What does XP mean to me?

With only a few days before Microsoft unleashes Windows XP on all of us, you’ve probably read one report too many about the new computer operating system.

You’ve seen the stories about Passport, the controversial e-commerce protocol that critics fear will compromise our data privacy. You’ve read about the Microsoft-AOL feud about desktop icons. You’ve probably also heard about smart tags, the clever XP components that add web links to your text.

I won’t bore you with more of that.

Instead, let me tell you what you’re not likely to get anywhere else: Windows XP is the OS travelers have been waiting for. Not only that, but Office XP-the companion to the new system released earlier this summer-is a fitting addition to the software that travels well, crashes infrequently, and is generally a pleasure to work with.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still deeply concerned about Microsoft’s dominance of the operating systems market and I think our government should act decisively to prevent the software giant’s influence from spreading. But Bill Gates and company have also historically delivered substandard, overpriced products that took a heavy toll on road warriors.

For example, the last incarnation of the OS most often used on laptops, the deeply flawed Windows ME, crashed incessantly and offered no meaningful upgrades for frequent travelers from earlier incarnations of Windows. Similarly, Office 2000 did very little more than bulk itself up from the last generation, which didn’t serve tech travelers well.

After testing both Windows XP and Office XP, I think Microsoft may be turning a corner. Here’s why:

Bye-bye DOS. You remember DOS, don’t you? The clunky Disk Operating System that’s been used by Microsoft since the year of the flood and supported the old Windows OSs had become the proverbial albatross around the road warrior’s neck. No longer. XP is based on the Windows NT platform, a more robust system that isn’t as fidgety as DOS. Translation: expect fewer meltdowns.

Adios, Network Setup nightmares. Frequent travelers complained loudly about the network setup scheme in previous Windows versions. But the new Network Setup Wizard is so easy to use that I almost laughed out loud when I set up my connection through XP. It took me just a few screens to get online and when something went wrong-say I forgot to include a “9″ when dialing an outside line-XP proved to be very forgiving. This will save you time and lots of hassles.

No more rebooting. Incredibly, even on the beta version of XP, I didn’t have to reboot my laptop once. That’s because XP incorporates changes into its system virtually immediately-no need to restart every time you add a new peripheral or install a new program. But the “no rebooting” rule also applies to functions like “hibernate.” Every time I put my Solo 3350 CS laptop to sleep in Windows ME, it froze. In XP, I was always able to revive it.

Now that’s an e-mail program. I have missed Eudora since I migrated to a PC from a Mac, but the new Outlook on the Office XP suite comes pretty darned close to it. I particularly like one feature, which automatically reformats incoming plain-text messages remove unwanted line breaks. Another Eudora-esque feature: start typing an e-mail address and the program finishes it for you, based on previous entries. Small improvements, I know, but the big payoff comes when you realize that you’ve saved a lot of time in tiny increments by not having to retype or reformat everything.

Even if none of this appeals to you, it may be worth the price of an upgrade just to experience XP. It’s got a look and feel that’s so much better than anything that Microsoft has produced that you’d almost think you were working on a Mac.

Now that’s what I call progress.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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