Introduction

• About This Book

• Basic Terms

• About MissingManuals.com

For many years , the evolution of Microsoft Windows ran along two different tracks. First, there were the home versions: Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me. These were the Windows for everyday individuals. They were compatible with just about everything on earth, including games of every descriptionbut where stability was concerned , they weren't what you'd call Rocks of Gibraltar.

Second, there were the corporate versions of Windows: Windows NT and Windows 2000. These versions of Windows rarely froze or crashed, and they featured industrial-strength security. However, they weren't anywhere near as compatible as the home versions of Windows. If you tried to run the Dora the Explorer CD-ROM at work, for example, you were out of luck (if not out of a job).

This schizophrenic approach to the evolution of Windows had its share of drawbacks. For example, it meant twice as much work for software companies, who had to ensure compatibility with both systems. For you, the PC fan, it was even worse : you had to read the fine print on every program or game you bought to make sure it would run on your computer. And it was entirely possible to get confused when sitting down in front of a PC running a different version of Windows.

The goal of Windows XP was simple: combine the two versions of Windows into a single new operating system that offers the best features of both.

For the most part, Microsoft succeeded. If you're used to one of the home versions, you may be surprised by some of the resulting changes; under the colorful , three-dimensional new skin of Windows XP Home Edition lurks Windows 2000, which includes some of its beefy security features. This book will help you get through them.

If you're accustomed to Windows 2000 or Windows NT, you'll probably be happy to hear that XP Professional is built on the same bulletproof frame. All you have to get used to are XP's greater compatibility with a wide range of hardware and software, and Windows' new look (which you can even turn off, if you like).

Either way, you've entered a new age: the unified Windows era. Now you, Microsoft, and software companies can get used to the notion that everybody is using the same Windows. There are still two different editions of Windows XPProfessional and Home Editionbut they're not really two different operating systems (see the box below).

UP TO SPEED
Professional Edition vs. Home Edition

It's mostly true that there's really just one Windows XP. The Professional and Home editions look alike, generally work alike, and are based on the same multigigabyte glob of software code.

But as with a pizza, insurance policy, or Toyota Camry, you can pay a little more for a few extras. Most of them are useful primarily to professional corporate network nerds and, accordingly , not covered in this book. If you're a small-business owner who's purchased Windows XP Pro, you'll eventually want to pick up a copy of Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual, Second Edition , which has detailed coverage of all those advanced features.