Windows XP is it for You?

Microsoft is going to spend 200 Million US$ telling you why you need windows XP. They Promise a more stable platform and say it is the best operating platform ever The computer industry needs it more than you or me. Microsoft sells you Windows XP and the computer industrysells a new machine to run it. Windows XP will not stimulate a new demand for new machines. Upgrading will be expensive, ($100 to $200 US), time consuming, and disruptive.

There are serious problems with XP. XP has a serious security hole (what else is new): "Raw Sockets" will easily allow a knowledgable hacker to launch "denial of service attacks" through your computer without your knowledge. Windows XP allowing its users to log on all day, is target rich for any hackers who wish to use your machine for their ends.

If you want "instant message service" you have to sign on to XP Passport and provide personal and financial information that resides on your home computer. credit card number. Users of XP are forced to sign on to Microsoft's software assurance program doing away with version upgrades but providing upgrade software maintenance services for two years only, then you have to pay again for any future upgrades or patches. Windows XP does not include the Java Virtual Machine as part of their operating system citing "legal difficulties" with Sun over use of Java despite the fact already reached agreement on its use. As a result of Microsoft's deliberate omission you will have to download a separate file in order to visit and utilize a great number of web sites that use Java. Should you buy an upgrade anyway? Consider these facts: Experts (not Microsoft) suggest that XP requires at least 600MHz - 800MHz an a Pentium III processor, 256 RAM, and 3 to 4 megs of hard drive space to accommodate all its features. There are questions about which hardware works with XP as there is an absence of new drivers that will enable old hardware to use XP. Older ATI Video and Hercules video card drivers will not be immediately supported by XP. (see www.microsoft.com/hcl) Don't buy XP Home as it will not work with the office network nor will it work on the laptop at the office. Home XP has a built-in network security problem. The only way you will save any money is to go directly to the XP PRO version. Finally you can look forward to two more expensive upgrades from XP PRO. Microsoft already has teams working on two new Windows OSs "Longhorn" and "Black comb", ready for distribution within the next four years.

The Windows XP is not a bad operating system, it is just new, and home and office computer systems are doing "very well, thank you". There is no pressing need to upgrade. Those of us who have "legacy systems" (older than Christmas 99) will discover that in order for us to run XP we will have to upgrade (if we have less then 600 MHz CPUs) our mother board, our chip and perhaps our sound or video card. It is cheaper to buy a new "box" then upgrade the old. New Systems come with XP preinstalled and have the "power" to run it. If you have the CPU power and are running Windows ME, yes, it is probably to your advantage to upgrade.

Owners of WIN 98 Oss who already have a CPU chip of 600 MHz or more may consider it, but is it worth the $199 US price tag. Many of the built in functions of Windows XP can be downloaded, at no cost, from the Microsoft site. Some third party functions (i.e. Real Audio, Juke Box etc.) are better than Microsoft's version and can be obtained at no cost or very little cost. Improvements may come with "service pack two" versions of Windows XP in six months ("never but version one" goes an old maxim) but older hardware will not work correctly with XP so set aside additional moneys to buy newer hardware that is compatible to XP standards