Anyone here used XP much?

dstranathan · December 30, 2001 5:32PM

I used it for the first time today. I actually kinda liked it. I have always hated Windows, but XP was almost "Mac-like". If MWSF is lame and there are no G5's, I may build a PC and run BSD and XP

I just wanted to get feedback from both Mac and PC users about XP.

One feature I wish X had is the "Remote Desktop" feature (discussed in other posts)

Any comments guys?

groverat · December 30, 2001 6:34PM

I use it every day, do you have a question about it?

(If you weren't planning on a flamefest, prepare for one.)

buonrotto · December 30, 2001 6:49PM

In my very limited exposure to XP, mostly consisting of being trapped in my local Circuit City on Friday, I found it to be fine for the most part with some quirks/choices I don't like.

I listed some of the things I didn't like in another thread somewhere (might have been MacNN -- been some cross-posting stuff there recently). I don't like the Toolbar customizing. I do like the idea of the Explorer sidebars, but I wish the contents of the sidebars were customized too. Though frankly I can see menus and drawers carrying out the same practice. And as always I struggle to find preferences or something similar -- that kind of thing tends to be scattered around. One thing I thought was that the Luna UI wasn't as bad in person as it is in screenshots. It doesn't look as nice as Aqua IMO but it's not something to really jump over XP about. Finally, I wish (and this may very well be an option) that there were some way to show one's favorite apps in the start menu rather than the most recent, and to display more than 5 at a time.

cyberzorn · December 31, 2001 1:15AM

i use both for now (might be giving my windows box away soon though).

Over all I'd say XP is the best flavor of windows out there (way more stable than 9X - and more Multimedia than 2000), but it has alot of privacy issues, no built in java, ie 6 doesn't use plug-ins; it uses axtive x instead (which sucks, esp quciktime ala active x). Avaliable drivers are still an issue for me. No support for my linksys PCI->PCMICA card (for wireless), no support for my SCSI card, which then make my CD-R and ZIP drives useless. To say I'm dying for my Ti back (its in the shop) is an understatement.

Unfortuallty I am forced to use this for 3d max stuff and web testing from the dark side (although I hope to use VPC for this in the near future).

my 2 cents..

Mike

henriok · December 31, 2001 8:04AM

"XP is almost Mac-like"? In what respect? The user experience is virtually identical to all other Windows-versions made the last 5-6 years. All I've noticed the few times i've used it is that the design is dramaticly improved, but still nowhere close to the mature finish to Aqua. Really.. nicely drawn windows and icons really isn't that much of an improvement. XP really have some nice features.. multiple logins, remote desktop and the like.. That does NOT constitute the second comming, it's just the forth reincarnation of Windows NT. I was not impressed of 3.51, 4, 2000.. or XP.

groverat · December 31, 2001 8:20PM

[quote]The user experience is virtually identical to all other Windows-versions made the last 5-6 years.<hr></blockquote>

versus

[quote]All I've noticed the few times i've used it is that the design is dramaticly improved,<hr></blockquote>

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

junkyard dawg · December 31, 2001 10:11PM

Windows XP. What does the "XP" stand for? Xtra sucking Potential.

Any questions?

cowerd · December 31, 2001 11:12PM

quote:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The user experience is virtually identical to all other Windows-versions made the last 5-6 years.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

versus

quote:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

All I've noticed the few times i've used it is that the design is dramaticly improved,

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually Groovy-rat, its not really a contradiction. If you have used OSX, you do know that while the design has improved [in the opinion of some], the user experience has improved in some area and degraded in others [see other threads aplenty before busting a gut]. Appearance of UI != User exprience of UI. Sadly, neither MS or Apple seem to get that.

[ 01-01-2002: Message edited by: cowerd ]

macaddict · December 31, 2001 11:39PM

Question: To move a document from one folder to another, do you still have to copy and then delete the original? Sorry, obviously I know very little about Windows as I have never used it at home.

ghost_user_name · December 31, 2001 11:48PM

[quote]To move a document from one folder to another, do you still have to copy and then delete the original?<hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> I don't think you ever had to do that in Windows...

macaddict · January 1, 2002 12:42AM

Okay, just making sure...I heard that somewhere.

groverat · January 1, 2002 10:14AM

Aha! I knew there was something in there all along, hence my confusion.

Thank you for the explanation, cowerd, a bit too slow to pick up on that one.

I'm afraid what he said isn't true at all. The design is little changed, it's the user experience that has been improved.

sinewave · January 1, 2002 10:51AM

Did they put a option in XP that lets you turn off all those "Are you sure" dialogs that come up 5 times before Windows lets you do something?

groverat · January 1, 2002 3:10PM

Be more specific, I haven't run across something like that.

buonrotto · January 1, 2002 3:15PM

Groverat, in the attempt to dissuade a Mac vs. PC debate in here, could you explain "remote desktop" more clearly to me? I feel like I'm ignorant on the subject. Thanks.

sinewave · January 1, 2002 3:38PM

[quote]Originally posted by groverat:

Be more specific, I haven't run across something like that.<hr></blockquote>

"are you sure you want to emtpy the recycle bin" Yes

"Emptying your recycle bin will delete everything in it. Are you sure you want to do this?" Ok

"Now emptying recycle ok?"

Yes I know it's a bit exaggerated but it seems like Windows has to ask you twice if you want to do something before it will do it. I can see how that might be helpful with newbies maybe but there should be a way to turn this off system wide.

mac the fork · January 1, 2002 3:53PM

Turn off the Recycle Bin warning (in Windows 98, anyway) by right-clicking, selecting properties, and deselecting 'Display delete confirmation dialog box'. It's simple, but the wording of the checkbox is idiotic. Perhaps they fixed that in later versions.

buonrotto · January 1, 2002 5:41PM

Alert:

Windows warning dialogs were problematic for different reasons than their quantity, for example, they tended to be written in the passive voice, and they were often run-on sentences with text that was too small to get people's attention let alone make them read all of it!

sinewave · January 1, 2002 6:29PM

[quote]Originally posted by Mac The Fork:

Turn off the Recycle Bin warning (in Windows 98, anyway) by right-clicking, selecting properties, and deselecting 'Display delete confirmation dialog box'. It's simple, but the wording of the checkbox is idiotic. Perhaps they fixed that in later versions.<hr></blockquote>

It doesn't just happen in the recycle bin.

rmh1572 · January 1, 2002 6:46PM

So apple doesn't have a chance with os X. If the user experience is better then MS might be doing things right. And i thought apple was going to do better dang. To bad Os x can't provide something more.

sinewave · January 1, 2002 6:48PM

[quote]Originally posted by Rmh1572:

So apple doesn't have a chance with os X. If the user experience is better then MS might be doing things right. And i thought apple was going to do better dang. To bad Os x can't provide something more.<hr></blockquote>

Does someone have a troll emoticon?

Anyone here used XP much?

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