The XP factor
Windows XP
Why should your business upgrade from Windows 9x, NT or 2000 to Windows XP?
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With the recent release of the first service pack of bug fixes for XP, this is typically a strong signal for IT managers in large enterprises to consider adopting a new Windows operating system for their organisations. You can also take this as a good indicator that the time is also right for your small firm to move to it too.You may be concerned that an upgrade to Windows XP will offer nothing new to your company. Our advice is that if you recently made an overhaul of your systems to a Windows 2000 platform then you should hold off making the move to XP. But if you are still running Windows 95 or 98 on your office PCs then you should seriously consider making the move now.The benefits: Windows XP offers improved stability and improved wireless networking and security management features to companies who are still running Windows NT, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
What’s new in Office XP
Microsoft Office 97 and 2000 as productivity suites function as robust business tools providing you with all the applications you need to manage, edit and present your data — whether it be text, graphics or number — in a Word document, Excel spreadsheet or PowerPoint slideshow presentation.
They function so well, you would be right to ask the question ‘Why do I as a tech-savvy owner/manager need to upgrade to Microsoft’s latest suite overhaul — Office XP? The tools I have suit me just fine.’
Here are some of the NEW features for you to consider and might encourage you to upgrade:
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New to this version of Office are Task Panes. These are vertical windows that sit on the right side screen that pop up when needed and offer one-click controls for intricate operation such as sending out a form letter in Word.Smart Tags are also new: These are small grey boxes that attach themselves to certain entries. They can help a user control Office’s habit of making automatic changes. They can also create handy shortcuts such as linking an address in an e-mail message to an entry in your Outlook address book.Improved speech recognition: Lets you dictate and issue voice commands in most Office applications.SharePoint Team Services are revamped versions of the collaboration features found in Office 2000. They let teams of employees in small companies set up secure Web-based homes with message boards, folders for shared documents, and other teamwork tools.Product activation wizard: Takes a ‘fingerprint’ of your PC configuration and turns it into an ID number that you must submit to Microsoft; prevents you from installing Office XP on more than two PCs. The hassle of having to ‘validate’ the ownership of your software to Microsoft after you use it 51 times, will probably discourage you from upgrading but this is part of a broader strategy to stamp out the scourge of software piracy — the illegal copying and use of its software and is seen by the company as a necessary evil.
Should you upgrade right to Office XP now?
Yes: If you are constantly moving from Outlook to Word to PowerPoint and using them all to their fullest, you will probably find enough improvements to make the upgrade worthwhile.
Yes: If you are looking for improved stability of Office applications. Less crashes should result in greater productivity.
No: If you are a business user who spends most of your time in any one application — especially Excel, where there are few changes for the better.
NB: Office XP will not run on a computer using Windows 95 or earlier.
23/01/2003
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