Features of Windows XP

1. Inbuilt drivers support for devices like Key board, mouse and Pen drives like peripherials.
2.Dramatically reduced reboot scenarios
3.Windows Firewall
4.Windows Security Center
5.Search

UPDATED PORTION OF BLOG

Information about WINDOW XP
In October 2001, Windows XP was released as an update to Windows 2000 desktop operating system and also as a replacement for Windows 95/98. In Windows XP, there are numerous features which have been added to automatically repair problems in applications and the operating system itself.
Windows XP is a multi user operating system which supports simultaneous access through distributed services or through multiple instances of GUI via the windows terminal server. The desktop versions of terminal server multiplex the keyboard, mouse and monitor between virtual terminal sessions for each logged in user. This feature, called fast user switching allows of a PC without having to log on and off the system.
Windows XP uses a client server architecture to implement multiple operating system personalities. It is the first version of windows to ship a 64-bit version.
There are 2 desktop versions of windows XP.
Windows XP professional is the premium desktop system for power user at work and at home. Windows XP personal provides reliability and ease of use for home users migrating from windows 95/98.
Advantages of Windows-XP

1) Security- Windows XP has a high level of protection from defective software and malicious attacks.

2) Reliability- Windows XP is the most reliable and stable OS.

3) Compatibility- Windows XP has introduced a new compatibility layer that falls between application and the Win.32 APIs.

4) Performance- Windows XP has a very high performance on desktop systems, which are largely constrained by I/O performance, Server systems (where CPU is often the bottleneck), and large multi threaded and multi processor environments (where locking and cache line management are key to scalability).

5) Extensibility- Windows XP has the capacity to keep up with advances in computing technologies.

6) Portability- Windows XP has the capability to be moved from one hardware architecture to another with relatively small changes.

7) International support- Windows XP is designed for international and multinational use. It provides us support for different locales via the national language support (NLS) API.

Faster boot and logon
1. The ability to boot in 30 seconds was a design goal for Windows XP, and Microsoft's developers made efforts to streamline the system as much as possible
2. Reduced reboot while installing new software in the windows XP
3. Presence of driver support for the drivers of keyboard, mouse and USB pen drive etc.
4. Autoplay system for inserted CD and Pen drivers
System administration improvements
Remote Desktop
5. Users can log into Windows XP Professional remotely through the Remote Desktop service. It is built on Terminal Services technology (RDP), and is similar to "Remote Assistance", but allows remote users to access local resources such as printers. Remote Desktop clients for earlier versions of Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 have been made available by Microsoft
Fast user switching
6. Fast user switching allows another user to log in and use the system without having to log out the previous user and quit his or her applications. Previously (on both Windows ME and Windows 2000) only one user at a time could be logged in (except through Terminal Services), which was a serious drawback to multi-user activity. Fast User Switching, like Terminal Services, requires more system resources than having only a single user logged in at a time and although more than one user can be logged in, only one user can be actively using their account at a time.
Remote Assistance
7. Remote Assistance allows a Windows XP user to temporarily take over a remote Windows XP computer over a network or the Internet to resolve issues.