Xp is a stable good os no doubt and i too wouldnt be running vista just for the eye candy xprize etc can allow me to make xp look like vista anyway and 98se came out in 99 xp in 2001 and age is relative because the thing that dictates change is when were forced too eg.msn 7.5 google earth etc designed to run on nt only it can run on 9x if they wanted it too but you gotta sell oses so we lose out with every new os.third party apps help but people want what their friends have eg.i run 98se i want to install msn 7.5 so ill use trillium or gaim or miranda but their teasing me cause i can send winks smilies etc yet i can send text,what do you do many will upgrade just over one application.Where does it end?even thou theres a thousand sites offering pirated xpsp2 when you want to run eg.ie7beta 2 u can,t pass validation so your beat.i dont encourage using wares or do i agree with wga but were being railroaded into paying for new oses just to use appilication we dont really need.