I set up a machine with Windows 2003 Server Datacentre Edition last year. That's the version of the XP codebase that has PAE support and can access >4 GB of RAM... and with all the junk turned off. No themes, for instance.
It was really pleasant to use.
Give me that, with MS Security Essentials and no IE, just Firefox, and I could happily work on it today.
So very true.
I set up a machine with Windows 2003 Server Datacentre Edition last year. That's the version of the XP codebase that has PAE support and can access >4 GB of RAM... and with all the junk turned off. No themes, for instance.
It was really pleasant to use.
Give me that, with MS Security Essentials and no IE, just Firefox, and I could happily work on it today.