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Reviews

Windows XP Professional w / SP2 (Full Product)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 (Front)

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Royaldiscount.com	$231.07
SoftwareMedia.com	$230.87
VioSoftware.com	$230.86
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Test Report

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Full Specifications
Interface - Good - - Familiar and responsive, even on older machines. - - It's not always intuitive, but you probably know how to get around the OS pretty well by now. - - Lacks consistency. Menus, dialog boxes, and appearances can vary widely across different applications. - - Lacks hardware acceleration and 3D effects present in Vista and OS X; virtual desktops available only through third-party software. - - Rudimentary file search feature, especially without an add-on like Windows Live Desktop.
Security - Fair - - Unpatched, Windows XP can't connect to the Internet for more than a few minutes before worms attack and crash it. - - It will remain the biggest malware target for years to come. - - Requires Service Pack 2, third-party bidirectional firewall and antivirus software, and who knows how many future patches and upgrades for safe online usage. - - Windows XP Professional Edition supports file and folder encryption.
Software - Excellent - - Included utilities, such as Outlook Express and Windows Media Player, offer minimal features but do the job. - - Free upgrade to the more-secure Internet Explorer 7 Web browser. - - Lots of top-notch free and commercial software available, including Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office. - - Gaming platform of choice for now.
Hardware price/performance - Excellent - - Performs fine with slower processors and limited RAM and disk space, allowing you to minimize expenditures on new hardware or put them off indefinitely. - - Until Vista drivers improve, XP will remain the preferred choice for gamers and others concerned with performance. - -
Virtualization - Good - - Linux boot managers allow easy multiboot setups. - - Can host most x86-compatible operating systems (except Mac OS) via third-party virtualization tools like the free VMWare Server or Microsoft's free Virtual Server 2005 R2. - - Runs in virtual machines hosted on Intel-based Macs and PCs.
Bottom line - Very Good - - By now, you know it and you either love it or hate it. If you're okay with XP, there's no pressing need for you to switch. Five years of updates have made Windows XP as secure as it's going to get, though not as safe as Vista, OS X, or Linux. Minimal hardware requirements will make it the top gaming platform until DirectX 10 takes over. If you're not dying to buy a new PC, XP will be a fine OS for at least another year or two.