Built on the new Windows engine -Windows XP Professional is built on the proven code base of Windows NT® and Windows 2000, which features a 32-bit computing architecture and a fully protected memory model.
Enhanced device driver verifier - Building on the device driver verifier found in Windows 2000, the Windows XP Professional will provide even greater stress tests for device drivers.
Dramatically reduced reboot scenarios - Eliminates most scenarios that force end users to reboot in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95/98/Me. Also, many software installations will not require reboots.
Improved code protection - Improved Critical kernel data structures are read-only, so that drivers and applications cannot corrupt them. All device driver code is read-only and page protected.
Side-by-side DLL support - Provides a mechanism for multiple versions of individual Windows components to be installed and run "side by side."
Windows File Protection - Protects core system files from being overwritten by application installations. If a file is overwritten, Windows File Protection will restore the correct version.
Windows Installer - A system service that helps users install, configure, track, upgrade, and remove software programs correctly.
Enhanced software restriction policies - Provide administrators a policy-driven mechanism to identify software running in their environment and control its ability to execute. This facility can be used in virus and Trojan horse prevention and software lockdown.
Preemptive multitasking architecture - Designed to allow multiple applications to run simultaneously, while ensuring great system response and stability.
Scalable memory and processor support - Supports up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and up to two symmetric multiprocessors.
Encrypting File System (EFS) with multi-user support - Encrypts each file with a randomly generated key. The encryption and decryption processes are transparent to the user. In Windows XP Professional, EFS can provide multiple users access to an encrypted document.
IP Security (IPSec) - Helps protect data transmitted across a network. IPSec is an important part of providing security for virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow organizations to transmit data securely over the Internet.
Kerberos support - Provides industry-standard and high-strength authentication with fast, single logon to Windows 2000—based enterprise resources. Kerberos is an Internet standard, which makes it especially effective for networks that include different operating systems such as UNIX.
Smart card support - Smart card capabilities are integrated into the operating system, including support for smart card logon to terminal server sessions hosted on Windows .NET Server—based (the next-generation server platform) terminal servers.
Easy to Use
Fresh visual design - While maintaining the core of Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional has a fresh visual design. Common tasks have been consolidated and simplified, and new visual cues have been added to help users navigate their computers more easily. Administrators or end users can choose this updated user interface or the classic Windows 2000 interface with the click of a button.
Adaptive user environment - Adapts to the way an individual user works. With a redesigned Start menu, the most frequently used applications are shown first. When you open multiple files in the same application, (such as multiple e-mail messages in the Microsoft Outlook® messaging and collaboration client) the open windows will be consolidated under a single task bar button. To remove some of the clutter from the notification area, items that are not being used will be hidden. All of these features can be set using Group Policy.
Work with rich media - Windows Media™ Player for Windows XP is the first player to combine all of your common digital media activities into a single, easy-to-use player. The player makes it easy for you to:
View rich media information, for example, virtual company meetings or "just-in-time" learning
Receive the best-possible audio and video quality, because the player adapts to network conditions
Tune in to nearly 3,000 Internet radio stations
Create custom CDs up to 700 percent faster than other solutions
View DVD movies
Context-sensitive task menus - When a file is selected in Windows Explorer, a dynamic menu appears. This menu lists tasks that are appropriate for the type of file selected.
Integrated CD burning - Support for burning CDs on CD-R and CD-RW drives is integrated into Windows Explorer.
Easily publish information to the Web - Files and folders can be easily published to any Web service that uses the WebDAV protocol.
Dualview - A single computer desktop can be displayed on two monitors driven off of a single display adapter. With a laptop computer, a user could run the internal LCD display as well as an external monitor. A variety of high-end display adapters will support this functionality for desktops.
Troubleshooters - Helps users and administrators configure, optimize, and troubleshoot numerous Windows XP Professional functions.
Revolutionizes the Way Remote Users Work