Using your personal computer

 

Hilton Head Island Computer Club

Windows XP

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This is the third Microsoft Operating System (OS) that I have done in approximately one year.  This OS is Microsoft effort to combine the user friendly approach of Windows 9X with the kernel of the Windows NT OS.  Such a OS should offer ease of use , solid error free computing, excellent security, user permission control and very good multi-tasking.

 

There are some compatibility problems especially with hardware but also some software.  In this OS, Microsoft is attempting to digitally sign all the software that is approved. As you can image this is a very large job and it is a continuing task with Microsoft but can make you nervous when you receive that no digital sign warning.  Many of the companies that have written updated drivers and software for Win XP tell you to select “continue anyway” during installation. 

 

In general I believe Microsoft has accomplished the task.  The OS has retained the strength of the Windows 2000 Professional and many of the features of Windows ME and then added a few new features.  They have also changed the look and feel of the desktop.  When you click on the Start button, you have two vertical columns with very close to all the actions you may want to do. The left column has most of your recent activity, your browser and a click to all your programs.  The right column has all your “My” folders, control and printer faxes folders and the help and support, search and run buttons.  Finally at the bottom they have placed Log off and Turn off computer buttons.  You can apply a mixture of the old and new by right clicking on the Task bar and selecting Properties. 

 

A stronger Plug & Play has been included and it will not load all devices if it indicates they can not be used with this OS.  In the case of some legacy software you may install it and then use the compatibility mode by right clicking on the executable program file and selecting properties.  I dialog box will come up and allow selection of an earlier version of Windows and also let you select some different display modes. 

 

Both the System Restore and Compressed folder from Windows ME are included.  You can use System Restore points that you have created or by Windows to return your system to a known good time.  Compressed folders is an easy way to create ZIP (compressed) files or to un-compressed ZIP files that you have received or use.  Simply putting files into the compress folder creates the ZIP file and moving them out un-compress the files.  You can add or move out files independently as needed. 

 

A feature not seen since Windows 95 has been included in this OS.  It is the ability to fax from your computer.  This feature was not automatically installed but you can go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and select the Add/Remove Windows components and select Fax Services if it is not checked.  This programs allows receiving and sending faxes.  You send by clicking File-> Print and then in the Dialog section for printers select Fax.  This will convert the document or what you want to fax into the fax format and then request all the information to send the fax.  It is great to have this feature back and with the Win95 fax you required Windows Messaging that created problems in later versions of Windows 9X.

 

One of the other features that was a surprise is the Picture Fax Viewer.  Even though JPG (picture) type files was assigned to Microsoft Photo Editor in file types when I double clicked on a JPG file the viewer opened.  I had a number of JPG files in a folder and clicking on one allowed me to just step through the pictures.  It also has a slide show control that would step about every 5 seconds in full screen to the next picture.  The picture quality was good. 

 

I do not know about you but I use my computer clock as my time reference point.  For a number of years I would use a utility such as Atomic Time to go to the government’s atomic clock in Colorado and check and update my computer clock.  It is no longer necessary as WinXP will do that for you.  If you double click on the time in the tool bar or go to Control Panel and select Date and Time you will get to the Date and Time Property dialog box.  Select the tab for Internet Time.  If the server indicated is not time.nist.gov click on the down arrow on the right and select it.  Check select auto... and then click on update now.  Whops, I am always on the Internet and you should be also at this time.  WinXP will update you computer clock and schedule it every week from then on.  Nice feature!