Fact One: Microsoft does things in style.
Fact Two: It does a lot, and regularly.
Fact Three: It’s on the verge of launching its latest operating system – Windows XP – the most important release since Windows 95, according to Bill Gates.
Formerly known as ‘Whistler,’ the best thing about XP is that it goes beyond a mere operating system to give users technology that is specially designed for reliability and performance, i.e. the Windows NT/2000 kernel. Add to this a friendlier interface, and you have a potential money-spinner.
There are new visual cues to help you find important information quickly, better management for all your digital pictures and, best of all, built-in remote support. The latter will dispense with annoying engineers and let users log on to their machines over the network or Internet to fix any problem.
Another interesting fact: XP is designed for shared computers and comes with built-in security. There can be individual accounts for everyone using the same computer, creating individualised computing environments. More information can be found here at the official XP site.
XP is also being looked at as Microsoft’s latest attempt to combine both consumer and corporate elements. Those interested can get a real video peek at Bill Gates unveiling the new operating system.
As usual, there’s already some cynicism. While XP has been launched as a centrepiece to Microsoft’s ‘.Net’ software, executives aren’t sure how the system will help. This is primarily because Windows XP has precious little to do with e-commerce or transactions that people normally associate with .Net.
More views and opinions can be found here, while this is where you can find all you need to know about Microsoft’s ambitious .Net initiatives.
For the future, the company promises two versions, one for homes and another, Office XP for, well, the office. The bad news is that machines currently on Windows 95 won’t accept XP because it supposedly ‘ought’ to run on any machine that handles Windows 2000.
Will this be just another hyped attempt at getting us all to cough up some more money, or will Windows XP genuinely change the way we use computers? Watch this space.
Additional Links
AnchorDesk Sneak XPeek
A quick run-through of the new system's features.
XP: Your Mother’s Windows
Will home users really take to it? A Wired article
Windows XP: Ten things to know
A quick recknoner on Windows XP
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