Windows XP
A typical Windows XP desktop
Windows XP (originally code-named Whistler) is the latest desktop version of the Windows operating system from the Microsoft Corporation. It was made publicly available on October 25, 2001. Microsoft initially released two editions: Home and Professional. Home is targeted at home users, while Professional has additional features designed for businesses such as network authentication and dual-processor support. The letters "XP" originate from the word Experience.
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2 Criticisms 3 Service Packs 4 Special versions 5 External links |
Before XP, Microsoft produced two separate lines of operating systems. One line, represented by Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me was designed for home desktop computers, while the other line, represented by Windows NT and Windows 2000, was aimed at the corporate and professional market, and also included special server versions. Windows XP is Microsoft's attempt to offer a single operating system for all purposes.
Windows XP is based on the Windows 2000 code with a newly developed Graphical User Interface (called Luna), which includes slightly redesigned features. In addition, Windows XP ushered in Microsoft's new "task-based" UI featuring sidebars with access to task-specific functions; marking a shift from the desktop-metaphor used in Mac OS X and most distributions of Linux. However, critics argue that the task-based design only adds visual clutter; as it offers no new functionality over simpler toolbars commonly found in operating systems using the desktop metaphors. Some say that this task-based GUI isn't really that big a change. Others argue that it makes the system more friendly to inexperienced users.
It includes a simplified set of the user security features of Windows 2000 and an integrated firewall which was part of a major new effort to secure Microsoft products following a very long history of security issues and vulnerabilities.
XP has come under intense criticism and scrutiny due to the integration of many user applications for which there has traditionally been a thriving third-party market, such as firewalls, media players (Windows Media Player), instant messengers (Windows Messenger), as well as its close tying to the Microsoft Passport network service, which is seen by many computer experts as a security risk and a potential threat to privacy. These features are also widely believed to be a continuance of Microsoft's traditional anticompetitive behavior. However, it should be noted that Microsoft -- in earlier versions of Windows -- had integrated tools that had large third-party markets like disk defragmenters, graphical file managers and TCP/IP stacks with little protest that they were being anticompetitive. Microsoft believed that these tools had moved from special to general usage and merited inclusion as features in the general operating system for a PC.
Microsoft has complied with rulings with relation to its Internet Explorer browser software and other bundled software, in releasing a service pack that allows icons and other links to the bundled software to be removed. However the actual software is not actually removed, merely the appearance of the icons or the links. Microsoft maintains that key Windows functionality is tied to these bundled software (for example, the HTML Help system and Windows desktop), but the fact remains that these products can be removed from Windows, albeit with unwanted consequences. Others argue that the front end browser program (Internet Explorer) could be removed without adversely affecting the core components; this is likely the case.
It has also been sharply criticized for its product activation system.
Legal action is being considered against Microsoft for one of the features in its task-based GUI: its "Buy Music Online" feature. In the anti-trust lawsuits against Microsoft, Microsoft wasn't punished, but rather a committee was created to watch Microsoft to make sure they don't use any uncompetitive actions against Netscape and other web browsers. Uncompetitive actions defined in the lawsuit included anything making it so that users couldn't completely switch their default browsers. But the "Buy Music Online" feature always used the browser Internet Explorer. Microsoft released a patch in early 2004 which changed the link to use the user's default browser.
Microsoft releases service packs for Windows XP to fix problems and add new features. Service Pack 1 for Windows XP was released on September 9, 2002. SP2 is due to be released in 2004, and will focus on security. Unlike previous service packs from Microsoft, SP2 will add new functionality to Windows XP, including a new firewall, WiFi utility, and pop-up blocker. SP2 will also include a new API to allow third party virus scanners and firewalls to interface with a new security center application which provides a general overview of security on the system.
In November 2002, Microsoft released three new versions of XP for specific hardware:
Development
Criticisms
Service Packs
Special versions
Windows XP Media Center edition received an update in 2003, "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003", which added additional features such as FM radio tuning.Currently, a version of Windows XP 64 Bit Edition designed for AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron systems is in beta testing.
History of Microsoft Windows
Windows: 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.x | NT | 95 | 98 | Me | 2000 | XP | CE | PPC | WM | Longhorn
External links