Windows XP Be patient when debating about upgrading

by David Orenstein freelance writer

Just about every aspect of Microsoft Windows demands patience, including opening the crash-prone software. But patience also is called for when deciding whether to upgrade to a new version. I didn’t rush to write about Windows XP after it debuted last fall, and I hope you didn’t rush to buy it. If you did, still read this. You might be in danger if you are running only what you installed from the CD.

Windows XP looks pretty, has some nice features, and is proving more stable and reliable than Windows 98 or Windows Me. But beware: It also has demonstrated why you should be patient about upgrading. Bugs and glitches always are part of something as complex as a new computer operating system. Sure enough, Windows XP has more than its share, including some that could jeopardize your computer’s security. Because Windows XP is a major overhaul of Windows, you might face annoying compatibility problems with your older hardware or software. Microsoft and other computing companies have needed time to find and fix these problems. If you’ve been patient, you haven’t had to suffer through that early period before the fixes existed.

Of course, you need not worry about fixes if you aren’t going to upgrade. If you are running any DOS-based software or have an old (four years or so) computer, you probably shouldn’t upgrade. Some reviewers unfairly portrayed Windows XP as appropriate for only the newest computers (it seems to work fine on my three-year-old Dell), but it won’t run on any old clunker. You’ll need at least a Pentium II at 400 Mhz, 128 MB of RAM, and about 2 GB of free hard-disk space. Also be prepared to download new drivers for just about anything you’ve added to your computer, such as printers, scanners, and recordable CD drives.

What’s the payoff of upgrading? Windows XP Professional crashes less often than Windows 98 or Me, and it lets you encrypt your most sensitive files. Windows XP also includes features such as support for wireless networks, a firewall, and CD recording and rewriting. Also built in is a feature called “remote desktop,” which allows you to operate your computer from another computer over your office network or the Internet. Finally, to run at least some older software, Windows XP has a compatibility wizard that tricks the aging software into thinking you have the compatible version of Windows. However, older hardware often requires new drivers. If Windows XP doesn’t have them, check the Web site of the hardware vendor. It is probably not worth upgrading to Windows XP if it will cost you the use of some hardware.

If you decide to upgrade, once you have downloaded and installed those XP drivers (if they exist yet), you still are not finished. Since they launched last fall, Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6 both have turned up potentially ugly security glitches. See windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This nicely designed site will scan your computer and gather all the available updates you need. Get ready for it to recommend a big download (maybe more than 10 MB), but don’t be hesitant. One patch solves a security problem so serious that the FBI issued warnings about it after it was found in December.

Windows XP clearly is better than Windows 98 or Me on a relatively new computer running relatively new software. But if you are happy with Windows 98 or Me, or you already are running Windows 2000, the compatibility and security issues raised by Windows XP should make you cautious. After all, there still is plenty of time for people to discover more bugs and problems with this young software.

David Orenstein is a technology and business writer in Silicon Valley. To learn more about a technology topic in Computing Care, e-mail him at davealli@attbi.com.