Are the Non XP users doomed to eternal dull start menus and scrollbars??

https://www.stardock.com/products/objectbar/

This will do what you want.

...and don't forget that you can replace the desktop components or even the entire shell. Why stop with aesthetics when you can add functionality and efficiency?

yes.

xp is the current version of windows. like it or not, no further development will be done by microsoft on other operating systems, because xp -is- the continuation of their other operating systems. keep in mind, windows 98, for example, is nearly a 5 year old os. many companies, such as stardock, try their best to be backward compatible (within reason,) but if you choose to use an old os, you have to settle for not having access to some new capabilities.

that said, dx and objectbar have the ability to do many of these things in 98, 2k, etc.

If I may ask...? Why not use XP? If you are going to use windows, it is far and above THE operating sys to run.

i would get XP if it wasnt for that "YoucantplayoldDOSgames" syndrome.

and thanks for the linnk werewolfman

to answer Kaltuu's question, I haven't upgraded because Win2000 was a substantial expense, and I'm not thrilled about throwing it out after only using it a little over a year. Fact is, people are still buying systems everyday with pre-XP OS installed. Sometimes it isn't worth $99 U.S. just to have THE operating system.

I don't begrudge anyone who wants to, though. If I wasn't a tightwad, I probably would. I have to pony-up $150 every so often for Photoshop upgrades, and it makes me stingy with everything else.

Furthermore, XP doesn't offer any substantial improvement over 2000. I know a lot of peolpe who think that 2000 is the ultimate system and have no intention in upgrading before a long while.

As for 95 and 98 users, a lot of them have systems dating from 95 and 98, and XP will not run on old computers, nor will 2000 for that matter.

Ha!

Why shouldn't you upgrade to WinXP?

I am a professional Developer so I can tell you a few reasons..

1. Memory Resource HOG! Windows has gotten slower and slower over the years. You just don't know it because you bought 2Ghz PCs with over 512MB Ram.

2. Security.. (That speaks for itself when it comes to Microsoft.)

3. Lack of Customizations. Sure these apps customize the GUI. But as a developer I like to customize my entire OS. So it can do what I need so I can write software. But for the average user Microsoft force these apps to exist in the OS.

3a Outlook
3b Internet Explorer
3c MSN Messenger (I think)
3d Media Player

And if you haven't noticed.. These are *ALL* the apps with virus issues & security holes in them. As a user, I would go XP if I would just be allowed to Uninstall these apps so I can use the browser, email of MY choice.

Windows XP : "THE Operating System"

Some people are out of touch.. Maybe you should read articles that compare Microsoft & Linux. Also, read how some countries are dropping Microsoft entirely and moving to Linux..(The country as a WHOLE, not just individuals.)

A simple conspiracy theory.

Microsoft was in court for being a monopoly. Every other company that was a monopoly was divided, but not Microsoft. Since this more viruses, and security holes have appeared in MS Windows product, and Microsoft is *forcing* these products on the OS. (That is 1/2 ass backwards.)

Could it be Microsoft made a deal with the government to implement spy ware? This would explain the sudden rash of viruses and why entire countries are avoiding using Windows now.

FYI: Bill Gates donated 100million dollars to fight HIV in India. An official in India pointed out, that seems generous but not compared to the fact that Bill Gates spent $421 million on keeping Linux operating systems from being used in within the country.

Please do your research... Microsoft is very worried, and hanging on by a very thin thread. (I've noticed that Win98 is back on the shelf at my local computer stores.)

I personally think MS should go back to Win98 and improve memory management and fix the bugs... (Its a better OS than XP, because the original design didn't have a corrupt philosophy behind its design.)

My 2 cents.. (I'm a developer so I research alot.)

ugh. I have studied c++ a bit but I wou;dn't call myself a developer. I would have to disagree on several counts, though, especially regarding the security and efficiency of the OS. I have used 2000 for quite a while now and I would never, ever consider going back to 98.

I wouldn't be schooled enough to compare XP to 2000, but in the brief moments I have used XP, I wasn't shocked enough by the difference to discount the moolah I paid for 2000.

re: Bill in India. Considering that 10% of all the programmers in the world *come* from India, I would count that 100 million dollars as part of the ongoing effort to defeat linux there.

the other paranoia is needless, though Palladium is liable to cause much more of it.

Explorer, let's see some of the things you've developed.

A 14 year old who knows GWBasic is not a developer. When a brand new 2Ghz machine with 512MB of RAM with Windows XP Pro preinstalled is less than $700 it's pretty hard to talk about ram hogs.

If you have Windows 2000 then Windows XP isn't super compelling. And those users can get ObjectBar which can get them cool Start bars.

As far as WinME and older, that's legacy. No developer is going to write code on that platform other than for compatibility testing.

>

You asked for it...

I am a 30year of Lead Software Developer for MD DNR. I've written the *entire* Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Data Import System. It is a large scale Water Quality Monitoring effort that imports water nutrient data from the chesapeake bay, produces graphs and allows scientist to perform analysts using SAS. (Look up SAS Institute if you don't know what SAS is.)

Before that I 100% wrote ISI (Integrate Structural Imagine Software) Modu-Techy (A division of Heil Builders) ISI is a Customized CAD Engineering software that allows construction companies to treat constucting building like an assembly line. My software was used to build the condominiums on Fayette St. in Baltimore City, MD. And is still used within the US.

And my final piece of work is my own. Exploration v6. A real-time strategy computer game engine. It plays like Diablo, StarCraft, & Command&Conquer but is a fully customized RPG Game engine to allow create games like IceWind Dale. www.explore-rpg.com

This has be a part-time project for the last 8 years while I was writing other peoples code. But now that its complete its almost time to market.

I think I know alittle bit about software design. And it appears that many people on this site are ignorant about whats *REALLY* going on in the OS wars.. (Microsoft & Linux showdown is taking place as wee speak world-wide.) And its not looking good for MS.

Please don't ever attack my credibility again..

Oh.. an another thing..

"When a brand new 2Ghz machine with 512MB of RAM with Windows XP Pro preinstalled is less than $700 it's pretty hard to talk about ram hogs."

You obviously don't know much about computers.. The computer industry is raping your poor little minds and pockets..

Electronics must work together to perform properly. When you buy a computer you look at CPU speed. But there are other factors that govern the computers *OVERALL* SPEED. Like the front side bus speed. And Ram speed.

Motherboard front side buss speed has reach 333Mhz (AMD) and 533(Intel) But clearly AMD is a better processor because it achieve the same max CPU speed (1-3Ghz) with a lower FSB.

Consider a FSB like a water hose. What good does a 2Ghz chip do with a 333-533Mhz FSB? Absolutely NO GOOD! You are buying nothing.. I have AMD 800Mhz machines and I upgraded to the new motherboard and my machine runs just as fast as yours probably. Why?

Because if I have the same FSB as you then both of our machines must drop to the same level to access ram. The ONLY speed you gain with a 2Ghz machine is execution time. (actual commands) But with video games, the important part is memory access and throughput to the screen, which is where the FSB will bottleneck performance..

Here, learn something..

http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds5-3/pmgap.html

For a developer to say that Windows 98 is a better OS than Windows XP, along with the conspiracy theories in that post, one must wonder...

ExploreRPG!: patience, Grasshopper : http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html

exploreRPG!: um, yeah, Frogboy doesn't know about computers... lol. you're linking student magazines and dissing the 'grand fromage' of Stardock and a real, grown up developer.

Granted, you may edge him out on the 'cutting and pasting pointless facts' thing. I'm anxious to see how that turns out for ya.

Oh, wait, I just caught it: "But with video games, the important part is memory access and throughput to the screen, which is where the FSB will bottleneck performance"

speaks volumes.

Oh, exploreRPG, what about the NTSF vs Fat32 file system issue? That's one of the NT things that has some merit, it seems.

Well ya know that froggy guy might actually know a little something about these appliances (just throwing it out there) and I hear he has some programming, developing experience as well. (But you know how these geek guys like to brag.) I hear these oldtimers going on about that OS/2...whassup wit dat?

I remember the good old 3.1 days when I could just type some stuff at a prompt (ok, so I needed a book to go by) and stuff would just happen and my 486 was hot stuff. *sigh*

bakerstreet...

"Granted, you may edge him out on the 'cutting and pasting pointless facts' thing. I'm anxious to see how that turns out for ya."

Pointless facts? Do you even know what the FSB is on a computer? Do you even know how a computer works.. How old are you?

I don't know Frogboy.. just like he didn't know me.. Assuming I was 14 made him look like an idiot. I am just sick of all the XP users pretending like they never had Win98 and bashing people that still use it.
We should grow up a little here.. There are Win9x users who love to customize their system and can't afford a new machine.

Seems like XP users have an "ego." But I don't know why... Its too early to say if WinXP has staying power.. And what about Win Longhorn?

Hail Storm:

"For a developer to say that Windows 98 is a better OS than Windows XP, along with the conspiracy theories in that post, one must wonder..."

Which Windows apps have security flaws?

IE
Outlook
MSN
Media Player

Correct? Why can't you remove them? Won't that make your OS safer? Isn't that a logical solution to someone like my mom who just wants to use her computer and not worry about viruses?
Am I asking too much to remove this software?

And am I wrong for saying Win98/ME is better because it gives me this freedom? To me this freedom is more important than *ANYTHING* WinXp has to offer.

sig101:

Is this something you are working on? Very nice.. I hope I'll be buying XPLite before WinXP..

exploreRPG!: I'm 32, and have owned computers since I was 12. I don't buy machines, I build them. 3 of which are within arm's reach, each running 3 entirely different OS. It is easy for little 'ole me to see how goofy you are, and Frogboy is eons past me in expertise.

Anyone spouting slashdot propaganda while using ME is in serious need of help. I suggest finding yourself a linux board and duking it out with people who are more anxious to have the kind of conversations you are attempting.

"3 of which are within arm's reach, each running 3 entirely different OS"

each running an entirely different OS. cut/paste/edit...

My my exploreRPG!, a little tetchy aren't we. You may be 30 but you act like a spoiled child.

Well I was hoping you were 14 as that would explain your attitude. But hey, I stand corrected on that.

I don't think you want to compare credentials with me. Whether that be in knowledge of operating systems, computers, or PC game writing.

Oh BTW, when you use '/'me it inserts your name... /me demonstrates