It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec

wrote in message news:462B2841.C2FD045F@hotmail.com...
> It appears that MS is determined that you will but Vista and they will
> shortly stop selling XP to ensure that you will!
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/windows_vista_xp_withdrawal/
>
> Alec

I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this 
announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just 
Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that 
they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick 
Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and 
continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this 
obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the 
issue.  May Gates rot in hell.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> 
> I thought it was quite telling that Dell have been trying to pre-empt this
> announcement by limiting the choice of OS on most of their new pcs to just
> Vista.  They were subsequently inundated by prospective buyers saying that
> they still wanted XP or XP Pro thank you very much and Dell could stick
> Vista where the sun doesn't shine!  Dell have been forced to do a U-turn and
> continue to offer XP on  more of their models.  Amazing that, despite this
> obvious groundswell of rejection Microshaft is still prepared to force the
> issue.  May Gates rot in hell.

My neighbour has a small IT business and he tells me that he is
currently being asked to 'downgrade' most of the new computers he
supplies to XP as his customers, especially business users don't want to
know about Vista.
I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off. 
It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.

Alec

wrote in message news:462C81F7.F7DFA721@hotmail.com...

> I went through the thread on the link I posted and someone raised the
> question of when the XP authentication server will be turned off.
> It will simply encourage people to go for pirated copies.
>
> Alec

I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP 
authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further 
security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means 
that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will 
find themselves facing a class action in the courts.
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
    Nikon D2X / D2Hs / D2H / D100 / Coolpix 5700
    My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:

> I'm not clever enough to know what the significance is of turning the XP
> authentication server off.  If that simply means there will be no further
> security upgrades etc for XP, I can probably live with that.  If it means
> that MS can render your installation of XP unusable, then I'm sure MS will
> find themselves facing a class action in the courts.

Well, as I'm not a Windows user myself,  I may have this wrong but I
understand that when you install XP you  contact MS and get a code you
enter to authenticate 'your'  software otherwise it ceases to work after
a month. The only way around this is to use XP Pro and a Corporate Key
which bypasses the authentication process.  If I have this wrong
hopefully someone out there ( There are more than two of us - right?) 
will correct me.  

Alec