Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Will the Next Version of Windows Be Worth the Wait?
New York Times ^ | April 10, 2005 | Randall Stross

Posted on 04/10/2005 6:06:02 AM PDT by infocats

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last
To: Trampled by Lambs
I know its popular to hate Gates, Microsoft and Windows and it (Windows) does have it's share of problems. However, I've found XP to be the best, most stable Windows version to date. I like it. Yes, there is bloat, most of which can be stipped away. Yes, you need a beefy machine to run it well. But hardware is relatively cheap these days and I tend to keep my machine beefed up anyway.

I'm with you.

21 posted on 04/10/2005 7:05:29 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Socratic
XP with 258 KB memory and 2.1 gig processor runs no faster (and for me does no more)than 98 2nd ed. with 500 Mb processor and 128 KB memory.

Prove it... Post screen shots of this benchmark from each machine... PC Mark 2002

22 posted on 04/10/2005 7:17:39 AM PDT by RedWing9 (No tag here... Just want to stay vague...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ChefKeith

Not sure where you've been; XP is a vast improvement over any version of 98.

But what matters is what works for you.

Dan


23 posted on 04/10/2005 7:21:17 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BibChr

I live in a cave and enjoy it;)

xp has too many holes in it for me. It ALWAYS has a patch that needs to be installed for one thing or another and the hacker scum make it even worse by exploiting the holes.

I don't want an OS that has to be upgraded every week or 2, I want to USE my computers not repair them.

I run 98SE/Mozilla/SpyBot/AdWare/SpywareBlaster with cookie approval requested and NEVER have any problems.


24 posted on 04/10/2005 7:27:17 AM PDT by ChefKeith (Apply here to be added to the NASCAR Ping List, Daytona is done but we got 31 more races to go...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: brivette
I've migrated from Windows XP to Windows 98

Why did you do that ?

25 posted on 04/10/2005 7:27:19 AM PDT by staytrue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: infocats

go away...I'm happy with Windows 2000....


26 posted on 04/10/2005 7:28:58 AM PDT by Route101
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Vlad
"You make a grown man cry..."

LOL

27 posted on 04/10/2005 7:30:02 AM PDT by staytrue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ChefKeith
I don't want an OS that has to be upgraded every week or 2, I want to USE my computers not repair them.

Mine automatically updates, and I don't spend two minutes "repairing" it, ever.

I run 98SE/Mozilla/SpyBot/AdWare/SpywareBlaster with cookie approval requested and NEVER have any problems.

Sounds like you spend a lot more time and energy on freebie gadgets and fixes than I do.

28 posted on 04/10/2005 7:35:32 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: HairOfTheDog

Nope, I spend time using my computer. Install and forget it.


29 posted on 04/10/2005 7:37:03 AM PDT by ChefKeith (Apply here to be added to the NASCAR Ping List, Daytona is done but we got 31 more races to go...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: ChefKeith

~nods and smiles~


30 posted on 04/10/2005 7:38:11 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: infocats
These can be overcome with tinkering but not without aggravation and additional cost for fixes that should not have been necessary in the first place.

This can serve as a summary of every Microsoft OS I have ever had to deal with. (Except perhaps DOS.)

Once you go Mac, you never go back. I am forced to deal with PCs at work, and I just marvel at the time and money spent on the "tinkering and aggravation" needed to keep them up and running.

My G4 running OSX just works every time without exception.

31 posted on 04/10/2005 7:42:28 AM PDT by Semper911
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: infocats

apple kept the unix platform.

gates abandoned it.

this cost world consumers of ms billions of dollars.


32 posted on 04/10/2005 7:44:42 AM PDT by ken21 (if you didn't see it on tv, then it didn't happen. /s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cardinal4
Ok, you asked for it………………………..


33 posted on 04/10/2005 7:52:07 AM PDT by Lockbox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: infocats

I, for whom technology is magic, just bought a router and created a wireless network among 4 computers (one of which is a Jornada 720 Handheld)... 3 XPs... an operating system that I have found very VERY stable (compared to the 95, 98 and ME that I had in the past).

I'm still a DOS fan... (my favorite WP program is a little shareware gem called VDE) and I'm so pleased that Mr. Gates has kept so-called legacy programs possible.

If this new Longhorn Operating system can increase security, I'll probably buy it. XP is a fine product, certainly a great improvement on the previous systems, all of which except for an updated Windows 98 which had gotten quite stable, often made me want to go back in time. Millenium was a nightmare!!

I once tried messing with Linux, but I kept getting geeky messages.

Perhaps now it's more user friendly, but last time I tried, I wanted to get a gun, go to the zoo and shoot a penguin. No doubt it is wonderful for Geeks, but I often have the feeling that Geeks like it simply to be able to show how Geeky they are.

So far, with XP, plug and play has worked fine, allowing me to spend time learning the programs, instead of messing with the inner workings.

Conclusion? If a non technological Italian girl like me can have her XP computer programs available (through terminal client server) on her Jornada 720 handheld screen in a matter of minutes... Signor Gates must be doing something right.

If I could express a wish... I'd ask him to ALSO make a simplified, down-sized macro language available for WORD... simple - say - as it used to be in word for Dos. Now, I'm sure it's magnificent and can even be programmed to make you espresso, but it's too complicated!!

So far, I would be ungrateful to complain about my XP.


34 posted on 04/10/2005 7:56:24 AM PDT by Hudobna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: infocats
My son is beta testing the next windows and loves it. He is a geek but he said there a lot for the casual (home pc'er) to love. We will see.
35 posted on 04/10/2005 7:58:00 AM PDT by engrpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cardinal4
The one thing we will not do is load SP2 on our network-

You and me both. I refuse. I have taken my own measures to secure my PCs and will put them up against anything MS can try to foist off on me.
I hear noise that MS says that XP users will be getting SP2 by year end whether they like it or not. Let 'em try. They're not getting into my PC. No way.

I will say though, that I did a full upgrade on both of my networked PCs from ME to XP and it is like night and day. Compared to ME...XP rocks. Hell, just getting all my filesystems to NTFS was a huge help.

36 posted on 04/10/2005 8:00:49 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: mainepatsfan
Naw, the Windows '95 launch was the "mother of all product launches."

At the time, I was one of those geeks who loaded it the very first day. I wasn't one of those imbeciles who lined up at the store at midnight but I did take the day off from work and went to the store that morning. I spent the rest of that day upgrading my two home computers and learning all the new tricks.

I never liked the clunky Win 3.1 and I was so happy to be done with that. Windows '95 was awesome by comparison. My computers suddenly looked and felt like Macs. No other upgrade since provided such a drastic overnight change.

Oh yeah, and I remember being blown away by the Weezer video that was contained as an "extra" on the Win '95 CD. Good memories. Seems like so long ago now...

BTW, I am VERY happy with XP. Most stable OS so far.

37 posted on 04/10/2005 8:02:23 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Hudobna

Same here, except 4 PCs and 2 laptops, setting up their wireless network was easy with XP/SP2. Even had Linux on one PC for a while (not anymore - pain in the butt). I admire your DOS abilities. I loved it but have been away from it so long, I forget how to use it.


38 posted on 04/10/2005 8:09:17 AM PDT by Lady Jag (I dreamed I surfed all day in my monthly donor wonder bra [https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: infocats

The question really is whether windows is worth its' cost! And once you get into price/performance apple loses it's shine and Linux looks better.

Windows 95 is too primitive today. Windows 98 is nice if you have an old PC and like blue screens. Windows XP is pretty powerful and Windows X64 even more so.

Windows Longhorn isn't even out publicly in beta form yet so who know what it will do when eventually released except try to stop you from playing those nasty MP3s and bootleg videos.


39 posted on 04/10/2005 8:14:00 AM PDT by MilleniumBug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Semper911

I use a Mac at home and a PC at work for video editing. I've finally settled into Windows XP and gotten all of my editing software comfortable with it, and I am going to be rather skittish about updating to Longhorn immediately. I have finally learned all of the little tricks and figured out just how to hold my mouth when I work to keep Premiere and After Effects from crashing, so I'm standing pat for a while.

Meanwhile, Tiger is due out in May, and H.264 with it!


40 posted on 04/10/2005 8:20:22 AM PDT by SlowBoat407 (Everything that I've written on it for the past two years is GONE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson