A Skeptic Becomes a Fan
Written: Mar 28 '02 (Updated Mar 28 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: nice look and feel, stable, integrated with the Internet
Cons: I still don't like the activation concept
The Bottom Line: If you are running Windows ME, upgrade NOW. Otherwise, read the rest of the review and decide if XP is right for you.
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| amykhar's Full Review: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (N09-00048) For ... |
I didn’t want to like Windows XP. I was biased against it from the start due to Microsoft’s new software activation system. However, despite myself, I find that I like Windows XP and it has become the primary operating system that I use on my computer.
I originally had a dual boot system running Windows 2000 and Linux. However, hardware issues made it impossible for me to access the Internet using Linux, and Windows 2000 didn’t like my son’s games. Therefore, I removed Linux from my system, and replaced it with Windows XP.
I purchased Windows XP Home Edition at BJs Wholesale Club for $96. Installation was a snap. I booted my computer using the Windows XP CD, and allowed it to format the hard drive that Linux had been on. The total installation process took about an hour, including the time it took to format the drive.
I had to go through a few contortions to activate Windows XP on my computer because the PC that it is installed on is not near a phone line. My house has a wireless network that connects to a DSL Internet provider. I haven’t used a modem in over two years. However, after a bit of scrounging, I found a phone wire that would reach a jack, and within seconds, XP had phoned home to Microsoft and was activated.
The whole activation issue still concerns me. I like to reformat my computer every three months or so, and do not relish the thought of calling Microsoft every single time. However, I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
What did I gain by upgrading to Windows XP? Primarily, my son’s games now work on my computer. However, I also prefer the XP look and feel.
The look and feel did take some time to get used to. The first thing you will notice is that the only icon on the desktop is the recycle bin. The Windows Start menu has been radically modified, and at first I didn’t like the change. Now, I find that the start menu gives me easy access to my documents, control panel, frequently used programs, web browser, and email. If, however, you hate the new Start menu, you can always change it back to the classic look of earlier Windows programs.
Windows XP reminds me a lot of Apple’s OS X. The login screen where each family member is represented by a picture is the same as Apple’s system. XP, like Apple, is truly designed to be used by computer novices. Microsoft has gone out of their way to make things easy.
Adding XP to my system did not give me an increase in performance or stability. I was already using Windows 2000, which was rock solid. However, compared to Windows ME, the difference is astounding. If you are running Windows ME, run – don’t walk – and upgrade NOW. Nobody should have to deal with the nightmare that is Windows ME.
Microsoft has thrown a lot of multimedia options into Windows XP that I will probably never use. The have added software for movie editing, and have improved the Windows media player. The media player now has the capability to burn music CDs on your computer’s CDR drive. I can’t justify purchasing XP based on these features though. Some excellent freeware programs are already available that do the same things.
Finally, Microsoft has really done a lot to make Windows XP Home Edition integrate with the Internet. Now, I can edit a file in Excel and save it as a web page directly on my web site. I don’t have to worry about downloading an FTP program because FTP is integrated right into the Windows environment. Likewise, WinZip is no longer necessary. Unzipping files is built right into the Windows XP operating system. Windows XP is truly made for the way that I use the Internet.
If you are running Windows 98 Second Edition, I am not sure that upgrading is necessary. Win 98 was always very stable for me, and the extra features of XP are probably not worth either the expense or the hassle of upgrading. Likewise, if you are running Windows 2000 and do not play a lot of games, there is probably no need to buy XP. In fact, Windows 2000 is not on the upgrade “chain” for Windows XP Home Edition. However, as I stated earlier, if you have Windows ME on your system, I highly recommend upgrading. Windows ME is probably the worst operating system that I have ever seen.
The bottom line is that Windows XP Home Edition is stable, easy to use, and has an appealing look and feel. Activation wasn’t too much of a hassle at installation time, but rest assured that I will update this review immediately if re-activation becomes an issue during my quarterly reformatting session. I barely use Windows 2000 anymore. Windows XP has won a place in my heart.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
amykhar
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Member: Amy
Location: USA
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