Microsoft Windows XP (Beta 2) Review
Time Synchronization
Windows XP also removes another headache for many Windows 9x users: Window clocks that don't keep in sync with the time. Now you can have Windows automatically synchronize the time with an Internet time server, without the need for 3rd party software.
Most experienced users are going to find the new Control Panel to be an annoyance. Instead of opening right to the applets, the Control Panels opens to 9 categories, like "Appearance and Themes," "Printers and Other Hardware," "Network and Internet Connections," and others. Microsoft's argument for the change is that new users find it more intuitive to use, but for an experienced user it can be a PITA. But then, just follow the advice I gave above about showing the Control Panel as a menu on your Start menu, and you'll never open Control Panel again in the old fashioned way!
Windows XP also improves on the Multi User functions. For example, setting up and maintaining multiple user accounts is a breeze. This whole feature is made extremely user-friendly, and you can even assign pictures to the account(s)(Figure).
Another nice feature is the ability to switch users. When you switch users, the programs running at the time will continue to run in the background, but you can have another user logging in and using the computer. The "new" user does not have access to the running applications of any other users.
You can switch users simply by selecting Log off from the Start Menu, then Switch User. Any users that are currently logged on will have new text below their logon name that describes the number of open applications and whether any email is waiting (Figure).