Chapter one. New Windows for Old Users: What s New, What s Changed

Chapter one. New Windows for Old Users: What's New, What's Changed

IN THIS CHAPTER

What Windows XP Is and What It Isn't 4

Under the Hood 11

Windows XP's New "Look and Feel" Features 16

Windows XP's New Internet Features 23

Windows XP's New Multiuser and Multiple-PC Features 27

Windows XP's New Audio and Video Features 28

Windows XP's New System Utilities 34

Changing Default Applications 35

Windows XP's Help and Registration Features 36

Feature Comparison 37

Old Versus New: How to Do What You Used to Do 40

What's Next After Windows XP? 42

The Bottom Line 43

I've been using Windows XP since its release in 2001, and I like what I see. Performance- and stability-wise, it's a marked improvement over Windows 98 and Windows Me. It also sports a spiffy new interface, and brings out into the open a lot of common operations that used to be hidden on a pull-down or pop-up menu. Like any new version of Windows, however, it takes a little getting used to especially if, like me, you've gotten used to the way the old Windows worked.

This chapter takes you on a guided tour of Windows XP. I tell you about all the new features of the operating system, and show you how Windows XP changes the way you perform some common tasks. I assume that you're already familiar with some previous versions of Windows, so I won't bore you with basic stuff like how to click your mouse or open a window. Instead, I try to get right to the good stuff what you need to know to get started using Windows XP right now.