My browser just ate it after I typed up a big huge response to Deokoria, but before I posted it-- I'm not going to spend 20 minutes writing it again, so I will sum up my points here.


1) I've been using xp64 for 2-3 years now,-- I started with the beta build and upgraded to the full build more recently, and I have never had any problems running apps that were able to be run on xp32 (The single exception to this is antivirus/firewall software, the xp64 kernel is the same as Server 2003's, and as such xp32 AV/FW programs don't run, since major AV/FW devs didn't plan on xp64 getting a big customer base), nor have I had any (that I can recall) issues running 64 bit apps.

In addition to this, xp64 manages RAM and memory far more efficiently than xp32 does (and MUCH better than Vista); it runs faster and for far longer than my xp32 laptop does without requiring a reboot or giving quirky errors. I've had this rig literally running for 2-3 months without rebooting it.

2) Vista is bloatware, plain and simple.

There is absolutely no reason that an OS designed and geared for the average user should require you to go in and disable 57 things to get it functioning optimally, NOR is there any reason that the OS should require a 2.2ghz processor, 512mb gfx card and 4gb of RAM to run smoothly and efficiently.

3) If this beta build is as great as the original author of that article claims it is, and will be released in a similar fashion to how he's testing it, it is really nothing more than "Vista Service Pack 2", and leads me to question MS' moneygrabbing motives in the face of Apple's continued increases in market share. It also leads me to question their motives for rushing Vista out unfinished-- it seems to me as if Vista was pushed out the door, unfinished (just like ME and XP were), in order to ratchet up profits.

Why the fuck don't they take their new OS', make them as good as they possibly can and THEN release them?
Is it because, if they do that (make an OS that runs exceptionally well), people won't upgrade to the latest and greatest thing when it comes out? Is it because they're very aware of the sinking ship that is their company and just want money? Both? More reasons?

4) Dropping $400 for vista now is silly, in my opinion, especially with the impending 7 release.