When you first take a look at Windows XP Home Edition, you'll be stunned by the shiny new user interface. It's sleeker and more colorful than the Windows 9x user interface, thanks to enhanced features designed to make navigating and performing frequent tasks easier.
For instance, the Start menu has been redesigned in a two-column format, as shown in Figure A. On the left-hand side, you should see your e-mail and Web browser, along with a list of the last five programs opened. The right-hand side provides you with task-oriented access to the most commonly performed operations, such as working with documents, pictures, configuring your system, or accessing the Help system.
The task-oriented design on the Start menu carries over to other areas of the operating system as well. If you open the Control Panel, you'll find that it's been broken down into categories, such as Appearance and Themes. These categories provide access to pertinent items: changing desktop themes, desktop background, and screen savers, for instance.
Wizard Bottom Line: Nice, but not really worth the cost of the upgrade. If you've been using Windows 98 or Me for awhile, you may find that these enhancements are more of a pain than a benefit. On the other hand, they do spruce up a tired looking user interface; once you get past the shine, you'll be able to get an easy handle on navigating the new operating system.
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