DigitalX

Gosh don't we feel ancient now lulz

It's just sad mate surprising this place is still around though seems not an active hive as it once was.

I'd say for most effective and lowest cost go with CentOS if you want file/printer sharing with it you can install Samba. In general if you're a windows user it will benefit you using linux and learning with it. Otherwise if you can afford it and want defacto simplicity of Windows wack on Windows server 2008 R2 or 2003 depending on needs and hardware.

Boo... Merry christmas all Crazy to think i've been kicking round here for nearly 10 years

Have to wonder sometimes why microsoft and intel bother wasting time producing pointless info like this. Most of the information provided is usually canceled out and made irrelevant by things like natural battery degradation or misuse on laptops and on desktop pcs unless you're enthusiast managing power is going to be pointless and so low it doesn't matter if in idle it uses less power cause for standard user paying attention to this sort of stuff probably turns their computers off when not using them anyway :S they really should go focus on more important things to do then talking rubbish which is pointless...

For the most part in terms of SKU's Windows 7 has gone back to similar principles of windows xp at retail point. Windows 7 pro is for enthusiasts, IT pros, small business etc home premium is your defacto necessary for home and common usage. starter and enterprise have separate purposes and will not be in retail channels besides OEM and hardware. Ultimate is really unnecessary one which really similar to vista has combined package of really enterprise and professional in one. I'll personally probably be going the Technet subscription path soon with discount to get it along with everything else

No official word yet but you'll probably be looking at round same price for: Windows XP home/media center > Windows Vista Home premium = Windows 7 Home price range Windows XP Professional > Windows Vista Business = Windows 7 Professional price range These will be key focused versions/editions/sku's. Obviously prices will differ between OEM, retail and upgrade. Windows 7 starter will probably be similar price to OEM XP Home at the moment and Ultimate will probably be around same price as vista ultimate. I understand the only real value with XP at the moment and over past year or so has been just works plain and simple but fact of the matter is the industry moves on still. It'll end up soon when windows 7 comes around that XP will start showing it's lack of support with more modern things and that and microsoft will stop offering it updated software like IE8 will probably be the end of it. So no doubt it'll be worth upgrading within the next year or 2 imo both software and hardware if you want same experience on 7 and XP unless you have hardware which is new within the last 12-16 months or so.

being a tester for all 3 latest OS's XP, vista and 7. I agree vista was a dog because it removed the legacy focus that OS's should have. It was a gamble that failed. However with 7 almost here and sitting on the horizon it'll be the OS to lay xp to rest almost completely probably. XP is now getting old and the improvements that vista does have coupled with improvements windows 7 brings to the table there's no real reason to stay with xp unless you have a very dated PC. Just like old cars from 60-70-80's there's no point keeping them and driving them now unless you can't afford new car or it's only for hobby reason otherwise they're just large uneconomical and useless compared to todays standards and stuff.

i delay it till easy time to update but it's a good thing with Windows 7 is the cut down on necessary restarts and things, though there's still some it's not as many.

yep techgear has sure lost it's buzz a bit since a few years back

here's the pdc wallpaper minus the fish. http://www.istartedsomething.com/uploads/pdc08-1920x1200.jpg http://www.istartedsomething.com/uploads/pdc08-1600x1200.jpg The main problems people have going from xp to vista or 7 is just the different layout and I mean sure if you don't bother or want to learn or understand then that's a problem with the user and not the OS. For the most part it's very good upgrade and time will never have been better to upgrade also the glass UI and stuff makes it feel a whole lot better and smoother. The improvements once it goes final RTM will start shining how much of an improvement over vista it will be. Else you can either choose OS X Snow leopard or ubuntu if windows 7 is not up your alley

it's all still there ozzy just refined

Yeah it's one of things the superbar really takes care of is desktop icons though it does spoil you for choice.. Desktop, superbar or start menu.

Try my best to keep it that way heh it's polar opposite to my xp which is a mess.

My 2¢ atm