Microsoft Windows XP

I have been using Win2K since it came out ... and I would never go back to Win9x OS. I do have it dual booted for my Scanner (which I am to cheap to buy a new one) because I need it for my drawings. There is so many things I could say about Win2K to convince people to switch ... but I don't feel like it .. so here is just a few.

• Stability - Man talk about a stable OS. I run my computers 24/7 so I need something that will stay up for weeks at a time. I have never had a BSOD ... and I usually get one within a day of running a Win9x system. As far as Windows OS goes this is the most stable OS I have ever used.

• Control - One thing I like is to have some control over my stuff. I know it comes no where close to other nonwindows OS for control, but it gives you enough to be able to control your OS enviroment compared to other Window OS.

• Networking - I just have a simple home LAN but I have also experienced Home Networking with other Window OS, and I must say I highly prefere Win2K in this category. Also yes I understand it is a Networking OS, but I also know a lot of people are starting to venture into home networking.

• Cool Shadowed Cursor and Fade Effect for the Menus - Heh, gotta love the small things in life.

I am sure I missed a ton of stuff ... but these are some of the things I like about Win2k. Well I know some people just love there Win9x OS, but it is a dead OS ... best to move on and get used to the new age of Windows.

-Wormie

Okey dokey, just for arguments sake when i mention NT5 i mean Windows 2000 and when i mention Windows NT 5.1 i mean Windows XP...


In regards to the previous posts about NT5 having problems with games,this is true and not true at the same time.. if you switch to NT5 then a select few `old` games will be unplayable until Microsoft release a compatibility fix for it.
An example of such is M1 Tank Platoon 2 (it only partially works if you use Win95 compatibility mode, but ingame is unplayable).
The problems in the past with NT5 were immature and buggy drivers, to the most effect this is no longer true and with the imminent release of NT5.1 will mean that the hardware makers will be primarilly focusing on NT5.X driver development (NT will no longer play second fiddle for drivers to Windows 9x).

From what i have used of the NT5.1 beta's it seems mostly as a mainstream Windows meant for what i'll term the average pc user, this is someone who only occasionally uses a pc for things such as email, web browsing, the occasional spreadsheet app or game.
This average pc user will probably be an AOL user, from his/her perspective NT5.1 offers a lot over NT5/Win 9x, its got a very simplistic look and tries to be aesthetic in appearance (copying the Aqua look, my opinion i'm _not_ stating it as fact).

However it offers very little new over NT5 and of what it does offer you can already get for NT5, for example NT5.1 offers sound for DOS games whereas NT5 out of the box does not, however support for sound in DOS games can be added by SoundFX 2000 (http://www.softsystem.co.uk ) and as previously stated VDMSound (http://www.ece.mcgill.ca/~vromas/vdmsound/ )

Personally i recommend NT5, however if you class yourself as a person who goes more for looks then go for NT5.1.
Under the hood there is very little different between the two and future games will run identical on both operating systems.

I'll just get off my soapbox now...


BOB

sx/amiga... You dont have to be an IT Consultant to know about anything... But, i state my positon only to try and put some weight on my experiences. I don't claim to know more about the emu scene, or the psx emulators. But, i do have extensive knowlege of diffrent OS and the problems that can be formed and solved. Because these are things that i face every day. Taking care of one or two computers (sometimes a few more) is one thing, even a home network. But when you go onto a corperate scale, it gets a lot more complicated because there are hundreds of diffrent configurations between hardware, software, and users. When i post my prefrences or configurations for computers or what not, its ment as a general statement (unless otherwise stated). It from what problems i have come across and overcome.

I never invalidate anyones opinon. But i will try and correct a misgiven fact. And will tell how to turn the cannot into can be done. I never claim to know more than anyone else. It just might appear that way

What's going on in this thread

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I dont think it pertians to the tittle anymore...

Positions don't mean knowledge..

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But experice does...

Knowlege
1A: the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association 2 : acquaintance with or understanding of a science, art, or technique
1B : the fact or condition of being aware of something 2 : the range of one's information or understanding <answered to the best of my knowledge> c : the circumstance or condition of apprehending truth or fact through reasoning

Well, anyways, i hope i have not offended anyone too much. I mean no ill to sx/amiga or CD or anyone who i have posted with. The only bad thing about the internet communicaiton, is its extreamly hard to tell the context of written/typed words. BTW sx/amiga, i am a horrible speller and thats why i spelt your name wrong

I don't know why everyone thinks ME is so bad. I think it's the best thing to happen to the old Windows 9x core. It's much more stable(although I've heard otherwise), I hardly ever get BSOD anymore and it loads much faster than Windows 98. It also has the compatibility and gaming support which the Windows 9x series has always had which is why I still stick with it.

NT is just a business machine. Although it says it has full DirectX 7 support it's very loosely implemented, especially the shit Direct3D support. All my games (that run) always run better in Windows ME. I use the latest working Detonator drivers for my TNT2 but it's still rather slow and unstable (yes, unstable as in it crashes). It seems Direct3D opens a hole in the NT's HAL or something, cause I frequently get these errors or crashes running 3D accelerated games in NT which I never got before in Windows ME. Plus a lot of games don't seem to work, even with the latest service packs and compatibility updates. I can't get Worms Armageddon to work, neither FF7 PC (crashes at the menu; I guess I need a patch, anyone have a link?) and my fav PSX emu VGS don't run. I know it's not the fault of the OS, the blame rests on the programs themselves but where Windows 2000 can't run, Windows 98/ME can. I can always rely on ME to run all the programs and games that I want to run and can always expect full DirectX support with them. Windows 2000 does have its merits (superior networking, superior multi-tasking, SMP support, stability, etc.) but it just fails as a gaming machine, at least on my machine, and on my friend's. I just don't want to wake up one day with the urge to play some old game, then realize that I can't run it because the OS can't handle it. Support has been getting better but I'm just not ready to commit to NT just yet (that's why I dual-boot )