Introduction

With the release of Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, organizations will be deciding which path to take for their next desktop operating system upgrade. This document presents the Microsoft recommendation for business users and provides detailed evidence to support this recommendation.

 Recommendation

Microsoft Windows XP Professional is the operating system of choice for businesses of all sizes, as well as computer users who want to get the most out of their computing experience; whereas, Windows XP Home Edition was designed exclusively for home users.

 Requirements of a Business Operating System

A business desktop or laptop operating system needs to be able to provide a rich set of capabilities to support the diverse needs of a business.  It should be:

·         Dependable - greater dependence on PCs has made reliability a top concern for businesses of all sizes.

·         Secure – protecting user data is a key objective for business. Windows XP builds on the legacy of Windows NT and Windows 2000 by introducing several enhancements to increase the security of desktop and mobile computers.

·         Responsive – Today’s business users demand a system that can scale to meet the demands of the most rigorous tasks. With its pre-emptive multi-tasking environment, and support for multiple processors, Windows XP professional provides an outstanding environment to meet the needs of even the most power hungry users.

·         Simple to Use – Windows XP’s new visual design is optimized to reduced clutter, expose common tasks, and adapt itself to the way the user utilizes their computer.

·         Easy to manage & deploy - ease-of-use and client experience in a networked environment are becoming key factors in maximizing employee productivity and satisfaction. At the same time, cost containment and cost reduction are top priorities for most organizations. Thus, an operating system designed for desktops and laptops needs to be easy to manage and deploy and should simplify lifecycle management to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO).

 The Right Desktop and Laptop Operating System for Businesses of all Sizes

Windows XP Professional has a powerful set of features that makes it the right choice for businesses of all sizes. It has been designed so that organizations can standardize both their desktop and laptop PCs on a single operating system, while offering the full functionality that business requires today.

 It’s Dependable

Windows XP Professional incorporates technologies that enhance its reliability and security—thus improving overall user productivity and ensuring the safety of corporate data. Windows XP Professional is built on the solid foundation of Windows 2000, and has been further improved by continuing to work on the core architecture of the operating system. Additionally, new features have been added such as Device Driver Rollback, Automated System Recovery and Remote Assistance that help users recover if they ever experience a problem. Consequently, network administrators will have fewer frustrated internal customers and have more time to perform other activities.

 It’s Secure

Building on the legacy of Windows 2000, Windows XP continues to offer features designed to secure the desktop. In addition to features that were introduced in Windows 2000, such as Kerberos and IPSec, Windows XP Professional features enhanced support for smart cards, as well as improvements to the encrypting file system that allow encrypted files to be used offline as well as being shared by multiple users.

 It’s Easy To Use

Windows XP Professional features a fresh new visual design. This redesign of the operating system reduces clutter by grouping similar taskbar items, and hiding icons in the notification area that aren’t being used. Additionally, Windows XP Professional will adapt to the way users work on their computers by moving their most frequently used applications to a more prominent position on the start menu. Finally, the most common tasks that a user needs to accomplish are now featured in dynamic, context-sensitive, menus that change based on the type of file or folder selected.  Whether the user is a novice or expert, these features make Windows XP Professional easier to use than all previous versions.

 It’s Responsive

At its core Windows XP Professional is designed to take on the most demanding tasks. Windows XP Professional features a pre-emptive multi-tasking architecture that allows multiple applications to run simultaneously, while still protecting the stability of the system. Additionally, Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors, as well as 4 gigabytes of RAM. This allows users to run their most demanding applications today, as well as having headroom for future needs.

 It’s Easy to Manage & Deploy

Windows X Professional is designed to enhance the user experience, as well as be easier to manage and be managed. The user interface has been revamped to make Windows easier to use, while exposing additional rich functionality. IT Administrators will be able to manage hundreds of new system settings via local or group policy to ensure they can tailor Windows XP Professional to meet the needs of their environment. Also, when it comes to deploying and maintaining the operating system, Windows XP Professional has made huge advancements. Windows setup with dynamic updates will check for the latest updates before the installation ever begins, which ensures that you will be loading the most up to date setup files available. And, once the operating system is installed, Windows Update will make sure that the latest operating system fixes are available.

 Enhanced User Experiences

In addition to providing a rock-solid foundation, Windows XP Professional will deliver an enhanced set of user experiences.

Windows XP will put the advanced productivity tools of the digital age at your users’ fingertips.

 Examples of these enhanced experiences include:

·   Revolutionizing the way mobile workers get their jobs done

·   Helping users help themselves

·   Enabling new and improved methods of communication

 Revolutionizing the Way Mobile Workers Get Their Jobs Done

Windows XP Professional builds on the best mobile features of Windows 2000 Professional and takes them to higher levels. By implementing the advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) Windows 2000 Professional offered the ultimate in power management as well as plug and play support. But beyond raising the bar on existing technologies, Windows 2000 Professional introduced offline files and folders, which revolutionized the way mobile professionals were able to work on the road. Windows XP Professional continues the work started with Windows 2000 Professional by adding innovative new features like remote desktop. Remote desktop enables a mobile worker to access all the applications and data on the PC in his office from any machine on the corporate network – including machines that are connected via virtual private network or dial-up.

Helping Users Help Themselves

Windows XP Professional is designed to prevent problems from happening before they start. However, if problems do occur, Windows XP allows users a variety of self-help tools. The new Help and Support Center enables a user to search both local and network-based information stores to answer their questions. System Restore allows a user to put their system back into a known state if an error occurs. And device drive rollback can be used to reinstall a previous version of a device driver if a new version is causing errors. If a user needs additional help, a Remote Assistance session can be used to enable a help desk technician to remotely access the user’s computer in order to manage the system.

 Enabling New and Improved Methods of Communication

Windows XP Professional offers a consolidated communications platform for business users to stay in contact with coworkers, friends, and family. Integrated voice, video, and text chat, have been coupled with the ability to transfer files, share applications, and collaborate on an on-screen white board.  These features will allow individuals to work with others whether they are down the hall or across the globe.

 Conclusion

Business customers require an operating system that is reliable, easy to use, highly manageable, and cost-effective for both mobile and desktop users. Windows XP Professional has been designed to meet these needs. The rest of this document presents you with a detailed comparison of Windows XP Professional, Windows 95, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) and Windows 2000 Professional and shows why Windows XP Professional should be the operating system of choice for you in your business.