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Introducing Windows XP

Windows XP is the newest operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86-compatible processors. It's fully 32-bit and based on the Windows 2000 (NT) kernel. If you are using Windows 9x systems, you'll be faced with a major upgrade since Windows XP will be the signature operating system for Microsoft. There won't be any new versions of Windows 9x systems and no support will be offered for existing 9x products. In other words, the classical Windows 9x line of product is dead.

Windows XP is the OS users have been waiting on for years—an operating system for both home and advanced users based on the same (NT) code. Home users will probably want to use Windows XP Home Edition, which is a logical successor for Windows 9x systems because it includes approximately the same features as Windows 9x but with stability and security of NT.

Advanced users that have been running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows NT 4 will want to upgrade to Windows XP Professional. Even though Windows XP is slated to be a minor upgrade from Windows 2000, several features make the upgrade worthwhile. For example, XP's Remote Desktop allows you to access your PC's native content from another computer via a network/Internet connection, and Remote Assistance allows one XP computer to diagnose and repair another XP PC's software glitches over a network/Web link.

Microsoft will also release server versions of Windows XP (including a 64-bit edition) but not until sometime next year.

Before you purchase a copy of Windows XP for installation (available in stores Oct. 25, 2001), check that your PC is powerful enough to run the OS. Microsoft recommends the following minimum hardware requirements for Windows XP:

• PC with minimum 233-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed required;
  300 MHz recommended; Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
• 128 megabytes (MB) recommended (64 MB of RAM minimum; 4 gigabytes [GB] of RAM maximum)
• 1.5 GB of free space on your hard disk
• Super VGA (800 x 600) monitor
• Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
• CD-ROM or DVD drive

For more information, visit the Microsoft Windows XP home page.