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windows XP is Microsoft sam's favorite OS made by microsoft as seen in the Funny windows errors series by Nkrs200 and Thunderbirds101.
windows XP is Microsoft sam's favorite OS made by microsoft as seen in the Funny windows errors series by Nkrs200 and Thunderbirds101.
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In real life: Windows XP (codenamed Whistler)[5] is a personal computer operating system produced by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. The operating system was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2001, and generally released for retail sale on October 25, 2001.
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Development of Windows XP began in the late 1990s as "Neptune", an operating system built on the Windows NT kernel which was intended specifically for mainstream consumer use—an updated version of Windows 2000 was also originally planned for the business market. However, in January 2000, both projects were shelved in favor of a single OS codenamed "Whistler", which would serve as a single OS platform for both consumer and business markets. Windows XP was a major advance from the MS-DOS based versions of Windows in security, stability and efficiency[6] due to its use of Windows NT underpinnings. It introduced a significantly redesigned graphical user interface and was the first version of Windows to use product activation in an effort to reduce software piracy.
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Upon its release Windows XP received generally positive reviews, with critics noting increased performance (especially in comparison to Windows ME), a more intuitive user interface, improved hardware support, and its expanded multimedia capabilities.[7] Despite some initial concerns over the new licensing model and product activation system, Windows XP eventually proved to be popular and widely used. It is estimated that at least 400 million copies of Windows XP were sold globally within its first five years of availability,[8][9] and at least one billion copies were sold by April 2014.[10]
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Windows XP remained popular even after the release of newer versions, particularly due to the poorly received release of its successor Windows Vista. Vista's 2009 successor, Windows 7, only overtook XP in total market share at the end of 2011.
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Sales of Windows XP licenses to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ceased on June 30, 2008, but continued for netbooks until October 2010. Extended support for Windows XP ended on April 8, 2014, after which the operating system ceased receiving further support or security updates to most users.
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==Development==
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===As "Neptune" and "Odyssey"===
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In the late 1990s, initial development of what would become Windows XP was focused on two individual products; "Odyssey", which was reportedly intended to succeed the future [[Windows 2000]], and "Neptune", which was intended to succeed the [[MS-DOS]]-based [[Windows 98]] with a [[Windows NT]]-based product designed for consumers. Based on 2000's NT 5.0 kernel, Neptune primarily focused on offering a simplified, task-based interface based around a concept known internally as "activity centers". A number of activity centers were planned, serving as hubs for communications (i.e. email), playing music, managing or viewing photos, searching the internet, and viewing recently used content. A single build of Neptune, 5111 (which was otherwise based on, and still carried the branding of Windows 2000 in places), revealed early work on the activity center concept, with an updated user account interface and graphical login screen, common functions (such as recently used programs) being accessible from a customizable "Starting Places" page (which could be used as either a separate window, or a full-screen desktop replacement).<ref name="cnet-consolidate">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-consolidates-Windows-development-efforts/2100-1040_3-236021.html | title=Microsoft consolidates Windows development efforts | publisher=CNET Networks | work=CNET | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="supersite-neptuneflashback">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/windows/supersite-flashback-neptune | title=SuperSite Flashback: Neptune | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="supersite-roadtoxp">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/product-review/the-road-to-gold-the-development-of-windows-xp-reviewed | title=The Road to Gold: The development of Windows XP Reviewed | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
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However, the project, at its current state, proved to be [[Development hell|too ambitious]]. Microsoft would ultimately shelve [[Bill Gates]]' 1998 promise that Windows 98 would be the final MS-DOS based version of Windows; at the [[WinHEC]] conference on April 7, 1999, [[Steve Ballmer]] announced an updated version of 98 known as [[Windows ME|Windows Millennium]]. Microsoft also planned to push back Neptune in favor of an interim, but consumer-oriented NT-based OS codenamed "Asteroid". Concepts introduced by Neptune would influence future Windows products; in Windows ME, the activity center concept was used for [[System Restore]] and Help and Support (which both combined [[Win32]] code with an interface rendered using [[Internet Explorer]]'s [[Trident (layout engine)|layout engine]]), the hub concept would be expanded on [[Windows Phone]], and [[Windows 8]] would similarly use a simplified user interface running atop the existing [[Windows shell]].<ref name="supersite-meaction">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/windows-95/activity-centers-a-windows-me-technology-showcase-127979 | title=Activity Centers: A Windows Me Technology Showcase | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows | accessdate=January 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsme_gold.asp | title=The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows | date=July 5, 2000 | accessdate=September 21, 2007 | first=Paul |last=Thurrot}}</ref>
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===As "Whistler"===
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In January 2000, shortly prior to the official release of Windows 2000, technology writer [[Paul Thurrott]] reported that Microsoft had shelved both Neptune and Odyssey in favor of a new product codenamed '''Whistler''', after [[Whistler, British Columbia]], as many Microsoft employees skied at the [[Whistler-Blackcomb]] ski resort.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/longhorn.asp | title=Windows "Longhorn" FAQ | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows | date=June 22, 2005 | accessdate=April 4, 2008}}</ref> The goal of Whistler was to unify both the consumer and business-oriented Windows lines under a single, Windows NT platform, further stating that: "Neptune became a black hole when all the features that were cut from [Windows ME] were simply re-tagged as Neptune features. And since Neptune and Odyssey would be based on the same code-base anyway, it made sense to combine them into a single project".<ref name="supersite-roadtoxp" /> At WinHEC in April 2000, Microsoft officially announced and presented an early build of Whistler, focusing on a new modularized architecture, built-in [[CD burning]], [[fast user switching]], and updated versions of the digital media features introduced by ME. Windows general manager Carl Stork stated that Whistler would be released in both consumer- and business-oriented versions built atop the same architecture, and that there were plans to update the Windows interface to make it "warmer and more friendly".<ref name=cnet-consolidate/><ref name=supersite-roadtoxp/>
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In June 2000, Microsoft began the technical beta testing process; Whistler was expected to be made available in "Personal", "Professional", "Server", "Advanced Server", and "Datacenter" editions. At [[Professional Developers Conference|PDC]] on July 13, 2000, Microsoft announced that Whistler would be released during the second half of 2001, and also released the first preview build, 2250. The build notably introduced an early version of a new visual styles system along with an interim theme known as "Professional" (later renamed "Watercolor"), and contained a hidden "Start page" (a full-screen page similar to Neptune's "Starting Places"), and a hidden, early version of a two-column [[Start menu]] design.<ref name="witpro-betabegins">{{cite web |url=http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server/exclusive-whistler-technical-beta-begins | title=EXCLUSIVE: Whistler technical beta begins | publisher=Penton Media | work=Windows IT Pro | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref> Build 2257 featured further refinements to the Watercolor theme, along with the official introduction of the two-column Start menu, and the addition of an early version of [[Windows Firewall]].<ref name=supersite-roadtoxp/>
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===Beta releases===
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Microsoft released Whistler Beta 1, build 2296, on October 31, 2000. Build 2410 in January 2001 introduced [[Internet Explorer 6.0]] (previously branded as 5.6) and the [[Windows Product Activation]] system. Bill Gates dedicated a portion of his keynote at [[Consumer Electronics Show]] to discuss Whistler, explaining that the OS would bring "[the] dependability of our highest end corporate desktop, and total dependability, to the home", but also "move it in the direction of making it very consumer-oriented. Making it very friendly for the home user to use." Alongside Beta 1, it was also announced that Microsoft would prioritize the release of the consumer-oriented versions of Whistler over the [[Windows Server 2003|server-oriented versions]] in order to gauge reaction, but that they would be both generally available during the second half of 2001 (Whistler Server would ultimately be delayed into 2003).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2102-1001_3-979878.html | title=Windows Server's identity crisis | publisher=[[CNET Networks]] | work=CNET | date=January 9, 2003 | accessdate=April 1, 2013}}</ref> Builds 2416 and 2419 added the [[Windows Easy Transfer|File and Transfer Settings Wizard]] and began to introduce elements of the operating system's final appearance (such as its near-final [[Windows Setup]] design, and the addition of new default wallpapers, such as ''[[Bliss (image)|Bliss]]'').<ref name="supersite-roadtoxp2">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/product-review/the-road-to-gold-part-two | title=The Road to Gold (Part Two) | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
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On February 5, 2001, Microsoft officially announced that Whistler would be known as '''Windows XP''', short for "experience". As a complement, the next version of [[Microsoft Office]] was also announced as [[Microsoft Office XP|Office XP]]. Microsoft stated that the name "[symbolizes] the rich and extended user experiences Windows and Office can offer by embracing Web services that span a broad range of devices." In a press event at [[EMP Museum]] in [[Seattle]] on February 13, 2001, Microsoft publicly unveiled the new "Luna" user interface of Windows XP. Windows XP Beta 2, build 2462a (which among other improvements, introduced the Luna style), was launched at WinHEC on March 25, 2001.<ref name="cnet-xpnamed">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-to-christen-Windows%2C-Office-with-new-name/2009-1001_3-252047.html | title=Microsoft to christen Windows, Office with new name | publisher=CNET Networks | work=CNET | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="supersite-roadtoxp3">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/product-review/the-road-to-gold-part-three | title=The Road to Gold (Part Three) | publisher=Penton Media | work=Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
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In April 2001, Microsoft controversially announced that XP would not integrate support for [[Bluetooth]] or [[USB 2.0]] on launch, requiring the use of third-party drivers. Critics felt that in the case of the latter, Microsoft's decision had delivered a potential blow to the adoption of USB 2.0, as XP was to provide support for the competing, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]-developed, [[FireWire]] standard instead. A representative stated that the company had "[recognized] the importance of USB 2.0 as a newly emerging standard and is evaluating the best mechanism for making it available to Windows XP users after the initial release."<ref name="cnet-nousb2xp">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-255571.html | title=Windows XP won't support USB 2.0 | publisher=CNET Networks | work=CNET | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref> The builds prior to and following Release Candidate 1 (build 2505), released on July 5, 2001, and Release Candidate 2 (build 2526, released on July 27, 2001), focused on fixing bugs, acknowledging user feedback, and other final tweaks before the RTM build.<ref name=supersite-roadtoxp3/>
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===RTM and release===
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On August 24, 2001, Windows XP build 2600 was [[Release to manufacturing|released to manufacturing]]. During a ceremonial media event at [[Microsoft Redmond Campus]], copies of the RTM build were given to representatives of several major PC manufacturers in [[briefcase]]s, who then flew off on XP-branded [[helicopter]]s. While PC manufacturers would be able to release devices running XP beginning on September 24, 2001, XP was expected to reach general, retail availability on October 25, 2001. On the same day, Microsoft also announced the final retail pricing of XP's two main editions, "Home" and "Professional".<ref name=supersite-roadtoxp3/><ref name="cnet-rtmbash">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-stirs-it-up-with-Windows-XP-bash/2100-1016_3-272099.html | title=Microsoft stirs it up with Windows XP bash | publisher=CNET Networks | work=CNET | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
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In June 2001, Microsoft indicated that it was planning to, in conjunction with [[Intel]] and other PC makers, spend at least [[United States dollar|US$]]1 billion on marketing and promoting Windows XP, among these efforts included a U.S. television commercial featuring [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s song "[[Ray of Light (song)|Ray of Light]]".<ref name=xp>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78081/microsoft-campaign-borrows-madonnas-ray|title=Microsoft Campaign Borrows Madonna's 'Ray'|date=October 16, 2001|accessdate=July 15, 2013|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="cnet-marketing1bn">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-269032.html | title=Windows XP marketing tab to hit $1 billion | publisher=CNET Networks | work=CNET | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref>