GUI-wise I agree completely. I remember how both windows 3.0 and windows95 were a huge leap forward in usability. Win2k combined this with the NT kernel. The main piece missing was decent DirectX, which came in XP.
But there is another important change after win2k: The attitude Microsoft has to its users. Windows XP was the first windows where actively user hostile technologies like DRM were introduced.
But there is another important change after win2k: The attitude Microsoft has to its users. Windows XP was the first windows where actively user hostile technologies like DRM were introduced.