>>What got me started experimenting with OSS for NTFS operations was being annoyed at the attitude of image backup software vendors regarding server versions of Windows OSs.
>>You can get image backup software for W2K Pro or XP Pro/Home for ~$50 or less. So-called "server" versions for W2K Server or Server 2003 are $500 to $1,000 and up. ...
>>There is no technical reason that software that can (off-line) image back up the workstation OSs can't back up the server OSs as well. It's a money grab, pure and simple.
>
>EXACTLY mirrorring my feelings. But nobody ever forced me to install *only* server OS on a specific machine, so my little helpers (licensed for personal use) are installed on the "professionell" OS incarnation. As I don't need/use real server functions, I would never think about buying for such prices. For me the trend to "phone home", install automatically other versions and so on might spur me further into totally free software. But looking from M$ point of view I am not the best customer: I was happy with NT, most of my grumblings were on the missing USB-support. Less often booting W2K is not that much better, but I use it for security reasons nowadays (and love USB). I've often worked on XP and really don't see great benefits for me. I'll probably jump into XP64 (no DRM) soon, and leave W2K becaus I don't want to pay too close attention to the interface - I just don't care. Yes, there will be some Vista machine, but I won't work on it. I don't need multiple GB of OS - 1 GB should
>be enough even today. DOS was a bit wobbly, but not bad for somethig fitting on 4 diskettes including my system tools similar in function to those discussed earlier.

I'm also worried about Vista DRM: http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt

Rather than making computing simpler and more reliable, it's a deliberate step to make it more complex and less reliable. And even if you "opt out" by not using Vista, the hardware you buy in the future will be "Vista-capable" so the land mines are there waiting for you anyways.

When it all blows up, MS and the hardware vendors will say it's "by design" - and the end user will be left to pick up the pieces.

I'm just waiting for the first user to get his internal HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disabled remotely by a content provider, to start a massive class-action lawsuit to bring these yoyos to their senses.

As for XP64 - no (certainly less) DRM, but likely problems getting device drivers as mfrs will probably concentrate on Vista. Is my understanding correct, that Vista drivers are quite different from XP drivers?