xpclient

Also, you can't restart the system, unlike in VMs. Personalization in Windows Sandbox is also limited, unlike in VMs.

Oh, and let me name 2 more improvements: text cursor indicator (since Windows 10 version 1909) and changing/adjusting cursor size/color (since Windows 10 version 1903).

@mina7601Oh yes I like those 2 improvements very much. The pink around the text cursor indicator and being able to enlarge the cursor. They even ship some SVG mouse cursors by default. But the icon/bitmap-based get pixelated when enlarged to even 2x.

Yeah, I sort of miss logging on to dial-up and hearing ... You've Got Mail  https://www.eonline.com/news/807666/holy-90s-the-voice-of-aol-s-you-ve-got-mail-has-been-found

They were exciting times with clear trends of development. Most of what was happening impacted consumers as individuals while today most of the focus is now directed towards other businesses.

I miss when Windows gave the user control over their own machine and allowed them to customize it as they saw fit, and it wasn't preloaded with a whole bunch of garbage right after installation.

Linux is so much more than just the GUI. That was one of my frustrations as well. I didn't like the case sensitive file system, I didn't mind the terminal too much but I'm used being able to download an executable and it launches an install wizard but you don't get a lot of that in Linux. I mean most of the time there's some sort of set up procedure but I don't want to go through terminal or software center to do it. I want to double click on the file to get it going. I also don't like how the desktop works. I haven't found how to create effective shortcuts. I think that's what it was, I can't remember. It was something to do with when you'd put something on the desktop that it didn't always show up on the actual desktop and that was annoying. Q4OS was the one closest to Windows I've ever tried and it's pretty good for what it is, I haven't tried the newer versions so I can't say what it's like now but the pre version 3 releases are pretty good. But even that was a bit too different in order for me to use full time. I have no qualms with open or shared source and understand that Linux is a totally different beast from Windows, but I feel as if Linux is still more of an internet browsing OS that can run open source software, but it's not for those who need to run specific applications. Advanced networking is also a nightmare. I have my own Windows Domain on my network with custom group policies in effect. But I couldn't even get Fedora on the domain where I could log in even after following a bunch of walkthroughs online. So for what it's worth...Linux isn't bad, but it's just not for me full time.

Of course it is so much more than just the GUI. In some technical aspects, it is even superior to Windows. But it is not for me as GUI and usability/ease of use hold the top spot for me and Windows delivers that in addition to unprecedented compatibility.

I use a Group Policy to delay updates for some period of time. I forget what it is. It's somewhere between 7 days and 6 months. I also have it notify me to install updates, but do nothing else, so I manually choose when to install updates.

Most of the time, I use Windows 7, and I have updates disabled since there's no point. Every now and then, I'll manually patch it with the latest updates. No point in having the update service running just for that.

Honestly, IMO, frequent security updates are the least of anyone's worries with Windows 10. Easily configurable with a GPO. There are far bigger fish to fry with that terrible OS.

I do, because I'm scared of missing out on security updates. But it's really irritating. It's only been 5 months since I last re-installed Windows 10, and update failure has already happened 3 times!

I use a batch script combined with a scheduled task to change the "active hours" every 17 hours when Windows is running, so that it's always active hours, to prevent Windows from auto-restarting due to the update.

I don't get forced update installations, I get notified of when they're available when I check settings every patch Tuesday and usually wait a week to see how people's experiences have been. Haven't had any major issues with updates in over a year.

As do I. Indeed, those were precious days when quality was far more important than just quantity... Many things seem rather rushed these days; oftentimes lacking a passionate display of proper attention to detail and creativity.

What do you mean? Anything new from Microsoft HAS to be an improvement in quality

Definitely not my cup of tea either. I cannot stand the direction Microsoft is going in and how they have to be copycats of other software. =/

HAHA! Loved the name . I am on XP . I will stay on it by enhancing as much as possible  . FEw day ago tried win 10 , it was eating almost 6gibgs of ram for no reason at first boot . i donot know what more crap Microsoft wants to do  . My XP consume 175MB ram on first boot also MSE is my av .

One more thing: power supply 

Older pc = around 300w

Newer  pc= above 550w

And those who play games can find plenty of games that will work on some older PC. Besides games are not required - they are foolishness from which you have NO GAIN, ONLY BILLS.

Newer PC uses at least 550watt, that's almost double. For what? For features that are never required but exist and therefore we "must" use them... That's an idea, not reality, that's what they MAKE you THINK, not what they make you DO. Be careful what you think, it influences what you do. The only thing living people MUST do is die. They don't have to walk, they don't have to work, they don't have to be educated, there's a ton of stuff people don't have to, so you don't have to care about every crap Microsoft releases.

I am not part of the rat race. I strongly oppose "upgrading" for the sake of it.  I evaluate every release extremely thoroughly and I am happily running Windows XP - the last OS where everything from previous releases for the most part was included without any major break in compatibility. In fact I inspect features and the value of "upgrading" so thoroughly that I wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_features_removed_in_Windows_Vista
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_features_removed_in_Windows_7 and worked with Ivo Beltchev to create Classic Shell.
http://xpwasmyidea.blogspot.com/2011/09/features-removed-in-windows-8.html

On my laptop, I run Windows 8.1 because it has:
- TRIM for the PCIe M.2 SSD that's on the laptop (Windows 7 only supports SATA TRIM)
- Windows 8.1 works with well the "PreferExternalManifest" Registry setting which I need to set to fix the DPI scaling of certain apps on that high resolution, high DPI display. (More details here: http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-fix-apps-that-look-small-on-high-dpi-and-high-resolution-displays/) On Windows 7, it breaks the Network icon.
- The DPI scaling engine in Windows 8.1 loads earlier at startup to scale everything correctly whereas on Windows 7 it doesn't scale apps that run at startup
- The awfulness of the Windows 8 UI and regressions and lack of customizability can be fixed by using third party apps like Classic Shell, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, OldNewExplorer, FileSearchEX, Everything Search, Media Player Classic Home Cinema, PerigeeCopy, VistaSwitcher and putting back Gadgets, classic games and the old superior Task Manager.
- Much improved DISM and cleanup of superseded updates

I am only evaluating Windows 10. I have NO intention of moving to it for the next 100 years. It is the worst piece of garbage to ever ship from Redmond.

I am Happy with Windows XP and 8.1.

Those two are in my dual boot.

The best, thanks!

Not if you have an Intel or Samsung one and use the optimization tools, lol

Nice! Am unhappily running windows 8 here. Am looking to install Ubuntu soon. Have Win98/2K/NT 4 in VMs.

Anything that isn't Windows 8 is an improvement. I truthfully would use Windows Vista before I would use 8. Ubuntu is pretty good. I have a basic understanding of Linux but not enough to make it a full time OS yet.

I like vista and am not afraid to admit it. But, Windows 7 is too slow and "modern" for me.

And 8 was only the beginning, just wait until the next "always on" & half in the cloud Windows... Everyone better start learning Linux.

linux might become necessary evil

Linux created metro. (specifically Ubuntu)

then don't wonder

I was just trying to point out that Win XP was when it came out was a 'bad' OS and hated for a bit.

As soon as they started hiring technology managers and marketing types it was IBM Syndrome

yes, especially Sinofsky.

Julie Green, Jensen Harris, Antoine Leblond, Ballmer all deserve to go to hell for torture of billions.

Julie Green, Jensen Harris, Antoine Leblond, Ballmer all deserve to go to hell for torture of billions.

the WIFI priority dialog, the file conflict option to keep bothfiles and the Advanced Appearance Settings to change the icon spacing.

Yeah. I miss everything too. They even removed the Merge or delete network locations dialog.

Love it! He states it perfectly. And if worse comes to worse, I'll stick with Windows 2000 or Windows XP as long as I possibly can and if I have to get something else, I may just drop out of the IT business for good.

Windows 8 is stupidity mixed with insanity. Windows 2000 is a great OS, and with the help of blackwingcat and tomasz86, it will last long.

Planning to install Windows 2000 on an i5 with 8GB RAM, 240GB SSD and NVidia Geforce 550ti.

Windows 8 is stupidity mixed with insanity. Windows 2000 is a great OS, and with the help of blackwingcat and tomasz86, it will last long.

Planning to install Windows 2000 on an i5 with 8GB RAM, 240GB SSD and NVidia Geforce 550ti.

I'm thinking since it sort of emulates a tablet and since mobile devices are all the rage these days, some people go nuts over it. I personally love the good old fashion Windows before all this eye candy crap and bloated system files took over. So what if the windows have cute little animations or looks pretty? If it doesn't do the job it is suppose to or gets in the way of getting real stuff done, is it really worth it?