[Sofa King]

Until I have a good reason to switch, it's Win98 for me. My computer works fine as it is- why should I spend $200 to switch to an OS that requires a firewall (yet has been sold as the most secure OS to date) and may not run some of my old programs?

[jammer]

And for one other big reason, if I may be so bold to add to your post: XP phones home to MS. Nope, no way, for me. That's why they call it a personal computer.

[Mannaggia l'America]

switch to an OS that requires a firewall (yet has been sold as the most secure OS to date)

This is certainly not a "requirement" peculiar to Windows. I wouldn't run any OS without a firewall (if connected to the Internet).

[MeekOneGOP]

I understand. They are making patches for those things that don't work right. I was told that some things might not work, but so far, everything I've loaded works fine. All my old hardware (and I mean OLD - such as the Panasonic monitor from 1991 and my HP 4L Laser printer from 1993) included. I DID get a refurbished 17" Dell monitor for it just because I wanted another one. (The old 13" was still working fine).

Just conveying my own personal experience. I am NOT very technically oriented or experienced. Most of what I know about using a computer has been on my own and from other individuals. And I don't work for Microsoft as has been suggested here on this thread ...