With Windows XP Professional Edition with Service Pack 2, you get safer browsing and   communication, powerful security tools, and improved experiences. Windows XP   is the operating system release that unifies the Microsoft range, with all the   desktop versions now built on the NT/2000 code base rather than the shakier   foundation of Windows 95, 98, and Me. That makes XP a great upgrade for users   of the now-obsolete 9x and Me line, but for those already on Windows 2000 Professional   it is a closer call. Despite the similar name, there is no special synergy between   Windows XP and Office XP, which works fine on Windows 2000.The Security Center lets you check the status         of your essential security settings.XP certainly looks different,         with rounded window corners, larger and more detailed icons, and a clean-look         desktop that on first installation shows only the taskbar and Recycle         Bin. XP is also more customizable than earlier versions of Windows, and         includes visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows         in an instant. That is the window-dressing, but underneath are some significant         improvements. One of the most interesting is Remote Desktop. A standard         XP feature, this uses technology from Microsoft Terminal Server to enable         users to access their computer over any connection; for example, by dialing         into the office from home.This is not just file access--this technology lets you run applications         remotely as if you were sitting at your desk at work. This is mature technology,         stable and carefully thought out. So, for example, you can print from         a remote word processor to a local printer. A variation on the theme is         Remote Assistance, where the user can allow a remote helper to view their         desktop, or optionally gain control of the keyboard and mouse, in order         to troubleshoot a problem. The feature can also be disabled to ease security         concerns.Laptop users benefit from enhanced power management, with       options to extend battery life by reducing CPU speed and display brightness.       IrDA support has been fixed so that, unlike Windows 2000, Windows XP can       easily use modems in mobile telephones via infrared. A new screen font,       ClearType, improves legibility for laptop or other flat screens, and there       is built-in support for wireless networking using the popular 802.11 standard.       A great feature of XP, also found in Windows 2000, is the ability to synchronize       network files with offline copies. Previously, these files could not be       stored securely, but now they can be encrypted.The Information Bar in Windows XP Professional Edition         with Service Pack 2 notifies you when it blocks ActiveX control or active         content and then lets you decide what to do.For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The enhancements in   IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers, and in any case Microsoft makes   IE freely available to all Windows users. Although Java is not installed by   default, it is not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows   Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a collaboration tool that   allows for video conferencing and application sharing.Service Pack 2 allows users to instruct Internet         Explorer how to handle downloads from a specific publisherThe most significant new feature         for Internet users is the built-in firewall. A firewall protects against         one of the most disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown         to you might connect to your computer while it is online, reading private         files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is a simple affair,         but it does prevent most types of unauthorized connection.Windows XP has strong multimedia features. The new Media Player lets         you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own playlist, and write         your own music CDs if you have a CD writer. Although there is loss of         quality as a result of compression, the process is easy and convenient.         Media Player 8.0 can play back DVD video, but only if a hardware or software         DVD decoder is already installed. You can also play MP3 audio files and         MPEG videos, but sadly, not the popular RealMedia formats. In the end,         Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free alternatives,         but it is slick and nicely integrated.The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows,   but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant   improvement. The Start menu now automatically features the most frequently used   programs at the top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by right-clicking   the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help   is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web   site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs.Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP Home, and adds   support for dual processors, encryptable file systems, offline folders, the   Remote Desktop as described above, and extra administration features that come   into play when connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on hardware,   and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended   minimum requirements. There is also activation to consider, a mildly annoying   anti-piracy measure that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full   installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major system changes.Windows XP Service Pack 2 FeaturesInternet Explorer Pop-up BlockerMakes browsing the Internet more enjoyable       by enabling you to reduce unwanted ads and content.Internet Explorer download monitoringWarns you about potentially harmful downloads and gives you the option       to block files that could be malicious.Internet Explorer Information BarProvides better information about events that are happening as you browse       the Web, so it’s easier to know what’s going on and address       potential security issues.Windows Security CenterAllows you to easily view your security status and manage key security       settings in one convenient place.Windows Firewall updateAutomatically turned on by default, this improved firewall helps protect       Windows XP from viruses, worms, and other security threats that can spread       over the Internet.Improved wireless supportDramatically improves and simplifies the process of discovering and connecting       to wireless networks.Bluetooth technologiesEnables you to easily connect to the latest Bluetooth-enabled hardware       devices such as keyboards, cell phones, and PDAs.Windows Media Player 9 SeriesMakes it easy to enjoy music, video, and broadband content with enhanced       security.