My experience with Windows products has been as a user! I am not a techie of any means. But, I have gone through Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98 plus, and now Windows XP.

I have no clue about what interfaces with what or why that even has to happen. Therefore this review is for those of us who have no viable clue about what happens inside the program to make it all come together on the screen.

These are the specific things I like about the product:

1. USER FRIENDLY! Since logging on with my new system, I have received more e-mails regarding taking free lessons to learn how to use the program. I know why the lessons are free! There would be no reason for anyone to take the lessons because Windows XP does it for them!

2. The on screen graphics are easier on the eye, One can maneuver anywhere in less time. They are simply attractive!

3. The change in the start menu is also a plus. When a user calls up a program often, it becomes part of the start menu. This works similar to the tool bar recognition of use that is in Windows Office 2000. The difference is that in Office 2000 – if one wants to call up a function that hasn’t been used in a while, they have to remember how to call the function up. IN Windows XP, however, to call a program up is like one would anyone would if the feature didn’t exist in the first place.

4. I like that automatic Windows XP updates are available immediately. They don’t wait for me to go to Microsoft to find out if I need an update, they alert me the minute I go on-line. If there was any problem I have with that, it might be a privacy issue. But we all know cookies are cookies so some computer somewhere is notified this old lady is on line. The convenience of the notification allows me to keep my system as up to date as any system is (given we all know they’re out of date the minute the shopper is out the door!)

5. I like the system features under system tools. The regular maintenance type stuff is there but the new tool is System Restore. I had a problem loading my Quicken 2000 program in that it would turn the modem off. If I uninstalled the program, the modem would turn back on. BUT if I was afraid I had destroyed something on the system…all I would have to do is go to System Restore and I have the power to restore the system to what it was at a certain time and date! In fact, I can restore my system to what it was the day I brought it home!

6. I like the tool bar across the bottom. It will let you know how many windows to the Internet you have open at once. For example one could be on the fifth site of the session and not remember if you can get back to an earlier site; hover over the Internet icon and it will let you know which number site you are on and where you have been if you want to go back somewhere else. The icons for Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, etc. are also easy to see and point shift and click.

7. I like the Control Panel features as well. They aren’t so cold and harsh which I think were intimidating in earlier platforms. The new Control Panel asks the user to pick a category and goes from there.

8. The system also recognizes new hardware immediately and tutors the user via the Installation Wizard to make sure the hardware is properly installed.

I like the Windows XP System. However, I have had some friends who have bought the Home Edition and found it difficult to install on their own systems. I am luckier than them because my Windows XP was installed in the factory. As a result I don’t experience some of the bugs they are.

I also don’t think the cost of my new processor was high because the Windows XP was the platform. In fact for more sdram, memory, etc. my system was less expensive than the other equally powerful processors companies were putting on “sale” to dump so they could bring out their own Windows XP processors.

I have heard the Windows XP system has a piracy notification feature in it; but I wouldn’t know what it is as I don’t pirate programs. My school system doesn’t tolerate its’ employees even going there.

And, other than the Quicken program problem with installation, I had no problem loading any of my macromedia software, Adobe, or other Microsoft software.

So the bottom line about Windows XP for is simply this: It is a revolutionary new USER Friendly that makes other platforms obsolete! It’s money well spent.





Recommended: Yes