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
Designed for reliability, security and privacy, high performance, and ease of use, the Windows XP operating system provides a host of benefits forbusiness and home users. A clean and simple desktop, rock-solidreliability, and easy-to-use features that take advantage of the digitalage all contribute to the value of Windows XP.
Enhancements in real-time voice, video, and data communications will allowthe PC to become a center of communications and creativity beyond juste-mail and instant messaging. Windows XP will also allow the user toconnect back to the desktop from any location, and support for new wirelessnetworks will be built in. Windows XP will unify the user's supportexperience by enabling the user to provide temporary and secure control oftheir PC over the Internet to whomever can best help them.
Windows XP takes an end-to-end approach to how people transfer videos andpictures onto their computer, how they use them on their PC and otherdevices, and how they share them, whether in person or through e-mail, over the Web, or through removable media like DVDs and CDs. It extends this experience through applications that help users buy music and videos, mobile devices, services for saving your music on the Internet, and more. Windows XP will make it easier for households to share a single PC and share pictures, music, files,printers, and other resources.
1 Ambiguous
In the system requirements link on Amazon for this product the upgradable OS are :
"Upgrade for users of Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, or 2000"
Great! What about users of XP Home Edition - we all know it CAN be upgraded inplace but will this paticular upgrade product do it?
answers on a postcard.
2 Windows XP....THE BEST OS EVER
Windows XP Professional is the best operating system ever, however, I do not reccommend the Home Edition version, it is too limited. I also reccommend Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Edition along with XP, because it will increase your performance.
Windows XP certianly looks different, because of the new design. Ideal for home and professional users, while your at home making a business card, or if you are at the office. It can handle Hyper Threading, as well as advanced applications.
Windows XP rarely crashes, and if it does, it is not the whole OS, but just a program, and it is so easy to close. Then, just simply restart the application and you are back up and running.
Windows XP is very easy to install; just pop in the CD, answer a few simple questions, and your done in just forty-five minutes!
Windows XP is a valid upgrade for users of any Windows Operating System, weather it be 2000, 98, ME, 95, XP Home, or NT, XP will increase your performance and make you overall happier!
3 Windows XP Professional
I have been a freelance translator for the past 15 years; and as such, was forced to learn how to operate a computer at a rather advanced age. That was during 1990. I started with a plain little computer, no WYSIWYG. . .and I can't even remember what the operating system was, but it was, most assuredly built by Bill Gates and was not yet "Windows".
I have FINALLY GRADUATED to this WONDERFUL version of Windows. . Windows XP Professional, the zenith of operating systems. I assure anyone who is reading this, that it is a most worthwhile investment. No more crashes. The computer even TELLS YOU when it has "indigestion". I love it. I cannot believe how good it is. I recommend it most heartily to everyone. You will certainly not be sorry once you load it on to your computer.
4 Pretty but LINUX IS BETTER, CHEAPER
Linux is a better and cheaper operating system. A free download (such as Mandrake 10) includes what would be thousands of dollars worth of software if it was a MS operating system. The GIMP, while not as polished as Photoshop, is also free (Unlike Photoshop for windows, which is almost $1000). In my opinion, I would rather spend $0.00 on linux and spend the money I saved upgrading my computer. I would go with Linux if I were you (even has an office suite that works with MS Office documents). You won't regret it.
5 The Best Microsoft Operating system ever created
Microsoft hit a home run with Windows XP Professional. If you want the most solid, reliable, and most trouble free operating system look no further.
I give MS XP Pro 5 Gold stars!
6 This is one sweet operating system but not 4 old technology
Windows XP Pro is quite arguably the most reliable operating system that Microsoft has come out with yet. Additionally it comes with the option of converting it to a Windows 98SE desktop appearance, for those who don't want to fuss with learning new instructions to get the old things done. It does so much more though.
One note of caution; do not install XP in an older machine, with older hardware. Your sound card vendor may have stopped making software drivers a long time ago for your now discontinued device. The problem is that they do not want to spend the resources to create drivers for a product that they no longer make. So if you have an old video card, audio card, modem, etc, it quite possibly won't work with XP. If you try to install XP you will get all kinds of incompatible error messages. So do yourself a favor and put old wine into old bottles, and new wine into new ones; consider getting a newer machine if you are going to upgrade to XP. You might wind up spending close to the same amount of money upgrading your components to make it work, as you would to just simply buy a new one. Check with all of your hardware manufacturers to see if they produced XP drivers for your existing hardware. Hope this helps.
7 Excellent operating system
After finding out that Linux does NOT and has NO functionality to speak of. I purchased XP-Pro upgrade. To sum it all up, one word - AWESOME! Do yourself a favor and try this, it is plug and play to the extreme, is fast booting up and tons of applications available. Also purchased was Office 2003 Professional, the email client OUTLOOK is the best to date.
Overall, you cannot go wrong with Windows XP-Pro.
8 THERE SHOULD E A NEGATIVE RATING ALLOWED
Where to begin with this tumerous mound of bloated software? In the beginning (before all the security problems were found - and continue, sometimes several times a day) XP home ran well. Now, no doubt, large chunks of code have been patched, re-patched and entirely replaced.
The result is this rotting pile of dung that goes sooooo slowly.
Unlike other notorious monopolists, Gates trumpets his great innovation.
(...). Each and every product of Microsoft is either a look back (often to Apple) or a buy-in. Each and every MS initiative (remember.NET?; remember XBOX?) has been a failure. Gates spends billions to produce technological failures.
XP is the most glaring example of this. Gates would do well to XPlode XP and start over.
9 Very Stable OS.
Windows XP has been the best OS from Microsoft yet. It is not perfect, but it does not crash very often. I'm running XP on 3 computers that are networked. My laptops came with XP, but my desk top came with Windows 98, which was not very stable (it crashed daily). I tried using ME, but that was the worst operating system ever. Upgrading my older Compaq 667MH Celeron was very easy with XP. I downloaded a XP compatibility checker before installing XP to see what software and drivers were compatable. Downloaded the required updates and Windows XP installed very easy. XP is very easy when it comes to upgrading and installing new hardware.
I highly recommend a clean installation when upgrading. Saves a lot of headaches. Also beware that a lot of software that you use with 95,98,and ME are not compatible with XP. I also recommend having atleast 256MB RAM.
The reason I will not give Microsoft XP 5 Stars is that MS does not allow installation on more than one computer and having to activate the product. I'm buying the software to use as I need, not as Microsoft wants me to use it. That's like purchasing a Music CD and having to get a activation code and only being allowed to play on your home CD player. Are you listening MR. Gates????????????????????????????
10 i think win suck
i give it one star become i have had win xp and wi me and 95 and up to now i cant stan it i ge ton lone on my old gateway and on my dad new hp and i get cut off and i am playing game and the comeputer cut me off so when i can get the money i am liveing win pc for good and go to apple i love apple ox so for me when i get my apple i will naver by a win pc
11 Good Overall Operating System
Microsoft should be proud of its XP operating systems. XP is friendly and intuitive. If you need to get a home network up-and-running immediately, XP will show you how. It will even show you how to create a network to a 98 OS.
As with any other Microsoft application, XP is like a couch potato. It gets fatter and slower the older it gets. Some good clean-up applications are on the market that will help keep your XP OS lean and fast (Norton System Works), but as with people, XP does seem to get slower with age, even with a clean-up utility.
12 XP Home edition is a rip-off, go for Pro or go back to NT
I'm very disappointed with XP. It is a memory hog, far too focussed on digital audio/video support (yet doesn't have built-in DVD decoders), not supportive of any driver software more than a few years old (and the drivers it has itself are VERY basic), does not include IIS, therefore cannot support Visual Studio or VS.NET in any of its forms. Furthermore it freezes up and crashes on the simplest of tasks (usually involving Internet Explorer). This comes standard in most home PCs and unfortunately the upgrade isn't cheap. I'll go back to Windows 2000 - it was far more stable and robust.
13 The best there is today from MS
I am amazed at some of the recent negative reviews, but you cannot please everyone. Simply put, Windows XP is the BEST operating system to ever come out of WA.
To those folks who chose to upgrade to XP from ME, the problems you experienced and the bitterness you feel, is more a result of the fact that you had a virus (ME) on your system. And you can complain that the upgrade from ME to XP isnt fun, because it isnt. ME is a pain. My in-laws bought a new Dell, with ME, and ME actually nuked the hard drive. When the Dell service guy learned he would need to replace the drive, he told them 1-go to XP, ME is a virus, and 2-they got lucky in that its a fresh drive, because ME to XP conversions have HUGE issues.
I just was doing one for a neighbor, and it crapped out midway through, because ME kept fighting the upgrade. Had they not cared about settings and whatnot, I would have taken WipeDrive to the hard disk and started fresh.
The only other Windows OS i would run is 2000, but XP is a solid choice and with good reason.
to the complaints about some legacy software not supported, or not supported well? Yes, it sucks. But MS needed to move on and up past some previous issues, and to do so in some cases meant needing to cause some compatibility issues. In the long run, it will be a good thing. but in the event of 3rd party compatibilities, it is not MS's fault if a 3rd party vendor cannot meet more stringent requirements for XP certification.
Bottom line, if my mother-in-law can navigate XP safely and easily, its as good an OS as there could be for a home user.
14 NO BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY
Okay, I tried to run Morrowind on this system which is plugged up around the school, and it wouldn't work. Because Morrowind is such a high-end game as far as PC requirements I figured as much, until I noticed they said I needed a Pentium 3 and I had a Pentium 4. Anyway, Morrowind wouldn't run properly, even though it was advertised to work up to Windows XP. It at least worked, but it was extremely slow and had a problem since it was mouse based. In short, every time I used a menu, it took 15-20 minutes to select something as the mouse jammed and then skipped. The same was true for my DVD, and the DVD itself would jam in the middle of playing, whereas at home on my Windows 98 computer, all games and programs ran smoothly. This is only the first problem.
2)Bad graphical processing
Like I said, the DVDs often don't even work, or they lag in playback. Also, games don't even work that well
3)Poor DOS handling
I tried to install this game called Daggerfall on my dorm computer, and the installation used DOS. The computer was Windows 2000 with XP "enhancements." It blacked out and froze before it started. I tried XP computers, and they were just as bad. Then I tried a Windows 98, and within 15 minutes, the huge sized installation was mostly done.
True, there are a few things good about this:
1-> Faster download (maybe)
2-> Built-in programs (including one that unzips files)
However, number 2 leads to problem 4.
4) Limited programs
That unzip program may only do one unzip at a time, whereas winzip can at least try to do more. This program on the other hand, opens a separate window, insuring the futility of this endeavor.
3-> Faster 2-D/ small-scale graphic programming
If you want to play emulated games, sure go ahead, it will have no problems with it, but this too is a problem, as it speeds through stuff much faster than its normal rate was supposed to be. Anything computer rendered however, will likely lag on you.
In conclusion, Windows XP is more of a virus than an OS, so one would be wise to avoid it.
15 Nice improvement, but....
When I installed my Windows XP OS, it was pretty flawless until... my sound card (C-Media) didn't work at first. There were drivers available for it, and it worked well. My motherboard wasn't all that flawless, until I found the drivers on the manufacturer's website. The thing is my machine was built with Windows ME-2000 on my mind, so XP had its share of problems. On behalf of XP, I have to say my printer worked fine from minute 1, and the overall stability of the system is improved. Too bad the Blaster virus was invented, you need to download the vaccine asap. RedHat Linux is a better choice in my opinion, but I can't listen to baseball games since there's no good Real Player available for it, and I couldn't make my Alcatel DSL Modem to work in it. If you're an average user, XP is recommendable but be aware you might find several problems, even more if you're trying to run older software or using older hardware. The best solution is buy a new one and pop it into it. And please, if you're going to upgrade, REFORMAT YOUR HARD DRIVE AND CONVERT IT INTO NTFS!
16 Don't you just hate mediocre, corporate mush?
Kind of like driving a Ford Fairmont. It'll get you there, but that's about it, with a very good chance of crapping out on the side of the road. Plus, you get to proclaim that you've got the taste of a herd animal.
Fun!
17 Not a fan of XP
I was an expert on the 97 Windows system and for the time I gave that system a 4 out of 5 stars. It had some glitches but for the most part it allowed me to do what I had to do. Once I stepped up to XP I liked some of the new features, and definitely liked the new look. However, I find that a lot of things have been made more difficult and the simpler ideas from 97 have been made more complex. Hey, my job is hard enough as it is, the last thing I need is difficulties from my Operating System. I do like a lot of the updates to Outlook, and I feel they need to improve on their updates to Excel.
18 Completely blows ME out of the water!
I have had XP on my Dell system for over 2 years now and have had NO problems with it. Yes, when I installed XP, I had some hardware that needed newer drivers and I have software that won't run. The software was designed for DOS use only and will not run in a DOS Shell, never did, even with 95. The drivers were simply XP/2000 specific drivers rather than the 95/98/ME that were initially installed by Dell with ME. ME crashed all the time for no apparent reason. To this day (12/27/2003), XP has simply never crashed. If you have an older PC, there are some major considerations as XP is NOT 100% "backward" compatible. However, if you bought your NEW computer with-in the last 3 years, you should be fine. For the most part, I have found that software with the "made for Windows" logo works fine, Norton AV being the exception. You must have a 2001 or newer version of Norton. If upgrading your system from ME/98 and have Norton, you should uninstall Norton first, then re-install after the upgrade is complete. I saw another review here about Norton2004 not working after upgrading Windows. Since I don't have 2004 I can't be certain, but I say the same as for other versions, uninstall first and be sure it is Norton2001 or newer. Also, some software may need updates to function properly under XP, especially if the software was specifically intended for 95/98/ME. This is not another version of the 95/98 flavor, but rather a complete restructuring that brings tried and true technology out of the corporate world and into your home. If you own older hardware, such as a printer or scanner, you should visit the manufacturer's web site for those devices to insure compatibility, NOT MICROSOFT. While Microsoft does have a hardware compatibility list, the nonexistence of a particular device doesn't indicate incompatibility. Microsoft simply cannot guarantee compatibility of the thousands of products on the market.
Enjoy!
19 Alot of bells and whistles, but most go unused
WindowsXP was one of the most anticipated upgrades in computer history, but much like many other things Microsoft related, this product has proven to be more trouble than it is help.
There's alot of good to be said about XP Pro. Bootup times are much quicker than any other MS operating system, better user management than Windows 2000, and lots of compatability. My favorite feature has to be the automatic recognition of Plug-n-play devices, which has served as a life saver in quick situations. For those who like a PC with a nice interface, XP has unlimited skinning properties, which is good. But they take up extra RAM, which is bad. Crashes are also down as well, which is good.
XP Pro has a ton of features that come automatically enabled. I can't list how many of these I've just turned off because they just plain didn't serve a purpose or were an annoyance. The IP addresser of the windows XP messenger has become a haven for spammers. The "services" that windows automatically enables do nothing more than take up RAM and slow you down. The System Restore will eat a big chunk of your PC if you don't know how to turn it down/off. The CD burning feature is tricky and pointless. I see no reason why you would use this over a commerical product such as Nero (or even a free CD burning program, such as Burn At Once).
This is all not mentioning the numerous security holes in the operating system. Microsoft tries to fix this my automatically running Windows update while you're online. If you have a fast PC and broadband, then you might not notice it going. But if you're on an older PC or have dial-up, then it will cut into your internet speeds and processor speeds. If you turn it off, then you have to remember to check it on your own.
I also can't count the numer of times I've gotten phone calls asking me how to put My Computer and My Documents back on the desktop, since they're hidden by default.
All in all, it's nice, but unless you're going to have a "computer person" install and tweak it for you, you're going to have things happen that you don't like. Stick with 2000 until longhorn comes out.
20 Almost as bad as being on a Mac.
This program has almost EVERYTHING I hate about Macentosh. If you hate Mac computers, this is almost as bad!
21 Rock solid, the PERFECT OPERATING SYSTEM
If you want a rock solid PC, with all the funcitionality and rock solid stability then you need Windows XP Professional.
I am so impressed with it, I bought Windows XP Professional for my mother who is 61 years old. She can actually use and is very pleased. It has been trouble free and best of all she can use her digital camera with it without any problems.
Best of all is the software selection, there are thousands of software titles for Windows XP! I was so pleased to see the support for Windows XP, the plug and play is wonderful.
MS hit a home run and then some with Windows XP Professional, it is just PERFECT!
I recommend Windows XP for anyone wanting a rock solid operating system.....
22 Fantastic!
Upgrading from WindowsME, after a two years was the best move I ever made. I was first worried that some of the software I had would have to be re-registered, or that I would lose some or all of my email/contacts/bookmarks/passwords/or other settings.
My worries were for nothing! Everything migrated over to the new OS of XPProfessional without any complaints, or hangups. It took a total of 73 minutes to completely install the upgrade and with the exception of having to re-download the proper version of McAfee Virus Scan for the new OS, there were absolutlely NO problems.
Being able to 'partition' the drive for another person who may use my PC is the best function I've found. My settings and preferences are kept safe while their's are seperate. This upgrade is worth the price and the time.
This version is 2002, so a quick visit to the Windows Update site brought me completely up to date within a few minutes.
If you are a previous Win98/WinME user you will simply love this upgrade.
23 The Long And Windowing Road
Welcome to the Swiss Cheese of operating systems. I am tired of applying on security patch after another and having to uninstall my firewall and reinstall my firewall with each security patch only to end up with the same slow clunky system. In two or three years Micro$oft might have a completely new operating system that totally obsoletes this one...then again maybe not. *** IS THIS WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO? 2 - 3 YEARS OF MORE PATCHES? *** I'm going to buy an Apple and end this insanity.
24 A Worthwhile Upgrade
Just a word of advice, you must use the Professional Edition if trying to upgrade from Windows 2000
25 Please, no more Microsoft products!
I have never had so much trouble installing a program! First, it told me that it had corrupted files and that it could not be installed. Once I got it to start the installation process, it stops(hangs) halfway through with no reason for the crash. When I went to the Microsoft website (spending at least an hour looking through a database of info that did not help me one bit-- but it did reveal to me that there are a host of other problems that pop up when you install XP which did not settle well with me, such as not being able to reinstall certain programs,vast program incompatibilities, etc.), I finally find the article pertaining to my problem and it suggested that I remove all my drivers, sound cards, video cards, etc. in essence, take apart my computer, install Windows, then put the pieces back again! Now I am adept at program installation, and can troubleshoot problems on my computer quite competently so I could safely say that I do know what I am doing when it comes to what should have been the installation of a simple program. This program made me feel as if I had a brain full of runny oatmeal. My advice to others who are wrestling with the question of "to upgrade or not to upgrade" is. . .don't. If you have Windows 98, leave it, stay happy and sane. In the past couple of years I have had nothing but trouble with the PC. When it is time for me to get another computer, I'm going back to the good ol' Mac.
26 Phewww
I finally did it. I broke down and bought the software instead of copying it. What a relief!
27 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.
28 Microsoft Windows XP Professional Upgrade by Microsoft
The UnPresidented Hype With This Upgrade Is Bogus!!! The CD Was Missing So Much Information, The Program CD Data Is Corrupt, Besides The Several Hours On Hold @ Microsoft's Supposed Free Tech Assistance, Which Was UnFree! The Four And A Half Plus Hours With Microsoft's Tech Line; The Stress, HeadAche, BodyCramp's, Caused By, The Many Flawed Attempt's To Manually Install What Kept Peventing This So Called, Varified, And Cleared Upgrade; All Prior Info. And Programs Were Lost!! Hey! Microsoft, We The Public, Are Offically Paid GinniePigs, So What's Up With This UnExceptable MESS, You've Collected Cash From!! The Federal Truth In Advertising Rule Applies Here Folks!! "BUYERS BEWARE"!! THANKS FOR THE EYE OPENERS W/ ALMOST EIGHT HOURS ON THE PHONE!!!!!! ONLY TO FIND MORE ROAD BLOCKS, WHEN INSTALLING PERSONAL CHOICE PROGRAMMING, THE VIEW FROM MY SCREEN IS IF THE PROGRAMS ARE NOT MICROSOFT'S WARE'S, FORGET THE MONEY SPENT, THE ITEMS PURCHASED, THE TIME INVOLVED TO INSTALL EACH ONE; LET'S ALL LOOK AWAY FROM INDIVIUALS AND RECIEVE A TIDY PAY CHECK FROM ALL THE MILLIONAIRES @ MICROSOFT: WHAT A DIVERSE WAY TO RUN A LIFE!! WE MIGHT THEN FINALLY RECEIVE WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN PAYING FOR YEARS!! "SHARES IN MICROSOFT'S GREEDY STOCKMARKET"
29 Display Drivers stop working after Upgrade
After upgrading to XP pro, my display drivers stop working. Have spending "chatting" with Miscrosoft Support, but without success. Microsoft blames it on the hardware (OEM issue ). But Miscrosoft support were unable to explain how upgrading from XP Home to XP Pro can cause so much pain !!!
30 Why do Microsoft bother?
Sorry to gripe, but I have been using XP for a few months on and off now and I am glad I don't own a PC, it kind of reminds me of "Fisherprice My First Computer" - Having struggled with this operating system, with it's freezes and crashes and bad interface I really realised why I did purchase a Macintosh - Oh thank you Apple for OSX - an operating system that works.
Better luck next time Microsoft.
31 XP = needs Xtra Power
While Windows XP is viewd by many as a great operating system, there are several flaws, but the average consumer will probably never notice. If you're planning on upgrading to XP, you should really make sure you have at least 256mb of RAM, 512mb is even better. XP is resourse hungry and really needs more RAM than Microsoft states in order for it to run smoothly and eliminate crashes. It does require more processing power too, but this should not be a problem for most newer systems. I would however not recommend running it on anything less than a 1.0 gig machine.
32 Downward problems big time
In and of itself, and for multimedia use, it's absolutely terrific. Best example: burn CDs while running other operations, even with files from network drives, unlike every other CD utility I've ever used or heard of. What's BAD? Very poor compatibility with older games and programs, that predate XP compatible hardware. If I still want to play DOOM or use some older business software that I still like I need to keep a 98 station running. And DON'T install it as an upgrade! Mouse/keyboard drivers are a mess. If you want to upgrade an existing station, verify all your peripheral drivers, then format your hard drive and install it as a new OS. Then kiss any software more than three years old bye-bye, and have a blast with Media Player and Quake 3. Oh, and File Searching is frustratingly slow, no idea why.
33 To say it is frustrating is an understatement
Every time I turn around, something else doesn't work with XP. I have replaced almost everything in my computer and around my computer. I'm going back to 98...and that is not pleasant...
34 The BEST operating system from Microsoft ---Must have!
This is by far the best operating system from Microsoft. It is will worth the money, the stablity, performance and quality really shine. It just works, has a nice gui, easy to update and software selection.
Linux can no way even come close to Microsoft Windows XP Profressional.
I have had several machines run for months with XP Pro and never had one crash, reboot or any problems out of them.
Get Windows XP, you will be VERY pleased!
35 Best OS on the Market
Most would agree that Windows is the best OS. There is little doubt that this the the best of Windows. It was created to address security issues, OK so no one is perfect. This OS already has more patches than a veteran hobbo. Still, it is leaps and bounds ahead of 98 and especially preferable to XP Home.
36 One big annoyance
Sure, everyone and their dogs use Windows but this has got to be one of the most non intuitive, unfriendly versions of Windows ever. One sentence describes this beast. "Get out of my way and let me get my job done." This OS simply will not leave you alone and seems to try and actually stop you from finding what you need. Convoluted, ugly, and yes, annoying. I went back to using 98 and soon I'll be moving to Mac OS X.
Ask yourself, why would anyone use something where you have to buy an additional book called "Windows Annoyances." And oh, by the way, I can do with out the billion or so viruses Bill...fix that will you, we pay you enough!!
37 Do you need the Pro version?
Windows XP Home and Pro are 100% identical, except that "Pro" costs much more and has a few additional features. If you don't need these features, stick with the Home version.
1) Support for Windows domains: This is the main difference. If you log into a Windows "domain" at work, then you need XP Pro.
2) Remote Desktop: This is like PC Anywhere, and it comes with XP Pro.
3) Do you already have Win 2000 or NT?: If you are buying an upgrade version (which this product is), be aware that the XP Pro "Upgrade" version requires Windows NT or Windows 2000. If you buy the XP Home "Upgrade" version, then your computer must already have Win 98 or ME installed.
38 I SHOULD'VE LISTENED
This product is the absolute worst.........well let me be fair....I'm still unable to install the OS.....It's been 4 days now I've been trying to install the software and it continues to hang/not respond during certain stages of setup.......now I'm to the point I can't even begin the setup...
39 The product does not install
the product crashed while I installed it.
can't see the point of paying good money for an upgrade that doesnt work.
Microsoft tech support put me on hold for one hour, seems they are overwhelmed with virus calls relating to their software.
40 great os
I have two computers-a hp that is two years old with windows me which i upgraded to xp pro, then i have my new dell dimension which was preinstalled with windows xp pro. My dell is super fast, i haven't had a bug, and i have no problems. The only problem with my other computer was that msconfig wouldn't load right. However, be prepared to wait a while if you have to replace a computer hard drive on microsoft's tech line. It is a must because with the high security microsoft has on this software (well, any program like Windows and Office which you have to activate) because your installation number will not be accessible. I learned that with my old hp.
I have used all windows operating systems (3.1, 95, NT, 98, 982E, 2000, ME, XP Home, and XP Pro) and this program is so stable that I can run 6 windows at one time and multitask like there was never a tomorrow on my new dell. However, to be that productive, you must have AT LEAST 256 DDR Ram to run proficiently.
41 Win XP not that bad
I ama computer builder and owner of 16 computers. I own every single Windows operating system except Windows 3.1. Windows XP is the most stable operating sytem there is. The only thing that comes close is Windows 2000 Pro, but it has many compatiblity issues. Windows XP boots extremely fast, about twice that of Win 2000 and leaves 95,98,ME behind. The only issue that you must BE VERY CAREFULL about is memory. The minimum requirements are very low, but remember that they are minimum and therefore if you are vry close to the minimum requirements it is going to run slow. I would say that to use this product properly you need at least 256MB RAM (go to crucial.com to get they have the best prices) and 512MB to really enjoy games and online stuff. As for the people who said that the default color scheme can not be changed it can be changed to over 500 diffrent combonations with any custom color you want. And if you buy a new hard drive you WOULD need to install it again because the old harddrive had your Operating Sytem on it (Windows XP\ME\98|95|2000). If you want to add a second drive you have too keep the first one in, then put the second drive in as a primary slave and format it. Also Linux Redhat or the multitude of free versions are not a wise choice to make because there is very limited software for them and any software you have for your windows PC wont work. You should also be warned that a new Windows Operatin System is coming out sometime between OCtober and December 2003 code named Windows Longhorn. You might want to wait for that, but then you might not because win XP is a very good OS.
42 Windows XP Pro Upgrade
I loaded Win Pro XP upgrade on a HP Pavilion 8500,with Win 98. It was a nightmare. Many of the programs would not load correctly, and getting MS support was nearly impossible. Once I did, I learned about the MS website and updating the system's BIOS. This wasn't in the instructions. Problems still continued and I ended up having to have Best Buy load it. Then my Lucent Win LT modem would not work, after another worthless search for answers on the internet, I bought a new modem and now it works. Win XP Pro may be a better system, but can be a nightmare to load. Check the MS and HP support site before doing so.
43 Awful just awful
This software is a nightmare, compared to Windows 98. Hard to learn and configure - I did it eventually, but Dell Computers (another questionable experience) puts the software on their computers, so I was stuck. The software didn't like my NOT using MSN or Internet Explorer. I got no technical support from Dell on this issue. I finally got my Internet connection configured by going through my Internet provider, Earthlink. My school refused to buy Windows XP because of its problems, so I don't have the same software to work at home. Any other version of Windows has to be better than this. Bill Gates got his revenge.
44 Not worth the headache it will give youo
This produce is not worth your time at all. The inability to change the default blue, silver, and olive is quite annoying, and the only possible way is to find someone who has cracked Microsoft's code.
Then drivers aren't compatible with XP and cause errors like crazy. I couldn't use my camera or a lot of my gaming things. My internet crashed 2-5 times a day and I'd lose everything I was doing at the time. It's almost impossible to FIND things like dial - up networking ,keep is simple Microsoft.
The biggest tick-off is the activation requirement, you shouldn't have to purchase multiple copies of an O.S if you had like 2-3 home computers, that's crazy and then having to deal with people to do it. I frequently format my system (every 5-6 months) to keep it fresh and get rid of problems i may have had, and getting a new code every time would have been insane. Not to mention trying to format the system is a pain in the rear, my sister had to downgrade to 98 to format.
I couldn't connect to the net half the time, and when I did webpages loaded like i was on a 14k instead of 56!
In short, stick with 98 SE, at least it's reliable.
45 I can't imagine Longhorn being any better than this...
I'll keep it short and sweet. If you aren't running Windows 2000 Professional and your machine isn't more than 4 years old, you need to be running some flavor of Windows XP. It is the most stable version of Windows (barring 2000 Pro which most home users don't need) by far. Now I won't say XP has never crashed on me but when it did it was almost invariably due to bad/corrupted hardware drivers, and application crashes almost never bring the entire OS down like they tend to do with Win95/98/ME. And you don't need to be running a super powerful machine to run in like some give the impression. I've run it on a 1999 Dell with a P3 500MHz and 256MB of PC100 SDRAM just fine. All our PCs (2 desktops, 2 notebooks) run XP Pro. Product Activation isn't nearly as big a deal as people make it out to be either so don't let unfounded rumors about it stop you. And besides, Amazon's price is so cheap, you can't afford not to make the upgrade.
46 Need permision to use after purchase
I have to ask Microsoft permision before I can use the product I just purchased from them? -Activation- they call it.
Amazon.com has some great OS's on here. instead of Microsoft buy
SuSE Linux, or Red Hat Linux (totaly American)
or don't buy Linux you can downlod it for free
can't do that with XP
47 Better than 2000...
It is better than Win 2000 Pro (and all other previous windows versions), but not that great. If you buy a new hard drive, or you have to re-install windows on your computer for some other reason, it is probably worth the effort. I wouldn't run out to get it and install it otherwise. It has a few nice features (like user switching), and in general it feels a bit more stable.
It is better... but nothing you can't live without if you don't want the pain of upgrading.
However... my new Apple laptop is awesome. OS X is a dream compared to XP. Sorry Bill. But an intel/XP box is the way to go for gaming. Sorry Steve. :-)
48 Buggy, Security Issues, Many Lockups
Unfortunately I have to use this at work. It locks up constantly and security patches come every few days. Software that I need to run that doesn't have a specific Windows XP version simply doesn't run well under Windows XP. It isn't compatible though I understand that Microsoft had to make a break with the past if they were ever going to build a fully capable OS. It just gets old trying to keep my computer secure because they can't seem to learn how to prevent buffer overflows and the like and having to constantly save my work because a crash could come at any time.
Either stick with the older versions of Microsoft OS's or switch to Linux where you can get everything - office apps included - ...
49 Fsck Linux. You need Windows XP!
Microsoft introduced a new feature in Windows 2000: rock-solid stability. Microsoft took that stability and married it with Windows 98's multimedia and gaming technologies. Windows XP was the happy result.
A note to any befuddled home users wondering what all the noise is about surrounding Linux: I heard a nice quote on Usenet. It says, "Linux is only free if your time has no value." Linux is a nice tool, but it works best as a server operating system, just like the Unixes from which it derives. Unix was never meant to run on a home computer. How much do you want to struggle to make server software run on your home computer? In fact, Linux's parent Unix was created when there WAS no such thing as a home computer. Offering Linux's KDE or GNOME as a full-on substitute for Microsoft Windows is a lot like trying to put rollerskates on a dog; you can do it, it theoretically adds features, but it just isn't practical in the real world. Let a dog be a dog, and let Windows XP be your next operating system.
50 The beginning of the end for Windows?
We can only hope. Sure, Windows is actually a passable operating system now. Provided you don't do anything unexpected with it, it won't go haywire the way Windows 95 and Window 98 would do with dizzying frequency. It generally will recognize the hardware you plug in (subject to finding the right driver), it has pleasingly "snappy" performance, and is marginally pleasant to look at. Not bad for a product that is a bloated relic.
Frankly, I can think of only two reasons to use a computer with Windows. The first is if your employer forces you to use it. If your job is at stake, then make do. The second is if you insist on having the latest and greatest games to play as soon as they come out, even if most of them, ultimately, [are bad]. Price really isn't a factor any more, particularly since you can get a great, easy to use, and inexpensive version of Linux to run better--and faster--on the cheapest PC hardware.
Windows XP is a perfect example--along with Office--of the downsides of a giving one company a virtual monopoly. You get so-so products. The evidence speaks for itself.
So, if you're in the market for a solid computer that actually lives up to your needs--and doesn't bring you down to its level--and is stable as can be, go with Linux. Better yet, get a Mac. Mac's are Unix based now, coupled with a super stable, never crash, and elegant interface, together with all the applications you'll ever need...
51 WinXP Maybe
I'm a big fan of Win2000 because I've used it for more than a year and haven't had almost any problems. Windows XP is fine for looks and the extra features it has, but my problem is when a program has an error, the operating system pops up the screen to send an error report and no matter what one chooses (yes or no) Your program and progress is going to close and be lost. For that reason Win2000 is still a better buy!
52 No more blue screen crashes!
hehe I am glad I upgraded, as the system is very stable...much better than the Win 98se I had before.
53 A stable, friendly OS
I will admit, although I have a great love for the Apple line, that Microsoft Windows XP is a stable and friendly Operating System. Emerging from the ashes of the 9x line with the NT Kernel, Windows XP builds upon the foundation which 2000 laid.
Although I can not say that it is as stable as Mac OS 10.2 (or 10.1 for that matter), I will admit that Windows XP is pretty solid and stable. Coming from a heritage of blue screens of death, XP gives users very few problems. There will always be, because of the vast array of hardware products available (as well as buggy drivers), times when Windows will crash. In my experience, this has indeed happened. However, it definitely does not occur as frequently as it did in the old 9x line. For the most part, I can go for a week without a crash (or semi-crash) and this, in itself, makes me happy.
The really good thing about XP, especially for a user who is learning the system through the eyes of a Mac OS lover, is that it is extremely user friendly. Although the driver installation process is almost completely foreign to many users, it is not a problem when it is needed because XP explains the processes very well, without confusing users. Also, it is very easy to deal with networking in XP, including wireless networking (which is extremely nice when you don't feel like wiring your house for a personal network). All in all, compared with its predecessors, XP is based on a much more intuitive interface.
So, indeed, even a Macintosh lover can admit that Windows XP is quite a good Operating System. I feel that it is both stable and intuitive, giving it 4 stars out of 5.
54 Wonderful, but not for the technically timid
Windows XP Pro is great. Not only does it offer the benifits of windows NT's stability, but it's also as software-friendly as 98 was. I give it four stars because: registering with microsoft is a hassle. Also, if you buy it now, expect about a half-hour of downloading upgrades; long but painless. XP's (only) downside is that some things don't quite work on it. So far I've had two games fail on XP, but I found patches online that made them work. Overall XP is great, but you should buy XP Home if you aren't the best with the internet and your computer.
55 Buyer Beware!!! (Go with Win2000 Pro Instead)
There appears to be a problem that is occurring to a lot of people lately, myself included, and relates to error messages related to the irprops.cpl file. The XP Pro "upgrade" I purchased doesn't appear to be 802.1b wireless network compliant as stated. The problem is referenced in several NG posts and in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #323183, which doesn't even try to offer a solution other than "contact the manufacturer of your Bluetooth wireless technology device to obtain this update." (Mine doesn't have one, of course.) XP Home Editon worked quite well, I'm really disappointed that Pro screwed things up.
Microsoft email support was friendly, professional, and persistent but unable to resolve my problem.
XP also has a lot of auto-reminders stuff that pop up on your desktop just in time to break your concentration and are very consumptive of system resources. If you liked that microsoft assistant guy they built into Office a few years back, you'll love XP...it's a classic case of over-engineering.
56 Amazing potential... if you know how to tap into it.
First off, let me say: don't waste your money on an "Upgrade" disc... Windows XP is a fairly stable O/S... as long as it's not trying to update itself from Windows ME or 9x.
ME I've heard some particularly nasty things about upgrading. If you want any kind of stability, spring for the full version.
For those of you who don't know the difference. "Upgrade" means that if your computer ever crashed, you'd have to load your old operating system first... then Windows XP. The upgrade doesn't stand alone.
Fresh install you'll have less problems, Less time reloading and you won't have to find multiple discs.
Windows XP professional is an awesome O/S, but aside from the slick, new interface and MASSIVE driver base, the CD is pure gold as well.
If you're new to networking, pop the Windows XP CD into any Windows-based computer, and run it's networking application. It'll walk you right through the network setup. Also, if you're more of a hardcore user, XP Professional has a set of troubleshooting software not installed with the operating system. Poolmon.exe (under the Gflags util) is a great way to see what's going on if you're trying to hunt down a memory leak.
As for the operating system itself, I've been running XP for roughly a year and a half. I don't like going backwards. Windows 9x is phasing out, Windows ME was probably the worse thing MS ever put out and Windows 2000 hasn't really impressed me as much as XP (not to mention having to download 3rd party software to emulate "msconfig").
Stability isn't absolute... but NOTHING Microsoft has put out has been absolute since DOS and maybe 3.1
If you're looking for good looks, awesome potential, a full range of supported games and hardware and a lot of power... Windows XP is your bag.
57 It Is The Worst Os Ive ever seen!!
First Off I would like to say that windows xp is great if you like crashes and freezups,constant errors, slowness
ok the only thing thats new basicly about windows xp is it has a new windows skin and has more crashes and lockups that any other os :warning: this product will make your computer real slow!! you may ask why!! well here is the reason ok it goes like this
windows 95 took 16mb of ram to load windows 98 took 32 Windows me took 64 and windows xp takes 128!! i mean come on
microsoft: we all dont have supercomputers and if you are going to buy it you must have at least have 256mb of ram microsoft says you can do it with 128 but i have found this not to be true unless you like your computer being slow if you are determened to buy it be prepared for Millions Of Crashes and problems
58 What do you need to do today?
I could say a lot of good things and bad things about Windows. But when you're selecting system software, you don't need a technical assessment. You need to know whether it meets needs that you have. Since I'm reviewing the upgrade version I'll assume that you're running Windows 98, ME, or 2000K. Maybe 95, though a machine that old probably couldn't handle XP.
So, should you upgrade? The short answer is, probably not. Some things about XP are better, some are worse. On balance, XP is just a little more solid than its predecessors. But better enough to justify the cost and hassle of upgrading? Not by itself.
If you just love fancy eye candy, then I guess you have to upgrade. For my part, I find that stuff distracting, and when I get an XP system, the first thing I do is turn it off. Besides, a lot of it doesn't work with existing application software. Even some of the software that ships with XP, like some of the optional tool bars, don't support the new look-and-feel.
And don't think of upgrading if your existing system isn't performing well with its existing version of Windows. XP makes more demands on the hardware, not less. If your system isn't up to your needs, then you need a new system. Which would include a full version of an Operating System. Should that OS be XP, or one of the alternatives (MacOS, Linux)? That's a subject for a separate review of the full version of XP. I may write that one soon.
The one solid reason I can think of for upgrading to XP is this: you have to run some fancy application that won't run what you currently have. That might be an issue if you're currently running Windows 98, since 98 and XP are really different operating systems. But if you're already running Windows 2000, I very much doubt you need to upgrade to XP to run anything.
59 Worth the upgrade
Definitely worth the step up from Win9x/Me/NT
and with recent discounts it costs less than the
2000 update.
A bit sluggish with 128MB of RAM, so plow the
savings into more memory to really see a
performance improvement. Activate it once
you're happy with all the devices you want
to add. The 30-day period also seems to
get rolled back with Service pack 1 update.
Lots of patches to download from Microsoft
so be prepared to spend a bit of time getting
all the fixes and rebooting.
60 Yuck
I can't give 0 stars, so 1 will have to do. My advise? Go buy a Macintosh. I did and I've never looked back.
61 Support is awful
Mistake. I hope others have better luck with this OS than I did. I have spent most of my holiday trying to get my wireless card to work. On hold from MSFT for 5 hours! Techs would cut me off often.
May uninstall back to 98 SE.
62 Love it
Windows finally created a quality successor to Win98 SE. It is intuitive, easy to configure, and *** hurray *** stable - no more blue screen of death. The wizards, should you choose to use them, work well. Additionally, it does a good job of configuring and managing hardware as well as, for the first time for a windows product, ram. It is a bit pushy, but you can configure it using tools embedded inside, write your own, or download some from the internet. It "hides" some utilities, but they're there. Overall, I am extremely please with Win XP Pro. I'm sure the home edition is just as capable, although I haven't used it. PS. For you Pro-UNIX people - I use UNIX (Sun Solaris), and still like WinXP Pro a lot.
63 First Excellent Windows product
I am a software developer and I use microsoft technologies. I have been using windows 95, 98, me, 2000 but I never really was as much happy with any microsoft OS yet until I upgraded my home pc to xp, which I bough in October 2000. Now my PC, which is Sony VAIO machine by the way, is much faster and I have too many programs loaded on my desktop. It boots much faster than even windows 2000. I think the memory management in xp is also really improved than windows 2000. It is a worth product. Buy it unless you have a very old machine.
64 Given a refresh in the look, but still Windows
It's still Windows through-and-through, though it is indeed more stable, and has had the interface refreshed.
65 it was worth the money
Originally I had purchased VS .NET and immediately realized I was forced to purchase 2000 or XP. Being that Microsoft always updates things instantly I got XP anyways. I heard it really wasn't that great, but now I realize those people are just negative. Windows XP is the greatest thing yet. I really like the way it looks and its faster than any Windows I've used. I have used Windows 95 and Windows 98 at home. Windows 95 [stunk]. Windows 98 was the most reliable. I thought Windows 2000 (which I used on campus) pretty much [stunk] too. Windows XP was great. However, if I was to complain I don't like the fact that its a resource hog. I would suggest you purchase a bit more ram for your computer before installing this. Otherwise it will suck the life out of your hard drive. Another bad thing is it really is still in beta mode, being that since I bought I have about 15 patches that have been automatically installed to update windows.
66 Red Hat Linux is better than Windows
I have used all versions of Windows (since 3.1 to XP) and I have tried Windows XP and Office XP (I have used it for about 10 months) and all I have to say is that I had to buy more RAM and download more than 45 patches. It's got lots of security bugs. Every month Microsoft discovers about 15-40 new bugs.
Who can trust Microsoft products?
I had problems with viruses and other staff as well.
When you costumize the look of a specific folder (e.g.: you wanna see icons no tiles), Windoze will change it automatically.
So as a long MS-products user I was pretty frustrated until I discovered an alternative: Linux. I downloaded Red Hat Linux 7.3 for free (it's legal). So I switched to Red Hat and recently upgraded to 8.0.
I'm really happy with it. I can do the same as I used to do with Microsoft products. Red Hat Linux 8.0 = LESS buggy, 100% virus-FREE, more software included such as OpenOffice, Mozilla, CD burning software , ...
CONCLUSION: there are better and alternative products; now you have a choice: Linux.
67 Makes your PC easy to use
I was skeptical of how good this software would be, but I was won over by the many wonderful features this product contains. I no longer have to install drivers for my peripheral devices. The software makes my camera so easy to use. I just plug my usb cable into my camera and the camera and scanner wizard opens to ask you what you want to do with the pictures. I used to have almost daily bluescreen errors with Windows 98, but have not had one since I installed Windows XP professional. It is really a wonderful thing.
68 I Wish I Knew Now What I Didn't Know Then
I upgraded to Win XP Pro from Win ME. Yes, XP is more stable and usable. But, and this is a big one, be prepared to carefully look at your existing programs. Norton Antivirus 2001 will not work with XP and the 2003 Upgrade has problems; I spent 3 days making it work. Office 2000 has several problems and the best I can get from the admittedly flustered folks in Redmon is "we don't have a fix for that."
So, my...upgrade has now cost me the price of Norton and, probably, the price of Office XP.
69 Better wait until all the problems are solved !
I have bought a new notebook that came with XP Pro. When I decide to stop it, it restarts and I've to stop it again, when it not starts after I've closed the notebook and keeps consuming the battery at best. The technical suport for the notebook says I've to reinstall the XP, with the recovery disks. But I could not transfer my stuff to a desktop pc running Window98 because XP Pro keeps saying I dont have permission to access the desktop that doesn't have any password.
70 Not Flashy but it Works
I installed this over Windows ME because I bought Visual Basic.NET and it was required to make it run.
It installed fine, but be prepared for it to take several hours to install. It does not however require you to interact much. The install is very automatic.
You can change the look and feel back to Windows 98, like I did. This took a bit of hunting to find all the parts but it does work.
I have seen other comments about software and hardware problems, so let me address them: I would tend to agree that if you have a machine that is four or five years old you would be better off buying a new one than installing this. The biggest warning: If all your software and hardware is very old, this will not work.
You must have drivers and software that are compatible. Some NT/2000 stuff will work. If you have OEM installed software, it probably will not work. I had to replace my virus software and CD-Burner software. (I chose Norton antivirus and Burn and Go by IOMEGA, priced right and installed fine.)
On the plus side the install has one great feature. You can run a test first to see what will be incompatible with the new OS, and get what you need.(You should have PLENTY of time to run to the store while it installs!!) I suggest uninstalling incompatible items before you do the install, as the uninstall may not work later. I had this happen with McAffee antivirus.
Also it insisted that all my USB peripherals be conected and turned on for the install.
I also installed Service Pack 1 from the internet. This took about 5 hours to download and another hour plus to install, so be forewarned. Be prepared to spend MANY hours fine tuning your system.
Otherwise works OK. It did hang once when I had a CD miss-aligned in the drive. Otherwise no real problems.
The only thing I do not like is having to log-in at power-up. I am the only user.
71 Like a rock... a beautiful rock
I did my 100th upgrade to Windows XP Pro today, for a new client. All 100 installations went smoothly without a hitch, and the 60+ that have been running for over 2 months have been running rock solid. If you are coming from Windows 2000 Professional, expect a slight speed increase (assuming you have at least 256MB of RAM) and better stability. None of the installations I have done, ranging from single desktop workstation to servers to WiFi-enabled laptops, has experienced any crash. [Of course, the fact that I'm paid to do a good job must have something to do with it. ;) ]
The upgrade price is a bit too steep if you are already running Windows 2000. If you have Windows 95, 98 or ME, then you should probably opt for Windows XP Home edition, which is considerably less expensive and just as speedy and stable as the professional edition... and will make your PC computing life so much more enjoyable.
Highly recommended.
72 dont bother
If you have a computer with older peripherals forget it just buy a new computer with xp installed on it, I went back to my old ME Just becuase It was more stable with my 1 year old system. I wasted a bunch of time with this product..now I have a new modem, video card and cd r/rw...my computer is better than ever and it only cost me about 300 bucks ...oh and since you manually turn the system on and off ..my hard drive burned out also ...xp was the most frustrating experince ever..
73 Wow, comming from MS this is impressive
Great tools, stable (and I've been hammering at it with stuff that would have even my Linux box sweating), and very usable. I haven't tried Mac OS X, but this is deffinatly the best OS i've used. The remote desktop tools are just incredible. And all this comming from someone who up till recently dual booted with Linux, and then only because I had a few software titles that needed Windows to run.
74 After the preview in Windows 2000 SP-3 they'd have to pay me
I innocently downloaded Windows 2000 SP-3 based on XP to the Windows 2000 installation on a multi- booting system.Then spent a week in hell trying to get the Windows 98SE installation back, after the so called improvements trashed both the Windows 2000 and 98SE installations.I can only imagine how much more damage the full upgrade would do.Microsoft's track record on the number of times you have to re-instal Windows regardless of W3.1 ,W95,W98,W98SE,WNT & W2000 is not good.The conveluted way the Upgrade vs the OEM vs the Full Version CDs are not compatible with restoring of fixing an up to date system with out wipeing the drive is already monopolisticly criminal.The restrictions on the XP CDs are a joke.At the price they are asking wait a year and buy a computer with it pre-installed on compatible hardware with working drivers.
75 A must for 98 or ME users...
If you have 98 or ME and if your PC meets the minimum specs, buy it today. It is an absolute must. The stability is in a different league from the old versions. However, make sure and REMOVE ALL PROGRAMS THAT WINDOWS SAYS ARE INCOMPATABLE. I left several on because I figured I'd see if I could get anything out of them. Well, now I can't uninstall them. XP still works fine, but now I have the orphaned programs taking up valuable disk space. Also, if you don't like the "Fisher Price" looking interface, you can set it back to the classic look. Looks the same, works better.
76 Still prefer Windows 2000 Professional
I upgraded from Windows 2000 Pro to XP Pro. While this is probably one of Microsoft's best efforts to date, it just hasn't lived up to the [amount]hat I paid to get the upgrade. To start things off, my Creative SBLive! card failed miserably on both upgrade and scratch install and neither the Creative nor the Windows driver solved the issue. I finally had to use a different sound card, which just irritates me -- but that's really a problem with Creative not Microsoft.
Secondly, the autoplay on the CDs/DVDs is annoying. Best to go get the TweakUI power tool and disable it. I found that my CD-ROM would get so tied up every time I loaded a CD, that I just disabled the autoplay feature.
Also, a Java VM is no longer built in due to the MS/Sun legal battles -- so after I did the scratch install to attempt to fix my sound problems, I then found out that I had no VM for web viewing. Had to settle for the Sun Java VM which is much slower. They aren't going to provide the VM from the SP when they release it.
If you have Windows 2000 or Windows 98 -- then keep it -- unless you have to have it for some hardware or software that you have. Wait until service pack 2 comes out (or later). Let XP get through the wringer thoroughly. If you're running Windows ME, then XP is more stable (since it is based on NT) and might be worth the upgrade cost if you have stability issues -- but as for me, since I can't ship it back because I've opened the software, I'll keep it. But, if I could get my full retail price back, I'd go back to Windows 2000.
77 Prepare and your upgrade will be smooth despite gotchas!
Win XP Pro really is as stable as can be and in many respects a joy to use. I set up a dual boot system so I can still access my Windows 98 Second Edition -- all data is on a D drive common to both operating sytems -- and I can't go back to using Win 98!
Be forewarned, though, that upgrading is perilous. Be prudent and either copy your entire hard drive to another back up hard drive, or add another C partition with a copy of your C drive onto which you will upgrade to Windows XP Pro (use Partition Magic). The reason for this that while the XP upgrade is really smooth, there are a lot of gotchas once you have upgraded. Before you do anything, run the compatibility checker and download all the new drivers and new versions of software it recommends. You will have to uninstall NOrton Systemworks and any anti-virus program, WinFax Pro, and some other utilities BEFORE installing XP --- and then reinstall them later.
What you will find is that while XP makes everything run faster and more stably, you will have a tough time getting used to the new interface and finding the tweaks you may be used in previous versions of Windows. Gates has determined that you WILL compute his way or the highway. That said, Windows XP is so enjoyable to work in that I can't go back to Windows 98. And I can even get a pan and scan virtual desktop in XP with the ATI Radeon 7500 and 8500 video cards -- something you aren't supposed to be able to do.
78 Buy it preinstalled
The upgrade ended up warning me that half of my equipment and three quarters of my software from my Windows 98 would not run on this operating system.
Buy a computer with it preinstalled or forget it.
79 FINALLY!! A Windows that works
I upgraded from Windows 98 and it was flawless. After I installed the software it even downloaded all the new drivers off the net and installed them. I have been running XP now for a while and putting it thru the paces, and not one problem has come up. Finally we have a OS that works!
80 GOOD, IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT
The Upgrade version of Windows XP Professional is fast, feature-rich, and has a fine interface. It is crash-resistant; does not hang during shut-down, and supports dual processors. It boasts of good networking options, as well as built-in Firewall internet security; yet, its value-for-money is suspect.
Installation is time-consuming: budget one hundred minutes for it. Like the Office XP before it, there are activation woes: the money you paid notwithstanding, Microsoft dictates how and where you will use it. Again, bear in mind that Windows XP may compel you to spend more on updating other applications that would not run on it. There is also, this voracious demand on hardware: your PC must conform to at least 128MB of RAM, 1.5GB of free hard-disk space, and 300MHz of clock speed in order to do a decent job. Gambling on anything with lower statistics may backfire.
In a nutshell, upgrading to XP may not worth the financial hassles, unless you're running Windows 98 or earlier model; and wouldn't mind replacing older software that this new Operating System may shun.
81 Stay with Windows 2000!!
It is piece ...!! I almost ended trashing my system.
Stay put with Windows 2000, though XP has a greater look,
W2K is much more reliable..
Pros:-
It comes with a great appearance, CD writing capabilities,
Firewall etc..
Cons:- It needs time to mature..
My BIOS is 2 years old, It takes atleast 2 minutes to boot as compared what Microsoft claims as 30sec boot.
You need to upgrade Norton Antivirus and other software,
scanners, Modem, NIC etc...
It likes only hardwares that are manufactured in last 6 months or so.
Believe me... It doesn't worth the trouble upgrading your Windows 2000, if you have..
I hope Microsoft would soon come up with (un)service pack..
82 An Excellent Operating System - A Must Have
I recently purchased a laptop with Windows XP pre-installed. I have been very pleased. The program seems to run much more smoothly than previous versions, and it has a new slim-line look. It is superior for veiwing DVDs, editing digital films, or even the casual word processing. It is very user friendly, with upgraded tutorials and online help included. Mr. Gates certainly has outdone himself this time...
With every product, however, comes disadvantages. I have only found two. First, since it is not DOS based, it is unable to run many old video games. However, by not beind DOS based it is more userfriendly and dependable. Secondly, the graphics orientated nature can really drain a battery.
I highly recommend upgrading to this product. I am sure you will not be disappointed. However, if you are, you can just go into control panel and tell it to run like Windows 98!
83 An Excellent Operating System - A Must Have
I recently purchased a laptop with Windows XP pre-installed. I have been very pleased. The program seems to run much more smoothly than previous versions, and it has a new slim-line look. It is superior for veiwing DVDs, editing digital films, or even the casual word processing. It is very user friendly, with upgraded tutorials and online help included. Mr. Gates certainly has outdone himself this time...
With every product, however, comes disadvantages. I have only found two. First, since it is not DOS based, it is unable to run many old video games. However, by not beind DOS based it is more userfriendly and dependable. Secondly, the graphics orientated nature can really drain a battery.
I highly recommend upgrading to this product. I am sure you will not be disappointed. However, if you are, you can just go into control panel and tell it to run like Windows 98!
84 I still prefer Windows 2000
Even though Windows XP has an annoying soccermomish look to it, it does have some nice "under-the-hood" features that power users and developers will like: specifically multiple simultaneous logins (ahem... finally 1970's technology arrives at Microsoft) and permissions for registry keys.
That said, the "creamy" GUI just remind me how Windows XP is a sad attempt to duplicate the OS X experience, though nowhere near as satisfying. Good news? You can turn it off and enjoy classic 2000ish look. Bad news? If you disable the annoying "clickable" login screen, you no longer get multiple login ("switch user") ability.
Multimedia-wise, XP seems to be more tolerant towards mm devices, much more so than 2000. It is perhaps for this reason that it will often crash, for the stupidest reasons (for me, it does so when I insert any audio CD and try to have Winamp play it). In general, it seems rather intolerant towards anything not manufactured in the last 2-3 years (sorry!)
I'm glad I still have my copy of Windows 2000 around (still the best version of Windows). I've yet to see an OS that recovers from crashes more gracefully, or gives the user more control. However, if you want a Mac OS X throwback (I like OS X, but dislike Apple's tendency to automatically assume all users are blithering idiots), go with XP. At least it looks nice. If "creamy" GUI is your bag.
85 The best new operating system from Micrososoft yet!
I bought the Windows XP Pro upgrade and was very satisfied with the results. It has allowed me to get the most from my time on the computer. It was able to remove the clutter from the desktop, hasn't frozen for 4 months now, it has ten times more useful features and built in add-ins then windows 98 and previous versions of windows did. It is easier than ever to set up a network and integrate more hardware into the system. It is also much easier to fix you system after a large error. For example, you can restore all of you files and setting using system restore. Also Windows XP allows different progrmas to run in separate memory, so if one program freezes it doesn't crash the whole computer. Also if you are in a network you can connect to your computer using the remote desktop feature of windows xp. Remote desktop allows you to take over the desktop of a different computer and acces all of the files just like you were sitting at that computer's monitor yourself. It also is a lot more secure. Windows XP Pro gives you the ability to encript your files and folders, it also comes with enhanced internet virus software and a firewall. Combined with Office XP it creates a state of the art computer for your use. I highly recomend people to upgrade to Windows XP Pro.
86 It actually works!....fairly well....doesn't crash.....much
Unlike Windows "CRASH" Millenium, Windows XP PRO seems to work and contain the back end "stuff" you need to build sites, connect them to back end data sources, mess around with Perl and other web technologies.
It is likely to render some of your hardware and software inoperable until you get new software and drivers. So far, the Canon Scanner doesn't work, Roxio's CD creator (as mentioned by another reviewer) requires an $80.00 upgrade to work, drivers for the Creative sound card had to be installed 3x, the latest version of WinAmp died for a while, and there may be more. After a couple days, it's only had one crash that the computer seemed to think was serious enough to contact Microsoft about.
XP Home will work for the average surfer/graphics/HTML/Office user, but beyond that, Pro is necessary. So far, it does seem like a big leap in reliability and functionality from anything I've used in the past - 3.1, 95, 98, & ME. Though its too early to tell, the rating might need to go up a star or two if it doesn't start to implode after its been used for a while.
The color scheme in the interface changed to what looks like some kind of kids playschool theme but the actual layout is very similar to previous versions and doens't take much getting used to.
Just remember, THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "HOME" AND "PRO" in terms of functionality for those that work on the web and want to do anything that requires PWS or IIS.
87 upgrades
I've already installed windows xp pro. at my pc and i just want to upgrade it if possible.
88 Unstable Nightmare While Using MSN-DSL Connection
DON'T SAY YOU WERE NOT WARNED: I have the very latest version PC (with all Microsoft updates) and it is crashing daily. It crashes, at least 4-5 times per day. The crashes are random, but always seem to take place when I click on something related to email or while on the Internet: I'll click on a link in Internet Explorer, or an email in Outlook and the computer crashes, requiring a manual reboot. I never had these problems while using Windows ME. So the stability factor has gone WAY DOWN.
I've submitted numerous crash and bug reports to Microsoft and the system always says I'll be contacted within a few days by email -- I've not received any responses except to say that they do not know what the problem is. I have also called customer support numerous times and all they have me do is reinstall XP, which has not helped. My conclusion is that Microsoft is swamped with crashes on this not-ready-for-prime-time OS.
I hope Microsoft will fix Windows XP, it is driving me nuts.
I cannot recommend this product. It is unstable and Microsoft support is no help whatsoever - I know more about windows xp than the MS customer service staff that are supposed to be providing support.
Good luck if you decide to venture into XP land.
89 Not a must .. but the overall software is good
I am a power user of win2k and just wanted to upgrade to xp to see how it worked. The UI and everything is cool and the apps work great.
Not a required upgrade unless you want to be on the bleeding edge
90 Dont' be fooled: it's still Windows.
Bottom line, off the top: if you have Win98/95, upgrade. If you have Win2K, stay right where you are.
For all the pretty screens and rounded buttons that MS slaps on their products, WinXP is still Windows, and still prone to the same issues that plague the many versions of Windows. It's still somewhat unstable (NO OS is crashproof, by the way), insecure, and a complete resource hog. They have cleaned up the networking components (the Connection Sharing piece is very inuitive), and while the GUI is nice, I noticed definite slowdowns.
Value-adds: IE 6 is more of the same. Windows Media 8 is invasive (it logs every piece of media you play) bloatware. It was great around version 5, when it was thin, fast, and played music without complication. Use Winamp or Sonique. Built-in CD copying is kludgy at very best; use a third-party app for truly efficient, fast CD-writing.
All in all? Not bad. Win2K with more hand-holding and more CPU-choking graphics...
91 Excellent upgrade but not crashproof
I am very impressed with the WinXP Pro upgrade. The look of the new screens is pleasant, however I really bought it for the much ballyhooed uncrashability. Since I fixed a hardware conflict (by fairly unscientific meddling in device manager, right down to changing interrupt settings for one of the peripherals) there have been no crashes. However, while I was experiencing the conflict (between a modem and a wireless LAN card) the system did freeze completely, no response to anything including CTRL-ALT-DEL - which very much disappointed me. Tech experts will no doubt feel that Microsoft cannot anticipate every hardware combination, and this is of course true. But XP is advertised as crashproof, and its worth saying that there are some hardware combos that can defeat it.
Although I bought it for the uncrashability, other unanticipated benefits have accrued that make me want to recommend it. In particular, the speed of bootup and the ability to detect and work with peripherals (especially the aforementioned wireless LAN card, after the conflict was sorted out) has impressed me a great deal. I bought my computer, an IBM thinkpad, in Nov 01 (in other words, it is a fairly current piece of kit) and the previous operating system (Win98SE) took 2 minutes to boot up, mainly spent (I believe) looking for and handshaking with my wireless LAN card. WinXP boots up in about 30 seconds. Hibernation is an order of magnitude quicker, it used to take forever under W98 and now takes about 20 seconds with 384MB of memory. Also hotswapping between wireless and wired LAN is possible, and XP's ability to save a session for one user while another one logs on is very cool (useless to me (although I did try it for fun!)...but very cool for a family machine, I imagine).
I understand that Win2000Pro has many of the advantages of XP (but not user switching), but if you have W98 or a previous system, and meet (preferably exceed) the machine requirements, XP is a worthwhile upgrade.
92 This piece of crap upgrade sucks!!!!!
My husband recently purchased this operating system for me because I begged for it. A couple of weeks later we bought a new laptop that had Windows XP Home Edition already on it... First and foremost it significantly slows down the computer. It also takes all your files and rearranges, renames, and reorganizes them; without giving you the option of if you even want this done. And EVERYTHING is done through this Wizard thing. Wizard this, wizard that. Why can't a simple dialog box pop up so I can make my adjustments? And don't even bother looking for the dial-up networking that use to be under Accessories, because it is GONE. It takes the most basic thing, and shifts it elsewhere, so even doing the simplest of operations becomes a chore. And another thing: as soon as we were done installing it our CD Rom (which we NEVER had a problem with before) gave up the ghost. We assumed that it's a driver incompatibility with Windows XP, but good luck finding a driver that IS compatibile with Windows XP, because we've searched the internet and can't seem to find one. We'll probably end up having to get a new CD Rom. Or uninstalling Windows XP.
Even so, as an operating system on a new computer, it's not that bad, because all the hardware and other software is compatible, and so everything runs smooth. But the upgrade is not worth the frustration. So for the Upgrade, we give it a 1, and as a new operating system, we'll give it a 3.
93 Pretty Slick
This is the first release of Windows that has actually impressed me. Sure a lot of the features are just skin deep, but there's a lot of very nice integration of features. MS IMHO has been horrible in the past at looking at the entire integrated user experience. XP is a big positive step in the right direction there.
I use it as the OS on my home file server (mainly serving my AudioTron) and it works great. Pricey, and since you must have separate copies for every machine you own I won't be upgrading my other home PCs soon, but MS's best OS yet.
94 The Best Software So Far From Microsoft!
I am very pleased with the Microsoft Windows XP Professional Upgrade by Microsoft. It is very stable and actually enhances all aspects of your computer. It has removed several errors I use to get and have to shutdown or run maintenance on a regular basis.
The Upgrade was easy to download but took over 90 minutes. What is great about its installation process is that the Software will actually provide you a Report. It will tells you exactly what you may have to do to get all programs working again. It is usually reinstallation or downloading updates.
There are only a few minor drawbacks but worth any inconvenience in the end. The first is to make sure you uninstall and reinstall some programs like Anti-Virus Software, Create CD and Faxing programs. I did have some problems with WINFAX PRO and needed a techician to get it working again.
The other drawback is what happens in toady's world of brave new tech every few years. I just got use to using Windows 1998 and all its systems and now you have to look and learn again all over again. But without question it is worth the stability, reliability and new abilities to do many things you always wanted to do with such a computer without the crashes.
I highly recommend you no longer wait to buy this product, it is ready just like it is and has all the updates you need to run your computer even better than now. And ordering it from Amazon.com is about the best place to gain a saving especially with free shipping. If you order it in a store, you only get 25% off the price with a rebate.
Amazon.com is the place to order it and do it today; you will not regret it!
95 XP For Home Users
Beware of who you listen to. Mr. Top 500 Reviewer likes to spout off big words (in the eyes of the consumer) and make false statements of "the first 32bit OS". To correct, you will find that Windows 2000 went to great lenths to cater to the demands of 16bit applications, being a 32bit OS itself.
Aside from the technical stuff, Windows XP is an operating system geared for the ignorant. For those who like to build their own systems or stray from the "normal" PC user, XP is not the solution. Just ask anyone who tries to set up multiple hard drives on their computer. Microsoft Tech will even tell you that you need multiple copies of their OS.
Bottom line, you cannot go wrong with XP on OEM versions, it is the solution to ME. But for those who want a Microsoft "hands-off" system, stick with 2000.
One other note, "XP" and "Professional" do not belong in the same sentence. System admins are just now testing their equipment for the Windows 2000 upgrade, and now there's this XP? I don't think so. Stick with the home users XP.
96 Nice new features, but crashes previously stable computers
I have a love/hate with Windows XP right now: I love the new look and the new features, but I hate the fact that BOTH computers I have on Windows XP crash repeatedly and often. This is NOT the stable OS Microsoft talks about in their ads -- at least not yet!
On the positive side, as several other reviewers have remarked, the new Plug and Play is beautiful. Support for wireless, pictures, video, and music is dramatically improved. You can work with all of these objects right at the desktop level. The operating system loads faster and feels faster. I think it's more intuitive and more fun to use, too.
HOWEVER, BE WARNED: I have the very latest version (with all the updates) on TWO computers, and BOTH are crashing on me. One system is a new Dell Latitude CP810 laptop I purchased with Windows XP Professional installed. This crashes, oh, probably 3-4 times per day. The crashes are random, but always seem to take place when I click on something: I'll click on a link in Internet Explorer, or my calendar in Outlook. BAM! The computer restarts. I had a similar Dell Laptop running Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2) and never had ANY crashes with it. So the stability factor has gone WAY down.
I've submitted numerous crash and bug reports to Microsoft and the system always says I'll be contacted within a few days by email -- I've not received any response in 10 days despite repeated queries and crashes. My conclusion from this is that
Microsoft is just swamped with crashes on this not-ready-for-prime-time OS.
The other computer is an HP Pavillion that formerly ran Windows 2000 and never crashed. Just last night, it decided to crash while nothing happened at all! Not good.
I hope Microsoft will fix it, as Windows XP has a lot of potential.
But as of now, I cannot recommend this product. Even though it restarts faster from crashes, that's still not a fair trade for having a stable system. Stick with Windows 2000 until Microsoft figures out how to REALLY keep this OS from crashing. It is definitely FAR from crash proof right now as I can attest!
97 The most advanced, stable and user-oriented Windows O.S.
All the things you have heard about XP Professional are true : Stable and crash-free, integrated help and support w/Remote Desktop features, and a resource-intensive memory platform. Before the upgrade will commence, you must first run an "upgrade wizard", which simply places your pc under intensive scrutiny and identifies any and all problems before you can go forward. Don't worry, anyone using Windows 2000 will most likely be able to run XP with minimal upgrading required. All the issues I had were with 2000, and my upgrade to XP was a breeze. My computer has NEVER ran so quickly or as stable in the almost 3 years I have owned it. Once you resolve the hardware and or software requirements, it's a snap to install. A word of caution:Do Not think you can get by with just 64 megs of RAM! A close friend and computer enthusiast of mine tried it out on one of his 64 meg pc's and it did not work well at all. But, after we picked up a few sticks of 168 pin 128 meg DIMMs (that's a mouthful), the machine ran like a champ. This is the best Windows operating system ever, and it makes me wonder how they will top it in the next version.
98 XP? More like MicroSoft PB (for Pandora's Box)
Beware what you are getting into; This is anything BUT smooth sailing! As a Windows 2000 user my first mistake was buying the XP "Home" edition. Afterwards I found out from tech support that Windows 2000 users must instead buy the XP "Professional" upgrade. Why MicroSoft doesn't explain this on the box itself in BIG letters is perplexing.
My next mistake was finally buying the "Professional" upgrade. That is when I found out that Roxio's CD creator is NOT compatible. Quick Time 3.0 isn't compatible either. Novice computer users will go through hell trying to download and install these upgrades. As an intermediate computer user I am still stuck on these installs.
Once I got XP installed I found out that my sound card driver was not compatible with XP. My Steinberg "Nuendo" audio recording software will not open. Something about a "Syncrosoft POS error".
In conclusion I would recommend that one ONLY get XP on a BRAND NEW system. Try to do an XP upgrade and you will be pulling your hair out in frustration over the can of worms you've opened.
99 Windows XP Professional (Depends)
This edition of Windows XP is primarily business oriented, but there are certain features that would be useful in the Home Edition of Windows XP. Example of this would be remote desktop, an amazing feature that allows you to actually control your computer from another computer running Windows XP Pro. Why I do not recommend it for most home users is the architecture of the operating system itself. Certain features such as Administrative tools (turned on by default in XP Pro) would not be recommended for a family PC, if you have a child and he or she enters the Administrative tools and alters any component of the services feature, it can totally ruin your PC. In terms of general functionality Windows XP is "awesome", features worthy of this word include multiple users, beautiful graphical user interface, and easier access to programs. The "start menu", in previous Windows it was like you had to climb a mountain before you reached the programs menu, now that's not ease of use! In Windows XP just click the "start menu" and you are right at the program menu, now that's ease of use! When it comes in comparison to previous versions of Windows such as 95, 98, NT, "ME" and even 2000, it's really worth the upgrade. Windows 95 to ME crashed tremendously NT was horrible on laptops and its basically kind of outdated now, 2000 does not support enough drivers. But overall for the person who travels a lot and needs to either retrieve information from their home or business computer, Windows XP Pro is very good. For performance, I recommend a 500 MHz processor, 128 MB's of memory, anything lower than that you won't be installing much software on that machine. Remember Windows XP requires a lot of resources, in terms of processor speed and memory. If you want to take advantage of some of the features in XP, I suggest that you have a CD burner, you get more out of XP. My pictures has been totally redesigned for integration with online services, you take pictures and upload them to websites for editing e.g. "KODAK". It's not a terrible operating system like I have read in most reviews, but the architecture of the operating system is more business oriented. For users of previous versions of Windows I recommend you buy the Upgrade instead of the full version of Windows XP rather than spend hard earned money buying the full version, because your getting the same thing. If you used 98, ME and want reliability, stability, and ease of use, go for the Home Edition. Persons using NT and 2000 I suggest they upgrade to XP Pro. I like Windows XP Pro a lot; it's better than the Home Edition in minor features. I'm going to buy it soon but for now I'm going to stick with Windows XP Home. It all depends on the user and the environment, as simple as that.
100 Windows XP Professional (Depends)
This edition of Windows XP is primarily business oriented, but there are certain features that would be useful in the Home Edition of Windows XP. Example of this would be remote desktop, an amazing feature that allows you to actually control your computer from another computer running Windows XP Pro. Why I do not recommend it for most home users is the architecture of the operating system itself. Certain features such as Administrative tools (turned on by default in XP Pro) would not be recommended for a family PC, if you have a child and he or she enters the Administrative tools and alters any component of the services feature, it can totally ruin your PC. In terms of general functionality Windows XP is "awesome", features worthy of this word include multiple users, beautiful graphical user interface, and easier access to programs. The "start menu", in previous Windows it was like you had to climb a mountain before you reached the programs menu, now that's not ease of use! In Windows XP just click the "start menu" and you are right at the program menu, now that's ease of use! When it comes in comparison to previous versions of Windows such as 95, 98, NT, "ME" and even 2000, it's really worth the upgrade. Windows 95 to ME crashed tremendously NT was horrible on laptops and its basically kind of outdated now, 2000 does not support enough drivers. But overall for the person who travels a lot and needs to either retrieve information from their home or business computer, Windows XP Pro is very good. For performance, I recommend a 500 MHz processor, 128 MB's of memory, anything lower than that you won't be installing much software on that machine. Remember Windows XP requires a lot of resources, in terms of processor speed and memory. If you want to take advantage of some of the features in XP, I suggest that you have a CD burner, you get more out of XP. My pictures has been totally redesigned for integration with online services, you take pictures and upload them to websites for editing e.g. "KODAK". It's not a terrible operating system like I have read in most reviews, but the architecture of the operating system is more business oriented. For users of previous versions of Windows I recommend you buy the Upgrade instead of the full version of Windows XP rather than spend hard earned money buying the full version, because your getting the same thing. If you used 98, ME and want reliability, stability, and ease of use, go for the Home Edition. Persons using NT and 2000 I suggest they upgrade to XP Pro. I like Windows XP Pro a lot; it's better than the Home Edition in minor features. I'm going to buy it soon but for now I'm going to stick with Windows XP Home. It all depends on the user and the environment, as simple as that.
