Windows XP will be the most important update in Microsofts line of Operating Systems since Windows 95. It is based on the Windows 2000 kernel and brings an end to the Windows 9x range. Due to its 2000 kernel it is sure to be as stable and reliable, if not more, as Windows 2000. XP is planned for release on the 25th of October of this year. It will be available in a Professional edition for corporate use as well as Home Edition for consumers.

Windows XP Home edition is primarely designed with home users in mind. It will be the logical update to 9x and ME. XP Professional is tailored for the professional market. Important differences include the support for two processors by Professional. Others include the lack of domaincontrole and groupmanagement in the Home edition. Terminal services are also limited. Where Professional supports both Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop (yes its a build in feature!), Home only supports Remote Assistance.

Whistler was Windows XP codename. When renaming Whistler Microsoft also presented XP's new User Interface. Whistler is now used as the codename for the upcoming Server. A final name hasn't been announced yet. It doesn't seem likely the Server will be called XP. Some mention Windows Server 2002 as a possible name.

The last known beta 2 build is 2474, which is very close to Release Candidate 1. Officially RC1 is planned for a June release. RC2 will follow in July and both Windows XP editions and the next Windows Server will be available on october the 25th.

It is possible to upgrade from Windows 9x and ME to both XP editions, Home and Professional. From Windows 2000 or NT it is not possible to upgrade to the Home edition.

As far as we can judge now it looks like Microsoft is really showing effort to make XP as compatible as possible with older OS's. Even DOS. Although some people think so... DOS isn't dead. Lot's of companies are still using DOS programs and won't be able to change this quickly. For those programs XP has a compatibility mode which makes it possible to make the program believe you are running another OS.

I'm afraid not. The 64-bit version will only work on Intel's new Itanium based servers. The 32-bit version will work on all x86 compatible hardware like the Pentium III and 4 and the Athlon.

Actually there is. Microsoft offers a Preview program for Release Candidate 1 and 2. Follow the link at the bottom to sign in. There are places on the Internet where you can download early or more recent beta's. These were meant for betatesters but have leaked out. If you intend to install one of those, keep in mind that they may contain bugs and might not reflect the final version. Also remember that Microsoft has protected all builds for misuse. They require you to activate with Microsoft within 14 days and expire after 180 days.

No, Microsoft says it won't. The activation is meant to prevent one Windows XP version being installed on more than one computer. The activation code is an accumulation of several hardware numbers in your computer. It might include your current processor, DVD-drive, harddisk, etc. It won't include personal information like your name, e-mailaddress, etc.

Yes you can. During a session on Windows XP Microsoft told that the activation code is based on a big variety of variables. Little changes in this code won't be detected as being harmfull and your upgrade won't be a problem. If however you buy a new computer, or decide to do a major upgrade, it might happen that the activation won't work. XP will ask you to contact Microsoft. They assured me that a nice lady will help you activate XP on your new computer.

Yep that's right! Microsoft introduces a redesigned User Interface. Microsofts motto has been 'Keep it simple'. Having tested new UI features since 1999 Microsoft now says to have put lots of user requested changes into XP. Some things really stand out. The desktop is designed to be almost empty. Frequently used programs can be found in a redesigned Start 'Panel'. The UI works with theme's that are XML based and which make Windows more customisable than ever. XP standard comes with the 'Luna' theme. You will however be able to use the Classic Windows 95/2000 desktop. Text on your desktop is rendered using the new Clear Type technology for smoother fontedges and better readablility.

Fast-user switching is one of the most significant changes in user management in XP. It enables several users to login and switch between them without closing applications. When switching back all applications that were open before switching will still be open. This function works best if XP can reserve at least 64 MB per user, to keep applications and settings in memory.

Yes you can. Do remember however that some XP-specific functions won't work until you upgrade to a 2000 server. Within a 2000 environment most features will work fine. Windows XP is build to work in a 2000 environment.

Okay... I will just list a few more things that might be interesting.

- First of all XP has a faster reboot than any Windows so far. Microsoft even says rebooting is faster than hybernating.

- The system tray is customizable. All of you know how crowded the system tray can get. In XP you can turn icons off for those applications that don't need them.

- Internet Exlorer 6.0 is faster than 5.5. IE6 uses more threads to build pages faster during download and to function faster in general.

- To ensure better system recovery Windows XP uses more checkpoints. Each driver installation will add a new checkpoint, making it easier to get back to a recent state.

- Microsoft has enhanced Device Driver Rollback. Older drivers are cleared from memory. If a driver doesn't function the last driver that did work will be recovered.

That's it for now.

During the development a team of software engineers compiles several versions of an application. All in a different state of completion. So does Microsoft. Although earlier builds were released, the first milestone was 2562 beta 2. Beta's and Release Candidates are the last builds to come out before the final product.

Builds are released to betatesters and are used by Microsoft internally. Sometimes a builds leakes to the Internet were you can download it on FTP servers, Warez sites, IRC, etc. Remember however that these products aren't final products. Some are stable some not. Always keep another Operating System as long as XP isn't final.

Okay... that's a tricky question :o) There are FTP's and sites where you can download recent builds for free. Although I'm not a saint, it wouldn't be smart for me to list those sites here. Most of them die pretty fast anyway, so you would have to be fast. Although I've had many requests, at the moment I have no intentions to start my own FTP server offering Windows XP builds. Check forums on our site and those of other Windows XP related sites and you might get lucky.

The easiest way though to get RC1 and RC2 is to spend a few bucks ($9.95) and have Microsoft send them to you. Just participate in their Preview Program.