Pics for WinXP

[Yzzim]

Looks like Microsoft just put a copy of WindowBlinds on there and made a new skin

 

[Eug]

<< And I must say the pastel blue makes it look somewhat like Mac OS... >>

No it doesn't. Mac OS X is a joy to look at. Very slick and very functional.

Windows XP is simply ugly. It does look like just a new skin for Windows, and a crappy Mac OS X rip off at that. Luckily that can be turned off right???

MS should hire some real designers because that thing looks like it was designed by some compugeek hack.

 

[gcliv]

OMG, what an absolutely gay looking interface. My old Aptiva came with a program that allowed kids to use the computer in their own little program/interface area (just a glorified program launcher with games), and even IT looked more professional! If this skinning stuff is bogus I'm never touching XP, I'd go nuts trying be productive ina MAC World. And whats up with the size?? I sincerely hope that those shots were in 640x480. For the longest time I was looking forward to putting Wistler on my parent's desktop and notebook because it seemed like a ripped-off version of 2k and would run better on their systems, but it seems to me that it's going to require a whole load MORE resources, the whole thing looks like active desktop times 10.

 

[Noriaki]

<< No it doesn't. Mac OS X is a joy to look at. Very slick and very functional. >>

Actually I referrring to OS8 or OS7 or whatever the hell is on those macs at school. It's kind of a pale grey instead of pastel blue but other than that it looks strikingly similar.

I have never seen OSX, so I don't know...

 

[Eug]

Yeah, OS 8/9 sucks as an OS, and I don't like the look of it that much either. However, even OS 8/9 looks better than the pictures of Windows XP. The GUI looks like an afterthought, done by non-designers.

 

[hifimaster]

I think I will stay with my Win98/Win2000 DualbootI sure as hell aint giving ol'bill gates anymore money:|

 

[DealBabe]

maybe its me, but that looks like a &quot;microsoft Bob&quot; kinda deal.
or its in 640x480
ms needs to check out beos5 desktop....

 

[Noriaki]

<< However, even OS 8/9 looks better than the pictures of Windows XP >>

Hehehe you do have a point there

OT:
Hey Eug, have you used OSX beta at all? I don't follow macs much, and have very few friends that do, (only one in fact, and he's fairly bright but he's not exactly super-tech). Anyhow...I don't follow Macs so I don't personally know much about OSX. But I know it's basically a BSD based kernel with a really well built GUI on top of it. I'm curios about it, and wondering if you have any info on it?

(Just for the record I'm not a Mac hater, in fact I quite respect the G4, I don't use apple stuff becuase it costs too much. But I'm still very interested in OSX, after all new technology is new technology )

 

[Conroy9]

hmmm
it seems like their idea of &quot;easier to use&quot; means &quot;make all the icons really big&quot;

it's kind of like people who talk louder so that someone who doesn't speak english will be able to understand them more easily

 

[PG]

What are the system requirements for this hog? PIII 500 with 128 MB Ram?

 

[PG]

&quot;Windows is the foundation for low-cost computing,&quot; Gates said of the more streamlined operating system.

I almost pissed my pants laughing after reading that one.

 

[Eug]

<< But I know it's basically a BSD based kernel with a really well built GUI on top of it. I'm curios about it, and wondering if you have any info on it? >>

Not really. I've just played with OS X for short periods in the store and a couple of other places. But it does seem very nice, with a few annoying features. Can't really comment on stability, but my friends who use it state that the beta is much more stable than the release version of OS 9, although there isn't all that much software out for it.

I can't really tell you much about the technology behind it. However, it does seem according to the reviews that OS X makes a Mac competitive vs the PC for gaming. OS X is more stable and supposedly roughly 20%+ faster than OS 9 for Quake III Arena. (OpenGL is built into the OS.) Judging by the numbers though, it still ain't as fast as Jobs advertises obviously.

If the Ti G4 PowerBook had come out earlier, and if it shipped with OS X, I would have bought it. However, neither is the case, so I bought a PIII 600 laptop instead. But I sure as hell ain't putting XP on it for now.

 

[Menelaos]

Conroy:
LOL

Can I quote you on that one?

Menel.

 

[Moonbeam]

Looks like crap, but I bet after paying real dollars for it, it'll suddenly seem wonderful.

 

[andrey]

Here is one more place with screenshots of the newest build of Whistler:

Windows XP 2428 Professional Screenshots

 

[Passions]

Dang seriously what a blatant rip of osx. *shameful*

 

[JellyBaby]

Looks aside my biggest fear is that what used to take, say, 2 clicks might suddenly become 5 or more clicks. Some of us don't need to be protected from ourselves by making it tough to get to the &quot;dangerous&quot; options.

 

[andreasl]

Hmmm.. I wonder if they will remove the &quot;file a bug report&quot; button from the Desktop in the official release?

 

[timco]

I hope not (it might be a useful feature) but Bill will probably not want to get indundated with bug reports and people saying &quot;This is a POS, Bill, give me Windows 98/2K/3.1 back.&quot;

WinXP is a triumph of style over substance. M$ are good at adding features for stupid people who think that &quot;Press any key&quot; means press a key with &quot;Any&quot; on it and that the CDRom tray is a drinks holder, but that's about it. At least Mac OS X has Unix behind it which is very powerful and stable (I admit to being biased as I am going to buy a G4 shortly).

Perhaps we should all gang up on Shane Brooks (author of 98 Lite) and get him to write XPLite to get rid of all the junk... I shall *not* be &quot;upgrading&quot; [sic]...

 

<< WinXP is a triumph of style over substance >>


It looks like they are borrowing a page from Apple's main strategy. Sorry for the cheap jab at Apple but, come on, look at the G4 Cube, iMac, G4 Powerbook, etc.

 

[MGMorden]

I guess I'm the only one who likes the way to the interface looks . . . . .

I just hope they can get the thing working smoothly/correctly by the time it's out, as that will be the deciding factor for me. Classically a skin feels like skin w/ the exception of winamp. Most of them just don't update quickly (seeing the original interface briefly), or don't have the built-in feel that I want. I hope that the new interface will feel more integrated (though I hope they do include the ability to turn it off for everybody who don't want Luna). One question to be considered though . . . if they do offer an option to revert to &quot;Classic&quot; Windows will that be turning the skins off or will that be skinning this interface with a skin looking like the old one?

 

[yellowperil]

I also think the new interface looks kinda cool. By the time XP rolls around, average users will have more computing power than they'll know what to do with, they might as well put it to use. Look back at all the pics of Win 3.1 and see how outdated it looks. I'm getting kind of tired of the Win 9X/ME interface anyway.

BTW, I had to laugh when I read this part:

One totally new feature is the ability to allow one XP user to take control of another XP user's computer through the Internet, something Gates said would make it a snap to diagnose and fix problems

Riiight.

 

[Noriaki]

OH WOW!!!!

The task bar fades when loading into windows

(one of Andrey's pics)


Tell me anyone who cares to answer, comparing Win2k Pro to WinXP Pro. They are basically the same under the hood. If you like Win XP's look&amp;feel then go for it, there's nothing wrong with that, some people want a little style. Personally I'm quite dull and boring. I like the Win2k look&amp;feel just fine...is there really any compelling reasons not to buy Win2k?

I'm looking for future software usability reasons. Backwards compatibility is a non-issue for me (Win2k runs everything I want it to).

WinXP will use the same WDM driver model that Win2k does right? And Win2k and WinXP will run all the same software correct?

(I have a thread about this if you care to look)

Thanks for any input.

 

[ALstonLoong]

Emm this new windows is not bad .how about the compability? is it suitable for gaming?

 

[MGMorden]

It is based on Windows 2000's design so games will run just as they do on there. No worries though since MS is pushing this as they're upcoming consumer OS then you can bet all the games coming out will be made so that they work with Win2k/XP's design in mind. 98 isn't inheritly better than 2k for gaming, it just happens that most games were written with 98 in mind. Now they'll be written with 2k/xp in mind, so all we be well.