Olav Kappert <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Many reviews state to stay away from XP home edition but fail to endorse
> XP Pro as a better alternative.
>
> Stay on Win 2000 Pro or move to XP Pro (I don't like the activation
> requirement)

I run both XP pro and Win 2000 pro (and 2000 Adv. Svr.) systems.
The only significant reason to move from 2000 pro to XP pro is that
some recent devices like laptop dvd burners do not have Win 2000
Pro drivers and the manufactures show no inclination to provide
them.  If you do not have hardware that falls into this category then
their is presently no technical or economic reason to move from
Win2KPro to WinXpPro.

The OS activation procedure for XP Pro is painless, provided that
you have an active Internet connection and don't try installing the
software multiple times.  I seem to recall that the maximum number
of installs before having to contact Microsoft is five (5), but this is
just a dim memory from the pre-release days of XP so do not use
this as a planning figure.  I believe that the GID used to identify a
specific XP install uses the MAC address of the host computer NIC
as its primary source of generation data, so that changing NICs is
almost certain to invalidate the install registration, which then leaves
you 30 days to re-register.  I have also read reports that the
telephone registration procedure for machines without NICs is a
nightmare, but this is hearsay only.

Regards,
Jim
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