Re: Was XP as bad as this when it came out?

The message <13i0mflmsdnul69@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
from diy-er <diy-er@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> contains these words:

====huge snip====

One thing which no one has mentioned about XP is that it introduced
the NTFS file system into mainstream usage which by most accounts
is far superior to the FAT32 file system used on Win98 and before.

The reason no one has mentioned it is because it was win2k that
introduced NTFS to mainstream usage. Prior versions of winNT which used
earlier versions of NTFS were essentailly confined to corporate use.
Windows 2000 was the first version of NT (essentially NT5.0) intended
for more general use. The fact that microsoft managed to create and
market its braindead son (winXP) so soon after win2k became available
does not alter the fact that it was win2k, rather than winXP that
introduced NTFS to the mainstream (FSVO :-).


As for Vista - stuff it. I can find nowt good to say about it from
a personal perspective.

At last! Microsoft have actually come up with a big enough of a "Clue
by Four" OS that's a sufficiently big enough "Clue by Four" for a non
trivial portion of the home PC buying public to 'sit up and take
notice'. Talk about "Wake up and smell the concrete"!

The sad fact is that the "non trivial portion of the home PC buying
public" won't be quite big enough to worry microsoft. They'll simply
make use of the 'customer feedback' to refine the envelope of just how
far they can push their luck with regard to their customers'
sensibilities.

The only glimmer of hope on the horizon is the inevitable hardware
development which, year on year, makes virtualisation a more affordable
(and practical) proposition which will allow the primary OS to be some
flavour of Linux with ms windows a novelty OS running in a virtual
machine (for those who still have a need to run ms compatable software).

For the vast majority, this would offer a much better solution to their
needs. The really serious gaming types will still need to install some
flavour of ms windows as the primary OS, but this type of user will be
more adept at securing their computer against the wide range of threats
that would otherwise flummox the non-techy user.

For anyone who doubts the usability of Linux as a desktop replacement
for ms windows, I suggest they download a small sample of the hundreds
of Live CD iso images to see for themselves. I can recommend Knoppix as
an initial Live CD to try.

On a PC with half a gig of ram or more (not an exotic amount these
days, even on a 4 or 5 years old PC) you just have to be impressed by an
OS that effectively fully installs itself in less time than it takes
the winXP install CD to get to the "Press F8 to agree to the EULA"
screen which allows you to then proceed with the actual business of the
install process.

Whilst running the OS directly from the CD makes for a sluggish
response in launching programs, most Live CD versions of Linux have an
install to hard disk option which you can exercise if you feel suitably
impressed (all CD sluggishness aside). The beauty of the Live CD is that
you can safely try it out on a windows box without fear of corrupting
the installed OS (the hard drive(s) is(are) mounted with read only
access).

In any case, even if you have no intention whatsoever of installing
Linux, a Live CD can be a life saver in the event your windows throws a
hissy fit that otherwise would prevent you from recovering your
priceless 'holiday snaps' and similar user data. You'd be a fool not to
have Live CD or two handy as insurance against such an event. :-)

--
Regards, John.

Please remove the "ohggcyht" before replying.
The address has been munged to reject Spam-bots.

.

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