Windows Vista and Windows 7: Improvements over XP

Image representing Windows as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

According to many industry professionals, Windows XP is still the most widely used operating system in the world. The Apple’s Mac iOS versions, Ubuntu and Linux all combined do not even approach the ​percentage of the market share held by Windows XP alone. Even newer versions of Windows like Visa and Windows 7 have yet to make a serious dent in the number of XP loyalists among PC owners.

This is especially surprising considering the number of improvements that both Vista and Window 7 have made over XP. For instance, the redesigned desktop seen in Vista and 7 is much improved over the traditional layout used by XP. Those icons that remain largely unused such as the ”My Computer” and ”My Network Places” icons no longer appear by default, resulting in a much cleaner appearance. Windows XP’s desktop looks hopelessly cluttered by comparison.

One of the biggest upgrades brought about over XP, first by Vista and then by 7, is the newfound ease in home networking. Sharing files, folders and peripherals is astonishingly easy compared to the bulky processes required by Windows XP. Of course, those problems still become obvious when confronted with a need to network between PCs running different versions of Windows. Those running Vista and 7 cooperate perfectly fine, but adding an XP-running machine into the mix can be rather challenging. Windows 7 also introduces a new feature called the Device Stage; networking between attached devices like your smartphone or MP3 player in order to transfer music, pictures and other files is now a breeze.

 

Filed Under: General, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP Service Pack 3

windows is so secure

Image by Dan_H via Flickr

If you are still using Windows XP you want to make sure you are running it with the latest service pack installed. Since the release of XP in 2001 they have had three major updates. Each of these was released in what Microsoft called a service pack. The latest update which was released in 2008 was service pack 3.

There are a couple of reasons for making sure you are running the latest update. First of all the update has important security, and performance updates that will not only make your experience better, it will also increase the security and safety of your computer. The second reason for using the latest update is because Microsoft is phasing out their support of XP and they will only support users who are running SP3. The support for service pack 2 stopped in July of 2010.

You can get the update by turning on your automatic updates. It will automatically download service pack 3. Once it is downloaded you can easily finish up the installation with just a few mouse clicks. You will need to have either service pack 1 or service pack 2 installed on your computer before you can install service pack 3. Both of these are also available as through the automatic updates.

If you don’t have automatic updates you can also go to the Windows website and use their Windows Update. If you are not sure what version you are running all you need to do is go to your start button and right click on My Computer. Click on Properties. Look in the System section to see what service pack if any is listed.

Filed Under: Computers, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP vs. Windows 7

windows 7 in VirtualBox on windows xp

It may be hard to believe, but Microsoft’s Windows 7 biggest rival is Windows XP. Because the company offers continued support for many of its products, one of its biggest problems is convincing users that they need to upgrade to a new and better product that they are offering. XP is in the process of running out of support though, and it is now only offered in a limited capacity. There is also only support offered for those who are running the system with the latest updates. Microsoft has a strict schedule that they follow when it comes to supporting their systems.

So when you compare Windows XP to Windows 7 who comes out on top? The answer to this really depends on what you are looking for. Windows XP is currently running on many netbooks where it seems to have found its perfect place. XP is a basic operating system that is you basic nothing fancy operating system. It is quick, and compatible with almost everything. If you are looking for cool effects or an HD interface you will need to go elsewhere, but if you want a system that does not need a lot of maintenance XP is the way to go.

Now we introduce Windows 7. Those XP users who just skipped right over Vista may now be considering upgrading to Windows 7. It has a new bar that sits at the bottom of your screen allows you to manage your windows and programs.  Windows 7 brings the best of both XP and Vista to life, with good speed and a great new look.

Filed Under: Computers, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP Support: When Will it End

Microsoft is slowly ending their support of Windows XP. While they are still providing support for some versions, there are other versions that are no longer supported at all. Since Windows XP was first released in 2001 there have been 3 significant updates. These updates were leased in what Microsoft called Service Packs.

As of July 13th 2010 Microsoft stopped supporting any users who were running anything before Service Pack 3. This means that those who are using XP with Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 will no longer receive any kind of software updates. These updates often included fixes in security that could help keep your computer safe, including virus protection, spyware, and other malicious attacks. Updates may also include drivers and other fixes for your computer to help with the reliability of your operating system.

Even if you don’t have the latest service pack installed on your computer, your operating system will still run, you just won’t receive any updates. If you are not ready to update to Windows 7, your best course of action may be to make sure your version of XP is running with the latest service pack.

To find out what version of Windows you are running go to the Start menu. Type “winver” in the box and then press Enter. The window that comes up will give you the information about what version you are currently running. It should tell you the version of Windows, and also what edition is installed. If you are running a service pack it will also let you know which one is installed.  You will also want to check to see if you are running a 32-bit version or a 64-bit version.

Once you have all this information you can make sure your computer stays updated.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP: The Drawbacks

Many computer users have stuck with Windows XP for years. They refused to use Vista when it came out, and now they are putting off upgrading to Windows 7 for as long as possible. Even with all the great things that people love about Windows XP, it still has its drawbacks.

One of its drawbacks is the indexing service. Even though most indexers tend to be slow, it is more of a problem with XP because the service is part of the operating system. The upside is that you can disable it so you don’t have to deal with it. It takes up a lot of room on your hard drive and it can slow down the entire computer.

Windows Product Activation. This is a potential invasion of privacy. This is a procedure used by Microsoft to make sure their licence agreement is being followed. There are several flaws in this system and it was actually cracked just a few years after XP was initially released. People were uploading XP to the internet and then sharing the activation key.

The last disadvantage is that the hibernation mode does not always work. Hibernation is the process of copying all of the systems you run onto your hard drive. This in theory should make booting up a much quicker process, but it does not always work. Windows XP has several hardware issues that keep the hardware from performing this task correctly. The way around this is to just shut your computer down normally and then take the time to boot up normally as well.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

It is Worth it To Keep Windows XP?

Windows XP was originally release in 2001. It is currently the longest lasting Windows operating system they have ever released. Since its original debut, there have been three upgrades with major improvement and changes. Even with the release of two new operating systems since then, it can still be found on computers everywhere. There are many happy Windows XP users who are putting off upgrading for as long as they possibly can.

So, with the release of Windows 7, and the depleting sources of support for Windows XP, is it worth to keep using it, or is it time to upgrade to the newer better version of Windows?  With this question comes a few different considerations. For businesses, Windows XP is not a very good choice for long term use. Not only is there going to be a lack of support, any new computers they may purchase for the business in the future, will only have a Windows 7 license.

In addition, since the technology behind XP is so old, it will not be able to support a lot of the new technology that is now the norm for most computer users. The biggest concern being the amount of memory needed and used. If you don’t have the memory, your computer will not perform well.

If you are a home user of Windows XP and are not experiencing any problems, there is no real reason to make any changes as this point. When you are ready to buy a new computer, you will automatically have an upgraded operating system. But for now, if you are happy with what you are able to do, and your experience is what you want it to be, just keep using what you have.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP: Tips for Easy Use

Every operating system has its own way of working. If you have Windows XP on your computer and are looking for some shortcuts or user friendly tips and tricks, take a look at these. Some of these tricks are not new, but it can never hurt to have a little refresher for things you may have forgotten about.

  • Keyboard shortcuts. Instead of using your mouse for some general tasks you can use your keyboard. To start a program using the keyboard you can find the program from the start menu that you want to set. Right click on it and click on properties. You can then go to the shortcut box and then choose the letter your want on your keyboard to open it.
  • Menus. You can use your keyboard open menus. When you hit the ALT key it will underline the letter you need to key on meny in order to open it up. Once the menu is opened it will have an underlined letter in each of the menu items. All you need to do it key in the underlined letter to open up that particular menu item.
  • Manipulate your windows. You can easily open windows, close windows, and minimize and maximize windows with just a few keyboard tricks. To minimize a window hit the Alt button, the spacebar, and the N. To maximize hit the same thing but change the N for the X. To close a window press the Alt button and the F4 key. You can also switch to the last window that was open on your screen by hitting the Alt key and the tab key.

For those users who like to keep their fingers on the keyboard, these tricks will come in handy. If you like using the mouse then you can just keep using it as you normally would for the same results.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Differences Between Windows XP Home and Business Editions

If you have been around computers at all you know that Windows XP is an operating system developed by Microsoft. You may also know that there are a few different versions of it. The most commonly used versions are the Home Edition and the Professional Edition. The two versions have several similarities, but there are also a few key differences.

The first difference is the most obvious. The home edition was designed for users at home or for small businesses. The professional edition was designed for use in an office or corporation that has some kind of centralized administrator. The login page for both editions look similar, but the home edition is a basic login with not authentication needed. The login page for the professional edition can be changed so that domain authentication is needed.

The home edition automatically assigns all users to the owners group giving them full control of the computer. There is a restricted users group available, but a user needs to be assigned to it. With the professional version all users need to be assigned to a group. Each group has different permissions depending on the level, with some users having only administrative rights.

The last difference is that the home versioin will only support a computer with one CPU. The professional version will support a dual processor. There is also a server edition of professional that supports several processors.

Even with these differences, the fact that both versions have the same basic platform is what makes it so easy to use. The previous versions of Windows required different drivers making them more difficult to use. Windows XP is also extremely stable since it is based on the previous version of Windows specifically NT and 2000. There are also other stability provisions implemented such as a Microsoft driver approval. This means that a driver has been checked for stability by Microsoft.

Filed Under: Computers, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , ,

Should Users Stay With XP or Upgrade?

Windows XP logo

Image via Wikipedia

With the release of Windows 7, many users are wondering if they should stay with what they have or if they should upgrade to the newest version. Before spending the money to upgrade there are a few things you should keep in mind.

According to Microsoft, they are planning to support XP until 2014. If you think about it, that is probably longer than the computer you are currently using will last. In order to upgrade to a new operating system you may need to also purchase new software, some new hardware, and it may even mean buying a new computer.

Since there is no way to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 you will have to erase your hard drive before installing it. This means that once you install it you will have to reinstall all the information you had on your computer including all the programs and all the data. If you have been using XP for years, this could be more work and more of a risk than it is worth. You will also need to find out if your computer can even run Windows 7. Microsoft has a download you can use to find out if your system can handle it. If you use this download, it runs on your system and will then let you know if you can run Windows 7.

If you are happy with what your computer is capable with Windows XP and are not having any problems, there is really no reason to upgrade at this time. You can look into Windows 7 to see what it can do as opposed to what XP can do. From here you make a decision, but unless you feel like you absolutely have to have the latest and greatest thing out there, you will probably be fine with Windows XP  until it is time to upgrade your whole computer.

Filed Under: Computers, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , , ,

Adobe Digital Editions Software

The Adobe Digital Editions Software is a free download. This is a great software package for those that love to download eBooks. It is also a fantastic tool for writers who may want to create their own eBook.

The software provides a number of great features. One that many people will love is the file organization feature. If you have downloaded a number of eBook, this feature will help you organize them. You will be able to sort your eBooks by publisher, author and title. You can also create your own customized bookshelf to find the eBook you are looking for.

You can use a wide variety of tools to view annotations and bookmarks. You can choose how your eBook displays such as single or double page. You can also decrease or increase text sizes in publications that used EPUB. This provides a great deal of flexibility that will make reading your eBooks much easier.

Many colleges are switching to digital textbooks. The software has great features that allow you to make comments on your eBooks. You can also highlight sections that you can refer to later. This is a great way to make notes to your self.

Another wonderful feature is the ability to borrow electronic publications from public libraries. It is similar to downloading eBooks online and the only difference is the payment function. You can download from libraries all over the country.

For the aspiring writers, the software provides and easy tool to create your own eBooks. The software supports EPUB and PDF/A formats. It also provides a copy protection feature.

This free software has numerous tools for publishing and using eBooks. This is a great package that eBook lovers will enjoy using.

The software is compatible with Windows XP as long as you have at least the SP2 service pack installed on your computer.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Older Posts