-> -> -> WC>The OEM CD does.

-> -> ->  The pripority Manfacturer Specific ones YES. They have
treid to make
-> -> ->  things "Sailor Proof" for the
"Typical" Computer User.

:-(

-> -> I suspect they also want to discourage competition from Linux
-> -> as well, a losing battle with the newer releases
-> -> of Knoppix and "Point and Click Linux."

-> -> Why buy a brand new O.S. every couple of years at MS's whim
-> -> when you can upgrade for free?

-> Well it depends on what you have to do. LINUX despite their recent
-> advances is still several generations behind in compatability with the
-> Real World. Two examples are USB support for all hardware 
   
Well this release sees my USB ports and it's three versions old in just
a year.
My modem is now thanks to Jay hardware, my sound card is Turtle Beach
also hardware but load the very same Linux version of the Vortex
sound drivers as did the original software sound card - modem.
My motherboard video is a standard ATI MACH.

-> and suport for
-> WinModems. Althouhg progress is being made. Another area is digital
-> picture or Video manuplation. YES they have a program that comes close
-> but sometimes second best just dosen't cut it.

Best Data and a very few others still offer genuine hardware modems.
The printer is what I'm most concerned with.

->  Although for the simple things you and I may be doing it may work just
-> fine. IF you have the patience to FIGHT your way through an Install and
-> gettinbg al lthe Hardware to work right. 

Everything I've here is properly autodetected however this is unlikely
for bleeding edge users.

-> You have to Give Microsoft that one, WinXP is pretty close to
-> perfect with their Hardware compatability. 
   
I HATE XP more than I can express though non-technical types seem to
like it.
It's be a DOG on a 433 MHz machine while Linux is faster than 
Win 98.

-> OF course that is particaly
-> becaseu of theri "BIG STICK". you make your Hardware real compatable
-> with WinXP or forget the market as yuo will not make it.

Like I say, my big concern is finding a Linux compatable printer some
time in future but a simple google for Linux and printers ought to turn
them up.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5