4. Application Compatibility Mode
Another major improvement in Windows XP Pro is in the realm of application compatibility. While Win2K Pro will run a lot of the software that previously ran on Windows 95/98 and even DOS, there are still many of these programs that choke when running on Windows NT/2000. With Windows XP, Microsoft has introduced Application Compatibility Mode, which allows the operating system to make an application think that it's running on an older version of Windows.

This very useful and effective feature is particularly valuable for organizations that have had custom applications developed on older Microsoft operating systems. However, it does not work in every instance. Some older, DOS-based programs will still choke when run in Application Compatibility Mode.

Microsoft has also made Application Compatibility Mode a part of Windows 2000 with the release of Win2K Service Pack 2, so this particular feature does not provide any additional value over Windows 2000 Professional.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

5. Client firewall
Windows XP now comes with its own Internet Connection Firewall built into the networking functionality of all network interfaces. It is accessed from the Properties applet of any network interface by simply clicking the Advanced tab, activating the firewall, and customizing the settings.

Client machine firewalls are definitely the next frontier in securing corporate networks. These firewalls are especially important for laptop and remote users who connect over the Internet since attackers can get an easy ride into a corporate network by hijacking one of these potentially easy targets.

The built-in firewall in Windows XP is easy to configure while providing some advanced filtering and logging capabilities. It is more than adequate for most organizations, although it does not contain some of the more robust features of a product such as ZoneAlarm Pro.

While the desktop firewall alone does not provide justification for upgrading to Windows XP Pro, organizations that are currently considering a desktop firewall rollout may consider upgrading to Windows XP if they can also directly benefit from some of the other features listed above.

End sum
There they are. The top five reasons for upgrading to Windows XP Pro. Each organization can decide for itself whether it is ready to drop over $100 per machine on Windows XP. In a number of cases, upgrading will be money well spent. If you do decide to go with Windows XP Pro, make sure you purchase it using one of Microsoft's volume-licensing options rather than buying individual copies. The volume licensing starts at five licenses, and it saves you the major annoyance of having to deal with Product Activation.

All in all, I still believe that for most businesses, Windows XP Pro does not provide significant value above and beyond Windows 2000 Pro, which still maintains a number of advantages, most notably that it has had time to mature as a product. Those who are still running Windows 95/98 on the desktop have a tough decision to make as to whether to upgrade to Win2K Pro or WinXP Pro.

What are your company's plans for XP Migration? TalkBack or send us e-mail.
TechRepublic provides insight, advice, and technical information written by IT professionals for IT professionals.
Have the top IT experts by your side today--FREE!

Previous page |   1 2 3

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]