Windows Xp Operating System Analysis

Operating System Analysis

In August of 2001, Microsoft originally planned to release Windows XP. The operating system was available for retail the following October. With XP standing for Experience, Microsoft was hoping to clinch the competition. Thus far, Windows XP is the most popular Windows versions available. "Windows XP comes with several new security features." (Information Security, Sheshunoff, 2010) It provided the first consumer-oriented operating system.

Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition are the two editions in which XP is available. Windows XP Home Edition is apparently targeted for the user at home and XP Professional was setup for businesses. The difference between the two was that the Home edition by default disabled the Professional features. Over time users have learned this, and been able to enable the features and make use of them. Since Windows XP is an evolved version from Windows 2000 it is available as a Windows XP Professional version as well as a Windows XP Home Edition version. The benefits of the professional edition are the security, management, networking and productivity features that a business needs. Security, stability and interface compatibility are enhanced for the home user's PC. Some enhancements are the following:

o Improved small office and home networking functions

o Enhanced user interface and desktop

o Internet connection firewall

o Improvements to applications compatibility

o Settings and File Transfer Wizard

Windows XP set a net stage for operating systems. The boot-ups are faster and the interface was more user-friendly. More features include the ability to Bluetooth and the enhanced text readability are what made XP what the operating system is today. The ability to changed desktop users was introduced; "this feature permits two or more users to be logged into the same Windows XP system simultaneously. Only one user session is active at any given time. Fast User Switching is most commonly used when someone needs brief access to a system that someone else is using, because it preserves security and privacy for both users." (Information Security, Sheshunoff, 2010)

The computer requirements for Windows XP are:

o 128 MB or higher RAM

o 1.5 GB of free hard disk space or higher

o 300MHz processor or higher

o Mouse and keyboard

o Sound card with speakers or headphones

The first service pack released by Windows XP was in September 2002. This service pack contained Windows XP's security fixes, .NET Framework support, compatibility upgrades, new device technology, and Windows Messenger. This service pack's ability to conceal middleware products and the USB 2.0 support are two of the most prominent features. The second service pack was released two years later in August of 2004. This service pack stressed security. The Wi-Fi support was improved, WPA encryption compatibility was added, and a pop-up blocker was installed. The firewall settings was named Windows Firewall and enabled by default. Service Pack 2 provided the user with an overview of the security settings; information like firewall settings, operating system updates, and antivirus updates. In May of 2008 the third service pack was developed. This pack further provided its user with network access protection. This time Microsoft fixed about 1,174 bugs on the operating system.

Microsoft released Windows Vista in June 2008, which ceased Windows XP's sales for over a year. The support for Windows XP is said to be terminated in April 2014. Windows XP has been frowned upon for its vulnerability to Trojan horse, malware, computer worms and viruses. Despite these issues and other newer Microsoft operating systems already developed, XP had a remarkable time serving its users.

Microsoft Windows 2003 is an evolved product from Windows 2000. It is also known as Windows Server 2003. This version of windows 2003 had many features that were incorporated from windows XP. Windows 2003 was replaced by Windows Server 2008. Windows server 2008 also incorporated many features with Windows Vista. Microsoft has made various different Windows servers, about 11 of them. "Microsoft released many Windows 2003 software additions including multiple feature packs, service packs and tools many of which are recommended to install to increase system stability, performance, security and functionality. Two Windows Server 2003 Service Packs have been released, one Windows Rights Management Services Service Pack and one Windows SharePoint Services Service Pack" (Brinkman, 2008).

In 2003, Microsoft introduced Windows Server 2003 a networking operating system. The Windows Server 2003 family is the progeny to the Windows 2000 Server family, which originate from the Windows NT Server. There are many significant enhancements and new features in Windows Server 2003 introduces that were not obtainable in earlier Windows Network Operating Systems.

The Windows Server 2003 Web Edition version is inadequate when matched up to other editions. The Web Edition is the less expensive of the Windows 2003 family and particularly developed for businesses that want to host common web pages, web services or applications. Just two processors are all it supports, and only allows up to 2 GB of RAM.

The Standard Edition technologies to Windows Server 2003 are much more advanced than in Windows Server 2000, like Plug and Play support, smart card support, and bandwidth throttling. This versions intent was for businesses that are smaller to medium sized. It's capable of up to 32GB of RAM depending on the architecture of the chip, and able to support up to 4 processors. The Standard Edition, like others, shares several features that the organization and employees can benefit from. Through improved storage and system management capabilities the users and administrators can increase productivity.

The Enterprise