoft employee and I sold my Microsoft stock several years ago, so I feel I am unbiased.

Unbiased in that you only use Microsoft Operating Systems?
It may well be better than Win 98/ME, but thats not exactely hard.

Microsoft is a lot of things, most good, some not quite so good. Having said that, they sell a lot of software, because most of it beats the competition.

Yes, thats the reason. Microsoft maintains a monopoly because it makes better products, not because it abuses its position to crush any real competition.


Alex.

[This message has been edited by Alex Counsell (edited 11-04-2001).]