Product description
-------------------
Microsoft Windows XP Professional is the next version of the
Windows operating system which is designed for businesses of all
sizes and for individuals who demand the most from their
computing experience. Windows XP Professional goes beyond the
benefits of Windows XP Home Edition with advanced capabilities
designed specifically to optimize productivity using the latest
advancements in the digital world. Built on the solid foundation
of Windows 2000 Windows XP Professional provides improved
reliability security performance and ease of use setting the new
standard in efficient and dependable computing.Primary
InformationOperating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional
SP2c Header / Localization : English OS Provided / Media : CD-ROM
LicenseLicense Type : License and media License Qty : 1 PC
License Pricing : OEM System RequirementsMin Processor Required :
Intel Pentium - 233 MHz Min RAM Required : 64 MB Min Hard Drive
Required : 1.5 GB UNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code : 43233004 Product
IDUPC: 882224580014Manufacturer Part: E85-05040
.com
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Please note: This OEM software is intended for system builders
only and cannot be transferred to another PC once it is
installed. The purchaser of this software is required to comply
with the terms of the System Builder license, including the
responsibility of providing all end-user support for the
software.
With Windows XP Professional Edition with Service Pack 2, you
get safer browsing and communication, powerful security tools,
and improved experiences. Windows XP is the operating system
release that unifies the Microsoft range, with all the desktop
versions now built on the NT/2000 code base rather than the
shakier foundation of Windows 95, 98, and Me. That makes XP a
great upgrade for users of the now-obsolete 9x and Me line, but
for those already on Windows 2000 Professional it is a closer
call. Despite the similar name, there is no special synergy
between Windows XP and Office XP, which works fine on Windows
2000.
The Security Center lets you check the status of your essential
security settings.
XP certainly looks different, with rounded window corners, larger
and more detailed icons, and a clean-look desktop that on first
installation shows only the taskbar and Recycle Bin. XP is also
more customizable than earlier versions of Windows, and includes
visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows
in an instant. That is the window-dressing, but underneath are
some significant improvements. One of the most interesting is
Remote Desktop. A standard XP feature, this uses technology from
Microsoft Terminal Server to enable users to access their
computer over any connection; for example, by dialing into the
office from home.
This is not just file access--this technology lets you run
applications remotely as if you were sitting at your desk at
work. This is mature technology, stable and carefully thought
out. So, for example, you can print from a remote word processor
to a local printer. A variation on the theme is Remote
Assistance, where the user can allow a remote helper to view
their desktop, or optionally gain control of the keyboard and
mouse, in order to troubleshoot a problem. The feature can also
be disabled to ease security concerns.
Laptop users benefit from enhanced power management, with
options to extend battery life by reducing CPU speed and display
brightness. IrDA support has been fixed so that, unlike Windows
2000, Windows XP can easily use modems in mobile telephones via
infrared. A new screen font, ClearType, improves legibility for
laptop or other flat screens, and there is built-in support for
wireless networking using the popular 802.11 standard. A great
feature of XP, also found in Windows 2000, is the ability to
synchronize network files with offline copies. Previously, these
files could not be stored securely, but now they can be
encrypted.
The Information Bar in Windows XP Professional Edition with
Service Pack 2 notifies you when it blocks ActiveX control or
active content and then lets you decide what to do.
For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The
enhancements in IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers,
and in any case Microsoft makes IE freely available to all
Windows users. Although Java is not installed by default, it is
not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows
Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a
collaboration tool that allows for video conferencing and
application sharing.
Service Pack 2 allows users to instruct Internet Explorer how to
handle downloads from a specific publisher
The most significant new feature for Internet users is the
built-in firewall. A firewall protects against one of the most
disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown to you
might connect to your computer while it is online, reading
private files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is
a simple affair, but it does prevent most types of unauthorized
connection.
Windows XP has strong multimedia features. The new Media Player
lets you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own
playlist, and write your own music CDs if you have a CD writer.
Although there is loss of quality as a result of compression, the
process is easy and convenient. Media Player 8.0 can play back
DVD video, but only if a hardware or software DVD decoder is
already installed. You can also play MP3 audio files and MPEG
videos, but sadly, not the popular RealMedia formats. In the end,
Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free
alternatives, but it is slick and nicely integrated.
The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier
versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that
together add up to a significant improvement. The Start menu now
automatically features the most frequently used programs at the
top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by
right-clicking the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the
pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and
Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with
searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs.
Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP
Home, and adds support for dual processors, encryptable file
systems, offline folders, the Remote Desktop as described above,
and extra administration features that come into play when
connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on
hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than
Microsoft's recommended minimum requirements. There is also
activation to consider, a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure
that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full
installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major
system changes.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Features
Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker Makes browsing the Internet
more enjoyable by enabling you to reduce unwanted ads and
content. Internet Explorer download monitoring Warns you about
potentially harmful downloads and gives you the option to block
files that could be malicious. Internet Explorer Information Bar
Provides better information about events that are happening as
you browse the Web, so it’s easier to know what’s going on and
address potential security issues. Windows Security Center Allows
you to easily view your security status and manage key security
settings in one convenient place. Windows Firewall update
Automatically turned on by default, this improved firewall helps
protect Windows XP from viruses, worms, and other security
threats that can spread over the Internet. Improved wireless
support Dramatically improves and simplifies the process of
discovering and connecting to wireless networks. Bluetooth
technologies Enables you to easily connect to the latest
Bluetooth-enabled hardware devices such as keyboards, cell
phones, and PDAs. Windows Media Player 9 Series Makes it easy to
enjoy music, video, and broadband content with enhanced security.