You can't surf if the wave locks up {{{== .....{{{==......
Written: May 11 '02 (Updated May 11 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The support, it comes free with new computers and some neat new features.
Cons: Locks up a lot on the internet. Missing defrag in start menu & more...
The Bottom Line: There are some great new features but you can't surf if the wave locks up {{{== .....{{{==......Fatal System Error, reboot...
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| mcmaster's Full Review: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (N09-00048) For ... |
I have always used and liked windows. When I started out in the wide world of computers, my first PC had windows (3.1). Then I was able to purchase a newer model Hewlett Packard which came with windows 95. Then later on I purchased another HP with Windows 98. I have always liked windows and the upgrades always seemed to be better. Windows XP has some great new features and awesome support. But it just isn't as stable while your on the Internet. I have noticed that if to many windows or programs are open it will lock up and crash! It doesn't take very many of those pop up ads to throw you for a loop!
Pros
Remote assistance
If you can not figure out anything on your computer and or windows. They have added a new tool, remote assistance. With this feature you just go online and click start / (help and support) and whala you are in contact with a MS technician who can actually take control of your computer and fix it!
System Restore
This may be the most useful of all the new goodies. With the Windows XP you can go back one day, one month or a year and restore it like it was then! So if you come home from work and your kids have totally thrashed your computer, you can restore it just like it was yesterday! This is also handy for those of us that use lots of different applications. If some paint/graphics programs mess with your set up you can just restore the computer to what it was yesterday. So it only takes five minutes to restore your system. With the older windows you had to break the recovery discs out and it took a long time to restore your computer to default. You also lost everything on your computer.
Adding any program to your start menu
You just right click the program and drag it to your start menu. This is a handy new feature! So if there is a program on your desktop that you use a lot. Just left click the folder drag it over to your start button and drop it off. Your folder is now in your start up menu! This is a handy new feature!
Multiple Users
Windows XP lets you create users for everyone who wants to use the computer. Each user can set up what ever theme they like as well as their own password. Here is the neat part. You can be working on the Internet or be running another program and log off but still keep everything there and running. All while another user does their own thing with the computer. I great idea but I would recommend saving everything in detail before trying this feature out. It all works fine but does crash now and then. To many open window, programs and users will cause a crash at some point.
Groups
Don't you love it when you open a program or your computer has an error then opens 29 windows. With Windows XP it doesn't do that anymore. It actually opens up one window and lists all the files/folders/programs/errors that have been opened. So when you want to close them it just takes one click. Unlike the older versions where you had to (X) on every open window. This is a nice feature!
Snazzy new 2002 look
(MSN Explorer) It does offer a snazzy newer look. I don't care for it to much myself though. It takes up 1/4 of the top of your screen while taking up 1/3 of the left side of your screen. Unlike the older versions you can not minimize the top at all. They do have buttons up there that you can click to add more buttons though. The left side of the screen will let you minimize it down some what.
(Microsoft Internet Explorer) is almost the same. It does have the old drop down menu along with all the older options. It also offers the outlook Express which is not so great. Over all I like this Microsoft Internet Explorer browser a lot better!
Digital Camcorders & Cameras
I do not use a digital camera so I can not say how useful the digital camera set up on Windows XP really is. But it is a new feature.
Cons
The security Features
This may be a great feature for the C.I.A. but is is a real pain for the everyday Internet user. I had to do some serious work on that feature just to get on Yahoo and other common sites. It doesn't like cookies which I need to have turned on because I visit many of the same sites daily. Then it will crash when you turn the cookies on and go to check your mail. So you end up turning off all the security measures and leaving yourself even more open to hackers and viruses. So I recommend getting Mcafee or Norton no matter what.
Incompatible
This has been a major issue with Windows XP. There are lots and lots of software applications and hardware that is just not compatible with Windows XP!
After some research I found some real helpful information at:http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749.html
There is a reason: Windows XP, like Windows 2000, runs on the Windows NT kernel and is a true 32-bit operating system. Older versions, including Windows 95, 98, and Millennium, relied on DOS. The difference is dramatic, with much bigger compatibility implications.
For more information Windows XP problems you can visit:
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749.html
I would not recommend getting Windows XP for an older computer or a newer computer that runs your older programs, applications or hardware.
No URL drop down menu when using new MSN Explorer
There is no drop down menu in the URL box anymore. I have always liked this feature. If you wanted to go to one of the last twenty or so places you had recently visited you simply click the URL drop down menu and clicked on the desired site. Now you must add the site to your favorites if you want to save the URL, (Universal Resource Locator) Web site address.
Big ugly bugs
It likes to reboot now and then with out warning. Usually right at the end of a review you have been working on. This happens when Windows XP picks up a Fatal System Error. It seems to pick up a lot for what ever reason.
If your running on a DOS system you will be in trouble!! Windows XP will leave you in the dark!! You will have to have Microsoft send you the Windows XP disc or floppy.
Serious Privacy Issues
There have been some reports that Microsoft can and does record information on you via your computer. For instance, the new media player that comes with the new Windows XP. When used by the consumer your computer connects to servers at Microsoft and reports what DVD's are being used on the consumers computer. I for one do not like this sort information being collected on me without my knowledge. I also believe they collect a lot more user information then we would care to know. You can try and stop this by shutting off all cookies. But then you have a heck of a time getting in the majority of the sites on the Internet:(
For more in depth information concerning privacy & Windows XP:http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/174673.html
System Requirements
Minimum hard drive space; 1.5 GB
Minimum Processor Type: Intel Pentium II 300 MHz
Minimum RAM: 128 MB
My final thoughts on Windows XP
I really like the new features! I really dislike the new bugs and problems Although there are patches and updates always coming out. I would not recommend getting Windows XP unless you have a model 2001 or newer computer. It has caused a lot of heart ache with older PC's, software and hardware. If you think you must have it, I'd suggest purchasing a new computer as well...
Thanks for the read
~Mac
Recommended:
Yes
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