Fuck Windows 7 and fuck Microsoft!

[cynatnite]

We decided to get a second laptop and just recently began shopping around.

Then I read this:

If you thought that Microsoft learned all its lessons with Vista - you'll be disappointed. Despite the fact Windows 7 beta is getting mostly positive reviews, revelations that Microsoft plans on releasing five different flavors of Windows 7 left many in the tech world stupefied and wondering why.

Microsoft confirmed the multi-version release of Windows 7 to various sources including Gizomodo and Paul Thurrott of Windows Supersite. However, Microsoft has not released any official statement to the public regarding this decision.

Many have been critical of Microsoft's decision to release multiple versions of Windows Vista. The move created consumer confusion as to what version might be best to buy. It also created compatibility issues with software and hardware when people wanted to upgrade from XP to Vista. Lastly, many saw multi-versions of Vista as a self-serving way for Microsoft to charge vastly different prices for different versions of Vista with little benefit to end users.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/158861/windows_7_to_ship_in_six_different_versions.html

I'm so damn aggravated. Should I wait now? Should I go Mac? It was bad enough when we first went from XP to Vista. There were all sorts of software and hardware issues that took some time to fix. It was a real headache. My HP all-in-one died today so I was thinking that we'd need that in addition to a laptop. Why should I invest what little money we have when there is a chance it may not even work together or we don't even know exactly what we're getting. All this just pisses me off. I don't want to go through what we went through the last time we bought a new computer.

[navarth]

1. XP Pro SP2. n/t

[Webster Green]

17. XP Pro Media Center 2005 Edition with SP3

Love it! :smoke:

[SidDithers]

35. That's what I've got on my home box...

But my business laptop came preloaded with Vista Home Premium. When we put a new server into our small office in November, I quickly realized that Vista Home Premium won't "play nice" with SBS 2003 r2. I had to go out and spend another $200 to upgrade to Vista Ultimate.

The 4 new workstations that we bought at the same time, all running XP, had no problem syncing to the server.

Sid

[nc4bo]

18. Yep, same here. nt

[reprehensor]

80. XP SP3 is the mind-killer.

Even XP Home Edition SP2 works just fine. I D/L'd SP3, and suddenly my CPU started running hot and grinding out massive temp files that practically froze my hard drive.

This nearly drove me to Vista, but I stepped back in time to SP2, and things are alright.

[EraOfResponsibility]

2. Now see, Microsoft lied

they said, two years ago, when Vista came out, that this was IT...there weren't going to be anymore "versions" that Vista was going to be the final thing.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. That's a shame. I like 7 so far...

I'm running it now on my laptop and It's stable and runs much leaner than Mojave;)...

[FedUpWithIt All]

50. I agree. I think 7 is pretty nice. No problems. n/t

[madokie]

81. Its going to be hard for me to go back to xp when this windows 7 beta expires

in early august of this year.

[NeedleCast]

4. Wait, you haven't used Win7 yet, and it's fuck Windows 7 and Fuck Microsoft?

Any laptop you buy from a computer retailer is, 99%, going to have the "home" version of Win7 on it (although not for several months).

It's possible you're over-reacting.

[cynatnite]

5. It's possible, but I do feel positively jerked around, too. n/t

[NeedleCast]

9. Without doing any investigation at all

I can pretty much promise that Windows 7 will have a "home" version (or something similarly named). If you're doing home computing, that's almost certainly the version you want.

There will also be a Home Pro (or something similarly named), and some sort of "super duper premium version" that no one will buy, plus a business solutions version.

Personally I think Windows has become more than the vast majority of people will ever need and is full of bloated, system resource hogging code, but really, don't get to freaked out over what version to buy. They're all pretty much the same thing.

[rufus dog]

33. all great

unless you have a laptop from work with the business solution and a home version on a desktop and run into networking issues. (had that with a Vista, Vista, XP home network) Also they become upgradable ONLY to the same version. So I had to take a desktop up the bus version of vista because I had the bus version of XP. Going down to the home version would have cause me to reload all software and reinstall all my files. So I can understand the FUCK YOU MS attitude.

[NeedleCast]

46. Well you know, MS can't plan for every possible computer eventuallity

and stay profitable.

Look, I'm not huge MS defender or anything, I really don't have a pony in this race. I just think a lot of people dump on MS simply because they're MS and thus part of the evil empire. Not to mention the fact that, generally, the problem you describe can be fixed with a 20 dollar flash drive (half that if you hurry to circuit city). My office uses Vista and I'm on XP at home and even with occasionally logging into our network from home through remote desktop I've never run into any issues, and if I'm going to work at home, I just load stuff on my flash drive.

I'm not saying there wont be compatibility issues, but a lot of that is on the shoulders of poorly planned networks, not Microsoft.

[TWiley]

64. Boy, what planet are you from?

I am from Microsoft, and I am here to help you? I think I heard that line in another horror movie somewhere.

In my case, I have been a power user of Microsoft Office Proffessional since DOS 5 and Windows 3.0 With the release of Vista, I had to buy a Video Professor to instruct me on the basics of how to use this shit heap. No menu bar ... now we have "ribbons?" Another battery of shortcut keys that must be memorized?

Microsoft is NOT trustworthy. My prediction is that the new platform will be an even greater abomination. Another $10,000 in software upgrades, another unproductive learning curve, and you have the insane notion that this is "good"?

None of the "new versions" work any better than the early versions of business software. This is especially true after DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.11

It has been a fucked-up downward spiral ever since with little, if any, notacable improvements. Just one more expensive fucked up mess authored by Microsoft.

[Kalyke]

75. I am an Office power user, too, and I LOVE the ribbons.

BTW, you can go to the MS website and get free tutorials.

I guess it's all about taste.

[msongs]

6. we are beta testing windows 7 - it works very well and we like it just fine

then again we had no problem with vista since we did not buy a new box or laptop loaded up all kinds of other trash put on there by dell etc, things that create problems and have nothing at all to do with the OS. We just built our own computer with an intel i7 chip and boy does it run fast.

windows 7 has it all over xp or vista, even though it is similar to vista. go back to using xp at work and it's a drag now.

you could buy a mac for 2x the hardware cost plus an update every year even though it's funny how the macsters never seem to think a mac OS update is not the same as a windows update, or do the linux thing as long as you have compatible software and a degree in computer technology.

then again there's always crayons lol.

Msongs
www.msongs.com

[yourout]

13. Is windows 7 better about being backwards compatable with software?

My main beef with Vista is alot of software that ran fine on W2K and XP wont run on Vista with Autocad being one of them.

I suspect that is by design to force people to uprade their software. I have downgraded a half a dozen boxes from Vista to XP and every one of them ran a lot better on XP.

[madokie]

82. I run AutoCad 2000 in both xp and windows 7

I have to use compatibility mode but whats the big deal with that. Other than telling it to us the compatibility mode at the beginning I see nothing wrong. Its much faster on xp or win7 than it was on 98.

[mwooldri]

55. I run Linux. I don't have a degree in computer technology.

I must admit though I *am* a geek.

And I've had a computer with some form of Linux on it since 1997.

And yes, sometimes the hardware compatibility is a pain in the backside. I had great fun trying to get a Win-Modem to work on Redhat. Failed miserably, cos at that time Linux didn't support Win-modems. I ended up purchasing an external modem and using that. Modem still works today, I'm told, though my dad switched to broadband a few years ago now.

I think I'll definitely test Windows 7 at some point though. Vista isn't dreadfully "slow" when going, it just takes an AWFUL LONG TIME to boot! My 4 year old computer can boot XP twice as fast as my wife's 3-month-old Compaq laptop, with a faster dual core 64 bit processor, four times the memory (2GB vs 512Mb) and a faster hard drive. Boot my old computer into Ubuntu and it screams... and no I haven't done anything major apart from just install the standard installation.

However once you've installed Linux you're good on the upgrades. Ubuntu is very good at pushing the upgrades to you... I've been through three Unbuntu versions since I switched two years ago. Never had to put in any new disks... just got the upgrade icon and clicked it and said "New Version of Ubuntu available - Upgrade? Y/N"

But yep, hardware is still an Ubuntu issue. Dell will sell you Linux compatible PCs, sometimes with a Linux flavour installed for you.

Mark.

[HillWilliam]

76. I've been using Linux since 1996

even though I've been made to use Windoze at work I absolutely will not tolerate that piece of SHIT in my house ever again. We tried Vista at work and summarily threw it out -- even my boss, the Windows fan despised Vista.

I recently made the switch from Fedora to Ubuntu. Indeed, there isn't ANY easier system for getting upgrades than Ubuntu's, even though the Fedora community has gotten it down to near-perfect. The only reason I changed was to see if I liked it better. If I were a pure desktop user, I'd say go with Ubuntu. If I were a pure developer, I'd say go with Fedora. Ubuntu supports my NVidia sound and video hardware better, but the networking and development tools aren't anywhere near as nice as Fedora's. It's a toss.

I have to do Dot Net development at work for Symbol Pocket PC-based bar code scanners. We're sticking with XP Pro for the meantime. Even Motorola isn't touching Vista for development, so why should we.

When Ubuntu is free, is faster, is MUCH more stable, is simpler, there is just as much software available... why in the world would I piss money away on Microsoft?

Not for nothin', but since Microsoft has been screwing around, Red Hat Linux has made a 20% increase in profitability. The NC economy thanks Washington state. :evilgrin:

[PatGund]

78. Well....

"you could buy a mac for 2x the hardware cost plus an update every year even though it's funny how the macsters never seem to think a mac OS update is not the same as a windows update, or do the linux thing as long as you have compatible software and a degree in computer technology."

1) Apple hardware is at or below the same price as name brand PC hardware with simular specs. Obviously you'll get lower prices if you get a no-name clone at Bubba's Bait, Tackle, and PCs, but if you're comparing a Del or an HP, they're gonna be in the same ballpark. Plus, since Apples are Intel-based, you have the option of setting them to dual-boot between OS X and Windows, or run Windows in a virtualization enviroment using 3rd party software.

2) The difference is that you don't HAVE a "Home OS X", a "Business OS X", a "Professional OS X", etc. You have exactly two versions of OS X:

a) OS X Server (Available in 10 user and Unlimited licenses)
b) OS X "Client"

That's it.

As for Linux, Ubuntu is pretty painless for newbies. (My MacBook Pro uses Parallels virtualization to handle Windows XP and Ubuntu for when I need those operating systems)

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

88. also to add, Ubuntu also runs great with AMD

I discovered Ubuntu 5 yrs ago and I have have know hardware problems..none.

So, if I ever wanted to try Mac, I would have to buy all new rig and money is pretty tight without employment.

[backscatter712]

92. Who in their right mind would buy a Dell or HP box?

The boxes that they sell at Best Buy are utter crap - they hold nothing back when they cut corners.

I build my own, baby! That, or find a good mom-and-pop computer store and buy one of their's - you'll get a nice solid machine that way, and you'll be able to get it fixed there instead of watching it be molested by Geek Squad, only to have them ship it off to god-knows-where for three months for them to break it worse.

[Warpy]

7. Everybody I've talked to seems to feel that Windows 7

is roughly analogous to SP2 for Windows XP, an upgrade package that fixes a lot that was wrong with a "new" program they rushed to market before it was ready. I haven't heard too many problems with it other than the usual scramble to get drivers for old peripherals.

As for the various packages, I have no clue why Microshaft did that one except to suck people in to thinking their machines are specialized for gaming, business, home office, writing, or just casual surfing. The whole idea seems just a little silly.

I've got 3 XP machines now and will probably wait until the last one dies before I get anything else. If Windows 7 is as good as a lot of reviewers say it is, sloth will probably convince me to go with it. If it isn't, then it's probably time to learn how to cope with Linux.

[TTUBatfan2008]

8. You should go Mac...

You'll never go back to Windows for personal computing. I promise. No viruses, far more stable operating system, and the computer doesn't get slow after 2 months out of the box like with Windows.

[4_TN_TITANS]

73. I agree - go Mac

I have to use Windows at work, but am constantly amazed with what my wife and kids can do with the Macs at home. Also, if you have school age kids, that is more than likely what they will be working with in school. No problems after home-computing for 12 years with Apple-Mac.

[Seedersandleechers]

10. Get a Mac

I switched a few years ago and find OSX far better then XP.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

11. Go MAC, you'll never look back.

[Strong Atheist]

12. Microsoft is evil incarnate. K&r. nt.

[TheTimmer]

91. When you play a Vista CD backward

you hear the voice of Satan, but that's not the scary part. What's scary is that if you play it forward, it installs Vista.

Currently running Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex on every system I own, plus an original Xbox using XBMC, and damned happy about it.

[frylock]

14. get teh amiga

[The Straight Story]

22. I had one of those, ahead of it's time

You can still find them on ebay :)

[Angleae]

62. Still have mine.

An A500, sits on a shelf collecting dust but still should work.

[mwooldri]

56. Sod the Amiga, I'm getting theAcorn Archimedes....

It's got one of them fancy ARM RISC processors... I hear they're going to go places!

(well... Archimedes died along with Acorn, but ARM didn't... its processors are in most cell phones these days.)

[L0oniX]

15. Damn it all ...I'm going back to Dos5 with Dosshell.

[Strong Atheist]

16. There are DOS commands I still use, and one of my old DOS games

still runs on my XP. Not my old .scr screen saver, though ... :( :grr:

[cynatnite]

23. I used to be able to run Star Trek: Unity on XP...

can't get it to work on Vista, though.

[Strong Atheist]

25. Vista, according to one of my tech savvy friends (it's his job) is a

known piece of **** that failed miserably as a commercial product ...

[cynatnite]

27. Maybe I should get a really excellent XP system...

I was much happier with XP than I have ever been with Vista.

[Strong Atheist]

28. I don't know nothin'. My friend is the knowledgeable one. I liked

my old 98', but it couldn't run the newer games, and then the hardware died two or three years ago ... :grr:

[Webster Green]

54. I just bought a Dell Dimension E521 with AMD dual core 3800..

XP Media Center Edition 2005. 1 gig of ram.

$218.00 from Dell Outlet (free shipping). (supposedly scratch and dent, but I can't find it. It's a new machine).

The thing screams! I added another gig of ram I took out of my other E521, which now has 4 gigs of ram. I love these machines!

Hell of a deal! I filter for the 2005 Media Center OS when searching for deals.

http://www.dell.com/outlet

edited to add link..

[SoCalDem]

19. get a reconditioned one from Tiger Direct

one without any of the Vista crap..

[cynatnite]

24. I've heard they're good to deal with. n/t

[Omnibus]

53. Tiger Direct and NewEgg.

Over the past few years, those two have gotten ALL my hardware business.

[rufus dog]

34. that was my recommendation to family and friends last year

After spending hours on the Vista piece of shit I told them to find an XP machine if they were in the market for a new one. I still have almost daily issues with one vista machine. I will get it stabilized then a new fix comes out and creates havoc. The latest makes IE exploder bomb every five to ten minutes. So I am now off IE Exploder!

[Occulus]

72. Also tell them this:

Go to a store that builds custom PCs from scratch and purchase an OEM copy of XP. You can also find these online. The beautiful thing about this is that if they buy a PC off-the-shelf, they can simply reformat and install XP from the disc. More, they will always have a legit copy of XP on a disc.

Oh, and don't use IE. Ever. Get Firefox, maybe Opera... but never, ever, under any circumstances, should you use Internet Exposer.

[wildflower]

83. I think those are the happiest-looking cats I have ever seen

Are they yours?

[SoCalDem]

89. The little one looks like one we have..Sarah..

They are a couple of laid back kitties.. I don't recall where or how I found the pic, but I have always loved it:)..We also have a "sink-cat", but she never has to he "asked" to vacate the sink.. She always gets a guilty look on her face and jumps right out:)

These two aren't going to leave..anytime soon:)

[IDemo]

20. Obligatory Linux plug:

http://www.linuxmint.com/about.php

[Deja Q]

38. SUSE is the best, IMHO - feature-rich and has a solid firewall...

[IDemo]

44. I put SUSE 11.1 on another partition

I have a "quad-boot" machine on two drives: XP-Pro, Mint, Mandriva, and SUSE (yes, I have far too much time on my hands). I haven't been able to
boot to the SUSE install, but I'm working on it. If you haven't given Mint a look, you may want to: based on Ubuntu, it uses Ubuntu
software repositories and includes 'Mint Update' and other tools which greatly ease the user experience.

They did however remain with Open Office 2.4 on the last release rather than 3.0, which I believe is what SUSE now ships with.

[JCMach1]

59. Prefer Ubuntu here... but yes to Linux whichever flavor

Did I mention my P3 on Linux kicks the ass of my new P4 Duo laptop on Vista for many tasks... Just saying...

[IDemo]

70. If you like Ubuntu, you'll love Mint

Think of Mint as Ubuntu+. See the nicely done review by backscatter712 here-> http://www.meldroc.com/?p=19

[JCMach1]

79. Have to be careful on my old P3 though

basically if it works, I don't want to experiment... JUST in case

[backscatter712]

65. Linux Mint is awesome!

As far as desktop distributions go, this one is the most painless, most user-friendly, most complete distro for end users that I've seen.

Because of legal issues and arguments about licensing, a lot of distros, including Ubuntu, Fedora and SUSE leave out things like Flash, media codecs and so on.

Install Linux Mint, and out of the box, you get Firefox with Flash & Java, you get OpenOffice, you get drivers for all your hardware, and you get a complete desktop without having to do much of anything.

Excuse me while I pimp my review of Linux Mint that I put on my blog...

http://www.meldroc.com/?p=19

[IDemo]

68. Excellent review

I don't know if Mint is so much of a dark horse anymore, though. I don't know what the actual download numbers are, but look at the 'page hit ranking'
list at distrowatch. Mint trails only Ubuntu and OpenSUSE, and is ahead of heavyweights like Mandriva, Fedora, and Debian.

[Confusious]

21. Linux

Same hardware as windows, same software as mac, and not overpriced like the "hippster" crap mac, and not buggy crap like windows.

Best of all $0 dollars

[Gold Metal Flake]

26. Can Autodesk Inventor be run on Linux?

It's the main reason I still have Windows.

[micraphone]

32. Yes you can

"Wine" runs an MS shell on Linux (and BSD, Mac OSx!) and runs loads of MS bloatware without blinking.

Details at http://www.winehq.org/

FYI Retail Autodesk Inventor 2009 Professional (Version 10) gets a silver rating in Wine version 1.1.6 see:
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=5719

[Deja Q]

37. Great resource; I checked it out earlier today... and why buy another PC with a "Mac" label on it?

Linux uses the same hardware as your current PC.

That's the greener thing to do.

Maybe Apple will open up its OS to everyone else and help spare the environment in the process. (or maybe not.)

[totodeinhere]

45. Let's be fair. Linux can be buggy too. n/t

[mwooldri]

57. Oh yep... when it's bad it can be horrid...

I had a wonderful saga in trying to get a modem to work in the late 90's on Redhat.

It was a "Win-Modem", only compatible with Microsoft Windows. Manufacturers would not release the software to make it work out into the open. My only resource was to buy a new modem. Got an external one. Still works and rocks on at 14.4kbps!

Mark.

[JCMach1]

58. Linux is a major improvement over Windows and MAC

If you want to get specific try Ubuntu...

[backscatter712]

66. One virtue of Open Source - you can fix the bugs yourself.

Of course, it helps in that I have a bachelors degree in Computer Science, but when I've encountered bugs that pissed me off, I've went as far as firing up the development tools, building a debug version of the program in question, attacking it with the debugger and implementing a fix myself.

See, you get to go under the hood of a Linux system if you want.

With Windows, the hood is welded shut.

[BrightKnight]

29. Simplified core, imbedded systems, hand held...

They simplified the core. I think that they are planning on using versions of Windows 7 in imbedded systems and handheld devices. Perhaps this is way they intend to release that many versions. I hope that they keep it simple, solid and reasonably priced.

Vista was FUBAR when it was released.

[seabeyond]

30. sounds like my husband will have job security. fixes puters. btw, he hates gates. n/t

[Deja Q]

39. Not with more business apps going web-based.

Still, trying to make a web-based image editor and then saying anything made with it becomes the property of the maker of said image editor isn't too bright either; most people would not willingly hand over their intellectual property.

[seabeyond]

42. hmmm. though my hubby would know what you are talking about, lol lol

i am clueless. lol. but thanks.

[Hissyspit]

31. Go Mac.

And, no, I don't belong to a cult.

[Deja Q]

36. If I can get Photoshop CS3 to run fine in Linux, I'm going back permanently

And it at least sounds like some progress has been made.

Microsoft needs to fix their products; not release new products with new bugs and/or use the excuse "This new version is what the old one should have been".

Not when the OS costs $300 for the upgrade edition.

[micraphone]

43. Yup, Wine runs PS too

http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=17

Most Pshop flavours feature as 'silver'...

[Mr. Sparkle]

40. Windows Vista is fine now, but windows 7 will kick its ass when it comes out at the end of the year.

Since you need a new computer now get a pc and upgrade to windows 7 in 18 months time.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

41. go right to the Mac my friend

for M$ to repeat their bullshit in Windows 7 by releasing hat, 7 different versions?! :rofl: :wtf: is wrong with them???

And you don't need to spend a fortune for a Mac either--start saving up for the next Mac mini :-) Besides all the current Macs can run Windows via Bootcamp.

[sellitman]

47. No Fan Boy here, but I love my Mac.

Very stable, no viruses and I must say the included soft ware is far superior to the mish-mash of crap on most new Windows machines.

[high density]

48. Buy Home Premium

There ya go. It's that easy. Same advice for Vista. Are you also annoyed that car companies sell different engines, transmissions, body styles, etc for the same vehicle?

Go ahead with a Mac if that's how you feel. Every time I go into the Apple store I'm completely blown away by their stratospheric prices, but it's your money.

[NuttyFluffers]

49. if the purchase is necessary, waiting is not an option. go with the best product to your needs.

if the purchase is a luxury, then you have the luxury of time to deliberate about future products.

either way, don't let some jingoism cloud your thinking -- go to your local store or friends place and test out the various systems and operating systems. once you find the one you like the best, just go for it. i wanted a mac for a few years after pc hell and went out and got it. got hassled by some of my pc die-hard friends, but i don't care, the mac did everything i wanted and more without even a fourth of the hassle i had with previous pcs. that's worth it enough for me. but my choice came from research, experience, and honest appeals from reviewers (which i naturally had to filter). so don't take my opinion at all for what you should do, do whatever you want.

[Bonobo]

51. I have been a mac user for about 15, 16 years. I recommend you start.

I have used PC's when forced to. Fortunately now, unless you are an avid gamer, there is no reason now to do so.

You can even run Windows parallel if you REALLY must on the Intel Macs.

[ClassWarrior]

52. Once you go Mac, you don't go back.

NGU.

[Greyhound]

60. First rule for M$ OSes, wait a minimum of one year after release.

Once the first "service pack" is released it will have most of the major bugs worked out and have patches the worst security holes.

If you ever get tired being blackmailed, you should invest the time to learn a different OS, I like Linux and Ubuntu Linix is the easiest consumer flavor. You'll be shocked at just how fast your computer really is wit a real OS running on it.

[retread]

61. I recently put Fedora 10 on my new laptop(Christmas). I was astounded at how easy

it has become to install a Linux distribution. You could always try a live version from a cd/dvd/flash drive if you are hesitant.

http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart

[TWiley]

63. Vista is an ABOMINATION

So are the Word, Excell, Powerpoint, and Access versions for Vista. I have used Microsoft Word since it first came out for windows 3.1, and I had to buy a video professor to teach me how to use it.

I tried to learn it for a day and a half before sanity returned. I uninstalled the entire suite and reinstalled the old version. Oh, Vista did not like that much either.

When the day comes that they force me into that new platform, I will migrate to MAC. If I have to buy a video professor to learn how to use a program I have used for 18 years, then it will be a different platform altogether. Fuck Microsoft.

[Dawgs]

86. Both Vista and Office have worked on the many computers I've installed it on.

Maybe you should have someone do it for you.

[TWiley]

93. I am not talking about installing it.

I am talking about how stupid the new versions have become.

My first personal pc was an 8088, and it did not even have a hard drive. It had two floppies. One was for the operating system DOS 3, and the other was the work disk. I have used computers every day for work, school, and personal use since then. I also program.

Vista and the latest office suite are unlike any previous versions. You would not know that because you are just a beginner. But trust me on this point. There is something inherently wrong when an engineer needs to buy a video professor to learn how to use an operating system and software suite that he has been using for about 15 years. This is an improvement? With what criteria?

I am sorry that you are too stupid to understand this.

[slutticus]

67. OS X + Bootcamp + VMware Fusion + Win XP = :)

You will never look back.....

[Ohio Joe]

69. Well theres a good reason to get pissed of at MS

They plan release different versions of their OS to suit different types of users and they did not come to your home and paint you a picture of which version you will need.

[Prophet 451]

71. Not looking forward to Win7

I loathed Vista with a fiery passion for a lot of reasons and while Win7 apparently resolves some of the compatability issues (of course, a bazillion more will pop up), it doesn't change the increasingly intrusive DRM and security checkpoints. If the IT industry's tendancy to assume everyone is a criminal pisses me off and I work in the industry, how much more must it piss off the end user?

The day MS stop supporting XP, I'm jumping to SuSE.

[Kalyke]

74. I love Vista.

:shrug:

Didn't have problem one with compatibility - even with an "ancient" router and an older printer.

Not sure what the big deal was about.

[BlooInBloo]

77. I'm failing to appreciate the problem. Buy the one you want. Don't buy the ones you don't want.

[bullwinkle428]

84. Steve Ballmer (microsoft CEO) to share his marketing wizardry

with the Democratic Caucus at their retreat next week!

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/500k-spent-on-dem-caucus-retreats-2009-02-03.html

[cliffordu]

85. linux

[Renew Deal]

87. Buy what you need and not more.

The version differences are annoying. But look at the features and decide which to buy. I think the 5 flavors business is a mistake too.

[Ioo]

90. Why does this upset you, really, 5 flavors of Windows is your hot button issue?

WHO CARES, GO BUY THE ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND FORGET IT.