Top 10 Reasons to Bring Home Windows XP

October 2001

#1 Become a Multimedia Star

Windows Media Player 8 is the first player to combine all of the most popular digital media activities in a single, easy-to-use application.

With Media Player 8 you can:

... and if you've always wanted to be in pictures, Windows Movie Maker let's you do it all! With Windows Movie Maker you can easily capture, edit, organize, and share home movies.

Just plug your analog or digital camera into your PC to get started. Customize with music, narration, and title cards. Once you're done, e-mail or post your video to a Web site to share with friends and family.

#2 Digital Photography Takes Centre Stage

Ipsos-Reid reports that more than one in six Canadians use a digital camera to take pictures and exchange images with friends. In addition, another 28 per cent of Canadian Internet users say they'll buy a digital camera within a year.¹ WOW!

Windows XP helps you make the most of your digital camera. Loading photos onto the computer is as easy as plugging the digital camera into the PC and choosing "download photos" from "Camera" in "My Computer View."

Once the photos are on your computer, emailing and sending is as easy as selecting "email photos" from the left task menu. Windows XP lets you choose how detailed you want the pictures to be - and therefore how big a file to send. Then you can automatically attach the smaller images which only need the "To" and "Subject" fields filled in before sending. Smaller files mean you can send every shot of baby's first steps, without jamming Grandma's inbox.

Want to take those pictures with you? For the first time ever, Windows XP's Photo Printing Wizard lets you automatically resize, rotate and manipulate your photos to control your use of costly paper and colour ink when printing your shots.

¹ Ipsos-Reid Canada Survey July 2001

#3 Keeping in Touch Has Never Been Easier

Windows XP makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family - across the city or around the world - with real-time voice and video communication.

Now, with an inexpensive Web cam and the new Windows Messenger feature in Windows XP, anyone can see, talk, work and play with friends, family and colleagues online and in real time. It's like having the technology of CNN right in your living room. You can even transfer files and share applications (such as Microsoft Word or Excel) over the Internet, all in the click of a button.

#4 You Don't Have to be a Magician to Get the Most from Windows XP

Windows XP is loaded with wizards to help you do everything from setting up a home network (that's how your computers talk to each other) to arranging your files the way you want them.

For example, Windows XP has a convenient Network Setup Wizard that lets multiple PCs share a home's single printer or access the same files. This means you only have to purchase and set-up one device for all of your home computers, but each one benefits from the power and intelligence of multiple connected devices.

Now your kids can play Internet games or instant message with their friends while you send your e-mail, browse the Web or just use the phone. An Internet Connection Sharing feature lets different people share the same Internet connection, eliminating the need to spend extra money on a second phone or Internet connection.

Finding things on your PC has never been easier. Windows XP offers features like File and Folder Grouping and Search Companion that allow you to arrange your files and folders in a way that makes sense to you. Don't waste anymore time searching for your financial information, your favourite music or - your personal photos.

#5 All the "Extras" Are Included

Windows XP comes complete with more of the applications today's PC user wants, providing cost and time savings from Day One. Movie editing, digital media management, picture printing and CD writing are all built in.

Even burning a CD is a piece of cake. Simply drag your files onto the CD Writer in "My Computer" and Windows XP will write the files for you… at the click of a mouse.

#6 Rock Solid and Ready to Roll… Whenever You Are!

Because Windows XP is built on the stable Windows NT kernel (that's the engine that powers your operating system), it's enormously reliable. Fewer crashes, better memory protection and an automatic System Restore feature that creates automatic backups of your working documents, all mean that your files, photos, music and games are ready to roll whenever you are.

Are there oldies but goodies among your favourite applications? Windows XP has built in compatibility features that enable older applications to run in "emulated" Windows 95, 98 or Windows Me environments. This means you don't have to spend a dime on new software, other than what's already on your Holiday gift wish list this year, of course.

#7 Work Your Network with Remote Assistance

With Windows XP, you can say goodbye to downtime caused by unfamiliarity with new applications. An easy-to-use Remote Assistance feature allows you to draw on the knowledge of friends, family and colleagues when you run into trouble. Gone are the days of waiting on hold for help-desks (if you can even find their phone number), or the lost hours spent trying to troubleshoot on your own. Remote Assistance lets you lean on your tech-savvy friends (TSF) when you need them most.

If you need technical support, you can simply email or instant message an invitation to your TSF and grant them permission to control your computer remotely, over a network. Instructions on how to use Remote Assistance are automatically sent with the invitation, and you can limit the time in which your recipient can respond. And it's safe - you can even set a password that the recipient must use to connect to your computer. It doesn't get easier than this.

#8 More Power to the Multi-tasking Family

If only sharing everything was this simple! Every family member gets a personalized PC experience even if there's only one computer at home.

For the first time, members of your family can quickly and easily get their own PC view, without having to shut down one another's applications or change desktop settings. A personalized Welcome screen features the applications and files that matter most to you. New features like Fast User Switching let you switch quickly between PC users without logging off each time. It's like giving each member of your family their very own PC. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving.

#9 Privacy and Security are Built In

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall helps guard your computer from intrusion when you are connected to the Internet. Now you can rest assured that your operating system is working to protect you from unwanted attacks over the Internet.

For families that love to surf the Web, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 provides the most private, reliable, and flexible Internet browsing experience. Internet Explorer 6 includes many new and enhanced features that can simplify the daily tasks you perform, while helping maintain the privacy of your personal information on the Web. For example, it will notify you if the site you are visiting does not adhere to accepted privacy standards.

#10 Maintain Your Computer and Files in Top Working Condition

If the thought of upgrading or installing new software makes you anxious, System Restore should put you at ease. Functioning like the "undo" command in Microsoft Word, System Restore automatically monitors and records key system changes on your computer. For example, if you delete a document or add a new game and then realize you've made a mistake, you can easily reverse the change and revert your system back to a previous state. This feature even works after a power failure - so nothing gets lost or destroyed. Yes, it's true. No more nights spent redoing work that was accidentally lost when your dog tripped over the power cord, or your toddler pressed the power key. What a relief!

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