Rating: 
Summary: actually 0 stars - more eXPensive tra$h from Micro$oft
Review: I note that many of those who gave this product a 3 or 4 star rating had not much good to say about the upgrade experience.I had the recent lapse in judgment to agree to evaluate both Home and Professional versions of XP on several systems recently. Microsoft sells this shrink-wrapped product on the ssumption that people will purchase it to install on existing systems. They obviously think that everyone owns a 1GHz+ Pentium IV with a 40GB HD and all the latest ancillary hardware. 3 of the 4 systems on which I attempted the ?upgrade? - ranging from a 300MHz Celeron ?homebuilt? to a Dell laptop, and all of which were successfully running various versions of the Windows OS - failed disastrously! And much software on the ?successful? system was rendered inoperable ? most notably the CD-Creator package (noted by others as well). Contrast this experience with the ease of installing almost any one of the new ? FREE - Linux distributions from RedHat, Mandrake, Debian, SuSe, etc., and it?s easy to see why Linux is already the most popular server OS, and will quickly become the leader on the desktop. This will most certainly be so for those wanting to upgrade an existing, less-than-state-of-the-art system. It may be useful to know that the new licensing process would have made it virtually impossible to compare performance on different systems with a single copy of the product. One is forced to purchase a license for each and every system on which one intends to use the OS ? even if use of those systems is mutually exclusive! While corporations like Microsoft may consider this ?normal?, this practice runs counter to much of the rest of the software industry ? especially the open source arena where operating systems and applications are far more reliable and affordable. Also of note is the flawed method Microsoft has used in an attempt to preserve backward compatibility with Win95-level applications. On the Home version of XP, every user is considered an ?Administrator? from a security standpoint. This opens a brave new world of Internet-based abuse, as it makes raw TCP/IP sockets available to the casual computer user for the first time. Raw sockets can be used to successfully defeat security measures intended to prevent abuse by malicious ?hackers?. It would have been trivial to prevent access to raw sockets on XP Home Edition, but Microsoft chose not to do so. This, combined with Outlook and IIS (both absolutely ridden with security holes) will likely enable millions of dollars in damage due to malicious use of their products for years to come - all of which could have been prevented with more stringent attention to security. Speaking from 20+ years of professional software and computer use and development, my advice is, ?Save your money, time and energy?. If you feel it?s time to change from Win95/98/ME/NT/2K, give one of the free or nominally priced Linux distributions a whirl. The install process is far less complicated than XP and you are far more likely to get an OS that will be compatible with your existing hardware ? especially if it?s based on older 386, 486, Celeron and other CPUs. Most Linux applications are free and most support MS data formats like Word, Excel, PPT, etc. If you simply can?t do without a particular Windows-based application, check newsgroups to see if it will run under Linux using WINE (many do) or look for a combination of Linux and VMWare that will allow your software investment to continue to serve you. Minimally, check for compatibility with XP first!
Rating:
Summary: actually 0 stars - more eXPensive tra$h from Micro$oft
Review: (...) I had the recent lapse in judgment to agree to evaluate both Home and Professional versions of XP on several systems recently. The one and only positive aspect of this experience was that I was paid for the time spent. The nominal fee did not cover the degree of frustration by a long shot. Microsoft sells this shrink-wrapped product (at an exorbitant “upgrade” price, given today’s economy) on the assumption that people will purchase it to install on existing systems, but once again they have failed to do any market research whatsoever. They obviously think that everyone owns a 1GHz+ Pentium IV with a 40GB HD and all the latest ancillary hardware. Guess what, Bill – that’s not the case! 3 of the 4 systems on which I attempted the “upgrade” - ranging from a 300MHz Celeron ‘homebuilt’ to a Dell laptop, and all of which were successfully running various versions of the Windows OS - failed disastrously! And much software on the “successful” system was rendered inoperable – most notably the CD-Creator package (noted by others as well). Contrast this experience with the ease of installing almost any one of the new – FREE - Linux distributions from RedHat, Mandrake, Debian, SuSe, etc., and it’s easy to see why Linux is already the most popular server OS, and will quickly become the leader on the desktop. This will most certainly be so for those wanting to upgrade an existing, less-than-state-of-the-art system. For this trend, I suppose we can partially thank Microsoft and their shortsighted, profit-driven marketing and proprietary development strategy. It may be useful to know that the new licensing process would have made it virtually impossible to compare performance on different systems with a single copy of the product. One is forced to purchase a license for each and every system on which one intends to use the OS – even if use of those systems is mutually exclusive! While money-grubbing corporations like Microsoft may consider this “normal”, this practice runs counter to much of the rest of the software industry – especially the open source arena where operating systems and applications are far more reliable and affordable. Also of note is the flawed method Microsoft has used in an attempt to preserve backward compatibility with Win95-level applications. On the Home version of XP, every user is considered an “Administrator” from a security standpoint. This opens a brave new world of Internet-based abuse, as it makes raw TCP/IP sockets available to the casual computer user for the first time. Raw sockets can be used to successfully defeat security measures intended to prevent abuse by malicious “hackers”. It would have been trivial to prevent access to raw sockets on XP Home Edition, but Microsoft chose not to do so. This, combined with Outlook and IIS (both absolutely ridden with security holes) will likely enable millions of dollars in damage due to malicious use of their products for years to come - all of which could have been prevented with more stringent attention to security. (...) Speaking from 20+ years of professional software and computer use and development, my advice is, “Save your money, time and energy”. If you feel it’s time to change from Win95/98/ME/NT/2K, give one of the free or nominally priced Linux distributions a whirl. The install process is far less complicated than XP and you are far more likely to get an OS that will be compatible with your existing hardware – especially if it’s based on older 386, 486, Celeron and other CPUs. Most Linux applications are free and most support MS data formats like Word, Excel, PPT, etc. If you simply can’t do without a particular Windows-based application, check newsgroups to see if it will run under Linux using WINE (many do) or look for a combination of Linux and VMWare that will allow your software investment to continue to serve you. Minimally, check for compatibility with XP first! Nice going, Micro$oft! You’ve struck another blow for open-source / open-standard software!
Rating: 
Summary: It's OKay
Review: It Speeds up your system, but you have to reload to many programs already on your system. Also can't reload other programs without getting upgrades because certain companies are not making drivers for thier older models. IE: certain CD burning programs.........
Rating:
Summary: Windows Has Gone Down The Drain!
Review: WOW, now ok whats happening? I sugest this to everyone. If you are going to upgrade you computer you might as well buy a whole new one with everything else such as printers scanners ect... I Got the windows professional and Home edition and they are the WORST ever nothing is compatable the sound doesn't work it gives you the slowest network connection wizzard! All your old programs don't even work. I mean what is up! The Hewlett Packard printer doesn't work and I installed new drivers but no nothing printed. I would have to say all is new is the design and look. I suggest this to people who are going to be buying a whole new computer, and not networking.
Rating:
Summary: Looks pretty, but that's all!
Review: Just purchased XP. Tried installing it on a clean running Pentium 4 machine. During install, I experienced lockups and problems that were unexplainable, but after install was finally complete, lockups, lost data, incompatable hardware & software became the norm. Fortunally XP allows you to reinstall Win98!- which exactly what I did.
Rating:
Summary: Only get if pre-configured on NEW PC
Review: Well Micro$oft is trying to con us again.
Most objective experts state there is no need to upgrade from Win98/95 to XP. In other words it offers no real advantage. While I am no fan of Microsoft, Win98 is ok and hardly ever gives me problems. Therefore I will go with the OBJECTIVE experts and when I upgrade my PIII I will get it preconfigured with XP until then well WIN98 will be just fine. PS. I dont know one person who has upgraded yet.
(...)
Rating:
Summary: Useless
Review: Before purchasing this product, I thoroughly searched the Microsoft website to determine how many of my computers I could upgrade. I could not find a direct answer until after I purchased XP with Plus from Amazon. The answer is, only 1, thanks to their new piracy protection, which requires an activation key for the software to remain functional. I installed the XP upgrade on my laptop. The modem would not work, there is no updated driver yet, and I needed online access for an upcoming business trip, thus I had to uninstall Windows XP, and restore the modem driver and internet connection settings. Add this task to the hundreds, probably thousands of wasted hours I've spent with Microsoft product problems since Win 95, which marked the beginning of my prayers for a new operating system from some competitor. My primary motivation to purchase each MS OS upgrade, including XP, has been for the purpose of bug fixes in each Windows OS, for a tool I have become too reliant on in my daily life. I've heard XP is very stable. My copy is very stable, balanced on a shelf in pretty green box, serving only as a decorative item. If you actually need your computer to work, and care about your money, take great care in purchasing and installing this product as an upgrade.
Rating:
Summary: XP Disappointment
Review: I ordered the XP home edition upgrade thinking that it would solve some of the system lockup problem(s) I was experencing, it only created additional problems. I loaded XP on my SONY PCG-FX215 notebook only to find that, at the end of the 72 min. install, it couldn't find the Conexant-Ambit SoftK56 Data, Fax Modem that came preinstalled in the notebook. It's frustrating to think that the only way I can use XP is to install an NEW modem. The notebook itself is only months old...
I wish I could rate this product lower than 1 star.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: XP is a winner. I have used 3.1, 95, 98, 98SE, and ME. This is the most stable system of them all. My install was perfect. Since running this on October 25th I have had no problems. My laptop is less than one year old and has lot's of memory to handle XP. I know there have been several problems with intalls and configuration, but that is with all upgrades especially one of this magnitude. This is not a perfect system by any means, it has it's quirks, but it is by far the best Microsoft has developed. If you have the memory, and your programs are fairly up to date as well as your hardware then this should work well. I highly recommend this. It is not something one has to have...
Rating: 
Summary: I wish I'd never upgraded
Review: I upgraded to Windows XP after hearing the marketing hype that this OS was faster (increases your computer's efficiency by 40%?), less prone to error and random crashing, and had exciting enhancements like slideshows for My Images and a new & improved windows media player. I upgraded expecting to be impressed, and thus far, have been nothing but disappointed. *Half my hardware doesn't work now because it isn't compatible with XP
*If anything, I think XP has slowed down my system's performance
*I seem to get just as many errors as with 98
AND
*The UI has been over-simplified. Little contextual help bubbles pop up seemingly randomly, and (as of yet) I haven't been able to turn them off. One of these 'help' windows always appears on the start menu, BLOCKING the link to log off. The slide show functionality is cool, but not worth the loss of my DVD player performance (for some reason, now that I've upgraded I can't watch DVDs because quality is so poor, even though I was forced to purchase a (dollar amount) decoder just to make my player work with XP!!)
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