And how long will it be before they come out with a new op system and we are going to face the same probs with XP?
Then what older programs will not be compatible with it just like I ran into when I got a new computer with XP pre-installed? It won't support my genealogy program, my laser writer unless I can find the drivers off my old hd, may not even install right, cannot install a printer/scanner/copier right that I paid a lot of money for so I have to work around that as plug 'n play.
I have liked XP overall compared to Win 95. It is generally more stable, but is so complicated that unless you are a guru, you don't know what it is doing behind its facade and you don't want to know. You just pray that your updates for everything won't blow you out of the water.
They came out with some new Active X upgrade. Then I start getting windows in my face about controls when I visit websites. Then I find a temp fix on MS, dl and install it. It works for awhile. Now I am getting the Active X controls messages again. It is never going to stop.
I'm spending way more time trying to keep my system clean and stable than I like, dl'ing updates, keeping NAV up to date, it never ends.
But this is where I'm at and I do not want to rock the boat by switching to anything else now. Other platforms may have advantages, but most new software works only and best for the biggest, and that would be XP.
Entire new computer, 60g HD, XP, all bells and whistles, less than $500. WHY would you want to go back to a system that doesn't work, never did work well, and is incompatable with todays software. All you would do is destroy the capabilities of the computer.
Vista, Beta version, is already available for testing. Will be available on machines very soon. XP will still be around for a while but sooner or late it too will fade away.
I agree with your frustration. Vista will be out sometime within the next year or two. Some time down the road XP will be unsupported, but it is the only way to go if one is going to stay with Microsoft.
My XP Pro has been extremely stable and I have had no real problems with drivers. However, my hardware is only about 3 years old and I have plenty of memory.