According to the latest report, Windows 11 was officially released to consumers, but the push was phased. New features, a redesigned graphical UI, and the frustration of mandatory upgrade requirements such as TPM 2.0 make people more appreciate the “beautiful past” of the Windows operating system.
Moreover, October 25, 2021, is the 20th anniversary of the birth of Windows XP, and Windows that continues into the future is also being iterated. Windows XP is built on the Windows NT kernel instead of the Windows 95 kernel. It is an evolutionary version of Windows Me and Windows 2000.
Furthermore, with widespread dissatisfaction with Windows Me, Windows XP has made significant improvements in reliability and performance. Although the “Start” menu interface appeared on Windows 95 a few years ago, it has been significantly improved in terms of customization and functionality.
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The “Start” menu has been changed to include two columns; the left side focuses on installed software, and the right side provides convenient access to folders such as documents, recent files/documents, pictures, music, and “My Computer”, as well as other important areas, such as control panel, search and run.
Although the default colors of the Windows XP Start menu and taskbar are slightly polarized, you can choose to restore the Start menu to a more classic appearance. Of course, the “Start” menu will continue to exist in future iterations and versions of Windows XP, taking different form factors, such as being very bold in Windows 8 and returning to a more traditional look in Windows 10.
In addition to the “Start” menu, the taskbar can also group windows opened from the same application for the first time, and provide an opportunity to access the context menu to display each item that is grouped. In Windows XP, fast user switching is realized for the first time. This allows multiple users to switch between active accounts without having to close all open applications or log out, creating a better workflow when returning to the session.
In terms of performance improvements, Windows XP allows the use of pre-fetched data to reduce startup and software startup time. Other notable improvements include DirectX 8.1, implementation of ClearType font rendering on LCD displays, and improved system reliability through features such as system restore.
Microsoft has sold Windows XP in various versions for many years. From the Home Edition, Professional Edition, and Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft tries to meet more specific use cases according to the expected consumers or enterprises. For example, a version called Windows XP Tablet PC includes functions for stylus/pen input.
In addition, in order to cater to the 64-bit architecture, Microsoft released the Windows XP Professional x64 version. The blueprint for a better version of Windows can be reflected in the product architecture of Windows XP. Although it is now 20 years old, it still provides a good reference point for Microsoft to build and improve Windows.
