By Randall Hull

Tech Talk

This biweekly column offers solutions to personal technology problems submitted by readers. Neither the author nor this newspaper endorses products or companies mentioned.

Q: I’ve been hearing about the new Windows XP. I currently own a Dell Latitude Laptop PC with a 133MHz Pentium processor and 40MB of RAM running Windows 98. Is Windows XP really as good as some say? Should I consider upgrading?

A: The Good: Windows XP is better than previous versions. Windows XP is the blend of Win 95/98/ME’s ease of use and hardware and software compatibility with Win 2000’s stability sans its complexity. Say goodbye to mystery crashes and the “Blue Screen of Death.”

XP comes in home or professional versions. For the most part they are twins, with XP Pro sporting better networking and security. New technology creates sharper text on desktop or notebook LCD displays. The Compatibility Mode fools older programs into thinking they’re on an earlier OS so you don’t have to upgrade everything immediately. If something does go wrong, the System Restore feature lets you step back and undo the cause of the problem.

The Bad: XP Home is not a professional or laptop user’s first choice. Even with better networking capabilities - such as wireless support - it still falls short. It can’t logon to Windows 2000 servers, which likely negates using it at work. You’ll have to purchase the more expensive Pro version to work from home and office on your laptop.

On the surface, Windows Messenger’s Internet phone and video calls with file and application sharing seem cool, but some of the video- and file-sharing features may not work with home broadband routers or corporate firewalls.

The Ugly: XP’s overdecorated and cartoony interface looks like someone took too many rides on Disneyland’s “it’s a small world.” Luckily, you can opt to kill the kiddie clutter.

Microsoft’s crass commercialism and intent to lock customers into Microsoft-sanctioned goods and services is immediate. Internet Explorer constantly directs you to use Microsoft Messenger and go to MSN (Microsoft Network) - even when you don’t want to. There are no substantially new programs, just Microsoft versions of software you may already have from someone else.

Then there’s the new - and annoying - requirement of “activation” before you can run XP, added to the problem of upgrading a laptop running a generic version of the operating system, and only a few “must have” features in a bloated system that makes Rosanne look like Twiggy.

Lastly, in order to run Windows XP Microsoft recommends at least a 300MHz Pentium II processor, 128MB of RAM and a 2GB hard drive.

If your system isn’t this beefy you’ll have to buy a new PC.

Please keep questions to 100 words or less. Send to: Tech Talk, Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022 or e-mail: techtalk@latc.com.

Randall Hull is a Los Altos resident and owner of The Br@nd Ranch, an advertising and marketing agency.