Back to XP...
After spending at least the last 9 months using Windows Server 2003 on both my desktop and laptop computers, I have finally gone back to Windows XP on my laptop. I fell in love with WS2003 (oops, .NET Server) when it was in beta. I have been working on mostly ASP.NET Web applications sprinkled with some Web services and smart clients. WS2003 is a fantastic platform for Web apps. IIS 6 is one of the highlights of the OS for me. It's the primary reason I have put up with the pain of using a server OS on my workstations. And I like having multiple Web sites instead of multiple virtual directories for different projects.
But my patience has worn thin. WS2003 is a server product. Using it as a development workstation is just too quirky. I want DriveImage installed, for crying out loud (DriveImage foolishly won't install even in compat mode). I want to install drivers without screwing with compatibility mode. I want my hardware to be recognized! I want Virtual PC to run acceptably on my laptop. I want the UI to prioritize me.
Moving back to XP also gives me a chance to experience SP2 on one of my day-to-day machines, which is a good thing IMO. By the end of summer I will probably also move my desktop machine to XP - they have never even been introduced.
Anyone else out there have the same frustration? Do you love WS2003 but curse it during routine day-to-day desktop tasks? Maybe we should form a support group...