Windows XP
Windows XP (originally
code-named Whistler) is the latest desktop version of the
Windows operating system from
Microsoft. It was made publicly available on
October 25,
2001. Two versions of Windows XP are available:
Home which is targeted at home users and doesn't allow users to join a domain, and
Professional which has additional features such as dual-processor support and the ability to join a domain. Microsoft says that the letters "XP" originate from the word "Experience"
[1].\n
Development
Before Windows XP, Microsoft had sold two separate lines of operating systems. Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me were designed for home desktop computers but lacked some important features such as memory protection, while Windows NT and Windows 2000 were aimed at the corporate, professional, and server markets but were less well-supported by games. Windows XP is an evolution of Windows 2000 with additional features for home users; it represents Microsoft's shift to using a single code base for all its operating system products.
Windows XP Home includes a simplified set of the user security features of Windows 2000 and an integrated firewall. It is part of a major new Microsoft security effort following a very long history of security issues and vulnerabilities.
New and improved features
Windows XP introduces several new features to the Windows operating system line:
- Fast User Switching, allowing another user to log in and use the system without logging the previous user off or quitting his or her applications. (This requires more system resources than having only a single user logged in at a time.) [1] [1]
- Improved device support for Firewire, PCI, USB and high-density storage devices and media (DVDs and CDs).
- Windows Image Acquisition services, replacing the traditional TWAIN support. [1] [1] Still Image support is provided as a compatibility layer within the WIA subsystem.
- Application Compatibility Mode to emulate older Windows operating systems. [1] [1]
- Windows Side-by-Side, in the form of a WinSxS folder to store multiple versions of DLL files so as to counter DLL hell.
- Remote Assistance, which lets support staff temporarily take over a remote Windows XP computer to resolve issues. [1] [1]
- Power Management improvements include CardBus Wake-on-LAN, processor power control, Wake on Battery (when the system is about to run out of power, Windows XP will put itself into Hibernate mode), and the ability of Windows XP to turn off the power to the screen when the lid is closed and to dim the screen when the laptop has low battery power [1]
- Remote Desktop, available only in Windows XP Professional, is built on Terminal Services technology (RDP) and is similar to Remote Assistance but lets remote users access local resources (such as printers). [1]. Any Terminal Services client, a special "Remote Desktop Connection" client, or a web-based client using an ActiveX control may be used to connect to the Remote Desktop. [1] (Remote Desktop clients for earlier versions of Windows have been made available by Microsoft. [1]) There are several resources that users can redirect from the remote server machine to the local client, depending upon the capabilities of the client software used:\n** File System Redirection allows users to use their local files on a remote desktop within the terminal session.\n** Printer Redirection allows users to use their local printer within the terminal session as they would with a locally or network shared printer.\n** Port Redirection allows applications running within the terminal session to access local serial and parallel ports directly.\n** Audio allows users to run an audio program on the remote desktop and have the sound redirected to their local computer.\n** Clipboard can be shared between the remote computer and the local computer.
- Driver Rollback keeps a copy of an old driver when a new version is installed. If the new driver has problems, the user can return to the previous version. (This feature does not work with printer drivers.) [1]
- CD Burning technology from Roxio is included, providing the ability to burn files and audio tracks to CD.
User interface
Windows XP features an new task-based user interface. The Start menu and search capability were redesigned and many visual effects were added, including:
- Shadows under menus\n* A transparent blue selection rectangle in Explorer\n* A watermark-like graphic on folder icons, indicating the type of information stored in the folder.\n* Drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop\n* Task-based sidebars in Explorer windows\n* The ability to group the taskbar buttons of the windows of one application into one button\n* The ability to lock the taskbar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes\n* The highlighting of recently-added programs on the Start menu
Windows XP analyzes the performance impact of visual effects and uses this to decide whether to enable them, so as to prevent the new functionality from consuming substantial additional processing overhead. These settings can be further customized by users. [1] Some effects, such as alpha-blending (transparency and fading), are handled entirely by many newer video cards. (However, if the video card is not capable of hardware alpha-blending, performance can be substantially hurt and Microsoft recommends the feature should be turned off manually [1].)
Windows XP adds the ability for Windows to use "Visual Styles" to change the user interface. However, visual styles must be cryptographically signed by Microsoft to run. Luna is the name of the new visual style that ships with Windows XP, and is enabled by default for machines with more than 64MB of memory. (Luna refers only to one particular visual style, not to all of the new user interface features of Windows XP as a whole.)
The Windows 2000 "classic" interface can be used instead if preferred.
Common criticisms of Windows XP
See also: Common criticisms of Microsoft
Security issues
\nSecurity concerns have long been an issue with Microsoft products. Windows XP has been criticized primarily for buffer overflows in remote services and for email viruses.
After the Code Red worm struck in July 2001 [1] [1], critics accused Microsoft of not doing enough to publicize the security vulnerability which it exploited [1]. Microsoft was also blamed for the manner in which it attempted to resolve the security flaw; system administrators complained that they had to download and install a large service pack even though they may have only wanted to patch this security vulnerability [1]. In August 2003 the Blaster worm, which became one of the most well-known Windows worms, exploited a vulnerability which is present in every unpatched installation of Windows XP and can compromise a system even without a user doing anything wrong. Even security-conscious users have trouble with Blaster, since it can infect a computer with a newly installed copy of Windows XP before the user has time to download security fixes [1].
Many attacks against Windows XP systems come in the form of email trojan horsess which are sent by worms. A user who opens one of the file attachments sent to him will unknowingly infect his own computer, which then emails the worm to more people. Notable worms of this sort include Sasser and Bagleworm.
Malware is a continuing problem on Windows XP. Spyware is a program placed on a user's computer to collect information without his knowledge or consent. Adware persistently displays ads on a user's screen. Often these programs are included with seemingly harmless downloads such as screensavers. Although most spyware is technically illegal, laws against it are difficult to enforce. Microsoft blames 40% of all software crashes and failures on spyware. Several spyware blockers exist, the two most notable are Spybot - Search & Destroy (free) and Ad-aware (available in a free version). However, even these two are not always completely effective as people who create spyware continue to adapt to the programs used to delete it.
Windows XP offers some useful security benefits, such as Windows Update which can be set to install security patches automatically, and a built-in firewall. The firewall is not turned on by default; this will change in the upcoming Service Pack 2, which will also add increased memory protection that lets the operating system take advantage of new NX technology built into 64-bit CPUs such as the AMD 64. This allows Windows XP to mark areas of memory as being used by code or by data, so as to keep buffer overflow exploits from being able to run arbitrary code.
Defenders of Microsoft point out that security is bound to be an issue with an operating system which controls a vast majority of the market because it is such a tempting target to virus authors. Also, security holes often aren't visible until they are exploited, making preemptive action difficult. Microsoft executives have stated that the release of patches to fix security holes is often what causes the spread of exploits against those very same holes, as crackers figure out what problems the patches fixed then launch attacks against unpatched systems.
Perhaps the greatest threat against Windows security is the actions of Windows users themselves. There is little defense against a user opening an email attachment without realizing that it's malicious (the default setting of Windows XP to hide file extensions doesn't help in this regard), or failing to keep reasonably current on Windows Update patches.
Product activation
Windows XP has been criticized for its product activation system. The system was introduced by Microsoft to curb piracy of Windows XP [1], but while product activation and licensing servers are common for business and industrial software (especially software sold on a per-user basis for large sums of money), Windows XP gave many casual computer users their first introduction to "phone home" protection that requires the computer or the user to register with Microsoft before being allowed to use the operating system. If the user's computer system ever changes - for example, if components of the computer itself are upgraded - Windows may refuse to run until the user re-registers with Microsoft.
Privacy fears were raised about the nature of the data transmitted to Microsoft. Microsoft then released details about the nature of the information transmitted. [1] It includes a cryptographic hash of the following ten values:
- Display adapter name\n* SCSI adapter name\n* IDE adapter name\n* Network adapter MAC address\n* RAM amount (as a range, i.e. 0-64MB, 64-128MB, etc.)\n* Processor type\n* Processor serial number\n* Hard drive device\n* Hard drive volume serial number\n* CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM identification
This information is used to seed the generation of a number which, along with the CD Key and country of installation, is transmitted to Microsoft. No specific details about the hardware are transmitted.
User interface and performance
Critics have claimed that the default Windows XP user interface adds visual clutter and wastes screen space while offering no new functionality. There is also a perception that it consumes substantial additional processing overhead. Supporters of the new interface praise its task-oriented nature and the automatic grouping of related windows on the taskbar to reduce clutter, and point out that the higher system requirements of Windows XP allow it to easily handle the increased processor demand.
CNET's web site lists hundreds of positive and negative reviews of Windows XP Home
[1] and Professional
[1] from users. David Coursey, Executive Editor of
ZDNet's AnchorDesk
[1], and Paul Thurrott, who runs SuperSite for Windows
[1] have both written positive reviews of the operating system.
Integration of operating system features
In light of the Microsoft antitrust case which resulted in Microsoft being convicted for illegally abusing its operating system monopoly to overwhelm competition in other markets, Windows XP has drawn fire for integrating user applications such as
Windows Media Player and
MSN Messenger into the operating system, as well as for its close ties to the
Microsoft Passport network service.
Attorneys General Richard Blumenthal of
Connecticut and Tom Miller of
Iowa, who had both been involved in the antitrust case against Microsoft, began discussing a new lawsuit even before the release of Windows XP.
[1]
In
2001, ProComp claimed that the bundling and distribution of Windows Media Player in Windows XP was a continuance of Microsoft's
anticompetitive behavior
[1]. ProComp also asserted that the integration of Passport into Windows XP was a further example of Microsoft attempting to gain a monopoly in
web services [1]. Both of these whitepapers were rebutted by the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
[1] [1]; however, they have since withdrawn their rebuttals. (ProComp is a group including several of Microsoft's rivals, including
Oracle,
Sun, and
Netscape. ACT and CompTIA are both funded by Microsoft. The battle being fought by
fronts for each side was the subject of a heated exchange between Oracle's
Larry Ellison and Microsoft's
Bill Gates.
[1])
Microsoft responded on its
"Freedom to Innovate" web site, pointing out that in earlier versions of Windows, Microsoft had integrated tools such as disk defragmenters, graphical file managers, and
TCP/IP stacks, and there had been no protest that Microsoft was being anticompetitive. Microsoft asserted that these tools had moved from special to general usage and therefore belonged in its operating system.
To avoid the possibility of an injunction which might have delayed the release of Windows XP, Microsoft changed its licensing terms to allow PC manufacturers to hide access to Internet Explorer. Competitors dismissed this as a trivial gesture.
[1] Later, Microsoft released a utility as part of the Windows XP Service Pack 1 which allows icons and other links to bundled software such as
Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and MSN Messenger to be removed. The components themselves remain in the system; Microsoft maintains that they are necessary for key Windows functionality (such as the HTML Help system and Windows desktop), and that removing them completely may result in unwanted consequences. One critic, Shane Brooks, has argued that Internet Explorer could be removed without adverse effects, as demonstrated with his product
XPlite.
In the first release of Windows XP, the "Buy Music Online" feature always used Microsoft's
Internet Explorer rather than any other web browser the user may have set as his default. Whether this flaw was intentional or simply an oversight is unclear. Under pressure from the
United States Department of Justice, Microsoft released a patch in early
2004 which corrected the problem.
[1]
Service packs
Microsoft releases service packs for its Windows operating systems to fix problems. Service Pack 1 for Windows XP was released on
September 9,
2002. Service Pack 2 is due to be released in
2004 and will focus on security. Unlike previous service packs, SP2 will add new functionality to Windows XP, including a new firewall, a
WiFi utility, and a pop-up ad blocker. It will also include a new
API to allow third party virus scanners and firewalls to interface with a new security center application which provides a general overview of security on the system. This edition should suppress spyware and viruses. Planned features include enhancements to the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) (which will be also turned on by default), advanced memory protection that takes advantage of the
NX instruction that is incorporated into newer processors to stop buffer overflow attacks, and improvements to email and web browsing.
[1] Due to compatibility issues, the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 has been delayed several times.
A major factor in the spread of viruses and worms has been pirated copies of Windows XP. Service Pack 1 and other patches will not install on a pirated copy of Windows XP, so users of pirated versions often have no way to protect their systems from infection. Microsoft has considered allowing Service Pack 2 to be installed onto pirated copies of Windows XP so as to help stop the spread of the problem, but currently the decision appears to be against this.
Special versions
In November 2002, Microsoft released three new versions of XP for specific hardware:
- Windows XP Media Center Edition for special Media Center PCs. Windows XP Media Center Edition must be bundled with one of these computers; it can not be purchased separately.\n*Windows XP Tablet PC Edition for specially designed notebook/laptop computers with a touch-sensitive screen supporting handwritten notes and portrait-oriented screens. Like Windows XP Media Center Edition, it is bundled with PCs and cannot be purchased separately.\n*Windows XP Embedded for specific consumer electronics, set-top boxes, kiosks/ATMs, medical devices, point-of-sale terminals, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) components. This version is based upon the same binaries as Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Media Center edition received an update in 2003, "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003", which added additional features such as FM radio tuning.
On
March 28,
2003, Microsoft released another version:\n*
Windows XP 64-bit Edition for manufacturers to install on computers with
Intel Itanium 2 processors.
Currently, a version of Windows XP
64 Bit Edition designed for
AMD Athlon 64 and
Opteron systems is in beta testing.
Similarities between Windows XP and Mac OS X
Windows XP was announced after Mac OS X was, and the name of Windows XP may have been influenced by its competitor. Both operating systems also have a new user interface appearance; on Mac it is called
Aqua, and on Windows it is called
Luna. They each feature new ways to reduce icon clutter (the Mac's Dock, Windows's redesigned Start menu). Both of them come with applications to make movies and burn CDs and DVDs. They both emphasize added simplicity and improved navigation over previous versions.
[1]
See also
External links
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Category:Windows