Hi, "Another free program offline..." to quote Tron :) Well as much as I loathe them, Laurie is right. You only have to pay once for Xp, but you have to ask Microsoft's permission to upgrade your computer... The one you have to pay the rolling fee's for is the "next step" the Behemoth known as .Net One of the more interesting things I noticed today was that MS CEO Steve Balmer was on CNBC Europe, and he openly acknowledged that Xp would only run on about 40% of the world PC's, (those bought in the last two years apparently) if your box is older than that you're stuffed, and they're not interested in you or your money. So, "legacy" kit isn't going to be supported then huh? :) High amusement! later jb

Hi, the reason I created a new thread was that I couldn't get the old one to update, not sure if it's my proxy or 'rosity's overtaxed servers, but something was screwing up, we now resturn you to your regularly scheduled programming :) later jb

Have you tried using ez cd creator or a scannig app yet? when I put it on my computer they were disabled by the os. So After a reformat reinstalled in 2k. By the way you can't go back (uninstall) if you already have win 2k pro......

Attached Link: http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/projects/story/0,23008,3355460,00.html

EZ CD Creator is a known problem in XP (first publicised weeks ago). Mainly because XP has a subset of their code to provide native support for CD burners. They work without additional software. EZ CD'a company (Roxio?) is working on an upgrade that'll provide additional functionality - expected soon. Some scanners will require upgraded drivers from the mfr to work, May newer ones will work with XP's native drivers. Same kind of thing has happened with every OS upgrade, some drivers have problems. Overall it's much less widespread then with previous launches. I've never been a fan of MicroSoft's program of "Marketing strategy disguised as an OS upgrade", but I've been following reviews & reports of XP for some months, & even most of the reviewers notorious for MicroSoft-bashing at all oportunities (especially the british mags), say this is the closest MicroSoft has come to getting it right. ZDTV is a good source for genersl info without getting too technical. (see link above)

Hi, Well, being a Brit, I'm somewhat suprised by that comment: "most of the reviewers notorious for MicroSoft-bashing at all oportunities (especially the british mags)" Which magazines did you mean? I've been involved with computers since the time when there were no "pure" computer magazines, PCW was the first true computer magazine in the UK, I think. Though I've always thought most magazines have erred on the side of caution when it comes to Microsoft and have been more often than not fullsome, (if not fawning) with thier praise of some slightly shoddy products for the sake of advertising revenue if nothing else. Especially "PC Pro" who've always been rabidly pro Microsoft... But perhaps this is just a matter of culture & perception. later jb

I have to wonder about the comment that Windows XP would only work on 40%of the existing PC's. I've never read that anywhere. I had run Windows XP Release Candidates 1 & 2 for a few months... I used a dual boot since it was a time limited version of Windows XP. I never had a reason to boot to Windows ME during that time. Here is my configuration for your reference. 1.) Home-brew computer using Intel Motherboard with Celeron 533Mhz. 2.) 320MB RAM 3.) HP 7500 + series CD Burner 4.) Acer 50X CD ROM 5.) "on-board" Intel video chip (Uses 1MB of RAM) 6.) Onboard Soundblaster PCI128 (disabled) 7.) Soundblaster Live MP3+ 8.) Microsoft Optical Trackball 9.) 20GB Western Digital Drive 10.) 30GB Maxtor Drive 11.) Summagraphics SummaSketch III graphics tablet (semi-retired in favor of the trackball) 12.) Jaton CirrusLogic CLM Modem 13.) A wide variety of software. I think one thing many people forget is that you need to replace much of your software when you go to a newer operating system. The usual categories are: 1.) "System Utilities" such as Norton SystemWorks, Norton Utilities, maybe even Antivirus Programs. 2.) CD Making programs suche as Easy CD Creator Usually other programs such as Poser, Bryce, etc will work fine with your new operating system. If you are running ancient software that is more than a few years old, you probably should have replaced that long ago. As far as hardware, you will have problems if you have hardware made by a company that has gone out of business, or dumped that line of product. This is a hard fact of life, and will continue to be so. One example is the Jaton/CLM modem I got on the recommendations of my local computer shop. Jaton now seems to be out of business... (I was unable to reach their web site after repeated attempts. I anticipate this modem will need to be replaced. That is not a great priority since I use a cable modem for internet access. I am job hunting, and once and awhile I have the need to send or receive a fax. For now I am back to Windows ME, until I can afford to buy Windows XP. Then I will either replace the modem or just yank it.

Attached Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1615000/1615859.stm

Hi, The 40% comment camme directly from Microsoft's CEO Steve Balmer on CNBC Europe the morning Xp was launched, though if you want you can read the attached link from the BBC web site, which quotes an even lower 21% figure... later jb

I hate to say it, but I think this man is wrong. Of course his job as a CEO doesn't mean he needs to know about computers.

Look at these specs. (They are not very demanding): Microsoft recommends that anyone running XP have a computer with a 300 MHz chip inside, a 128 megabytes of RAM and over 1.5 gigabytes of hard disk space.

This is another quote: Market research firm Metafacts estimates that the majority of machines in the US (58%) have 64 megabytes of memory. Those with enough RAM account for only 21% of all desktops. Gee, folks, who can do much of anything with 64MB of RAM or less? And memory is very cheap these days.

praxis22 I apologise if my comment about british mags was percieved as unfair criticism. My comment was incidental and not meant to belittle or demean the british publishing industry in any way. I'm in California. Only been to England twice. I was so delighted with the computer Mags I found there I've spent nearly $900/year subscribing to them ever since(love the Cover CD's). Mostly Future Pub's titles. I've never read PC Pro, but I'm often tickled by the critical tone in comments in the tech columns of several as well as in the reviews. Perhaps it is a percieved bias, but I've often noticed more extensive coverage to what I would consider alternative software and operating systems. I've never seen more extensive coverage devoted to Linux as a contender against MS-WinXX anywhere than I have in these magazines. Oh well, perhaps it's all in my head :-)

Personally, after checking out all the information on the links posted above (thanks guys). I think it is just too damned expensive to upgrade my little home network (5 computers) to XP. I don't mind paying once for a software upgrade for my home use, but having to buy 5 licences for my family is rediculous - I think $500 every year or two is just too much for a single family to have to pay for the "right" to use Windows in their home! Furthermore, as I understand it, my DSL router and hardware firewall which connect my little network to the internet won't work in XP because Bill Gates wants me to use his built-in software router (which forces you to use MSN messenger as part of the "bundle"). Its bad enough that Windows Media Player keeps trying to be my MP3 player and my MPEG player in spite of the fact that I have far more useful programs that I prefer to use - now MS wants to control even more of my applications. I am really TIRED of Microsoft shoving INFERIOR TECHNOLOGY down my throat and calling it a "feature" of an Operating System! Just my opinion, but if this trend continues, in another year or two Bill Gates will want to be your default 3D editor too!

OK, let me tell you without any hesitation or doubt. I ran the Windows XP Release candidates 1&2. I have a Linksys router, and a cable modem. I am networked. I had absolutely no problems running Windows XP with that setup. Windows XP made the network incredibly easy for me. It found the setup, and made it work, without any fiddling on my part. My wife still has Windows ME, and everything worked fabulously well. I took Windows XP off because "it was a beta," and not the commercial release. I knew it would expire eventually, and I had troubles understanding how to do the dual boot thing when I upgraded from Windows XP RC 1 to RC2. I figured eventually I'd want to get the commercial version of Windows XP because I'm a techno-geek, and need my fix of new things once and awhile. I've worked as a Technical Support Engineer, and frankly I need to know my latest operating systems to help my customers. That meant I took a week's vacation, installed Windows ME, and did simulations of it.... That means I'll likely do the same with Windows XP (except I'm in between jobs, thanks to the computer industry slump....and it may be awhile before I can afford Windows XP now.) I understand that Microsoft is trying to cut down piracy with this authorization stuff... whatever they call it. But yes it does kill the little people like us who are just trying to work with our computers. We can't afford all the extra licenses, etc. We'll most likely get Windows XP some time.. Most likely not when it first comes out. When we do get it, I will likely run XP, while my wife sticks to ME...She understands that and is used to it.

Sounds like you have bought into the MS marketing hype. Haven't you figured out yet that MS releases intentionally "faulty" upgrades just so they can sell you the next generation and claim "imporovements". It is a never ending cycle. Furthermore, it is NOT because writing a stable operating system is so "difficult", it is just because they are a monopoly and can get away with it. The only way we will ever see real "improvements" in Windows is if a serious developer (with billions of dollars backing it) releases a competitive product and promotes the hell out of it. Till then we dance to Billy's tune, whether we like it or not.

Well I can only speak from my own experience. I ran XP with absolutely no serious problems the entire time.

Hi, With MS having bought "softimage" a few years ago, you can safely assume that they do want to be your default 3D editor, or at least they would if we counted as "real" users, (as in the type that pay yearly maintenence) as opposed to hobbyists... As for the "slight" on British mags, I saw none, I was just interested in why you thought so :) Though the reason for the "laddish" humour is because most British magazines that sell directly to an almost exclusively male audience, have always been this way. It started with the "originators" (IMO) at "your Sinclair" (or possibly "your spectrum" I forget, it was a long time ago :) and continues today with game console magazines. Many of whom get complaints from angry mothers and fathers when they find out what their kids are reading :) (since the content is aimed at male's in the late 20's early 30's bracket) I would also imagine it has something to do with the "cuture" of male banter in this country, where the most offensive swear word in the language is something you'd use as a fraternal greeting with your best mates. (or just before you knife your enemies :) This is the UK, where innuendo is your friend and there's nothing so funny as a fart joke. Though I think your doing yourself a disservice is all you read is future stuff, try some of the independants, they do far better, (far less populist) stuff. As for the magazines for "other" OS's that because the Brits love an underdog, and love to slag off the top dog, (even if they don't deserve it) it's what sells papers. The 64Mb thing is a more vexed one though. Yes memeory is cheap, but having worked in computer shops I can tell you with confidence that while people will happily buy something to plug into a vacant port, they are loathe to open the box and peer inside. Those that read the magazine's may do to a greater extent, but there are many more people that own computers than buy the magazines, and it's those that have to buy Xp for it to be a success, hence the emphasis on selling "new" boxes that come pre-installed. Personaly, I don't think that it's going to work in the current ecconomic climate, and niether does Gartner (the IT consulting group) more's the point. Even Balmer is advising companies still rolling out W2K to continue doing so and ignore Xp. later jb