Jan 24, 2003 01:29 AM
1609 Views
(Updated Aug 12, 2004 02:14 PM)
What do you do when you are on the team in charge of windows? simple! you add a few lines of code to the existing one, subtract a few, give it a fancy name and release it with much fanfare! That's what we would like to believe, but there seems to be more to it! microsoft has taken a big step towards making their 'windows' more healthier by using the NT kernel for all the versions of their latest offering, xp! That it has decided to do away with the 9x series is a brave decision, not withstanding the fact that they were subjected to pretty big embarrassments due to that series!
So the latest one, in all its different avatars, traces it lineage to the NT kernel! And for once a newer version of windows actually looks newer! xp's got a lot of cosmetic aid, though not all are exactly impressed! But the redesigned start menu, taskbar and system tray can actually be useful! The find tool however seems like a real menace at times! An uncluttered desktop seems to have been a priority though I dont understand the presence of the trash can there! And the compatibility mode, i.e to make an application believe it is running under a previous version, option is definitely something to be thankful for! There's been lots of other changes which I guess you will have to use to discover! xp can actually make your system run applications better, but to be on the safer side make sure you have a config better than the minimum suggested! And like NT systems you can now kill an application rather than letting it hold your entire system for ransom! Though in some very rare cases, it does succeed in doing so!
And despite microsoft's high claims there seem to be some security problems and it is highly recommended that you have the sp1 pack installed!
All in all, xp does make for more attractive interaction with your system and is despite its shortcomings, perhaps the best microsoft has to offer! And with time it probably will only get better with new updates! So if you wanna go for windows, you might as well chose one from the xp family! Keep your fingers crossed.... and yes, touchwood!
