Win XP

[Spinaroonie]

According to my secret inside sources (i.e. News.com) I've heard that Windows XP doesn't support Mp3 and DVD formats. Along with the Java neglection, why do they think people will put up with such short sighted options? If you fail to include a DVD codec into your media system then boast that it includes a DVD drive and show pictures of the machines supposedly out of the box playing The Matrix and whatnot, doesn't that fall under false advertising?

They're failure to fully suport the mp3 format, the most popular file format in the 15 years the product has been available is insane. They're currently under Federal indictment for similar tactics in the browser dept. They're trying to push the WMA format (With MS controlled copyright protection) down our throats.

Gee... thanks?

 

[koalabear]

IT SUCKS IT SUCKS IT SUCKS

 

[Dillinger]

This month's (November) issue of Maximum PC (still on the newsstands I think) has an excellent review of Windows XP. They're's been a lot of hype and a lot of rumours but the bottom line seems to be, while there are certainly some questionable items, that its not as bad as many are making out.

Also:

ZDNet has posted the following very thorough review: http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2809517,00.html - which includes the following:

Windows XP comes with Windows Media Player 8 which
supports video playback. If you already have a DVD decoder installed--XP doesn't include one--you can play DVD movies in full-screen mode with controls that fade into the background, or watch streaming videos over the Internet.

So yes - it does support DVD playback it just doesn't include a DVD decoder which is easy to get an install. (For the record Win95 and 98 didn't include a DVD decoder either - though your OEM might have included one when you bought your computer).

Regarding MP3's. XP does try and steer people toward its own audio and video formats. As Microsoft has always done. However, again - Windows Media Player 8 has an open architecture that allows you to ad an MP3 encoder. Or just download WinAmp for free, which is my favorite MP3 player.

 

[Spinaroonie]

I think it's crazy to neglect it! For the people who buy new machines (Which of course MS is encouraging us to as always) they won't have the codex.

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-7612135.html?tag=mn_hd

 

[Phoenyx]

XP sucks

Ive been testing XPO at works now for the past 6 months..

It is a festering boil on the ass of the world....
It is the disney version of windows 2000.


think i will be sticking with WIN98 untill they pry if from my cold dead body.

 

[Unclebill]

A tad off topic perhaps but ...

I received this little heads-up on Microsoft's XP product line and it's data gathering for problem reports. If you're using MS xxx XP, it's worth being aware what kind of data gets reported back to MS when a program failure occurs invoking Dr. Watson.

http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-005.shtml

And for a media player for MP3 files, Winamp is a good one and it's free (it also plays wma files). It's produced by Nullsoft and they have version 2.77 available for download. If you're a BETA junkie, they also offer Winamp 3 BETA as a download. The link is:

http://www.winamp.com/

And for the info junkies, here's a snapshot history of Nullsoft: http://www.nullsoft.com/

 

[Dillinger]

I'm not saying XP is great - in fact, I have no intention of switching from 98 (on my desktop) and 2000 (on my laptop) until XP is up to snuff or there is no other choice.

However I am trying to separate the reality from the rumour.