Rating: 
Summary: a big leap forward for the home user
Review: This is a must have OS upgrade for anyone who wants to continue using the Microsoft Windows platform at home and doesn't already run a professional OS (such as Windows 2000). The improved system stability is the number one feature that most folks will appreciate. Additional features like built in multimedia support for scanners and digital cameras adds greatly to the power and utility of the OS.The only reason I didn't give this software a 5 star rating was due to the hassle required to install it. If you have a custom built PC -- and especially if you have a RAID array (if you don't know what this is then you don't have to worry about it) on your PC -- then be prepared for a headache when you install. It took me almost an entire day to get the OS up and running on a single machine due to incompatibilies with the RAID controller (which both Microsoft and the RAID controller's manufacturer [ADAPTEC] said didn't exist). I actually had to remove the controller card in order to get the software to install. At which point I re-installed the card and everything worked fine with no data loss on the RAID array.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Stable OS
Review: Ok I have gone through about 75 reviews of XP, and for the most part it is negative. My Dad's computer which I use often for games is very reliable and fast. I feature slowdown in some games but that is because of a low-end video card(16 MB VANTA) But the computer has absolutely NEVER crashed, never froze, and I have had no problems whatsoever. Keyword "Games" Not "Word processing" Thats what my Dad uses it for but that wastes it. Games take up the most system resources of any program except 3D modeling and graphical programs and the such. I have a Pentium 4 1.6 ghz with 128 mb ram, and the computer runs fine. I am getting a new computer in 2 days with XP and I think their will be no problems with that either. That will be a major speed boost(Athlon XP 2200+) With all the high end techie stuff. Trust me, I have been using computer since i was 6 freaking years old, and I have learned all the high tech odds and ends from my college age brother(which I learned in my young years, and I expanded as I got older without his help). So If you are a gamer, GET THIS OS!
Rating:
Summary: Go Full...don't Upgrade
Review: For those of you upgrading to WinXP, let me break this down briefly. Compatability issues and many more problems have always been the standard for any OS upgrade. I'm not saying the upgrade doesn't work...it does and will give you a taste of XP, but lingering issues will leave you boggled. Here's the pro's & con's and recommendations: Recomendations for Upgrade vs. Full: - You have lots of programs you want to keep or were pre-installed on your computer. Be aware that many programs will need Hotfixes, new decoders, or an upgrade themselves. - You don't know how to reinstall software or don't have the time. - You don't want your complete computer turned. The Full edition wipes clean everything and installs only what is on the XP disk. The previous restore disc cannot and will not work because it doesn't recognize the computer - simply, although your hardware is the same...the registry isn't. >This refers to application recovery and not a full restore< - You don't have an extra $99 Pros - Upgrade: -A wealth of drivers
-Cleaner and smoother than any previous Windows OS Pros -Full: -A wealth of drivers
-Cleaner and smoother than any previous Windows OS
-Installs a fresh OS, no shadows of previous OS
-NTFS file system is easier to obtain due to new partitioning of local disc
-You have all the power to add applications you want without removing every pre-installed software that came with the computer.
-Without the clutter of the upgraded OS, the computer operates faster and more reliable.
-Simple installation - Insert disc and restart the computer, no overlapping installation in windows...it starts with the computer, follow the instructions and you are there.
-Support for all types of digital entertainment and media. Cons: -Files are redirected and moved into different folders.
-Compatability issues galore
-Reinstalling previous software and upgrading them (if the company supports it)
-Lingering remnants of the old OS Cons - Full: -You don't have software you had before and will have to buy them or prove that you had them (whether the companies will care...I don't know)*Excludes any Office products you reinstall...but that's Microsoft...so you get the point -If you have a DVD-ROM, you'll have to get a decoder and software...Windows Media Player has a troubleshooting guide that will help you) *Only for people wanting to use WMP for DVD, I opt for WinDVD 4 There are many issues to be addressed and I wanted to be brief. My recommendation is to go Full, here's why on my end: -Upgraded from Windows 3.x to 95 in it's day
-Upgraded from Windows 95 to 98SE when it came out
-Upgraded from Windows 98SE to ME *same deal
-Upgraded from Windows ME to XP - on current computer
-Fully installed XP on this computer and found no problems, especially with the new NTFS (a better file system than FAT32) If you're curious, my specs are:
*I list this only because you may have the feeling I'm running an obsolete machine. Well, once you buy it, it's obsolete...true. The previous upgrades were done on computers such as a P 133, PII 300, and a AMD 600
HP Pavilion
1.2 GHZ
512 DDR Ram
DVD-Rom
CD-RW
80 GB Hard Drive
Rating:
Summary: A reason to "switch" from OS X
Review: I will admit it, I have been a Mac fan forever and a day - up through OS 8.6. When I went to grad school last year, though, there was little Mac support on campus - so I bit the bullet and bought a Vaio laptop, which I promptly upgraded to XP. After my initial bitterness at joining the "evil empire" of Windows users subsided, I discovered something odd: it's great! It's a great interface, better than the older Windows interfaces (and much more stable), better even than Mac. Just a side note on the "Switch" campaign that Mac is currently running: I am working this summer on a Mac with OS X, side by side with my XP laptop. And without any hesitation, I will tell you that XP is a much better overall interface. The Apple Dock is a poor imitation of the toolbar, with way too many usability flaws to go into here (I study interfaces and design in grad school). The revised Start menu is great, providing a simple access portal to everything in the machine - nothing like it in Mac. Further, to run anything not specifically designed for OS X on Mac, you have to boot up an old OS while you are in the main interface! If this sounds confusing, you should try swapping back and forth between programs and interfaces... But I digress. Mac fans, sorry - I was one of you, but I have "switched!" Flaws with XP: Activation is a pain, and as other reviewers have said, it takes a big chunk of HD space and memory. Few other little flaws here and there, but nothing worth extending the length of this review for.
Rating:
Summary: Best Windows Ever
Review: Windows XP is the best Windows ever! I've worked with 95, 98, ME and NT, and XP totally blows them out of the water!!! I had a new Gateway computer with the horrible, worst version of Windows ever--Windows ME--on it, and I ended up losing track on how many times it gave me headaches. It seemed like when I wasn't reinstalling the operating system from the restore disks Gateway gave me, I was cursing at it left and right over how painfully slow the thing was. By the way my system has an 800 mhx processor, 384 mb of RAM, a 30 gb 7200 rpm hard drive, Nvidia TNT2 video card and Soundblaster 128d sound card. Anyway with this configuration ME was absolutely horrible, but once XP got on it, it totally revived my computer and it worked like it should. I bought the full version right on October 25th last year, did a complete formatting job of my computer to totally erase all traces of ME from my computer, installed XP along with all of my software and updates from the Internet, and a day doesn't go by that I don't thank the Lord Bill Gates helped to created this software. It's really that good! My computer has never been this quick before, and I can even install software without a hitch now. Even the upgrade to Office XP from Office 2000 worked flawlessly. Seriously, folks, this is the absolute greatest software you can have on your PC. But regretfully, I would have to say that if you're looking to buy your first pc or to upgrade your current one, then I suggest you wait until the first service pack is integrated into XP on new machines later this year. That will make XP even better than it already is, unbelievable as that may seem. But if you can't wait it will be definitely worth your while to buy a pc with XP on it and then to upgrade later this year to get the service pack. This is definitely one software purchase I do not regret buying!
Rating: 
Summary: Buy it preinstalled
Review: The upgrade ended up warning me that half of my equipment and three quarters of my software from my Windows 98 would not run on this operating system. Buy a computer with it preinstalled or forget it.
Rating:
Summary: Still has the games!
Review: Just got it, but noticed it still has all MS games (minesweeper, Freecell, etc.), but no Word for Windows here. Still it looks very promising! Had to download Canon drivers, but that took 1 minute (for both) from their website!
Rating:
Summary: Best upgrade to your computer..............period!
Review: If you only buy one piece of software for your computer, make it Windows XP. As other people have said, please make sure that your computer meets the at least the minimum requirements (if not more) than recommended. Also, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO NOTE - THAT A "CLEAN INSTALL" on an empty partition or clean hard drive is the ONLY WAY TO GO. Trust me, I've tried both ways. With the "clean" install, the software runs twice as well. You can do a "clean" install (from scratch) with this software without Windows 98 being on your PC as long as you have the Windows 98 software that came with your computer. During the installation, Win XP will ask you for your Windows 98 CD to verify upgrade eligibility. I've used this software for over a week, with no crashes, no blue screens of death -- amazing (I used to get 3 to 5 crashes a day with Windows 98). By the way, my computer is a home built system with a 500 mhtz AMD processor, 400 megs Ram, Asus P5A motherboard with a Western Digital 100 Gig UDMA 100 hard drive, and 16 meg video card. I had to overcome a couple of hurdles (my driver for the controller card for my for my EIDE hard drive had to be upgraded) and I also had to upgrade to Norton Anivirus 2002. Norton 2001 will not work. Otherwise, the best upgrade I've done to this computer so far! Remember -- CLEAN INSTALL -- don't do an "UNGRADE"!
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY!! A Windows that works
Review: I upgraded from Windows 98 and it was flawless. After I installed the software it even downloaded all the new drivers off the net and installed them. I have been running XP now for a while and putting it thru the paces, and not one problem has come up. Finally we have a OS that works!
Rating:
Summary: CRUMMY
Review: What a resource hog! My home PC was quite happily running Windows 2000 Pro, so when I installed this I was hoping for the same reasonable levels of stability and ease of use I had got used to with that operating system, with the added advantage of a home-user slant. But, boy, what a drag! Not only have all of my once swift and slick hardware resources been sucked into some Redmond power vacuum, but the built in driver for my ATI graphics card is _still_ not working correctly and Norton Antivirus continually fails to load. It's been two years since Windows 2000 came out, and they've actuallly succeeded in making it worse! I wouldn't mind, if there was _anything_ visually appealing about what is making my system drag its feet, but sadly all these bell-n-whistles simply serve to reveal the underlying clunkiness and awfulness of this outdated software. They tried to make it look like an Apple operating system: if I wanted an Apple, I'd have bought one, thanks, Bill. So, it's back to Windows 2000, for me, and back to the shop, for XP! In my opinion, if you have a working Windows OS already, don't bother "upgrading". Sorry!
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