Unlike 98

When XP was introduced there was no immediate cut off date for 98 until a few years later. Everyone moved to XP because it was better. However there were a lot who stayed with 98 for a while and made the switch because of their own timing.

There was no activation with 98 and Microsoft could not force you to switch to XP.

But now with the activation that is with XP, when Microsoft says switch or else, we are at their mercy and this is scary. Vista is not a better OS. Not that it is DRM infected but that it is just an ok OS and not worth the added expense to upgrade all the hardware and retrain the personnel.

Like I felt about 98, when Microsoft is going to quit supporting XP, it should become public domain and free to everyone. This should be something that has been made into law by our government. Then Microsoft would have no choice but to make a better OS as so the masses would want to upgrade instead of being shoveled something like Vista which we will have NO CHOICE but to except.

The writing has been on the wall since 2001 but most folks did not realize the long term effect until now.

Microsoft has slickly positioned itself to shove a new OS down our throat even if it is good or in this case bad and then we the masses DO NOT have any choice about it.

This is a very BAD deal for the public at large. Something like this that has as big an effect on the public at large in the past would have been regulated like a utility company because of these same consiquences. When we had a government who passed laws for the good of the public has dropped the ball on this to allow 1 company to be able to have so much power over the public is a crying shame.

This goes for both parties....

Mike in Louisiana...