File Processing and Programming Capabilities

To start off, Windows XP has finally started using threads to complete processing of data. In the older versions of windows, if one process slowed down the computer, everything that was attempted until that process completed would be bogged down severely. In XP if you start the same slow process, and attempt to process some other data, it is not bogged down as bad, thus showing the effective use of threading (Bowers, 2004, p. 2). In Red Hat Linux, at least in version three, there is the use of multi-threading capabilities. The multi-threading capabilities in this version are several degrees of magnitude higher than of previous versions. Both Windows XP and Red Hat Linux take advantage of threading of processes.

As far as program capabilities go, XP has quite a few, and compared to itself, has made a huge turnaround. Considering the installation of XP, there are a few nice capabilities, such as the "Compatibility Test." For most users, this test will give an accurate picture of what will happen, and if it can happen. It should let the user know what programs will have to be re-installed, and what drivers will have to be upgraded (Bowers, 2004, p. 1). Multi-user support on XP is another upgrade, which in previous versions, the programs of user that is logging off, would cease, where as in XP, the programs continue to run. One downfall, is of you connect remotely to the XP console; the current user will have to log off. It will ask the user if it is o.k., it does not simply knock them off (Bowers, 2004, p. 4). Another down fall of XP is that sometimes through IRQ; the system may still want to hang up. Users can avoid this by using the IRQ Steering Box, but doing this may result in certain things not working, such as sound cards (Bowers, 2004, p. 5).

Considering the installation of Red Hat Linux, there are several known problems, and the fixes are not patches. To fix these problems, you must command it to do a few things. For example, during installation, there may be an error that pops up about the XPDF package. It tries to read this from the second disc, but sends the error. To overcome this, you must have the first disc in and let it ask you for the second disc. Open the tray, remove the first disc, but leave the tray empty. This will cause an error when trying to read an empty drive. Insert the second disc, and everything should go as planned ("Installing Guest Operating Systems", 2006).

Back to Windows, with a look at Windows XP Media Center edition, this is another version of XP. Basically, it is looked at as XP with a few kicks. Media Center is an OS with all the upgrades to fully support almost any audio or video task. From TV capture to high-end audio output, Media Center has it all. It has been constructed to be very user friendly, but still powerful. Basically, with Media Center, a person is able to turn their computer into a PVR, or Personal Video Recorder, something UNIX has not done. The computer is still operating an XP operating system, so there is still the same functionality that a normal Windows OS would have ("Windows XP Media Center Edition Capabilities",