1) According to the WinXP EULA, by not using Microsoft’s “mandatory” activation process, you will be in violation of your license agreement! In essence, you will have an illegal installation – regardless of having paid for licensed software.
2) Software such as WinAmp, RealJukebox, MusicMatch Jukebox, Windows Media Player 7.0, and even CD-ROM-burning software such as Adaptec EZ CD Creator won’t run on WinXP. In addition, disk utilities, such as Partition Magic, won’t work, either.
3) Several large firms (Xerox, Dial and Motorola among them) have documented proof that WinXP’s beta has trashed sus-systetms of their internal networks – problems that were “directly traceable” to use of the WinXP operating system.
4) WinXP will not support USB 2.0 in the product’s final (market) release. Instead, the OS will push IEEE 1394 (FireWire, iLink) as the preferred high-speed technology – which just *happen* to be Microsoft partners.
5) WinXP users will have to get new activation codes if they upgrade critical hardware, such as a new hard drive. WinXP will force users to call Microsoft and explain why they need a new code, and *Microsoft* will decide whether your “claim” is valid or not – regardless of the fact that you’ve already paid a substantial amount of cash for it!
Nuff said?