Customer Reviews

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Full Version with SP2

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

Windows XP Professional is perhaps the best version of Windows that Microsoft has released. It's rock-solid, well-supported, and easy to use. It's also ridiculously expensive, bloated, and the anti-piracy measures are nearly draconian (and woefully ineffective to boot).

What follows is a pretty lengthy breakdown. If you just want the executive summary, read no further than the following bullet-point list:

- If you don't have any special needs consider XP Home instead. If you truly need XP Professional, you'll know.
- If you don't really need Windows (in other words, if you're not a gamer or need to run an application for work that's strictly Windows-only), consider switching to a Mac. Or even Linux if you're a power user.
- Windows XP is a decent OS under the hood. But lingering security issues, price, and Microsoft's questionable behavior over the years should give you pause.

Now for the extended, in-depth review...

Pros:

- Built on the Windows 2000 codebase. It's not so prone to BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) and other random crashes as 95, 98, and Me. I still get crashes, but they're usually the fault of a particular app, and a single crash rarely brings down the entire system.

- Excellent hardware support. It's plug-and-pray no longer; it recognizes and automatically configures a wide range of hardware.

- Well-supported. Like it or not, Windows is the dominant OS. You won't find a greater selection of commercial software for any other operating system.

- More secure than previous Windows versions. With the introduction of Service Pack 2, Microsoft is finally doing something about the rise of adware with improvements to Internet Explorer 6, a better built-in firewall, and a one-stop Security Center.

- Easier networking. Service Pack 2's wireless networking tools are often better than the ones bundled with wireless networking hardware. It's also easier to share files over a LAN, especially in comparison to Windows 2000. But if you need Windows 2000's more fine-grained control, that's available to you as well.

Cons:

- Expensive. Microsoft's monopoly position basically lets them charge whatever they want. Sometimes (and if you're a good bargain hunter) it's cheaper to buy a used computer with Windows XP preinstalled than to buy a boxed retail version. It's out of control. More on this later.

- Bloated. And not just bloated, but hard to cut down. Applications like Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, Windows Messenger, and Movie Maker are bundled and do not have uninstallers. You'll need some technical expertise and quite a bit of free time to get rid of these apps.

- Still very insecure. Check Secunia or a similar security site, and you'll see that Windows XP and Internet Explorer are riddled with security holes. And many of the critical ones remain unpatched! Save yourself a lot of grief and use an alternative browser like Mozilla Firefox or Opera (but not ones that embed the IE engine like Maxthon).

- The new visual themes are an acquired taste. Some people like big and colorful. I'm not one of those people. Luckily, "Windows Classic" is still available. You'll get your traditional desktop and Start menu back, as well as a hefty performance increase.

- Activation. It's not as bad as you might have been led to believe, but it's still annoying. The process takes seconds over the internet, and you don't have to provide any personal information. But if you're in the habit of upgrading and swapping out hardware often, you might find yourself on the phone with Microsoft trying to prove that you're not doing anything illegal. Meanwhile, Windows piracy still runs rampant, especially in third-world countries where a genuine copy of Windows costs a month's wages or more. Hell, it cost me a week's wages here in the U.S. of A. for my copies. (The job market's not exactly laden with golden opportunities for recent college grads. But I digress.) Seriously Microsoft, drop the price. What you lose in the margins up front will be more than made up for by the decreased loss due to piracy.

Other considerations:

- Unless you have ancient hardware (by that I mean computers built before 1997), get away from Windows 9x or Me as soon as you can. Leave that crash-prone monstrosity of an OS behind.

- I'd say get away from Windows entirely if possible. This isn't a viable option for everyone. For gamers, there's no real good substitute for Windows short of a console. Sometimes you'll get Mac and Linux releases, but they're often released long after the Windows version and are not as well supported. Then there are those who need a Windows PC for work. Solutions like Virtual PC and VMware provide a Windows environment for Mac and Linux respectively, but they can be clunky, and you wind up having to get Windows anyway. And of course there are those that can't deal with the Mac way of doing things or can't be bothered with the endless tinkering that a Linux setup entails. But if you just need a computer that gets on the internet without fuss, and you're not beholden to Windows in any way, consider something like the newly-released Mac mini. Easy to use, easy on the eyes, easy on the wallet.

- Power users may want to consider giving Linux a spin. It's still got a way to go before it's a solid desktop OS, but it's getting better every day.

- If you're not a power user and/or don't need the advanced networking features, Remote Desktop, etc. (and really, really must have Windows), go with XP Home instead. All of the stability, most of the power, less of the fat. Cheaper too.

- If you're already using Windows 2000, XP Professional probably isn't a very compelling upgrade. You've already got a very mature, stable, not-too-bloated, well-supported desktop OS on your hands. Maybe the new network features (the better wireless tools in particular) are worth the upgrade and migration cost. I leave it to you to weigh the risks and benefits in your particular situation.

Thanks for reading!

If you're reading this. You're thinking of buying Windows XP Professional Edition here are a few things to keep in mind.

First thing is, you might be able to get away with buying just the upgrade edition. The upgrade edition allows you to do a full install. It just asks you for the CD of a previous version of Windows. Also remember you can download service pack two from the Windows update web site. So no need to buy it integrated with XP.

These are what I consider the minimum system requirements:

256 MB of RAM. I have found is adequate more equals better.
500 MHz or higher will do.
7200 rpm hard drive will help a lot.

If you're running Windows millennium edition, or 98 upgrade now the stability is vastly improved. Gone are the blue screens of death.

Frequently asked question: is Windows XP Pro better than home edition?

Windows XP Pro has a more high-end networking features that most home users will never miss or would even know were missing. So for most users Windows home edition is fine. They both are based on the same code and are almost identical.

And the price differences are drastic and deftly not worth it in my opinion unless you need these networking features.

If you're thinking of upgrading from Windows 2000, I did, because I like the GUI interface better. But Windows XP is as stable as Windows 2000. So it's your call.

The plug-and-play ability of Windows XP is totally great! Windows XP will by default find most drivers for video card sound cards, network cards, etc. that is such a bonus gone in the days of having to search for CDs with drivers.

I recommend upgrading to Windows XP be it professional or home edition. It is a great operating system

Have some fun and get it done

While I could write that there are better alternatives to Windows, I realize that not all of us have the option of simply trashing Windows and going to Mac OS or Linux. In my case, I have worked for companies that are Windows based for 14 years. In this time I have always used some version of a Mac...mostly Powebooks. In the early years there was no option to use Windows on my Mac, so I often found myself using Windows on a desktop at my office. Thus, I have experienced the evolution of Windows over the years. The earlier versions always seemed to complicated and/or counterintuitive to my Mac senses, especially the installing of software and drivers. I also had way too many viruses and crashes (even with virus proetection and fairly good IT support) when using earlier Windows versions. Thus, I have been pleasantly surprised with Windows XP. I currently run it using Parallels on a MacBook. In four months of fairly regular use, Windows XP has not crashed on me. I should note that I mainly run business applications (i.e. Open Office, QuickBooks, Explorer) and for a time I ran Slingplayer (until released on Mac). These applications ran installed with ease and ran flawlessly. Perhaps the only thing keeping me from giving XP 4 stars is the price. A few lesser issues are the screen (I prefer Windows classic), the constant need for security updates, and the rather time consuming activation process (I worry that I may have trouble if I decide to upgrade my computer and move Windows to another machine).

While Windows generally has been a klunky interface, XP is really finally one of the more finished products from MS. I just recently upgraded to the MacBook Pro and with Parallels I'll finally be able to work with the very few Windows applications that I need. It works great with Parallels.

I bought XP after Vista was released because I want Windows on my iMac,a and Apple doesn't yet support Vista. It was slightly annoying, because a bluetooth keyboard (connected to built-in bluetooth, not USB) cannot support setup. Plus, I contacted Microsoft for support, and they claim they don't support Macintosh hardware. Stupid, it works perfectly, there was just one small kink. It is very cool that Windows runs on my Macintosh hardware.

This really goes out to those who read the first review of Windows XP Pro.

1. Service Pack 2 can be downloaded, but it does take a while, even with high-speed internet. With a P3, 800MHz system, it took over 2 hours to download and install with 4MB down stream. Plus, my system had to be rebooted a few times to make sure everything was installed properly. Having SP2 on the WinXP disc saves a lot of time!

2. Nothing is perfect in computers. While Mac systems have fewer virus problems and fewer OS problems, they still have problems. XP Professional is far superior than previous Windows editions, as well as more security features (i.e. firewall, virus and pop-up protection). I would never switch over to Mac if you play any type of PC games, do basic computing, or want a massive selection of compatible software without having to buy an extra program to run Windows-based applications (by this, I mean that Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac is needed to run Windows apps - about an extra $250 or so).

3. You need the FULL version if you have Windows 95 or earlier or a PC without Windows. Telling customers that they may not need the Full version if they have Windows already is somewhat misleading. If they have Win95 or earlier, they must have a FULL version! An upgrade will be a waste of money.

4. Windows XP Professional is for you if you are a student, business professional, or just a home user that wants more features and better security protection out of your Windows experience.

---All in all, WinXP Pro stands above all other Windows' versions. It will not only improve performance in a Windows enviroment over earlier editions, but it is more secure. To put it in my terms, I have only had three pop-ups in 7 months. That is the best luck I have had of any other pop-up blocker ever...

You can find most of these goods in Home edition. If you are not sure which type is for you, you may want to read my review on Windows XP Home Edition. If you find it's good enough for you, choosing that would be a smart choice as it is tagged with lower price than this Professional edition.

Some other good points on Windows XP Professional edition are:

Advanced control options on networking, security, and administration. You can control user and group policy, audit events on your computer, manage advanced networking, etc. These tools are useful, especially in a network.

Better user interface. All the icons, windows, and its components are redesigned and it's much better than the previous design in any Windows version.

Renewed Start Menu. With this new start menu, the most used/launched software will be displayed. You don't have to scroll through your All Programs items to launch your favourite program. It also displays most accessed items such as Control Panel, My Computer, Help, Your Documents, Music, Pictures, and Network easily.

Better plug & play support. With Windows XP, just plug your device in, and Windows will search the appropriate driver for you. All you have to do is wait for it, and Windows will notify you once your device is ready to be used.

Firewall and other security. Windows XP comes with SP2 and better firewall, keeping you away from all those unauthorized people on the net that are trying to steal your information.

I can conclude that this is the best Windows ever. And while we are waiting for the next generation of Windows, Windows Vista, this OS is still the best choice among other Windows.

The new product that I bought was a counterfeit program.We spent hours and $$$ before my tech could figure it out. It was hard to get in touch with some one and they would never call me.I thought that ordering through Amazon was a sure bet........super disappointed.I would not recommend it.

Windows XP is by far the best OS Microsoft has produced besides Windows 2000. I cannot understand some of these reviews I am reading. As a computer technician, I have been repairing computers since the days of DOS 2.

I have several office computers all running Windows XP. 1 server running Windows 2000, and 7 servers running Linux, and 1 computer running Mac OSX. So I have worked with them all.

People are claiming windows is less secure than other operating systems. Well, that is simply not true. Mac and Linux have just as many security updates as windows does, and in fact, Linux releases more fixes than Microsoft does for windows. A fully updated OS is very secure, and there have been televised hacker challenges to prove it.

I will give the reviewers this, Microsoft's products cost way too much. That I cannot argue with.

What makes Windows seem more vulnerable than other OS's is simply the fact that it is more widely used than any other OS. Now if Linux for instance had the larger market share, then the hacker, virus and Spyware makers would be targeting it instead of Windows. It is really nothing more than that.

Windows XP is a resource hog. I will give the reviewers that. So it obviously requires a newer computer to run it.

Statistics show that a Windows based computer will get attacked within minutes of connecting it to the internet. So obviously the first thing that needs to be done is patch it. If that is ignored, then you will have problems with it very quickly.

Any problems that people are having I am willing to bet are all related to the fact that the computer was put onto the internet without patching it.

But Linux and Mac need to be patched also, and ignoring them will result in the same problems. It will just take longer for it to happen. And that goes back to what I said about the market share of the OS, and its popularity. When that shifts to a different OS, if it ever does, the same thing will happen to that OS.

So stop blaming the OS. Blame yourself. Lack of knowledge of the dangers of the Internet, and plain laziness are the real cause of the problems. Not the OS.

I have an Intel Mac and will tell you that system 10 is a heck of alot easier to use. However there are times when you need a windows machine. Get boot camp from Apple for free and then buy a copy of windows xp service pack 2 and you can run just like a champ on the windows format. This copy from amazon worked without a hitch and low an behold the 500 lb gorilla was there and running. Oh yes, get a two button mouse! Macs use a one button mouse which limits you greatly when using windows.