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Member since:06.02.2001
Reviews:110
Members who trust:404
Stability is a little word with a large meaning if you are the user of a Pc. That word alone attracted me to this latest offering from Microsoft, but does it deliver, read on to find out.
This latest operating system from Microsoft offers the user a multitude of new options including a totally new look, which I have to say that I do like, however if you prefer familiar things then you can revert to the traditional look of Windows at the click of a button. Settings such as desktop themes are easily altered via the control panel. Press the start button and you are presented with a totally new look menu, which is topped by your name and a picture of your choice. You can if you wish set up an account on your Pc for other users and when the welcome screen appears the different account’s may be accessed from here. Back to the menu and you will find that as you use your Pc then a list of recently accessed programs appear, these are just links back to the programs. This list changes as your use changes, but it is handy.
Your files are also accessed from the menu, and when you click on any given file then a drop down menu appears offering different options that are connected to the file in question. Also located here is a new improved help section. There is also a button, which gives direct access to all programs. You can also transfer all your old files and programs from your old Pc if you wish through a handy transfer wizard located in
the system tools file, which again can be accessed from the menu. Tutorials to help you find your way around can also be accessed from here.
XP allows easy transfer of images from digital cameras or scanner to your Pc. The images are stored within a My Pictures folder where you can view them as thumbnails. Click upon any image and preview starts and opens up the image to full size. Pictures can also be seen as a slideshow, or printed out from here or alternatively you can have them printed out on line via a wizard, handy if your printer isn’t up to the job. Moviemaker also allows you to edit video, send it out via email and even add a title to it.
Lovers of music are well looked after with the latest version of Media player, which allows connection of portable devices such as mp.3 players to your Pc. Internet radio is also accessible if required from here. DVD’s can be viewed and you can now burn a cd from here with your choice of material.
Internet access is enhanced by the inclusion of Internet explorer 6 and a firewall is included to prevent access to your computer by hackers, which is particularly important via broadband connection. Personally I use the excellent free Zone Alarm and have not activated the Microsoft offering so am unable to comment on its performance.
These are just a few of the many changes to be found within XP, some of which are more apparent than others so now I will move on to installation.
You will need a Pc running at over 300 Mhz recommended (233Mhz minimum), 128 MB of RAM (64 MB minimum). 1.5 GB of free hard disc space, and of course a cd rom drive. Owners of Windows ME or Windows 98 second edition can upgrade at a cost of approximately £89.99 but unfortunately users of Windows 95 or earlier are required to purchase the standard edition at a cost of about £179.99, neither of which can be considered cheap.
Before installing XP a program called Upgrade advisor runs, which shows, what if any hard or software might give problems or fail to operate under this system. It is worth printing out a copy of this report.
Installation is a breeze, insert the cd and go get a cup of coffee as it takes about an hour to complete. Little or no user intervention is required except that you are prompted to activate XP during installation. This however can be deferred if you wish but after 60 days (it says 30 in the manual supplied but I believe 60 to be correct) it will cease to work, so don’t delay to long. You will also be prompted to download updates and patches from the Internet. Your Pc will also restart a number of times and is no cause for concern.
How does it perform now, well my system is about 6 months old and of a fairly high spec and to say the transition was without problems would be an understatement. Norton virus scan refused to work, a new compatible version was required, bang went another £35. My webcam died, but was exchanged as it was purchased specifically with the XP upgrade in mind. Great difficulty was found in sending email although collecting it was no problem, at first I thought it was a problem with my ISP but later discovered that a small change to my modem settings was required.
The biggest problem though lay with my system a Packard Bell iPower. When purchased the system had preinstalled software which had to be written to cd rooms which I did. However to take a program of the discs and reinstall it required the use of a small program called smart restore. This program was corrupted during the upgrade and now does not work, it is dead, it is no more, it is useless. Despite many attempts for support via Packard Bell and PC World it appears that no patch to restore smart restore is available. I find this hard to accept as my system is not old and while accepting that technology advances quickly I feel strongly that patches should be made available by either Microsoft or Packard Bell. As it is I am left with a system that cannot access half of its software, the most important to me being Adaptec easy cd creator and Power DVD.
I am also troubled by the pop up windows for dialup connection and Networking connection which appear without reason no matter what program or game I am using, click the cancel button and the other one appears and this can go on for 20 or 30 seconds, no doubt something as simple as puting a tick in a box will sort the problem, but as of yet I haven't been able to sort it out, and it is very annoying!!
Stability that little word is to put it mildly TERRIBLE! The system crashes regularly, up to five or six times an hour, it just freezes. Little reports are written by the task manager and are despatched to Microsoft all the time. Is it my system or XP I don’t know, but I do know that Windows Me was far more stable. I suppose that somewhere along the line Microsoft will release patches, maybe at a cost, but I do object to spending £90 on a system that promises and does not deliver, at least not on my system.
My advice to you is, wait and see if a second edition is released which will fix some of the faults within this system. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad, if it worked I would be more than happy with it, but as it is I feel like I am paying to test a Beta version.
(+) Faster, good networking with other Windows machine, so far it has not crashed. (-) price, best to do a fresh install which will involve backup & restore of information
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium SP1 - for PC - English - Quantity: 1 - 1 server, 5 clients, 5 CAL - CD-ROM, CD / DVD
I've had XP on my machine for over four years now, it's crashed about twice in that time, that was a hard disk fault. I've found it the most stable version of windows. The popup messages can be disabled by stopping the windows messanger service or usually by installing a firewall, which should be done as a matter of course.
voyagerdude220 22.10.2005 14:16
I've got problems with my PC on Windows XP home edition, it won't even shut down, when you tell it to anymore, on the start menu, meaning i have to hold down the on/off button for a few moments, till it shuts down. Surley it can't be good for the computer though.. It's been going on for the past week or two. Ian
tekin21 04.06.2005 10:34
I had this pre-installed on my laptop and so far have had no problems but maybe I'm not technical enough to notice them. Jane x
Advantages: internet Explorer 6, Windows Media Player 8, More Reliable, Compatible with nearly everything, it looks and feels great, Totally Customizible Disadvantages: Costs around £75
Nov 17th, 2001
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