| Product: |
Microsoft Windows XP - Home Edition |
| Date: |
29/10/01 (1780 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review
We all know that within a few months time any new PC is going to come with Windows XP installed as standard so there is going to be little escaping this product whether you like it or not. Of course you can always uninstall it and replace it with Windows 98 etc. but most PC users will probably not know where to begin or be too scared to even think of doing that anyway so most of us...well we're stuck with this whether we like it or not. But then would you even want to get rid of XP? OR what the hell is XP anyway you might be asking. Well read on...
Microsoft XP is the newest version of the Windows operating system and is destined to become the standard operating system for all new PCs. Whereas Windows Me was little more than a rather ineffective 'tweak' to Windows 98 and not really worth having, and WIndows 2000 was certainly NOT made for home use but was instead the update to Microsoft's technical operating system Windows NT, Windows XP IS the update we have all been waiting for. The changes made to this system are too many to mention, it is effectively a complete overhaul of the whole idea behind windows - at least under the hood, changes which most of us won't notice or even care about but which will result in massive and very noticeable performance enhancements - trust me.
However, before you can even think of running XP there are a few rather hefty system requirements that this operating system requires of your PC - many of us aren't going to be able to deal with it without an upgrade. These are most notably:
At least a 300MHz processor
A recommended 128MB+ of RAM although it supports 64MB but with a performance downgrade
1.5GB of available hard disk space(!!!).
For the upgrade version you ned to have Windows Me or '98, thre is no possibility of upgrading from '95 or earlier version without buying the complete package.
Immediatley then you are presented with a problem in tha
t it is not only going to be huge for an older system to cope with, but also requires a lot of memory to run as well. The most fundamental changes which have been made under the hood, and the reason why it requires so much of your resources is the switch to using the 128bit kernel as does Windows NT. In fact XP, as did Windows 2000, marks something of a blurring of the boundaries between Microsoft's home wing and their business wing by bringing these two platforms closer together. You won't notice that much different on the outside but on the inside a lot has changed. What this means to you as a consumer who doesn't give a monkies about the technical side is that you now have an operating system which combines the ease of use of teh home edition with the stability and power of the busines edition. Basically a Windows operating system which is STABLE!!! Does this mean an end to those constant crashes, bizarre error messages and the dread blue screen? Well no, but it means that you see it all a hell of a lot less often which everyone must surely be thankful for! Its also a lot faster and multitasks far better than 98 does - ie. you can now have more than a couple of running processes without you system grinding to a halt before crashing! Top stuff, and hats off to Microsoft for managing this. Installation of new hardware is easier, you'll see a few interface tweaks such as a completely redesigned start menu, everything is far more internet integrated now..there are lots of changes most of which for the better that I can see. :o)
But its not all roses...it never is with this company is it!
Two big issues scream at you should you look up information on this product - security(again!) and licencing.
The deal with licencing first because its the easiest, Microsoft have added a new system to XP which means you have to call them with a validation code created by your system. This means that if you have two or more computers then yo
u have to buy TWO copies of XP to be able to install it on both of them rather than just using the one as before - the product will not work otherwise! You install XP, are given a code which you must either send to Microsoft via your internet connection or by dialing a freephone number and you will be given the validation code to register your copy. Obviously they are so strapped for cash that not only do they have to declare war on piracy but also scupper everyone else as well...bit mean I think. BUT whilst I understand that, the way in which your code is generated is based upon the configuration of your machine, and questions have arisen over whether Microsoft is actually snooping on the contents and set up of your system. They deny this but if you make changes to your configuration/hardware then you have to revalidate or XP will cease to function properly again...this is not only a pain in the neck, but also adds weight to the possibility that this information may be used for their own purposes. Not good.
The security issue is another worry. apparently XP uses something known as raw-sockets which leaves them wide open to attack by trojans and easy prey for programmers wishing to launch denial of service attacks on websites. Huh? Well, a hacker can install a trojan on a system then launch masses of data at a specific website when they have hacked enough of them to close the site down. A system administrator can block the offending IP addresses but with raw socket implementation a spoof IP address can be created - thus no way to block the address and a hackers dream come true! What all this jargon basically means according to at least one source is that Microsoft have left the door not only ajar, but instead, flung wide open for attack by any virus programmer with even the slightest knowledge! Whereas trojan viruses like Code Red etc. required the programmer to have knowledge of how to get around the security settings in your sockets, XP leaves them wide o
pen so that any 13 year old could do the same thing. Wonderful stuff! NOT! Microsoft claims that it is waging a "war on hostile code" and that XP will make a user's computer effectively invisible on the net by using its own firewall and that outlook will be protected by preventing applications opening within it. Great, but how long before someone writes a virus to get around this? A week maybe?
That said, there are enough computers out there already with poor security, no firewall etc. but its a sobering thought. Sounds like a pretty dumb idea to me, but what do I know, and Microsoft seem to be adamant that they know what they are doing...will be interesting to see how it all pans out though.
All in all though, its probably not going to matter much to you about the security issues and if you are worried that much then get a firewall, there are a couple of free ones to be downloaded from places like Download.com which do the job well. The product activation code is a pain in the butt, and the snooping possibilites are unwelcome, but probably groundless. Anyway, I'm not sure I care whether Microsoft knows that I have a Matrox video card or something else as long as their product works well. And work well it does, in fact it rather awesome in comparison to Windows 98 if only for...NO CRASHES!!! I would definitely recommend it...but get a firewall just in case of the validity of the security risks.
nb. Having read around this site and others about this product there seems to be the usual problems associated with the release of a new piece of Microsoft software associated with this one too. whilst i didn't have any problems myself it seemsthat the majority of those who have used it have found hardware compatibility problems, no drivers, etc. etc. It seems that once more Microsoft has released a product which is frankly not really ready for release and is asking its consumers to complete the testing phase for them at
the expense of their own time, money and very short patience. What can I say? Wait a few months befoe buying it and the patch has come out to fix the problem, or take the risk and hope for the best.
Summary:
|
|
