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| Feature |
Description |
Benefit |
| Reliable |
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Built on the new Windows engine
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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.
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Windows XP Professional will provide a dependable computing experience for all business users.
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Enhanced device driver verifier
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Building on the device driver verifier found in Windows 2000, the Windows XP Professional will provide even greater stress tests for device drivers.
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Device drivers that pass these tests will be the most robust drivers available, which will ensure maximum system stability.
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Dramatically reduced reboot scenarios
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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.
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Users will experience higher levels of system uptime.
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Improved code protection
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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.
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Rogue applications cannot adversely affect core operating system areas.
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Side-by-side DLL support
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Provides a mechanism for multiple versions of individual Windows components to be installed and run "side by side."
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This helps to address the "DLL hell" problem by allowing an application written and tested with one version of a system component to continue to use that version even if an application that uses a newer version of the same component is installed.
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Windows File Protection
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Protects core system files from being overwritten by application installations. If a file is overwritten, Windows File Protection will restore the correct version.
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By safeguarding system files, Windows XP Professional mitigates many of the most common system failures encountered in earlier versions of Windows.
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Windows Installer
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A system service that helps users install, configure, track, upgrade, and remove software programs correctly.
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Will help minimize user downtime and increase system stability.
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Enhanced software restriction policies
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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.
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Can contribute to improved system integrity, manageability, and, ultimately, lower cost of ownership of the PC.
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Preemptive multitasking architecture
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Designed to allow multiple applications to run simultaneously, while ensuring great system response and stability.
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Run your most demanding applications while still experiencing impressive system response time.
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Scalable memory and processor support
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Supports up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and up to two symmetric multiprocessors.
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Users who need the highest level of performance will be able to work with the latest hardware.
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Encrypting File System (EFS) with multi-user support
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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.
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The highest level of protection from hackers and data theft.
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IP Security (IPSec)
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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.
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IT administrators will be able to build secure VPNs quickly and easily.
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Kerberos support
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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.
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Windows XP Professional will offer single logon for end users for resources and supported applications hosted on both Windows 2000 and our next-generation server platform, Windows Server 2003.
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Smart card support
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Smart card capabilities are integrated into the operating system, including support for smart card logon to terminal server sessions hosted on Windows Server 2003—based (the next-generation server platform) terminal servers.
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Smart cards enhance software-only solutions such as client authentication, interactive logon, code signing, and secure e-mail.
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Internet Explorer Add-on Manager
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Easily manage and enforce a list of Internet Explorer add-ons that are either permitted or disabled to enhance security.
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Helps reduce the potential for crashes.
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Windows Firewall
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Turned on by default, the built-in Windows Firewall helps increase computer security from startup to shutdown.
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Reduces the risk of network and Internet-based attacks.
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Windows Security Center
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Easily manage security resources with this single, unified view of key settings, tools, and access to resources.
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Easily change settings and identify security issues.
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Attachment Manager
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Isolates potentially unsafe attachments during the opening process.
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Helps provide protection from viruses spread through Outlook Express, Windows Messenger, and Internet Explorer.
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Data Execution Prevention
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Helps prevent certain types of malicious code from attacking and overwhelming a computer’s memory.
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Reduces the risk of buffer overruns.
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Windows Firewall Exception List
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Helps administrators better manage applications and static port exceptions by allowing only ports needed by an application to be open.
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Increases application compatibility with Windows Firewall.
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Windows Firewall Application and Port Restrictions
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Easily configure applications and ports to receive network traffic only with a source address from any location, the local subnet only, or from specific IP addresses.
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Helps reduce the potential for network-based attacks.
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| Easy to Use |
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Fresh visual design
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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.
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Allows the most common tasks to be exposed easily, helping users get the most of out of Windows XP Professional.
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Adaptive user environment
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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.
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A cleaner work environment allows the user to be more efficient. Users can find the crucial data and applications they need quickly and easily. All of these settings can be controlled using Group Policy, so IT administrators can decide what features are most appropriate for their environments.
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Work with rich media
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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
- Enjoy music, video, and broadband more safely and securely
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Context-sensitive task menus
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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.
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Common tasks that were hard to find in previous versions of Windows are exposed for easy access.
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Integrated CD burning
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Support for burning CDs on CD-R and CD-RW drives is integrated into Windows Explorer.
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Archiving data onto CD is now as easy as saving to a floppy disk, and does not require an expensive third-party solution.
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Easily publish information to the Web
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Files and folders can be easily published to any Web service that uses the WebDAV protocol.
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Users will be able to publish important information to Web servers on the company's intranet.
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Dualview
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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.
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Users will be able to maximize their productivity by working on multiple screens, while removing the need for multiple CPUs.
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Troubleshooters
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Helps users and administrators configure, optimize, and troubleshoot numerous Windows XP Professional functions.
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Enables users to be more self-sufficient, resulting in greater productivity, fewer help desk calls, and better customer service.
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