From the article: "I soon found that XP couldn't recognize my graphics sub-system, a totally ordinary Integrated Intel GMA (Graphics Media Accelerator) 3100; the audio system, the Realtek HD Audio chipset, or, most annoying of all, the Intel 10/100Mbps Ethernet port."
and moving on to condemn Microsoft for NOT bundling Dell's custom drivers to building a slipstreamed CD (when the by-far-easier AND faster approach is to do the default XP install then install the patches
Get back to me when Grandma can do that. That's the typical MS troll standard, isn't it?
I guess I should condemn Linux for requiring archaic command line interfaces, for not including MS Office as a standard configuration option through Dell, and requiring me to use apt-get a ton to get what I need?
You could, but you'd be wrong. For a standard install current Linux distros don't require you to use the command line. It's just as GUIfied as Windows. You can install software, configure a network, or set up a printer.
As for Office, modern Linux distros provide an office suite, but if you really find that you need MS Office, ask Microsoft to provide an RPM or a DEB installer package.
Linux distros don't provide MS Office because Microsoft doesn't want them to.
But you knew that.
Flat out, I call BS on the article. XP Pro contains all the base drivers you need to get running.
My HDD died on my laptop - a 2004 Dell Latitude D505. I took out the BONE STOCK XP Pro install from my MSDN pack, put the new HDD in and fired it up. Complete install, no problems. Video, keyboard, mouse, wireless and wired ethernet adapters, audio, even my optional Bluetooth adapter all self-installed and functional from the STOCK XP Pro install.
Bounced over to Dell, downloaded the nice-to-haves (I like some of the advanced power management drivers they offer), ran my NT restore of my data from my network and I was off to the races.
Considering the stock XP Pro install had no problem with a 4 year old laptop, and I have yet to find an install where the stock drivers would NOT at least make the system functional (maybe not all the bells and whistles, but displays and ethernet adapters works), I think the author is simply a highly partisan Linux hack.
For the record, I do run a Linux (Mandriva) server at home, and at the office it’s all Red Hat on the back end. But Windows up front because of the availability of software, ease of integration, familiarity for my employees and it simply works better when adding networked printers, or other shared resources.