[Dan Nunn]

I'm glad you like it. I've been using Windows XP since April (I was a beta tester for beta2, Release Candidate 1 and Release Candidate 2) and it's by far the best operating system I've ever used. Almost everything works (well, I can't get my rear speakers working on my SoundBlaster Audigy, but that's Creative's problem), and flawlessly.

I don’t have any yet, though. Someone also mentioned “Product Activation” -- calling Microsoft for permission to use your own operating system. However, I was already up and running before that was mentioned to me. Too late now. . . .

The whole "product activation" fiasco is way overplayed by the anti-Microsoft public. If you purchase a computer with Windows XP preinstalled, you will never see Product Activation unless you change 6 pieces of hardware in 120 days (and even then, major hardware). If you purchase Windows XP in stores, you have to register it with Product Activation. NO BIG DEAL! All it consists of, if you have an internet connection, is clicking "Next" a few times while it connects to Microsoft's site and validates it. No problem at all, no "privacy invasion" (like I had anything to hide anyway).

so far, I like XP Home a lot -- and I have never said that before about any operating system in the first week of use. Never!

I love it too, and would never ever go back to Windows 9x :)

[damnlimey]

The thing with product activation is that if you buy XP home and want to put it on more than
one computer you need another license.
For example with a family that has a couple of kids pooters and a laptop things could get pricey
I'm not certain but I believe you only save $20.00 or so buying an extra license over the whole shebang.

[The Chid]

The whole "product activation" fiasco is way overplayed by the anti-Microsoft public

Agreed. I recently put XP on a second computer here at home, and, as an experiement, replaced just about everything but the HD and NIC. New motherbord, processor, memory, soundcard, video card, Zip instead of LS120, and a std floppy drive.

No product reactivation required!

[Age of Reason]

The whole "product activation" fiasco is way overplayed by the anti-Microsoft public. If you purchase a computer with Windows XP preinstalled, you will never see Product Activation unless you change 6 pieces of hardware in 120 days (and even then, major hardware). If you purchase Windows XP in stores, you have to register it with Product Activation. NO BIG DEAL!

Does anyone know, if in the case of WindowsXP and/or Microsoft Office XP, whether you have to pay Microsoft a subscription fee every year to keep them fully functional?