[NTLUG:Discuss] MS XP Throw it in the trash!

[David Neeley]

All right, let's look at XP on its own merits.

1. Independent lab tested XP and compared it with Win2k. Results on 
Internet this week show performance (other than initial bootup) averaged 
11% slower than Win2k--which itself would not be likely to win any speed 
contests.

2. Retail pack of XP requires re-registration if you change configuration 
of your machine more than some small minimum number. David Coursey, 
Microsoft apologist/journalist, while on a business trip tried putting a 
PCMCIA card in his notebook one time too many and the OS shut down. 
Wouldn't let him re-register, either, since he was on the road and 
contacted Microsoft's Website from a different IP address. Thus, if you add 
a hard drive, say, or change video--you may find yourself dependent upon 
convincing some Microsoft person to re-authorize your OS.

3. Incredible resource hog. Microsoft itself says if you bought a machine 
before Christmas 99, you should pass on "upgrading" to XP. They also advise 
the best way is to buy a new PC for the "privilege" of running XP.

4. If you have unsupported hardware peripherals, you may be out of luck 
until/unless your manufacturer provides new drivers. While the bulk of 
things out there on modern machines apparently work, in many cases they are 
implemented with minimum feature sets supported.

5. Be prepared when you sell your machine to buy yet another copy of XP, 
since this baby is apparently non-transferrable.

I could probably go on--but in general I do agree that our best course is 
to promote the virtues of Linux rather than the deficiencies in Microsoft 
operating systems.

However, the security problems with their products are well known and 
numerous. The bulk of the reviews about XP say that it is primarily 
introducing features that are to benefit Microsoft, not the consumer.

This is one time that Microsoft appears to have gone too far. It will be 
interesting to see if they stay the course or back off on some of the more 
irritating "features" of this dog.

David

At 03:59 PM 11/4/01 -0600, you wrote:
>Not surprising that a MS related security hole has been discovered, but this
>one hardly warrants the over-emphatic subject line you've attached to the
>story.  While Passport may be insecure (and have other problems) this really
>has no direct effect on the security of XP.  If you want Linux to make
>progress on the desktop then make some contributions to the usability and
>stability of user class apps, instead of trying to "frighten" people away
>from XP.  Anyone used XP yet?  I have, and so far so good.