Explore: Well you did say, "forcing people to buy a new copy of Office..." That has Outlook (not OE). Hence my response re: Office.
Re: AV: Of course AV's are reactive when you rely on AV sigs developed after somethings ITW. That's why safe computing practices and an AV with good heuristics help.
But that's really not just an XP thing although you act as if it is. And how many people with W9X are walloped with this stuff due to them not taking the most basic precautions? Heck, I remember some people being smug because they weren't running OE or IE and were surprised to find that some of that "OE only" malware also ran on Eudora, Netscape etc...because they were targeting the OS and could indeed get access to it via other email clients, not just Outlook or OE.
"I am very clear of the Win Registy. I suggested a simple app for those not so versed. (After all, if the topic of discussion on this thread is as immature as bashing WinME, how can I expect you/others to be technically proficient to edit the registy?)"
Oh I am "very clear of the Win Registry" too (but better at English).
I don't recall bashing WinME (although I prefer 98) and as I said, I didn't use an app to edit the start up. I manually edited it from the reg so I guess it really doesn't take all that much technical proficiency. (ie, it really isn't that difficult or abstuse.) And I believe it was you that commenced the bashing (bashing is immature, I agree) by bashing XP and extolling the wonders of ME.
So WinMedia calls out to the net? Is this new with XP? (No.) So stop it from doing so. That is possible. (How many other media and other apps now do just the same? A lot of them, not just MS apps. Stop 'em or don't run 'em.)
Reality, regardless of OS: Not everyone is going to know what they're doing and harden their OS/PC. User education for whatever OS they happen to be running is the key. And for some (who think they're super geeks, lol) if it effects "functionality" it simply won't happen, whether it's 95, 98, XP or whatever. They don't want to hear about security "hype" or run that AV cr*p for newbies, but they'll be the first to stop by a security forum for help when their toy is seriously broken.
What I like is reasonably securing the dang OS/PC and still be able to use it for what I want. (To be totally secure on any OS, unplug it.) Just like cars...one can push for better safety standards but industry is slow to respond. In the meantime, wear seatbelts, perform routine maitenance, keep the car in good safe condition, respond to any recalls or parts updates and drive safely. But if you're drunk at the wheel even a Volvo won't be safe. So I do find the "which OS is better" wars nonsensical. Use what you want and do what you want just as I will. Preaching to others as if from Mt Sinai or Olympus really isn't effective, regardless of the subject, unless you're accompanied by a burning bush or an earthquake or two.
WinCustomize Forums
Secondly, as regards stability and security XPorsche is NO.1: built on NT (NTFS) and hey! what are security patches for? 
