Margaret: >Windows versions are backward compatible, so that FO 10 when it is >released will most certainly run on Windows 95, 98, 2000 and the next >Windows XP Hugh: XP is built on the 2000 and NT models and they do not have absolute backward compatibility. I have the utmost faith in Bruce's ability to take care of his admirers regardless of their OS. Harrumph. >A word to the wise -- the fact that Microsoft may not support >Windows 98 anymore should make little difference to most of us. I have >never contacted Microsoft for support and I would guess most users have >not. That is a significant point and one that worries MS. New purchases and upgrades are not being purchased as often as in the past which hurts the bottom line. I could do with 98SE, Office and FO9.02 from now on, but I'll get XP and FO10 - probably not Office XP. Then again...... >Also, for most of us, it is prudent NOT to jump to the latest >Windows version when it is first released. New versions always have >lots of bugs when they are released. Good advice. XP seems very stable now but it seems to me that only the very skillful beta test new OSs. Bugs seem to show up most often when users with a wide range of skills start using the program. >Incidentally, the new Windows will only be able to be installed on >one computer, unlike where with other upgrades, one could use the same >cd on all their computers. This is a problem I think MS will have to work on (and they are). Can you imagine service techs at major corporations having a breakdown which requires the reinstallation of the OS? Thousands of techs will be calling MS several times a day to get the reinstall key. Can you imagine Chase Manhattan Bank holding up the world's transactions while a tech is on hold with MS for 3 days getting the key? And I have 3 computers. I may wind up using 3 OSs, or I might not buy XP at all. Just think if millions refused to buy XP because of that one drawback. Then there are always URLs where one can download a program to try for 25 years to determine whether he wants to buy. Bruce, is August the month I need to be in KY instead of AL so I can get FO10 quickly? Bruce? Where did you go, Bruce? Hugh