Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Smooth, Steady and Solid -- Well Worth the Price!
I recently upgraded to Windows XP from Windows 98 Second Edition, and I have been THOROUGHLY impressed! With Windows 98 I experienced frequent blue screens and crashes. With Windows XP all of those problems are now history. Also, many of the drivers I needed to load AFTER loading Windows 98 are now already included. My video card drivers were loaded, my CD burner functions were all present, and my scanner worked flawlessly without installing any additional software.The biggest hurdle with this product is successful installation. If you have older components you may have significant problems getting them to function with the new OS. Some older apps are also likely to have difficulty. My hardware and my software are all fairly current, so I had no trouble. I have upgraded my newer computer at home with Windows XP, but the older computer at my church study has Windows 98, and will have it for some time. I am reluctant to upgrade because of the installation problems inevitable with the older components. This product is definitely worth the price, but some persons may need to upgrade components BEFORE upgrading their OS. If you have a newer or brand new computer and are seeking the smoothest, steadiest and most solid OS, I HIGHLY recommend Windows XP.
Rating:  - Do not buy the hype.
When I bought Windows XP, I bought into all the computer magazine hype that would have you believe that XP was the greatest thing to happen to computers since the invention of the mouse. Now, those same computer magazines are saying that Windows XP is full of problems and bugs. Well gee, thanks for telling me that *after* I upgraded!Windows XP is far more stable than its predecessors. I can count on one hand the number of times my entire system has crashed with XP; when I ran ME, my entire system would go down at least once a day. But, if you wish to upgrade, keep this in mind: * Many people will say you need 256MB of memory. I have absolutely no complaints with XP's speed at 128MB. Don't run out and buy more memory without trying it at 128MB first. * The new interface is not worth [upgrading for]. Only upgrade if you want the increased stability. * Be prepared for some major hardware failures when you upgrade. My modem did not work when I upgraded, and my video had some problems. If you can, download updated drivers *before* you upgrade. It can also be handy to have a friend's computer at the ready when you upgrade, in case you need to download new drivers. * Be prepared for some software failures as well. All my software works with XP, except for Outlook 97, which has mysteriously stopped working. * While this OS is more stable than its predecessors, I still discover some strange bugs from time to time. They are an annoyance, but still the OS is better than Windows ME. Even so, you might be [upset] to [purchase] a new OS and discover that it still has bugs. Overall, my upgrade has been worthwhile, but only after a month's worth of hassles to get it working correctly. Not everyone will be as patient as I am.
Rating:  - If you need to, then do it...
I upgraded a four year old Dell (PIII 500 MHz) that had been running Windows 98 SE. It had been limping along after a virus attack damaged some system files. I had reinstalled system files from W98 and never got things running @ 100%. I upgraded to XP with a clean installation and the computer is now running well -- it boots faster and has been stable. The installation was smooth and without a hitch -- but requires much thought and preparation. The web sites for the manufacturer of each item of hardware (video card, audio card, modem, scanner, printer, expansion cards, expansion drives...) should be checked to confirm compatability and driver availability for XP. Download and collect the necessary drivers. My scanner, audio card and video card were not compatable and had to be replaced for optimum stability and performance. I added a CD burner and removed the zip drive for better backup capability. So..... after about three weeks of preparation and making a two page checklist of the sequence of activities for backing up, unistalling and installing .... the installation went smoothly. I am happy with the result and all of the productivity apps are working perfectly, although a few of my old programs (Myst, Riven) dont run on XP. Bottom line, if your computer is running well, then you probably do not need/want to upgrade. If you have a reason to upgrade, then you should go ahead and do it -- If you prepare then you will be pleased with the result....
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