Robin “Roblimo” Miller has posted an excellent review of the Windows XP Home Edition operating system over at NewsForge. A long time Linux user, Miller concludes:

Given Microsoft’s current development rate, it’s entirely possible that within a few years Windows may be almost as good a choice for most users as Linux, . . . and if you must use Windows XP you should try to get a computer that has it preinstalled rather installing it yourself — unless you are a hard-core techie/nerd instead of an ordinary user.

Now why do you suppose that is?

As it turns out, Windows XP isn’t quite ready for Joe User. It seems that he ran into snags, trials, tribulations, and complete nonsense while trying to use Windows XP, whereas Linux was smooth sailing.

In fact, for at least 12 out of the last 24 months, this little black box has been my primary desktop workhorse, and it has always functioned without a hiccup — until I tried to install the “Windows XP Home Edition” operating system on it.

First, Miller shelled out $199 at Office Depot for a copy of Windows XP Home Edition. Then when he got it home and tried to install it, the first thing he found is that it didn’t have a manual, and it did have a “product key.” A what? Anyway, so he installed it, and immediately began having trouble. In fact, Windows XP was nothing but trouble.

Among the many problems Miller ran into while trying to use Windows XP were poor hardware support, lack of “out of the box” functionality, and the high costs associated with additional software. He recommends “sticking with Linux unless you have software requirements that can only be met by using the Windows XP operating system,” and that “the problems and costs associated with Windows XP argue against a switch from GNU/Linux unless Microsoft radically changes its pricing and licensing structure, and manages to make its premier operating system install easily on common, everyday hardware.”