First off, every 1st series version of a new software program or a computer platform will have it's share of bugs and glitches, both known and unknown, expected and unexpected. Windows XP is no exception to this rule. However, so far, the only glitches I've come across are very minor ones and don't affect more than just 1 or 2 programs which are usually games.

Everyone reading this review (all 3 of you) have already used some sort of Windows based platform on a computer and if you haven't you must live in a cave in Afghanistan because over 90% of the world's computers run on microsoft's windows programs. And if you've used more than 1 version, as you probably have, you noticed that the updated versions became friendlier and easier to use, but only to a certain degree. Well, XP changes all that. It puts forth a revolutionary new design that makes computing quick, easy and pain-free. (Geez, you'd think I work for them if you were reading this).

Right off the bat, the load up time is measured in seconds and not minutes. Now, I do have a Pentium 4 1.7 Gig computer chip so that might help, but the platform does load quickly. And when it does it brings you to a log in screen that resembles the log in screen for MSN Explorer (a web browser, email and multimedia program all rolled into one). There are different log in names for different accounts. Each name brings you to a individualized personal account. Each account can set up everything differently from the other accounts. Everything from desktop icons, to themes, appearances, colors, fonts, layout....you name it, you can change it.

Once you log in, you notice a cleaned up desktop and taskbar. The taskbar groups like items together so if you have 5 Microsoft Word documents open, they will be grouped together on one tab which you can click to select which document you want to work on. Also, the start up tray now hides any icons that aren't in use to give you more space on the right hand side of the task bar next to the clock.

The Start button brings you to a clean and easy to manage options panel where everything is clearly labeled and grouped together. Shortcuts to My Documents, My Music, My Pictures and My Computer make for easy quick clicks. The Start button also shows the last 6 programs you've used or most frequently used so that you have quick shortcuts to the programs you use most.

Windows XP has an automatic update and download feature that notifies you when there is an update or patch to be downloaded, which is very helpful considering that this is a version 1.0 which will have it's share of bugs. You just click on the notice it gives you and viola!!, it begins to download and install your patch/updates. Those bugs aren't so troublesome anymore right now, are they? And they really aren't. I haven't had too many problems.

But the greatest feature of XP is the different accounts. If you are logged in as account "Steven" you can click on Start and then click on Switch User which will bring you to the main log in screen for all available accounts. You select the new account and log in. Meanwhile, the old account, ex. Steven, is still on the computer and left logged on, but only Steven can have access to it with the help of a password feature. So once the second person is done, they log off, Steven logs back in and everything is exactly the way he left it without anyone else being able to see or touch whatever he was working on.

Also, the different accounts can be either admin accounts which allow them to do anything on the computer they would like. Or they can be Limited Accounts, which cannot install programs and don't have access to every aspect of the computer. There are some glitches with this feature as some older software/programs doesn't allow for limited account users to access the program so everyone must be made admin for now in order to use older programs that weren't designed for XP but with time this shouldn't be a problem.

Finally, the disc drives work with a terrific auto play feature that once you put in a disc a menu of options come up as to what you would like to do with this new cd. If it's an audio disc and you have more than one program to play music, it will list each of those programs as an option and it will ask you which program you want to use to open the new item with.

The update feature and ease of use make Windows XP a clean, quick and efficient platform for everyone to use. Kids and adults will adapt to this new format very easily as it makes for easy computing. People who have feared computers in the past, will fear no more.


Recommended: Yes