I must say, I am VERY impressed with Windows XP

[lucidguy]

Ogg Vorbis is at http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/

They have reference encoders, also Winamp and XMMS plugins. They're at Beta 4, with 1.0 coming soon.

The best cross-comparative study is probably to be found at http://ekei.com/audio/

It compares wma, mp3, mp+, ra-g2, ogg, vqf, and mov. (I know of absolutely no one who stores their music as mov, but obviously the guy doing the study does.) His basic conclusion is that ogg is competitive with any other codec qualitywise, but needs improvements in reducing filesize. The recently released RC1 has addressed these concerns, and 1.0 will be competitive with any other codec both qualitywise and sizewise.

 

[Pauli]

<< Been using it since last night, and have had not one single OS or application crash yet >>



Less than one day of testing and you're ready to tear down your Win2K install? That's crazy. There's no way you can tell the stability of OS in that short amount of time. No way. In fact, I won't rely on a new OS until it's been out for AT LEAST 3 MONTHS, tested by tens of thousands every day, until I'll consider it. But that's just me...

 

[aneurysm]

I'm really leery about WinXP...

I want to try it out, but as far as I can see, the only way I can actually test it is to send ten bucks to Microsoft. For a beta OS.

Given Microsoft's track record, this ISN'T going to work right, so I'll essentially be throwing ten bucks away, right? Or am I totally missing something, and I don't have to pay this fee?

 

[larryccu]

big improvement

 

[lucidguy]

Why exactly would anyone pay Microsoft for the privilege of testing out their buggy beta code?

If you really get a kick out of buggy beta operating systems, just go to the ftp site of any major Linux distribution, and they will let you download and test their development snapshot for free.

 

[DaHitman]

<< Why exactly would anyone pay Microsoft for the privilege of testing out their buggy beta code? >>



They all did it for Windows 95, 95OSR2, 98, 98B, ME, NT 3.51, NT4, and 2K.....why stop when you are on a roll???

 

[celeritas]

NFS4: Have you tried syncing your IPAQ with XP over ethernet yet? Mine works the first time with Win2k, but when I change networks and toggle the IPAQ's IP, SM, DNS, etc. it doesn't work anymore. I have to reinstall activesync to get it to work again. I've tried WINS, but that doesn't help.

 

[Electrode]

I must say, I've been using 2462 for awhile now, and I like it. The UI is nice and pretty, and doesn't seem to break anything. The only program that crashes on XP that does not crash on 2k is Norton Ghost Explorer, and I don't use it much. It doesn't let me share an entire hard drive on my network, but that might just be in the Personal version, or maybe has been changed in a newer build.

I have found no proof at all that WinXP has any spyware stuff in it. Just a rumor started by the anti-MS people. MP3s work great in winamp. Ripping and burning in Nero is fine. The new UI is just as fast as the old one, which amazes me.

I tried to get 2481 last night, but gave up. Gave MS my $10 last week, just waiting for RC1 now...

 

[loosbrew]

winxp beta 2 2462 is awesome. very very stable right after install. nothing to fiddle with! i was actually very very surrised at how stable it was for being beta.

 

[hclarkjr]

i installed WINXP 2486 this past sunday and must say it is the most stable OS i have ever run from microsoft. MP3's play fine for me and i was impressed that it installed every driver for me from the install. here is my 3dmark 2001 score for those that care about such things-
Project Name My Benchmark

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
DirectX Version 8.00

Mobo Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Mobo Model <A7V>

CPU AMD Athlon(tm) Processor 908 Mhz
FSB 100 MHz

3D Accelerator Radeon DDR
Graphics Chipset ATI RADEON DDR
Driver Version 5.13.01.3205
Video Memory 32 MB

Resolution 1024x768 32bit
Texture Format Compressed
FSAA Disabled
Z-Buffer Depth 32bit
Frame Buffer Double
Rendering Pipeline D3D Hardware T&amp;L





3DMark Result 2851 3D marks

Game 1 Car Chase - Low Detail 44.8 FPS
Game 1 Car Chase - High Detail 19.6 FPS
Game 2 Dragothic - Low Detail 46.6 FPS
Game 2 Dragothic - High Detail 25.6 FPS
Game 3 Lobby - Low Detail 52.5 FPS
Game 3 Lobby - High Detail 25.5 FPS
Game 4 Nature N/A FPS

Fill Rate (Single-Texturing) 252.2 MTexels/s
Fill Rate (Multi-Texturing) 718.8 MTexels/s

High Polygon Count (1 light) 4.6 MTriangles/s
High Polygon Count (8 lights) 2.0 MTriangles/s

Environment Bump Mapping 59.5 FPS
DOT3 Bump Mapping 41.9 FPS

Vertex Shader Speed 17.5 FPS
Pixel Shader Speed N/A FPS
Point Sprite Speed 0.4 MSprites/s

 

[konichiwa]

I hate it. It uses an incredible amount of system resources, it is intrusive and it is bloated. I'll buy a copy for my aunt, but I'll stick with 2k or linux.

 

[NIelkc]

Yeh you wouldnt wouldnt you? lol. Linux is almost a Joke to me now. NOW dont think I am calling it a bad OS by anymeans, it is actully a awesome OS. But what gets me, is if they really want to get anywhere near MS, they need to do some Advertising, on TV, on Radio, I mean get the word out to the Home User. But that is why I think Linux is a Joke, it will find its niche (Which I think it already has) and will stay there forever. I jsut cant stand the people who compare Linux to Windows. Ok come on and Flame me now

 

[lucidguy]

<< they need to do some Advertising, on TV, on Radio, I mean get the word out to the Home User. >>



Companies that support Linux do not have the humongous advertising budget that MS does. So they cannot afford to waste money on secondary priorities.

The primary priorities of Linux at this point in time is to relegate Microsoft to the sidelines in the enterprise computing, supercomputing and embedded computing markets. Windows 2000 or XP does not scale up very well, and Windows CE is a joke. Linux, especially with the 2.4.x kernel, scales up and down very well.

These two markets are going to bring in the most money within the next 5 years. The blade server design, increasingly attractive to banks, financial institutions, and universities, can leverage the networking and scalability strengths of Linux. On the other hand, embedded devices such as set top boxes, PDAs, and digital music devices, stand to benefit from the wide availability of sources and quick turnaround time of Linux development. Microsoft doesn't even have a placeholder entry in these important markets, and Linux stands to become the dominant player in the short to medium term.

In line with Linux development in other markets, desktop Linux will also develop and become a household name, but largely by word of mouth.

 

[HansXP]

<< On the other hand, embedded devices such as set top boxes, PDAs, and digital music devices, stand to benefit from the wide availability of sources and quick turnaround time of Linux development. Microsoft doesn't even have a placeholder entry in these important markets, and Linux stands to become the dominant player in the short to medium term. >>



What in the hell are you talking about? Microsoft's CE-based Pocket PCs are second-place in the PDA market. Web TV is a strong competitor in the set top box market (albeit, mostly for dumb people) and all CE-based PDAs place digital music.

 

[Shadow07]

Oh yeah. Also, Windows CE is the next OS for gaming consoles. You've seen the X-Box, right? That will kick major ass. I'm not a console fan, but I must say, next to the PS2, I want an X-Box. Oh, but wait. That's from Microsoft. Shouldn't I worry about the EULA?

Go away TROLL.

EDIT: Sorry. I though the X-Box would be running Windows CE. It is actually &quot;The Xbox's internal operating system will be a scaled down rendition of Microsoft's formidable Windows 2000 operating system Kernel. The Xbox is being designed to deliver next to no loading times, and deliver the tools necessary for game developers to deliver amazing next generation games. The Xbox utilizes the advantages of Microsoft's DirectX technology, and offers a stable platform to develop for.&quot; Not an XP version.

This is directly from X-Box Addicted under RELIABILITY at the bottom of the page.

 

[konichiwa]

<< I jsut cant stand the people who compare Linux to Windows >>

That makes a lot of sense. Don't compare two OS's, or you'll piss NIelkc off...

 

[lucidguy]

X-Box will be running Win XP Embedded, not Win CE.

That is, it will run Win XP embedded for 3 days, until someone figures out how to put Linux on it.

Because, after all, the X-Box is just a cheap PC in a black box.

 

[HansXP]

<< That is, it will run Win XP embedded for 3 days, until someone figures out how to put Linux on it.

Because, after all, the X-Box is just a cheap PC in a black box. >>



And why would someone do this? The X-box will be perfectly fine + stable running W2K.

 

[lucidguy]

There are about 10-12 different reasons why someone would want to do this.

But you'll have to wait to find out why.

 

[HansXP]

No, there really aren't. If you want a Linux box, build a Linux box. If you want a game console, get the Xbox.

 

[lucidguy]

<< No, there really aren't. If you want a Linux box, build a Linux box. If you want a game console, get the Xbox. >>



I want to pay $299 and get in return a PC worth $1000. So I'll get an XBox thank you very much.

 

[rahvin]

NSF4,

Your format and install too much. I know you enjoy it, but put the computer down and go play outside, it's summer.

 

[NFS4]

<< NSF4,

Your format and install too much. I know you enjoy it, but put the computer down and go play outside, it's summer. >>


It only takes an hour and a half to get all of my stuff clean installed with WinXP. 2 hours tops for Win2k.

As for playing outside, I'm not a little kiddie...I go driving everyday. Me likes to drive

 

[skace]

For the people impressed with Win XP, which OS background are you coming from? I'm using Win2k and most of the impressive things I keep hearing about Win XP are already in affect for me in Win2k, without the lame embedded windowsblind deal. So are you overly impressed because you are coming from Win2k or because you are coming from Win 98? I havn't found many reasons yet for my home machine to go from Win2k to WinXP unless I want a really wacky looking shell to play around with (if infact MS even gives you the means to play around with it).

Also, last time I checked there was supposed to be some built in pcanywhere functionality... did you get to test this NFS4? Curious what your reaction was. Has MS put any work into organizing the control panel or anything a bit better?

Later

 

[AaronP]

i come from DOS 4.1