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Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 | 
 enlarge | From: Microsoft
Category: Software
List Price: £289.99
Buy New: £281.50
You Save: £8.49 (3%)
New (1) Used (2) from £129.00
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 1256
Platforms: Windows Xp, Windows Me, Windows Nt, Windows 98, Windows Xp Professional
Media: CD-ROM
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows Me
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 7.9 x 2
Legal Disclaimer: Layer One UK does not offer any warranty other than the one imposed by the manufacturer. Consequently, the warranty conditions proposed by Layer One UK will be an exact copy of the manufacturers.
MPN: 956488
UPC: 805529831292
EAN: 0805529831292
ASIN: B00061H58I
Release Date: March 3, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New Sealed Commercial Retail Boxed Version, same as Amazon's. Price Includes VAT & Sales Receipt included with every item sold. Please contact us via our Email details held on this Website if you require further information. Normally 24-48 hr. Delivery. Same day despatch on all Orders where possible.
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Product Description
Windows XP Professional delivers a reliable foundation you can count on to keep your computer up and running when you need it most. Not only is the operating system more reliable, it also offers features that make it much faster and easier to recover from system problems. Windows XP Professional, the new standard in reliability and performance, is designed for businesses of all sizes, and for individuals who demand the most from their computing experience. With the ultimate communication and collabouration ...
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| Customer Reviews:
 Actually pretty good October 8, 2007
Comical Engineer (UK)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
I have 6 PCs one each running on 98 and 2000 and four on XP. In comparison, 98(rev B) is excellent and generally very stable but lacks some critical facilities e.g. the ability to view picture thumbnails. That said, the machine that it's on is in regular use as a word processor and does a grand job. 2000 is brilliant. Never falls over, has the ability to show thumbnails (albeit only one file at a time) and is not too hungry for resources. Let's pass over ME, that was pathetic and had more bugs than the natural history museum. The one machine that originally had ME was upgraded to XP (without any problems).
XP SP2 is, in my opinion, the Microsoft operating system most fit for purpose to date. This is written 6 months after the release of Vista! Why? Well, in my experience XP is stable and capable of running the vast majority of software without crashing. It's not perfect but it does 99% of everything most people will ever need.
Mac OS - great but you have to buy an expensive Mac to go with it, so limited range and a WHITE KEYBOARD would last about 30 seconds with me and it's 50 extra for a black one!. Linux - now getting worth a look but still doesn't support much of my legacy software and a touch geeky. Vista - don't get me started here, just read all the reviews with less than 3 stars.
The good points about XP: stable, runs almost everything, only one legacy program I have won't run with it but that's not a major issue. Decent networking, reasonable number of automated task wizards, lots of built in drivers, good support and now well sorted (post SP2). Clear and easy to use interface easily customised to suit most users. Can handle both business use and most media applications.
The bad points: You can argue security and I would agree, but a decent 3rd party firewall & virus checker should see you ok. Otherwise, not much to grump about. Downside is that it's limited to 2GB of RAM.
Oh, I've now also had to remove Vista from no less than 3 machines and install XP Pro at the owners' request. Does that tell you something?
My intention is to hang on to XP Pro as long as I can and hopefully skip the Vista bloatware until something better comes along.
 Better (and cheaper) operating systems out there August 27, 2006
P. Jones
11 out of 26 found this review helpful
I don't like Windows and choose not to use it, but it has its place. In particular, it's extremely easy to use and install, requiring little or no knowledge of computers. You follow the instructions and an hour later you have a usable operating system. Installing software is also a doddle, and you'll have no problem finding software or hardware that works.
However, it also has its problems. The core of the operating system is now nearly six years old, and it shows. It's expensive, and it has a poor security policy. For these reasons you might want to consider some alternatives:
- Wait (only about 6 months now) for Windows Vista. It looks set to be a huge improvement on XP and will be bang up to date
- Try linux (www.linux.org) It's free (yes, really!), it's stable and it's secure, BUT you need to know a bit more about computers (or know someone who can install it for you) to get it working. Once it's up and running though it works in the same way as windows so you don't need any computer knowledge to use it. All the software for it is free and you can run most windows software if necessary.
- Try Mac OS X. This won't be an option if you have a PC already, but if you're looking to buy the hardware too a mac may be worth considering.
Basically, I wouldn't recommend XP any more, especially not so close to the release of Vista and since there are (in my opinion at least) superior offerings out there.
 The world's most unrealiable operating system! May 17, 2006
G. Cumella (Warwickshire)
21 out of 44 found this review helpful
Having read the reviews listed here and as a regular long term 'power' user of Windows XP I felt the need to set the record straight about this operating system, particularly for all those thinking of purchasing it or who have used previous versions of Windows before, including XP without service pack 2.
In the last several months I have had to waste countless hours restoring i.e. formatting and re-installing, maintaining and repairing this operating system, on not one but three machines. Numerous times, I have had to go through this same tedious process, when XP has for no apparent reason just corrupted, shutdown or failed. A year ago I had to put up with this same fiasco three times in one month when XP suddenly caused my laptop to die, again for no apparent reason and not because of hardware failure.
As for the security issues with this operating system, believe everything you hear about its vulnerabilities, we are talking about thee most exposed operating system in the world! As a result it is fundamental, particularly if you use a Broadband connection to access the Internet, to have a multitude of firewall, spyware elimination, virus protection and general internet security software installed if your machine is to stay afloat for even a few hours.
For those who are considering moving from 98, 2000 or even the dreadful ME, don't get me wrong, XP does look a lot better, does work more efficiently with hardware, particularly the plug and play USB function, it is faster, provides some nice features such as remote assistance, which allows you to see your friend's desktop and help them out with any problems, as well as letting you see thumbnails of your images in a filer window and for that it gets one star from me. However, when it comes to reliability, stability and speed, out of all the operating systems that I have used, Windows is the absolute worst!
For all those reviewers or users who have recently started using it and think it is the best thing since sliced bread, I would say that yes you have the best version of Windows available and those using earlier versions should upgrade. However, I think it only fair to warn you that even though it is an improvement on previous versions, it is still Windows and although it may look fantastic when you first get it up and running, give it a few months or a year, and it will undoubtedly screw up, slow down or fail believe me; even with the alleged Service Pack 2 and numerous updates. In short despite the relatively few benefits, personally this OS has wasted more of my time than any other and when it comes to issues like those I have described above there are in my opinion no excuses!!
 If you see anyone who says it doesn't work -- ignore them!! January 13, 2006
Mr. D. S. Quinn (UK)
13 out of 32 found this review helpful
If you see anyone who says it doesn't work -- ignore them!! Because the operating system that I'm using at this precise minute is Windows XP with SP2 and by God, it surely does work. I have had no problems with it what so ever. I think it looks nice, very secure (even though Microsoft is bringing out "Windows Vista" (formerly known as "Longhorn") which is meant to be the securiest operating system in the Windows Family. I don't think that I'll ever look back to the previous systems and say "I wish that I kept with such-n-such system" as I love this one too much!!Microsoft, keep up the good work as you're doing brilliant. I will look forward to your next operating system, Windows Vista.
Stable, more secure and user friendly. July 15, 2005
25 out of 53 found this review helpful
Windows XP is the newest (25/06/05) version of windows around, and it is the best. Stable and with Service Pack 2 more secure.
Built on the Windows NT Kernal, and Windows 2000, it is like Windows 2000, with make-up and some excellent features, including user friendliness. Right from install XP wants to help you, with wizards galore it is hard to go wrong.
Service Pack 2 adds extra security for the home user, more intelligent updates, a firewall and a security center, that tells you what you need/ have to do to keep you safe.
For the average, and slightly above average this OS is excellent, plays all my games, plays all my music, it simply works, most of the time. You can even run older games and programs as Windows 98/ 2000 or Me. Great!
Microsft XP has security holes, but if you were hacker you would hack the most popular most succesful operating system around!
Linux is an alternative, but is un-tested, nobody really bothers to hack it as so few people use it, and it is open source, so every one knows the code that builds it!
With XP you get qality and service. It won't always work, no OS ever could, but it has backup features and restore points so when things do go worng its not for long and it as though nothing has happened.
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