More XP Rumor Eradicating!

Most of the [rumors] flung around here, and elsewhere, are just that - rumors. They hold little to no [merit] whatsoever. I have been running [Windows] XP [Professional] Edition for over three months now and it has been working like a finely [tuned] machine.

Anyways, the rumors to [slay]:

Product Activation and Copyright Protection: As [mentioned] above by [mfk], [minimal] copy [protection] was implemented. Every [burnt] [CD] I have tried as so far works. I use both [Nero] and [Clone CD], it does not prevent you from [installing] them and it does not prevent you from burning. Also, XP does not in any way shape or form prevent the [download], [encode] or [decode] of any media type that I have used (including [MP3s]). I do not even have a [WMA] file and I still listen to my [music].
Also, Product Activation, as [mfk] mentioned, is as painless as possible. They are very [lenient]. I have re-installed XP twice now, on the same computer mind you, and I have not had to call up [Microsoft] to explain my situation. Note: I re-installed XP the first time with an [NTFS] format as I was sick of [FAT32], and the second time because of a [Virus] not because of XPs faults.
Thanks to mfk for the following: mfk says re Windows XP: "Copy protection" consists of a corrupted CONTROLS.MAN file. Try copying an XP CD with Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4. So no copying XP CDs with [Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4], just get [Clone CD].
XP Incompatibility: Yes, XP has [incompatibility] problems, with both [hardware] and [software]. However it also has brilliant compatibility. Put simply, XP is for the future and modern software and hardware. If you have old hardware, or wish to run old software, then do not purchase XP. Any hardware released much later than a year ago, and any software released later than two years ago, will have a [significant] chance of being incompatible (increasing with age of course). So if you have an old [system], either [upgrade] or don't buy XP and stop bitching about its incompatibility. Microsoft is trying to move forward, not backwards. All new hardware and software will be XP compatible, or will have a [different] version for XP. Note: Almost anything that works on 2000 will work on XP. Alot of 2000 drivers work for XP too.
DOS: Dos does exist in XP, command.com is still there, and you can still use the DOS prompt. The reason most DOS [programs] won't work is because unlike other Windows, where Windows [boots] from DOS, XP boots from itself, then DOS boots off XP. This causes major issues with DOS programs and will probably cause it to [crash].
Boot Time: Slow? Hell no. As [phillihp] mentioned it does 60 seconds flat on an empty [machine]. I have a 1.5 [GHz] P4 with 128 MB [RDRAM], my 60 GB [HDD] is around 33% full and it boots in [approxiamately] 75 seconds (give or take a few seconds for the time taken to [sign in]). It loses a bit of time on [shutdown]s and [restart]s, but it is by no means as slow as what the rumors state. 90 seconds tops.
Program Integration: Yes, XP [integrates] programs! Shock [horror]! Microsoft has been pushing in that [direction] for years. Aside from the fact this integration makes things [1.0x10^100000] times easier, each program can be uninstalled. Yes, that's right, we all remember [Add/Remove] programs don't we? Well there's a tab there, [Add or Remove Windows Components], which allows you to uninstall [Internet Explorer 6.0], [MSN Messenger 6.0]... anything that was installed can be removed.

So, that's the word on XP. It truly is a great [OS], at least compared to other Windows. For those of us not versed in [Linux], XP is the go. It is by far the most stable OS of the Windows, it is by far the fastest (on [high-end] systems). Its [integration] features with [MSN Messenger] and [IE 6.0] are useful and make things easier. So go out and buy XP if you have a system for it!

Windows XP (thing)