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World's First XP System Sold

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the begin-the-begin dept.

A reader writes "New zealands largest OEM PC Manufacturer, The PC Company sold the worlds first Windows XP system. Details can be found at this article on NZoom" And so, it begins.

13 of 371 comments (clear)

  1. Shipping already? by reverius · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is Windows XP shipping already, or is it only starting to ship on new computers now? Can it be bought in stores?

  2. EULA will be violated by epsalon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Most legitimate users will violate the EULA, by connecting to more than 10 computers (somebody said Internet?), or by installing VNC (which is explictly prohibited - but works great nonetheless) or by doing of the many things M$ says you cannot do.
    In short, you're better of pirating it.
    [Disclaimer: This message is for humor only and does not encourage piracy in any way nor does imply any resemblance to real facts.]

    --

    Make even shorter URLs - 8LN.org

  3. Is it only me then? by Troed · · Score: 4, Interesting
    ... that can't understand why I should upgrade from Win2K to Windows XP? I admit to not being a Microsoft-follower, but so far I've completely failed to see what's so special about XP? It's got a new ugly look, that I've seen, but is there anything else?


    I'm actually serious - anyone? :)

    --
    it's in my head
    1. Re:Is it only me then? by Osty · · Score: 5, Interesting

      nothing much has changed except for the fact that normal users have access to raw network sockets.

      Uh ... you'd be correct about the raw sockets if the original poster had mentioned Win9x/ME, but since he asked about upgrading from Win2k, that's a non-issue -- NT has always had raw sockets.


      Anyway, aside from the obvious GUI enhancements (which can easily be disabled by simply choosing to use the Classic theme, which also has the property of not really being a theme, and so doesn't use the resources other themes would), there are other niceties, like fast user switching (logout or switch to another user, but let your current user's applications continue to run), enhanced Terminal Services (aka, Remote Desktop), advanced video and imaging support built in, built-in firewalling (Win2k had packet filtering capabilities, but needed code to take advantage of that), enhanced file system encryption, better app compatibility (nice to have for those games that expect a user to be running win9x), better group policies, Cleartype (if he's using a laptop or LCD display), and more. Check out this feature chart for a better idea of what XP has that 2K doesn't.

    2. Re:Is it only me then? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      The problem is that non-privileged users have access to raw sockets. On unix, and older NT, only privileged users (and usually only root on most systems), can persuade the system to assemble custom raw packets on the sockets - that's why script kiddies tend to first have to "get r00t" on a box, before they can use the box to run their attacks.

      XP allows any user to do this, thus making XP's networking support massively more insecure and downright dangerous - it's like leaving an artillery gun and ammo on your front lawn, with a sign saying "new to these parts? feel free to come on in and use my artillery gun!"

      It's most likely some sort of illuminatus! -style ploy by Microsoft, so they can then say "look how insecure the current networking system is, time for everyone to stop using TCP/IP, and use our new patented, proprietary protocol instead", being careful not to mention that it was MS who unleashed the forthcoming XP script-kiddie hell on the 'net...

  4. New worms coming in the next years ... by clarkie.mg · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It will be fun to see how the worm-writing people will use XP. It could be the decline of m$ in the business market.

    Interesting also to see how the ISPs will react to DOS attacks.

    "Windows XP runs EVERYTHING at root, which means every program (and even the trojans hidden within that program) has full access to all Windows services, including more advanced network services than ever before. Where Windows ME is generally limited to UDP- and ICMP-flooding, for example, Windows XP can jump straight to the main event -- http flooding aat port 80. "Cringely

    "If Windows ME is a gun, Windows XP is a loaded gun.", Cringely

    --
    Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education. Bertrand Russel
    1. Re:New worms coming in the next years ... by Johnno74 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, you can start a process as another user, but still in your regular session (like NT and 2k) or, new to XP, you can start another session as a different user, on a different desktop while the 1st user is still logged on (with programs running and all)

      This, and the cleartype support are about the only things I think XP has got going for it. I'm gonna stick with 2k unless MS releases a method of un-installing all the crap that is built in - Firewall, messenger, moviemaker etc etc etc.

    2. Re:New worms coming in the next years ... by _xeno_ · · Score: 3, Interesting
      The users created when XP installed are automatically "root." And no, at install time, you are not given the option of making them "regular" users.

      (Specifically, it lists five text fields into which usernames are entered - these users do not get passwords unless you change the way in which login is handled. This is for the Windows XP Professional install, and not Home Edition - Home Edition probably does the same thing, though. I haven't really found there to be a big difference between Home Edition and Professional. (Although admittably this was RC2, but feature changes were not slated at that point, so it probably holds true with the release builds.))

      Which probably means that unless the OEMs take action to make sure Joe Consumer's XP box doesn't create Administrator (root) accounts when they first start up their new PC, the average consumer will be running every program as root.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
  5. why xp? by motherhead · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What exactly is an "on topic" post to this story?

    "It shipped?? On computers?? Were they in Boxes?? Did anyone get a good look at the Hologram??"...

    So instead I am going to ask some humble questions since I really haven't been following the XP thing as closely as perhaps I should have. But since I do run a couple of Windows boxes, I'm curious..

    Does it run games better then Win2K? About eight months ago I got lazy and stopped booting into 98 to play games. I found that on adequate system (gobs of inexpensive ram, thank you crucial) 2k runs games quite well. So yeah, my windows boxes are my game boxes.

    Suppose I had acquired a copy, should I be versed in this XP crack (that I.. Uh... Heard some hoodlum teens talking about behind the 7-11) before I install it? Or does the crack apply to subsequent installations.

    Is this thing as compromised in an Orwellian manor as I have heard? BS or fact, how much polling of my box does Microsoft get away with? Suppose I whip ZoneAlarm on it and I block access to M$? Does this pretty much break the system?

    Other then increased speed and stability (bug fixes) is there any compelling reason for someone running a workstation/game machine to even look at this fetid piece of shit?

    And seriously... Does Microsoft really think they are going to get away with this shit? Isn't this really all about the first stage in deploying digital encryption/copyrighting on a global scale? Are they not in on the MPAA mafia's brilliant scheme to block recordable media from storing copyrighted material and also trying to "urge" and "gently nudge" the sheeple from actually enjoying said material? (media player not ripping at 128 and so on... Like anyone rips with media player...) for the life of me I have yet to find a reason as to what exactly am I missing by not letting this thing into my house...

    Since OS 10.1 is supposed to be out on Tuesday (Seybold) and since I haven't slept in 32 hours and will probably spend Tuesday migrating my proper workstations to it (woo woo low level driver support, finally get my wacom tablets to run on it) I will probably sleep through all the wealth of XP juju bandied about on Monday in a beloved coma. So if anyone has any wisdom on any of this I would certainly appreciate it.

  6. Misreporting by D+Anderson+n'Swaart · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I caught the briefs for this article on Three News, much to my bemusement. Apart from wondering why Microsoft chose New Zealand to debut XP, of all places, I couldn't help holding my head and screaming (and getting rolled eyes and exasperated sighs from the rest of my family :P) when poor John Campbell, not knowing any better, announced, "New Zealand today became the first place in the world for Microsoft's long awaited Windows XP program to go on sale..." and went on to say that it was a radical new program, with a number of advances over the previous Microsoft programs, Windows 95 and 98. Don't believe me? Check the website; it's all there at the bottom, although I imagine it won't be for long as the headlines are updated.

    In addition to this, "at one minute after midnight it was All Black Doug Howlett who became the first customer." Nice to know our "national heros" (bleh, rugby, I could care less that most New Zealanders worship these people) are so technically savvy...

    It occurs to me to wonder if, perhaps, Microsoft cleverly decided to do a test run of WinXP in New Zealand, so that if it bombed no one would notice. I mean, I doubt the average non-New Zealander/Australian even knows where New Zealand is...let alone that it's actually separate from Australia ;)

    --

    A word can paint a thousand pictures

  7. I tend to agree by BenHmm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It pains me say this, but you're right. I've been using XP betas for the past few months, and it does, as you say, rock.

    Sure, I wouldn't use it for serving anything, and I rely on my linux machines for perl and the like, but for a desktop system, with an x-term and ssh, XP is the business. I'm on about a week uptime right now, and that's only because I added a second graphics card (dual monitor support is also v.v.g by the way) and it is as solid as any linux gui desktop. perhaps more so. It's full of very neat things, that only appear after you use it for a bit, that you soon learn to love.

    Annoying, but true.

    I may now have to go and wash my mouth out.

  8. Re:All Black by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · · Score: 2, Interesting
    All Blacks = NZ rugby team
    All Whites = NZ Soccer team
    Tall Blacks = NZ Basketball team
    Black Caps = NZ Cricket team

    You get the picture...
    Any sport team in NZ will probably have either 'black' or 'all' in the name.

  9. Windows XP and Standalone Machines by tilleyrw · · Score: 2, Interesting
    If you wish to have an XP machine that does not contact M$ home ba$e to register, simply use the following "God Mode" number.

    It activates all modes of your computer, disables all checking and lets you use XP as M$ never intended.

    MS Windows XP Professional -- Corporate Edition

    FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8

    --
    This post encoded with ROT26. If you can read it, you've violated the DMCA. Handcuffs please, sergeant.