Microsoft Windows XP….. The Best Windows Yet!

I have been a Windows user since the product was introduced by Microsoft in the mid eighties. The early version of Windows was essentially a shell or front end for the rather complex operating system of that times we “old timers” fondly remember as  DOS.

From it’s humble beginnings, Windows has grown and evolved into the basic platform for Personal Computers throughout the world. Versions prior to the release of Windows XP were still based on the DOS operating system. Even though DOS had become invisible it was still the foundation of the Windows environment. With the release of Windows XP DOS is no longer in the picture. The Windows XP environment has become a truly a unique and totally evolved operating system. 

Through the years, I have upgraded every time a new version was released. Each version made the operation of my computer easier and more user friendly. 

I read several monthly PC publications, both consumer oriented as well as trade publications. Whenever a new Windows upgrade is offered, the magazines for the most part are positive toward the new release and usually describe product and it’s new features. 

There are a few warning voices who try to caution us against upgrading and list their reasons, usually taking a wait and see attitude. I’ve never paid the least attention to their stance and I for one have seldom run into problems of any sort. I regard them in the same league as people who believe the earth is flat.  

Yes, I have experienced system crashes in the earlier versions of Windows, but they were few and far between. After the introduction of   Windows 98, they were almost non-existent. As a reviewer, I am always adding and removing dozens of programs. I am not a typical user. Windows has never disappointed me in its performance and each new release made upgrading more than worth while.  

Windows ME was terrific release. It cam bundled with my New Hewlett Packard. A few of my pesky programs did create problems but ME allowed me to shut the program down without rebooting the computer, thus avoiding a crash.  

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows XP I suggest you do. Microsoft has always moved quickly to resolve any bugs that may arise after the product arrived in the market. The Windows Upgrade capability built into the program quickly allows you to download the fixes on-line. In addition to anomalies (bugs) Microsoft is always buffing the system by adding improvements to security or upgrading modules in the program such as their media player. It provides the improvements at no cost to the Windows user throughout the life of the release and beyond.  

I have never to my knowledge been bothered by bugs, and I always go to Windows Update and download the revised programming.  

Very few industrial manufacturing companies respond to their product problems with the speed and expertise Microsoft does with ALL it’s products. American industry should model itself after the “ Microsoft Way .” If they did, we wouldn’t have product recalls and tires that fail.

 Enough soap boxing……  

Windows XP is the Windows we all have been waiting for. I remember the envy I felt in the beginning of my computing experience when my Macintosh buddies showed me the ease of use and the graphic interface my PC lacked. Computing in the early 80’s was not easy for the population at large. It required a level of expertise that made the learning curve long and at times unnerving. The Macintosh was a simple machine but cost more than double the price of my PC. So I learned to cope hoping that a program would come along to provide the ease of use that Windows has provided.  

Windows XP brings ease of use to the forefront. It has in my opinion surpassed the Mac operating system environment in ease of use and raw computing power. Windows XP is highly initiative, easy to use and eliminates the need for all but the slightest modicum of technical know-how. It is truly a “product for the people!”  

New computers come loaded with the program. In fact, my first look at Windows XP was on my girlfriend’s computer. Her new HP came equipped with the home version. Essentially there are two versions, Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional. Professional is geared toward the corporate environment and power users while Windows XP Home is for the majority of the computing population.  

When my girlfriend booted up her new HP I was amazed by the speed of the boot up. I attributed this to the fact that it was a new computer with only a few bundled programs. I was still running Windows ME and my boot up time was quite long. I networked our computers through a router switch using the network wizard in Windows XP that came with her computer. It generated a networking disk for my machine and Windows XP has us networked in minutes. With a router switch and the networking capabilities in Windows XP, both of us can use the Internet at the same time. Windows XP makes networking a cinch.

 After a half hour playing with Windows XP I knew I had to have it right away.  

The install of my Windows XP Professional took about an hour. Happily, Windows XP is designed so that you can upgrade from a previous version of Windows 9X as an upgrade or perform a new install on a clean hard drive. In previous Windows releases there were always two versions, an upgrade version and a new install version.  

When I started Windows XP for the first time, I immediately noticed that my boot up time was almost cut in half.  

Because I continuously add and remove programs and hardware from my PC, I make it a point to reformat my hard drive once a year and do a clean install. It makes my computer run faster and gets rid of the clutter that is left behind by the removal of programs and hardware drivers. Prior to Windows XP this usually involved installing two versions of Windows. The original install product and the new version upgrade. Windows XP eliminates the extra step. Thank you Microsoft!  

Windows XP recognized all my hardware with the exception of a USB Compact Card Reader by San Disk I use this hardware item to view the pictures I’ve taken with my digital camera. My camera is a few years old and has no USB connection. With Windows XP, if your digital camera comes with  USB capability this extra item of hardware is not needed. The Photo and Scanning wizard makes digital cameras and scanners a joy to use.  

I reinstalled the San Disk software and the device was recognized and functioned perfectly.  

My Internet connection is with a high speed Cable provider. I also needed to reinstall the software and my internet connection was up and running in a few minutes..  

The Windows XP interface is wonderfully uncluttered. The screen shown below is my Desktop.  

On the left you see the Windows XP Start Screen. The design is in a word… perfect!

Most of the functions you use are available the moment you hit the start button. One keystroke takes you to almost every place you need to go. Of course you can put your own icons or menu items on the
start menu. For most of us this “Launch Pad” is sufficient just as it comes.

 I have a game called Beachhead 2000 which is on my start menu. The program had a glitch and would freeze my screen causing me to shut it down and restart it. Windows XP tamed the program and it never freezes my screen.  

Unlike it’s predecessors, Windows XP requires you to register the program by either phone or through the Internet. It only takes seconds to do this. This isn’t optional. After 30 days, the program will not run unless you complete the registration. In previous releases of Windows, the licensing agreement that comes with the product tells you that the program can only be used on a single computer, not every computer you own. It is understandable that Microsoft be paid for the use of its program. The company has lost millions of dollars a year in potential income due to both companies and individuals who installed the Windows program on multiple computers.  

For corporate users, site licensing is available at a reduced cost for adding the program to other PC users in the company. Although I agree entirely with what Microsoft has done to insure it’s income stream.  

I think it would be a good marketing strategy for Microsoft to offer an individual user a license to install the program on a second computer at a reduced cost as well. Any computer you purchase now or in the future will more than likely come with Windows XP installed. But those of us with older laptops with the capability of running this terrific program would love to upgrade our older hardware without having to pay the full price for another copy.  

Microsoft Media player is a program module that will enable you to watch videos or play your favorite music through your PC’s speakers. I use this module to listen to CD’s while I am at the computer. The screen below depicts the media player playing music on my personal computer as I write this review. You can custom design the skins for the player which offers screens that show graphics that move in time to the music.
  Another feature I like is the automatic time synchronization that has been incorporated into the on screen clock in the taskbar. Computer clocks are usually inaccurate. Prior to Windows XP I used a third party program to set the correct time on my PC’s clock. This feature is now included in Windows XP. Clock time is critical if you perform backups on a routine basis and files you create are “Time Stamped”  Microsoft has eliminated the need for a third party program to perform this function. Since it is automatic, I don’t have to do anything because the time is always correct. It also eliminates another external program and save the expense of purchasing the add on program.  

If you need help, just click on the Help and Support Center Icon on the start menu and you get an extensive list of both on-board resources or other ways to get answers to your questions.
 

While help will be useful in solving most of your problems, I always recommend you purchase a third party book. Documentation has been excluded from programs like Windows XP recently to keep the cost of the program down. Most documentation in the past was written by people who designed the program and wasn’t of much use in the “real world” setting. I taught Windows and other programs professionally and always relied on written documentation as well as hands-on instruction. Que Publications has a exceptional writing team and the authors clearly explain every phase of the program to you in a logical step-by-step approach. 

For Windows XP, I strongly recommend the Que series of books. For an in-depth understanding of the power of Windows Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Professional will shorten the learning curve and answer the majority of questions that may arise when you begin your use of the program.  

 If you purchase the “dynamic duo” which is the Que 10 minute guide as well as the Special Edition, you have the very best learning tool kit available.

 In the Special Edition, the Six Major Sections are :  

1. Introducing Windows XP Professional
2. Getting Your Work Done
3. Windows XP and the Internet
4. Networking
5. System Configuration and Customization
6. System Administration & System Maintenance

 As you can see most questions will fall under one of the six major categories. Even though the book is 1200+ pages in length, it is really a reference for the majority of Veteran Windows users who will pick up Windows XP as quickly as I have because of the instinctive nature of the program itself. However, like any new endeavor, there will be things that you need to know and Using is the premier reference in my opinion.

Not only can you get help or answers to your questions, the books often serve to teach you how to utilize Windows more effectively buy offering tips and shortcuts that are not included in the program’s help module. Included in the comprehensive Special Edition is ax excellent CD-ROM which will provide a terrific multimedia approach to learning the program. I keep the 10 Minute Guide handy next to the computer and refer to the Special edition for answers beyond the scope of the smaller 10 minute guide.

There is a terrific “walk through” of the program included in Windows XP and I suggest you view it before you start using the program.

Microsoft says it best with the following list of the top 10 reasons to move to Windows XP.