Topic: XP Home available until June 2010

[Nemesis]

Due to the success of such things as the One Laptop per child initiative and the eeePC both running Linux Microsoft has extended the availablity of XP Home by 2 extra years.

Kutz stopped short of saying Microsoft is willing to extend the availability of a seven-year-old OS because it doesn't want to concede the ULCPC market to Linux, which many feel is the reason for the move. Instead, he said it's customers and partners who are driving the extension. "The feedback we've gotten from customers and partners is they want Windows on those devices," Kutz said.

Windows Vista is too bloated for these systems.

[Bonk]

What about XP Pro? The neutered networking of XP home drives me absolutely nuts. 

It took me an hour and a half to walk a family member through networking setup over the phone recently, if they had XP Pro it would have taken me 5 minutes.

It seems to me that everytime Microsoft tries to make something more "user friendly" the result is something that makes no sense at all to a technical mind. Nor does it seem to help the Luddites either.

Vista is a classic example of this. It's so darn "user friendly" it makes virtually no sense at all to me. Though I didn't play with it much yet, I suppose much of the original functionality of Windows NT is still available at the command prompt. Finding a root command prompt in Vista was no easy task as I recall though, I had to dig and dig for some "user fiendly" shortcut, actually I had to use the help to find it, imagine that - needing to consult help to get to a working command line!

[Pestalence_XC]

Vista command line is easy.. standard user.. start / run / type in CMD and enter

for Administrator driven command line...

Start / Programs / Accessories / right click on CMD and select Run as Administrator ...

you have easier access to your files and programs if you put the Start Menu into Classic mode.. right click on the task bar, select properties, click on Start Menu, put dot into Classic Start menu, click OK..

makes things 20 times easier.

[Nemesis]

What about XP Pro? The neutered networking of XP home drives me absolutely nuts. 

Since Microsoft appears to be doing this only as a defensive move against the light weight laptop like the OLPC and the eeePC running Linux I don't think so.   

[Sirgod]

Vista command line is easy.. standard user.. start / run / type in CMD and enter

for Administrator driven command line...

Start / Programs / Accessories / right click on CMD and select Run as Administrator ...

you have easier access to your files and programs if you put the Start Menu into Classic mode.. right click on the task bar, select properties, click on Start Menu, put dot into Classic Start menu, click OK..

makes things 20 times easier.

Hey Pesty, that reminds me, Does DOS Box work pretty well with Vista?

Stephen

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Vista is a classic example of this. It's so darn "user friendly" it makes virtually no sense at all to me. Though I didn't play with it much yet, I suppose much of the original functionality of Windows NT is still available at the command prompt. Finding a root command prompt in Vista was no easy task as I recall though, I had to dig and dig for some "user fiendly" shortcut, actually I had to use the help to find it, imagine that - needing to consult help to get to a working command line!

That unfortunatly is a slowly growing problem with modern systems is that they are getting too user friendly. There are so many people that don't even understand the definition of a virus that why would they need to be going to the command prompt?!?
Microsoft really has no choice but to go along these lines and offer more and more user friendly OS's so that more and more people who don't know even the slightest thing about computers the option to be able to go and be more protected, while leaving those developers/IT Pro's/programmers out in the cold.  Now it would be nice if Vista ultimate or something along the lines of XP Expert/Vista Expert editions were avaliable to those who do understand computers, and want to do more then go and read e-mail all day 

I have Home Edition for my computer since it was my dad who got me this computer, and it was from 2001.. I hate it now and I do wish to upgrade it to XP Pro at some point.

[Tulwar]

The real reason that Win XP Home is going to be available until 2010 is because Win Vista is a nightmare.  They are deliberately making the machines too difficult for average people to work with.  Continuing XP is just a response to the consumer revolt.

[Pestalence_XC]

Vista command line is easy.. standard user.. start / run / type in CMD and enter

for Administrator driven command line...

Start / Programs / Accessories / right click on CMD and select Run as Administrator ...

you have easier access to your files and programs if you put the Start Menu into Classic mode.. right click on the task bar, select properties, click on Start Menu, put dot into Classic Start menu, click OK..

makes things 20 times easier.

Hey Pesty, that reminds me, Does DOS Box work pretty well with Vista?

Stephen

I've never tried DOSBOX since I don't have any software that old. I can run anything on Vista that you can on Win 95 and up.. the only program I have been unable to run is Dominion Wars.. but I am working on  a work around for that.. and the other thing I can't run at the moment is Ad-Aware 2007.. however Ad-Aware 2008 is being designed for Vista and XP 64 bit and goes into Beta next week.. I'm on their Beta team.

[Centurus]

What I wish Microsoft would do is get smart, and base their next versions of Windows on the Linux core.  Imagine the number of people that would snatch that up.

I knew several people that ditched their Windows systems for the Mac when Apple designed OSX on the Linux core.

[knightstorm]

What I wish Microsoft would do is get smart, and base their next versions of Windows on the Linux core.  Imagine the number of people that would snatch that up.

I knew several people that ditched their Windows systems for the Mac when Apple designed OSX on the Linux core.

What they need to do is design an os that's more compatible with what came before it.  One of the things I hate the most about vista is its device support.  Additionally, there are a few programs that I use that just won't run on vista.  Less bloatware might also be useful.  While I accept that system requirements go up over time, 10 times the minimum ram of its predecessor for all but the stripped down version seems excessive.

[Centurus]

What I wish Microsoft would do is get smart, and base their next versions of Windows on the Linux core.  Imagine the number of people that would snatch that up.

I knew several people that ditched their Windows systems for the Mac when Apple designed OSX on the Linux core.

What they need to do is design an os that's more compatible with what came before it.  One of the things I hate the most about vista is its device support.  Additionally, there are a few programs that I use that just won't run on vista.  Less bloatware might also be useful.  While I accept that system requirements go up over time, 10 times the minimum ram of its predecessor for all but the stripped down version seems excessive.

Very true.  Fortunately, there are ways around that little problem these days using a slipstreamed/modified install disc.  There are programs out there that can help you make a customized install disc for both XP and Vista, and from what I've read, they're pretty stable, safe, and highly rated.  I've used one of them myself to integrate SP2 into my old XP Home SP1 disc.

But you're right, more compatibility would be great.  That's one of the reasons PCs took off the way they did, because with each upgrade, they were still able to run the older programs that people still used and wanted. 

But I would also like to see more stability in Windows, and security as well.  That's why I said I wish Microsoft would base their next Windows version on the Linux core.  It would give Windows stability and probably have fewer security holes out of the box.  Who knows, might cut down on the system requirements too.  Not sure.

[knightstorm]

What I wish Microsoft would do is get smart, and base their next versions of Windows on the Linux core.  Imagine the number of people that would snatch that up.

I knew several people that ditched their Windows systems for the Mac when Apple designed OSX on the Linux core.

What they need to do is design an os that's more compatible with what came before it.  One of the things I hate the most about vista is its device support.  Additionally, there are a few programs that I use that just won't run on vista.  Less bloatware might also be useful.  While I accept that system requirements go up over time, 10 times the minimum ram of its predecessor for all but the stripped down version seems excessive.

Very true.  Fortunately, there are ways around that little problem these days using a slipstreamed/modified install disc.  There are programs out there that can help you make a customized install disc for both XP and Vista, and from what I've read, they're pretty stable, safe, and highly rated.  I've used one of them myself to integrate SP2 into my old XP Home SP1 disc.

But you're right, more compatibility would be great.  That's one of the reasons PCs took off the way they did, because with each upgrade, they were still able to run the older programs that people still used and wanted. 

But I would also like to see more stability in Windows, and security as well.  That's why I said I wish Microsoft would base their next Windows version on the Linux core.  It would give Windows stability and probably have fewer security holes out of the box.  Who knows, might cut down on the system requirements too.  Not sure.

Truthfully, as far as stability goes, I never had a bsod on xp pro after upgrading to service pack 2.  The only real complaint I have against XP is the security.  If microsoft had simply produced something like an XP+  they might have had a better reception.  Also, I do not like the idea of Microsoft moving to linux because compatability would probably take another hit.  Apple's business model is based on selling hardware, so they included an emulation mode in their new OS.  MS would be unlikely to do th is as it would compete with virtual pc which requires you to actually buy another copy of the operating system you want to run.  Also, did your friends ditch pcs because of OSX, or because they were dissatisfied with their system hardware, and customer service.  I know several people who had horrible experiences with Dell building their systems out of second rate parts, and then subjecting them to the most vile customer service on earth.  I seriously considered switching to Mac after 3 years with the Dell cr*ptop.

[Pestalence_XC]

But I would also like to see more stability in Windows, and security as well. That's why I said I wish Microsoft would base their next Windows version on the Linux core. It would give Windows stability and probably have fewer security holes out of the box. Who knows, might cut down on the system requirements too. Not sure.

Um.. Vista and Unbuntu were the winners of the Hack this OS contest this year..

Unbuntu beat out Vista only because 2 companies helped the guy hacking Vista and explained an exploit, not with Vista, but with Flash player, which got fixed Thursday last week..

so as far as security goes, you can't beat unbuntu and Vista..

OSx got hacked in the first 4 hours of the 3 day contest and this was OS only hacking allowed at this time... Vista got hacked with loads of 3rd party help during the last hour of the contest when they declaired that 3rd party apps could be used to backdoor in..

the Vista OS itself wasn't hacked, Flashplayer was and it has since been fixed.

as for compatibility.. you can't beat Windows..

XP is great OS, but it won't be able to handle next gen games or applications that rely on DirectX 10 or DirectX 11 exclusively..

for XP users and Linux users, this is what you are missing out on.. check out these screen shots from Hellgate London and Crysis..

[Centurus]

What I wish Microsoft would do is get smart, and base their next versions of Windows on the Linux core.  Imagine the number of people that would snatch that up.

I knew several people that ditched their Windows systems for the Mac when Apple designed OSX on the Linux core.

What they need to do is design an os that's more compatible with what came before it.  One of the things I hate the most about vista is its device support.  Additionally, there are a few programs that I use that just won't run on vista.  Less bloatware might also be useful.  While I accept that system requirements go up over time, 10 times the minimum ram of its predecessor for all but the stripped down version seems excessive.

Very true.  Fortunately, there are ways around that little problem these days using a slipstreamed/modified install disc.  There are programs out there that can help you make a customized install disc for both XP and Vista, and from what I've read, they're pretty stable, safe, and highly rated.  I've used one of them myself to integrate SP2 into my old XP Home SP1 disc.

But you're right, more compatibility would be great.  That's one of the reasons PCs took off the way they did, because with each upgrade, they were still able to run the older programs that people still used and wanted. 

But I would also like to see more stability in Windows, and security as well.  That's why I said I wish Microsoft would base their next Windows version on the Linux core.  It would give Windows stability and probably have fewer security holes out of the box.  Who knows, might cut down on the system requirements too.  Not sure.

Truthfully, as far as stability goes, I never had a bsod on xp pro after upgrading to service pack 2.  The only real complaint I have against XP is the security.  If microsoft had simply produced something like an XP+  they might have had a better reception.  Also, I do not like the idea of Microsoft moving to linux because compatability would probably take another hit.  Apple's business model is based on selling hardware, so they included an emulation mode in their new OS.  MS would be unlikely to do th is as it would compete with virtual pc which requires you to actually buy another copy of the operating system you want to run.  Also, did your friends ditch pcs because of OSX, or because they were dissatisfied with their system hardware, and customer service.  I know several people who had horrible experiences with Dell building their systems out of second rate parts, and then subjecting them to the most vile customer service on earth.  I seriously considered switching to Mac after 3 years with the Dell cr*ptop.

No, it was because of OSX.  They really liked how it functioned, how stable it was, and the fact that it was built on the Linux core. 

[knightstorm]

XP is great OS, but it won't be able to handle next gen games or applications that rely on DirectX 10 or DirectX 11 exclusively..

for XP users and Linux users, this is what you are missing out on.. check out these screen shots from Hellgate London and Crysis..

I never said that XP was the end all of OS's.  What I said was that a worthy successor to XP would have only made changes in the areas that needed improvement such as security and support for newer technologies hence "XP+".  While vista did those things, it also seems to have tried to fix things that were not broken and seems excessively bloated.

[Nemesis]

The future of Windows: