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The Editors Desk:
Windows XP is the operating system release that unifies the Microsoft range, with all the desktop versions now built on the NT/2000 code base rather than the shakier foundation of Windows 95, 98, and Me. That makes XP a great upgrade for users of the now obsolete 9x and Me line, but for those already on Windows 2000 Professional it is a closer call. Despite the similar name, there is no special synergy between Windows XP and Office XP, which works fine on Windows 2000. XP certainly looks different, with rounded window corners, larger and more detailed icons, and a clean-look desktop that on first installation shows only the taskbar and recycle bin. XP is also more customizable than previous versions of Windows, and includes visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows in an instant. That is the window-dressing, but underneath are some significant improvements. One of the most interesting is Remote Desktop. A standard XP feature, this uses technology from Microsoft Terminal Server to enable users to access their computer over any connection; for example, by dialing into the office from home. This is not just file access--this technology lets you run applications remotely as if you were sitting at your desk at work. This is mature technology, stable and carefully thought-out. So, for example, you can print from a remote word processor to a local printer. A variation on the theme is Remote Assistance, where the user can allow a remote helper to view their desktop, or optionally gain control of the keyboard and mouse, in order to troubleshoot a problem. The feature can also be disabled to ease security concerns. Laptop users benefit from enhanced power management, with options to extend battery life by reducing CPU speed and display brightness. IrDA support has been fixed so that, unlike Windows 2000, XP can easily use modems in mobile telephones via infrared. A new screen font, ClearType, improves legibility for laptop or other flat screens, and there is built-in support for wireless networking using the popular 802.11 standard. A great feature of XP, also found in Windows 2000, is the ability to synchronize network files with offline copies. Previously these files could not be stored securely, but now they can be encrypted. For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The enhancements in IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers, and in any case Microsoft makes IE freely available to all Windows users. Although Java is not installed by default, it is not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a collaboration tool that allows for video conferencing and application sharing. The most significant new feature for Internet users is the built-in firewall. A firewall protects against one of the most disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown to you might connect to your computer while it is online, reading private files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is a simple affair, but does prevent most types of unauthorized connection. Windows XP has strong multimedia features. The new Media Player lets you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own playlist, and write your own music CDs if you have a CD writer. Although there is loss of quality as a result of compression, the process is easy and convenient. Media Player 8.0 can play back DVD video, but only if a hardware or software DVD decoder is already installed. You can also play MP3 audio files and MPEG videos, but sadly not the popular RealMedia formats. In the end, Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free alternatives, but it is slick and nicely integrated. The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant improvement. The Start menu now automatically features the most frequently used programs at the top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by right-clicking the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs. Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP Home, and adds support for dual processors, encryptable file system, offline folders, the Remote Desktop as described above, and extra administration features that come into play when connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended minimum requirements. There is also activation to consider, a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major system changes. Overall, it's a big step forward for those coming from Windows 9x or Me, and attractive rather than compelling as an upgrade from 2000. --Tim Anderson
Avg. Customer Review: 
The Latest, But DEFINATELY The Greatest Windows XP does the deed that Microsoft has been aiming to achieve since the milestone release of Windows 95. I have been using Windows XP since pre-beta 2 when the OS was still under the codename Whistler. I have seen the ups and downs, the improvements, the additions and subtractions and have been very please with what as been done with Windows XP.It makes installing hardware a breeze with enhanced plus and play technology. Simply plug in your camera, usb device, hard drive, external storage, etc and Windows XP will automatically install and set it up for use. Integrated CD Burning will save you time and money from having to purchase 3rd party applications. Remote Desktop is a wonderful feature for administering your Windows XP computer away from the home or office on a separate computer. All you need to do is install the Remote Desktop client on any computer that does not run Windows XP and you are set. You can also use Remote Assistance to send an invite to a friend, co-worker, relative, anyone you know using Windows XP to control your computer and fix any issue you may be having with it. Windows Media Player 8 is wonderful, allowing you to encode high quality songs from CD's and also including options to display the Album Cover artwork for identifying your music on the folder. My favorite thing is the ability to change the appearance with the new XML skinning engine to completely have a custom and unique style from anyone in the world. There are many wonderful feature to list, and despite the talk that it is just a small step from Windows 2000 is ludicrous. Windows 2000 is similar and on the same codebase, but does outperform and include more useful tools. I would recommend purchasing the full version and not the upgrade, that way if you ever need to install a clean version of Windows XP you will not have to install an OS to upgrade from.
Some irritating features, but worth an upgrade. If you are using Windows 95, 98, or ME, upgrading to Microsoft XP is a no-brainer. XP is feature rich enough to make it worthwhile. A few features I love: - The .ZIP format is supported by the file manager. You can browse in a .zip archive as if it was a directory. - Using the network wizard remote FTP sites can be manipulated in the file manager. The remote site will appear to be a directory on your computer, making updating remote web servers painless. - CD-R drives are supported by XP. This means you can drag and drop files onto the drive and then burn them without using a third-party CD burning application. However, some of the new features will cause you some headaches. Microsoft has gone to some pain in order to hide directories, files, and make the OS more user friendly. As a result, power users will find themselves spending time figuring out how to turn off some of these new features. The administrative tools (computer management, event log, etc.) are hidden even from the administrator until you tweak the properties of the start menu. The biggest headache is the security problems. The only machine I have ever had to be hacked was an XP machine, in spite of the fact I religiously patch and upgrade the OS. The firewall is next to useless. I would recommend you install Zone Alarm.
Great OS from Microsoft As a member of Microsoft's Preview Program, I have been testing the Release Candidate Two version of Windows XP. Even as a release candidate, the code is fairly stable; obviously, the RTM code will incorporate bug fixes found in RC 2. However, my feeling is this product is more for the hard core techie geek. Current home users of Windows 98, Windows ME, or Windows 2000 will not really have any reason to upgrade to this version. For the gearheads who need the latest and greatest, XP is certainly worth the upgrade, especially for those gearheads running Windows 2000. XP offers the same security features as 2000, and is compatible with more software titles than 2000, which makes it a better gaming platform. I was able to fire up old DOS-based titles under XP that I could not under any other OS. The GUI, which looks a bit like the standard Windows desktop, does function differently, and takes some time to get used to. Technically, XP is a major overhaul for the Windows operating system, not seen since the debut of Windows 95. However, I only recommend it for the hard-core techies out there. The average user will be fine with their existing operating system.
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