Windows XP

Microsoft produced Windows XP can be put into use on computers to update the interface, adding certain new features, to unify the code base between the different families of Windows, and to provide a more stable platform. Windows XP was released to the manufacturers of computers on 24^th of august 2001 and this version is known to be one of the most renowned versions. The XP stands for ‘Experience’.  This version came up after the earlier versions such as Windows 2000 and Windows ME.

The Target Groups of this Version

Windows XP was mainly targeting the home users especially for personal computers, notebooks and laptops particularly. And later on Windows XP professional came with additional attractive features like support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, which targeted the expert users, business and enterprise clients. Increasing the ability of recording and watching movies or music aspects were the specialty of the Windows XP Media center Edition.

This particular version perhaps was released for two additional architectures like Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 processors and Windows XP professional x64 Edition for x86-64. Further Windows XP Embedded, a component version of the windows XP professional came for the specific market reason of starter edition. Later by 2009, this version was upgraded and even came to be used in cellular telephone.

Salient Features of Windows XP

This features a new task based graphical user interface such as the start menu and task bar were updated visual effects were added. The special features were like the translucent blue selection rectangle in Explorer; drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop, teak based side bar buttons of the windows of one application into one button and the ability to lock the task bar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes.

In addition the highlighting of the recently added programs on the start menu and shadows under menu were part of its features. Windows XP had the ability also to analyze the performance impact of visual effects and used this to determine between enabling them to prevent new functionality from excessive additional processing overhead.

 Microsoft has been releasing certain service packs at times for its windows operating systems to fix problems and add features. The new service packs will possess enhanced and advanced programs to the previous versions packs released. However the old versions of packs can remain until the installation of the latest version. Even the Windows Update will help by usually removing the unwanted files on the system.

Questions:

• What is Windows XP?
• State some of the features of Windows XP.