Have you eXPerienced it yet? (Microsoft Windows XP - Home Edition)

Member Name: iazcac

Product:	Microsoft Windows XP - Home Edition
Date:	26/03/02 (244 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does'nt crash

Disadvantages: Is Microsoft!!!!

Whether you?ve been a Microsoft lover or hater in the past, Windows XP is the only choice and the way to go. I had been quite happy with my old version of Windows 98 until recently. I had simply learnt to save work often before the evil blue screen appeared or the computer just crashed. Windows XP is now not just easier to use but it is also more stable and crash resistant. I have been using it now for nearly two months now and cannot remember having to press the reset button (which was often a twice or thrice daily routine with Windows 98 and almost wore out my reset button)

The most major change about Windows XP is cosmetic. It now has a fresh clean look with rounded edges and ?nice? colours. Changes in the interface are small but impressive and noticeable after a short play around in XP.

Windows XP makes it easier for more than one person to use the computer, a useful feature for many home users. Each user can easily customize their own settings. XP makes it easy to switch to another user without the first user having to stop their work or shut down programs. Support for devices such as printers, video boards, cameras, modems, etc. has been excellent to date. I have my computer linked up to a small network at home and whilst the other two computers on the network (using older versions of Windows) took a long time to set up and configure, this computer using XP was very simple to use and configured in a matter of minutes.

The System Restore rollback feature that appeared in Windows Me is continued in XP. If you install an errant program that messes up your computer or you somehow manage to screw it up yourself, you can very easily return the computer to a previous state when it was working properly. Windows XP also has an excellent Remote Assistance feature. This allows a technician, consultant, or even a knowledgeable family member or friend access to your computer to help resolve problems. This can be done only with your explicit permi
ssion.

XP comes in two flavours: Home and Professional. XP Home is a £99 upgrade (£199 for the full version) and Professional is a £199 upgrade (£299 for the full version). Recognizing that many homes now have more than one PC, Microsoft also plans to offer discounts of £8 to £12 off the price of additional upgrades for home users (the Open Licensing Program is still available for business or home users who need 5 or more copies). That's fortunate because you'll need the additional licenses since the Product Activation feature makes it all but impossible to install a single copy on more than one PC--more on that later

Finally, Microsoft has completely overhauled the Windows help system. The redesigned Help and Support Centre is easier to use, integrates help content from third-party vendors, and has handy features such as lists of compatible hardware and software. From within the Help Centre, you can quickly get assistance online from Microsoft or from a friend or a family member by using the Remote Assistance feature.

This tool is a close cousin to the Remote Desktop, which uses Windows 2000's Terminal Services-style connections to allow you to connect to an XP computer--just as if they were logged in locally--from any machine running the proper client. Within the help, unlike previous versions of Windows, the help is done through a series of multiple-choice questions. These help to break down the problem and do not confuse novice users as much as previous versions of the operating system. After giving these answers in the questions, XP gives you a number of options to choose in order to solve your problem and is very straightforward to use.

With the growing use of MP3s today, Microsoft have also had to move with the times. Older versions of their Media Player were able to play MP3s, but now it has been enhanced for it to ?rip? your own CD?s. When these are converted the actual media player is very good for organisin
g your music and making playlists. Whilst talking about media, XP has also made it easier to edit and play your own videos on your computer.

Overall, I was doubtful of XP when I first got it but after I got over the initial shock of change, I now really like XP and would highly recommend it, especially if you are sick of your current operating system constantly crashing. If you have a fairly new computer, you may want to consider upgrading your operating system to Windows XP. This decision may be slightly more complicated. The hardware requirements are hefty, and I have heard from friends that the upgrade installation can be a nail-biter.

Summary: