Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of proprietary operating systems developed through Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, as well as media centers. The letters “XP” stand for eXPerience.[2] Codenamed “Whistler” after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees skied at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort during its development, Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 and Windows Me, as well as is the first consumer-oriented operating method produced through Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel and architecture. Windows XP was first released on October 25, 2001, as well as over 400 million copies are in use, according to a January 2006 estimate through an IDC analyst.[3] It is succeeded through Windows Vista, which was released to volume license customers on November 8, 2006, as well as worldwide to the general public on January 30, 2007.

The most common editions of the operating method are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, as well as Windows XP Professional, which has additional features like support for Windows Server domains and dual processors, as well as is targeted at power users and business clients. Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and view TV shows, view DVD movies, as well as listen to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is created to run the ink-aware Tablet PC platform. Two separate 64-bit versions of Windows XP were also released, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64 processors.

Windows XP is known for its improved stability and efficiency over past versions of Microsoft Windows. It presents a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user-friendly than past versions of Windows. New software management capabilities were introduced to avoid the “DLL hell” that plagued older consumer versions of Windows. It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat software piracy, a restriction that didn't sit well with some users and privacy advocates. Windows XP has also been criticized through some users for security vulnerabilities, tight integration of applications like Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, as well as for aspects of its user interface.