WinXP: Is Microsoft Pulling a Fast One?

Steve Bass considers this new OS; see Steve Ballmer dance.

Steve Bass

I keep getting a feeling Microsoft's pulling a fast one on us. It feels like just last year they asked me to drop Win 98 and upgrade to Win Me. In the next month or so, they want me to bump up to Windows XP. (For you OS/2 addicts, Atari freaks, and Mac users, my editor suggested I remind you that Win XP is Microsoft's latest operating system, which is supposed to ship on October 25.)

So they sent me a copy, even after my years of dedicated Microsoft bashing. While I continue fiddling with XP (watch for my upcoming Home Office column in PC World magazine: "To XP or Not to XP"), I rounded up some of the best articles we've written on the topic.

Is Your PC Ready for XP?

If you're thinking of upgrading to XP, it's worthwhile to examine your PC to see if you'll need to beef it up. Instead of spending time listing the requirements, why not let your computer do it (now ain't that a novel idea)?

Our partner PC Pitstop has a very cool XP test site. It's called the XP Readiness Test and it examines the operating system, CPU speed, BIOS version, amount of memory, available hard drive space, and video capabilities of your computer. The results will tell you how your machine matches up to XP's minimum and recommended requirements.

OTOH, you may be ready to give up your 486 with a turbo-charged CPU for a new system. (Don't laugh, some user group members I know are still using overclocked 386s). If that's the case, read how "Computer Makers Plan XP-Ready PCs."

Dig this: No matter what version of Windows you're using, this video of Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer will have you in stitches. Well, maybe not, because it's Microsoft's method for taking over the universe. (Okay, to be fair, the video's taken out of context, and Steve doesn't act like this when he's not on camera.)

In "Great XPectations: Next Windows Rocks, but Copy Controls Could Hamper Reinstalls," Contributing Editor Scott Spanbauer highlights the key ingredients in Win XP. Read the article to get a solid handle on XP's features.

The Heavy Hand of Microsoft

Unless you buy multiple copies, don't even consider installing XP on more than one PC. Microsoft has draconian ways to stop you from doing so, and not everyone's happy with their controls. So Microsoft eased some of the restrictions. Set the standards high, they thought, and see what the users say. Well, the users are responding, and you can listen in at "Readers to Microsoft: Copy Controls? No Way!"

Guess what? Microsoft quietly backpedaled, deciding to remove some of the onerous installation restrictions. Learn about the changes and a nasty technology called Windows Product Activation that's behind it all, in "Microsoft Backs Off Strict Copy Controls in Win XP."

Then Microsoft backpedals some more. Oh, they say, you want a site license? Why didn't you say so? (We did, we did.) Don't like the grueling Activation process? Hey, we can fix that. And Denny Arar lays out the details about how Microsoft is bending to public pressure in "Loophole Emerges With Windows XP Copy Controls."

Microsoft's also denying that Windows XP will increase denial of service attacks. Computer security expert Steve Gibson thinks otherwise. First read "Windows XP Could Unleash Wave of DoS Attacks," and then mosey over to Gibson's site for more on the topic.

Dig this: You say you haven't had enough of Steve Ballmer? (After seeing this passed around the Internet, he probably has...) Here's Steve-o's Developers video.

What About Me?

Oh, so you say you've upgraded to Windows Me and have no intention of bothering with XP. That's cool. Microsoft has put together a decent help page specifically for Win Me problems. It's a good one, too, loaded with links to other types of Me support.

Now you might be saying that you're more interested in getting the most out of whatever version of Windows is already on your PC. In "Who Knew Windows Could Do That?" Scott Dunn piles on dozens of nifty "I sure wish Windows could..." tips.

Quick tip: You need to reinstall Windows 98 or Me but can't find the original 25-character Product Key. No worries, it's stored on your PC. To find it, open the Windows Registry Editor by clicking the Start button, choose Run, and enter Regedit. From the Edit menu, choose Find and enter the word ProductKey. When the Find is complete, you'll see your Product Key.

Listen Up, It's Me Again

Did you get something useful from this week's column? Good. Then download the Pinwheel, run it, and when I snap my fingers, you'll feel compelled to e-mail this column to your buddies. Then have them sign up to get their own copy.

(Warning: My editor insists I tell you not to run the Pinwheel program while driving a car or holding a pair of scissors. Good advice, I think.)

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