The Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista

Most times it is often a phenomenon that in a bid to make some things better, some other things has to be compromised. That is the circumstance that surrounds the newly released operating system by Microsoft, Windows Vista. It was released finally on November 8, 2006 after it was announced on July 22, 2005. The initial version of it, tagged Longhorn was lunched before Vista was eventually released to the market, for purchase. There are a good number of upgrades and features added in comparison with the previous Microsoft operating System (Windows XP).

These includes the Graphic User Interface, which is the most prominent, improved search engine, Windows DVD Maker (new multimedia tools), new internet protocol component i. e. ipv6, enhanced networking wizard, and lots more. Most importantly the primary target of Microsoft in introducing Windows Vista is fostering their operating system’s security, which is a major criticism heard against Windows XP and its predecessors.

Development of Windows XP

The development of Windows XP started since 1999.

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Before Windows XP was eventually built, there has been series of build development just as it was for Vista. Firstly, it was Build 2211 also called Neptune Build 2211 (build date of March 9,2000), later Build 2250 (released to testers on July 13, 2000 and is similar to Windows 2000 and Windows ME), Build 2257 (released August 2000 and it is the first to include Microsoft Personal Firewall), Build 2267 (released October 3, 2000), Build 2287, Build 2223. 1 (released April 11, 2000), Beta 1 (Build 2296, and was released October 31, 2000).

Early 2001 other sets of builds was released which are categorized as Pre-Beta 2. Under the Pre-Beta, are the Build 2410, released on January 4, 2001, which has a new features like:

• Internet Explorer 6. 0,
• Outlook Express 6. 0,
• Internet Information Services 5. 1,
• Windows Movie Maker 1. 1,
• Windows Media Player 8. 0 etc.

On January 16 and 23, 2001, Build 2416 and Build 2419 was released respectively. Several other Builds were released until October 25, 2001 when the long awaited Microsoft Windows XP formerly known as “Whistler” was released to the general public.

The name XP is culled from the word eXPerience.

Development of Windows Vista

The development of the Windows Vista commenced after the introduction of Windows XP in 2001. It was firstly introduced as “Longhorn” which is much based on Windows XP source code. Later the Vista development started afresh which is built on the Windows Server 2003 code base and re-incorporating only the features that would be intended for an actual operating system release.

After Vista was released, beta test program ( a version of a program that is released for testing, especially by some special agents) was introduced and distributed at the Microsoft Developer conference in 2005 and subsequently released to beta testers and Microsoft Developer Network subscribers. Following the build of the final products, the planned new features, most especially the change in the GUI (Graphic User Interface), and security buffering was highly considered.

After passing through series of testing, basically, on its stability, performance, application and driver compatibility, and documentation, it was made available to the general public through Microsoft's Customer Preview Program also downloaded by over five million people. The delay in its released was due to Microsoft’s suggestion to give the company – and the hardware and software companies which Microsoft depends on for providing device drivers– additional time to prepare. Windows Vista, the long span version of Microsoft’s upgrade was eventually released on November 8, 2006.

There are two versions of Windows Vista that runs on computers, they are Vista Capable and Vista Premium ready. The major differences between Windows XP and Vista are that while Vista has a Windows Defender tool, Windows XP has no Windows Defender tool available. Thus Vista prevents the installation of unwanted software and spyware. Also Windows Vista has Parental control Feature while Windows XP has No Parental control Feature- This option enables parents to restrict Children’s which sites, games and software to use and not.