Reply #7: A few points

[tridim]

The "the OS takes 5GB for a full install" argument is lame and outdated. All modern consumer OS's (and their related utility software) are multi-gigabyte in size and they're going to continue to get larger in the future. Storage is dirt cheap, it's a moot point.

OpenGL is not superior to DirectX, unless you're just talking about it being open source, which is a slight advantage in theory. Programming DirectX is very easy and it's the only wrapper that takes full advantage of modern video card chipsets. It's also significantly faster than OpenGL because the hardware and software are often built for each other. Case in point, 3D Studio Max has the option of running in OpenGL or DirectX. DirectX mode is much, much faster on a mid-range vid card. No contest.

Debug code always causes early versions of OS's run slowly. Remember early versions of OSX? Moot point.

That said. I HATE Windows XP and I love Windows 2000. I prefer the OS to stay out of the way and not sacrifice performance for eye candy. MS has lots of work to do to keep me as a customer after XP.