Ironsmith Keep(LX)

The Need for a New Operating System.

When building Cathedral Keep in January 2000, I had originally intended to install XP Professional. XP was actually costing about the same price as Windows 2000, so I figured I'd go with the newer operating system. From my view, it turns out there was a good reason why Windows 2000 retatined its original pricing. Once loaded, I kept getting incompatibility errors and or course, messages saying that the best way to fix the problem is to either buy another Micro$oft XP product or a hardware component that Microsoft endorsed (i.e. getting a kickback for). Prior versions of Micro$oft were usually downwards compatible with older software. So software meant to run on NT4 would run on Windows 2000 and Windows 95 would run on 98 and Me.

Not XP, though. XP would NOT work with some of the prior releases of Windows software. One example is Age of Empires. Age of Empires (AOE) is a game that I and my kids play head-to-head often. We have 4 copies, and between my kids' friends visiting, we have had AOE run on four different platforms, Windows 2000, NT4, 98, and ME, all at once. All without any complaints from any system. XP, on the other hand, said it was not compatible and that would have to "install a downgrade of NT or Windows 2000" or find another Microsoft game.

Last but not least, any search for help would yield find an product made for XP or buy "this or that" to which Micro$oft endorses. The bottomline is that I would have to buy an extra XP and additional XP endorsed software for every system in my house in order to work with one system. Not!

I'm sorry, but XP Professional left me with too many "bad vibes". After one week of reading and frustration, I offloaded that crap and bought Windows 2000 Professional. Had to find where they put everything, as Windows 2000 Pro wanted to become the "new internet sharing server". initially a bit cryptic, but so was Windows NT4 when I first started. I eventually found everything and basicly told 2000 "to behave", and got back to finishing the install in a few days. Windows 2000 has not given me any trouble since. I consider 2000 to be the last true Microsoft upgrade.

There was one good thing about XP and that was its ability to network itself. Upon the first install, XP-Pro quickly took its place as a network client to Merlin. However, XP quickly established itself as "not a team player" and I am not going stand for that from anybody or anything.