HE Windows XP It was a true milestone in the history of Microsoft’s operating systems. In 2001, the new version of the system, which came just after the hated Windows ME, quickly became popular due to the fact that it worked much better and brought several new functions, both technical and generally popular with the public.
The success of the operating system was such that it became an issue. More than two decades later, Windows XP has a significant share of users, outstripping even newer versions of Microsoft’s operating system – this could pose security issues for those who haven’t yet migrated to new platforms.
Considering the success of the system and the nostalgia surrounding it, let’s remember here the 7 great innovations that the late Windows XP brought!
1 – Customizable themes
When we think of Windows XP, one of the first things that comes to mind is: landscape with a mountain and the colored Start menu bar. The system has dedicated itself to its themes to make the interface look more suited to your style.
It is important to remember that Windows XP was not the first Windows to let you choose themes, but it greatly expanded the possibilities of what you can do, allowed you to download ready-made customizations from third parties on the Internet, and gave almost endless. Possibilities for the appearance of your PC.
2 – CD burner
Streaming dominates the music market today, but in 2001 CD was still very lively. That’s why Windows XP users applauded when they discovered that the system came with a built-in feature to “burn” music CDs.
This was the term used to create a music CD that could work in any player. Other than copying your MP3 files to a writable CD, you had to go through a special process to play them anywhere.
3 – Integrated firewall
Speaking of the new features integrated into the system, the firewall was a very interesting thing for the security of the users. With the widespread use of the Internet and the fact that Windows is a system for everyone, it has become an important solution that comes into play automatically without the need for user intervention.
Three years after its release, Windows XP also received the historic Service Pack 2, another milestone in the software’s security history.
4 – Rollback for drivers
This feature may not have been used much by casual users, but it was absolutely essential to ensure better stability and quickly fix third-party issues.
Windows XP now allows its users to easily roll back a third-party device driver version. That way, if any driver updates cause problems, you can easily revert to the previous stable version.
5 – Improved network and power
Network configurations were quite complex on Windows and often even required some programming knowledge to run. Windows XP tried to streamline the process and allowed many people to use the feature even without advanced software knowledge.
This version of the operating system also offered more reliable power settings, especially hibernation – something that laptop users especially welcomed.
6 – Remote desktop
The ability to access your computer remotely is so useful that the software has been around for a while. It was a success that Windows XP brought an integrated remote access tool to your desktop;
With a simple configuration, users can safely and intuitively access and use their own computers over the internet using another computer.
7 – Internet Explorer 6
Over the years, Internet Explorer has become the butt of jokes and memes. The main reason for this is that Microsoft does not know how to keep up with the rapid development of the Internet and its resources, and its standard browser is outdated.
But when Internet Explorer 6 was released alongside Windows XP, it came packed with features and technologies that spread over time and became part of the foundation of the internet as we know it today.
Currently, Internet Explorer is making its way towards its end: The classic browser is being replaced by Microsoft Edge, which is more modern and uses the same technology behind Google Chrome.
Source: Tec Mundo
