IT may seem like yet another in an ever-swifter line of Windows releases, but Windows XP is a sea change in the way Microsoft does things.

Before Windows XP, the Microsoft operating system was divided into two. There was a raft of releases for the home user, all based on the old Windows 3x system, being updated as Windows 95, 98 and ME. Then, on the other hand, there was the business and server-friendly software of Windows NT. Keeping the two separated was ever a problem for Microsoft, and after a failed attempt to bring the systems closer using Windows ME/2000, they've finally done the trick.

So what will this merging of systems mean? To most people, the effects will not be very noticeable, but it will make software much more compatible across platforms. Now, software designers have one less system to consider when they're creating new programs.

Windows XP is certainly the way forward for Microsoft but is it the thing you need right here, right now?

Certainly, Windows XP is a lot more stable as a system than some of its predecessors. Installation works like a charm. Slap the CD in and you can run a compatibility test on your machine before you install. This will highlight the software and hardware that might have any problems after the upgrade, giving you the chance to go look for newer drivers for devices that might have difficulties. My installation went fairly smoothly everything was simple enough with a variety of equipment, but the one thing I had a problem with was a USB modem, and sadly no newer drivers were available at the time of installation.

Fortunately, I had an alternative modem available, but had I not, then the next step activation of Windows XP would have become a royal pain. Activation is Microsoft's brand new way of stopping piracy. Now every copy of Windows XP will only be able to be used on a single computer. Once you install, you have 30 days to activate the product, or Windows will become unusable. Activation is a simple process if you're connected to the internet, but if not, then it's an arduous task over the phone, involving typing around 100 digits. If your hard drive ever fails, or you change many of the components on your system, you'll then have to reactivate your copy of XP, so it could become an annoying process for some users. It also means you absolutely have to make sure you hang on to that registration code, as you can't get away with substituting one from another copy about the house any more.

Finally, Windows XP is installed, activated and ready to boogie.

The biggest difference you'll see straight away is the launch screen, which you can customise to have different set-ups for different users, so parents can keep their home finance details away from junior's games collection. Simply click on the button for the set-up you want to use.

Once you're in, you'll find Windows XP has been pepped up and improved in all sorts of ways. The Media Player is the most obvious beneficiary, now able to more comfortably handle a variety of media, including playing DVD, although you'll still actually need decoding software. Networking to other computers is streamlined, as is connecting to the internet, and at last the defragment utility has been improved (ie fixed).

The start menu has been re-designed to give you faster access to the programs you use most often, although experienced users will have to get used to things a bit, and Windows also now uses a lot less jargon.

One other very nice little touch is the compatibility mode. If your software doesn't like running in Windows XP, the system can run that item using an emulation of a previous version of Windows. Add to that a much wider compatibility that revives old games that Windows ME had consigned to the wastebin, and you really have a very definite improvement.

This is the single most important release for Microsoft since Windows 95, and it's likely to have just as big an impact. For once, I have no reservations in recommending it.

Overall 5/5

SPECS: Pentium 233, 128MB RAM, 1.5GB hard disk space, CD-ROM