Rating: 
Summary: Don't wait...order it NOW
Review: I've been using Release Candidate 2 (RC2) for about two months. This OS FINALLY makes your computer work the way it SHOULD. I NEVER crash. I've used every single other OS from Microsoft. This is the one we've been waiting for. It's like someone finally said, "hey, this is the way it should be." RC2 is the early version of Professional version - so I don't know what's different/missing from the Home version. The only issue I have (ugh) is that I can't install it on both my home and my office machines. Microsoft's attempts to eliminate software piracy have truly affected the single user with 2 or 3 machines (as opposed to corporate purchasers). I don't know if I'd go out to buy a second copy for home installation, though -- I'd probably go out and buy a new machine fist, with XP (Home) pre-loaded. Bottom line is that XP is seemless. Third party software support should catch up in time. There was only ONE driver that I had to wait for (ATI-TV Tuner) -- the rest of my hardware worked with the pre-loaded drivers or with the W2K drivers I had previously downloaded for my prior OS. Everything just seemed to work right.
Rating:
Summary: A must upgrade for Windows 95/98/ME users.
Review: I have been running Windows XP Professional on my computer for about 3 weeks now and I am very impressed with it so far. I upgraded my machine from Windows 2000 professional and as stable, and fast Windows 2000 was, XP takes all of that to the next level mixing the best features of Windows 2000 (stability) and Windows 98/ME (User interface, plug/play, etc). In my opinion, this is a must for home users. Windows 98/ME were average operating systems that never offered anything in terms of stability, scalability, robust networking, etc. One of my favorite features so far is the built-in support for CD burners. In the past, my success at making CD's under Windows 2000 was 60-40. I've made more coasters than I have cups to put them under. A few minor pluses of XP are IE 6.0 and Media Player 8.0 which are available as separate download. Another really cool feature is the support for multiple users logging in concurrently. Windows 2000 users may not jump at XP Professional as they have most of the same features already in their current OS, but Windows 95/98/ME users will find a wonderful operating systems that is so much more stable that their older operating system. Microsoft got it right with Windows 2000 and this is just icing on the cake. Buy it now and upgrade.
Rating: 
Summary: Windows XP - Not worth it..
Review: Stick with Windows 98 Second Edition, or ME. I do a lot of upgrades, and build my own PC's. This is a real headache, and MS should change the software code key process.
Rating:
Summary: Windows the way it was meant to be!
Review: Slick product, found all my hardware on it's own. Quick & Stable! First Microsoft product that I've ever been 100% satisfied with out of the box.
Rating: 
Summary: Great but beware...
Review: I got XP on my new Compaq PC as delivered. I like the interface and the multimedia stuff. However, we can't play Jane's F/A-18 (95/98 only), my external Philips CDRW won't work, etc. Some old favorite software titles just freak out. The only things that will work are new products for XP that were designed by Microsoft or their "partners". I'm told I just have to wait until drivers are developed. Some companies have no intention of doing that. Great. Now I have to upgrade my old 98 workhorse with more memory and a better video card to play the flight simulators. Or put 98 on the new PC. So much for paying "X"tra for XP. Now I have to buy the "Plus" pack to even have Solitaire - come on...
Rating:
Summary: Windows 2000 with a new GUI
Review: Windows XP is the next version of Windows after 2000 and 9x. Is it worth it? The answer for home users and business users using 9x/ME should be yes as most reviewers have said. But if you are a using 2000, DO NOT UPGRADE. When I installed Windows XP over my previous installation of Windows 2000, I soon realized that I had made a mistake. Windows XP gives you less power over your system and is much harder to navigate. So when I went to the options screen, I turned everything back to classic. Do not upgrade for the firewall or networking features, because they are all in Windows 2000, if you really want a firewall, just download Zone Alarm or purchase BlackIce. Oh and one more thing, a lot of people are saying XP is more stable than 2000, their stability cannot be compared, Windows 2000 is installed on many more machines and has been implemented for 2 years, Windows XP is not even fully out, so how would you know if XP is more stable, I HAVE NOT HAD ONE CRASH WITH 2000 in the year that i have had it. By the way, I have two machines, one with the XP Professinal FINAL VERSION, and one im using now with 2000.
Rating: 
Summary: Great OS, but activation scheme...
Review: The software itself is good enough to earn it five stars. I've used the OS in stores since computers are now shipping pre-loaded with WinXP. The OS is so much easier to use for the new user to computers; the start button is green for "Go," the close buttons on windows are red. The entire operating system is like this. If you have used Windows for years, it will take a few days to get completely used to the new layout of the start menu, control panel, etc., but it's not a problem. Media Player XP is great, including DVD support. If you use it to rip your CDs onto WMA files, they will be placed in your My Music folder, with cover art as the icons for albums! Windows Messenger finally brings Microsoft's IM service up to par with AIM, if not above. But... there's the activation scheme. When you install the OS, you have to get an activation code by calling Microsoft or going on their website. Not too much of a problem. But there is a problem: whenever you change your hardware more than a couple times, the software thinks that you're installing it onto a whole new computer, and it doesn't work. This is completely unfair; assume you get a video card for a gift, buy a sound card, and install a CDRW drive, all within a few months. Microsoft may not even let you keep XP working! Without this problem, XP would be great. Buy it if you aren't planning on changing hardware very much, but otherwise, unfortunately, you may need to miss out on the great new OS.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive!
Review: This review is based on release candidate 2 (RC2). Can I say anything but Kudos? The new interface is intuitive to the max. It's a big step above former versions of Windows and even a cut above Macs. Stability is, well, I can't get it to crash. Compatibility is phenomenal. DOS, Win 3.1 and Win9x programs run without a problem (remember, this is based on the NT file system and kernel, not the DOS-based file system and kernel). This is what Windows was meant to be when version 1.0 came out. OK, it took 9 years to get it to this level but, now that it's where it's meant to be, there is no reason not to get it if your computer will run it. Most people will be satisfied with the home version. If you have a business or are a real computer geek, then you may want the Pro version. Installation is a snap (takes about an hour) and, if you decide that it's not for you, it uninstalls easily. For me there's no going back. I think that you'll feel the same way once you try it.
Rating: 
Summary: It could definitly be better
Review: Windows XP has some nice features but it took away ALOT of good old features we are all use to, You cant control any hardware aspects or changes and The lisence is a pain in the Butt if you love to try out lots of new hardware. My opinion Win98 is just great and lets you control alot more than this new version.
Rating:
Summary: Depends on who you are...
Review: For the average end user this Operating System is the best that microsloth has ever released, it is easy to use and trys to do everything for you. For the more techie of us that is a problem, when you want to do one thing but XP thinks that you want to do another, well, it can get kind of annoying.
The licensing scheme is another big drawback.
Right now I am using Debian Linux and Windows 2000, I had upgraded to XP but I uninstalled it after finding it to be to restrictive. You know how Office is always trying to do things for you when you type a report? That is kind of how XP is. For those who want CONTROL of their computers, XP is kind of annoying.
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