bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Security, firewall, system restore available when needed & Updates

Weaknesses: Original setup is for people who are NOT prior users

Summary: I am an dedicated Windows 2000 Pro user and did not like what I saw in the XP desktop. MS took away our control of what we wanted to do. Too many automatic updates without our giving permission. But, I was able to re-configure this version to look and feel like WIN 2000 Pro with only a few icons being changed.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 30 Days

Strengths: Allows multi-session DVD burns..The "oldest" MS operating system that will enable ADOBE Photoshop CS3

Weaknesses: I had Windows 2000..Other than the necessity of multi-session DVD burning, and enableing ADOBE CS3, I see no "real" difference performance-wise

Summary: Allows multi-session DVD burns..The "oldest" MS operating system that will enable ADOBE Photoshop CS3.....I had Windows 2000..Other than the necessity of multi-session DVD burning, and enableing ADOBE CS3, I see no "real" difference performance-wise, and would NOT have done the up-grade..Their are too many initial negative issues being reported about "VISTA", that I elected not to go for that OS at this time..I'm sure MS will get it sorted out sooner or later..

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Summary: Quality merchandise at an affordable price. The only difference between the version we bought and the ones in the store is the packaging. I would take quality at a cheaper price any day.

Rating: 2

Time with product: 5

Strengths: Pretty to look at. I like the pictures. The backgound is nice.

Weaknesses: Tends to crash continuously. Tries to load drivers that disable the hardware.

Summary: Excellent product to replace my fish tank. Not to be used as an OS since it tends to hang on boot and crash continuously. The pictures and screensaver are nice but the screensaver does hang the system.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 3 Weeks

Strengths: Typical Windows Platform

Weaknesses: Not user friendly, crashes

Summary: While XP "Professional" seems to be more stable than all of the other versions, it still has a multitude of problems. As the saying goes, "It's not a matter of will the system crash, it's just a matter of when." I have used XP for years and purchased this item to install on a second computer. During this time I have had to completely install (erase everything) a couple of times. Linux does not have this problem, but has limited software commercially available by the same manufactures and same programs available to Windows users. So my suggestion is, be sure any of the data that you cannot afford to lose (Quicken records, Address books, Bookmarks, ect.) is backed up in some form which you can restore in a new install of Windows. Good Luck!