Associated Press
SEATTLE — Windows XP offers cost-conscious computer users an attractive package. For about $100, users can upgrade to a system that looks better, runs smoother and includes more consumer-oriented features than ever.
But many consumers will be surprised to find that Microsoft’s new operating system, due out Thursday, may prompt additional, unanticipated costs.
Fun new features such as video-enabled instant messaging, digital photo editing or the souped-up music and video player will require users on older computers to buy more memory — and perhaps even a bigger new hard drive among other upgrades, analysts say.
And to benefit most from an operating system built for life online, users may also crave high-speed Internet access.
"I think for the most part people will not realize that those other costs are things that they’re going to want to get," said Steve Kleynhans, a vice president with the tech research firm META Group.
The bill for the average user may end up running as high as $200 per computer, said Rob Enderle, an analyst with Giga Information Systems.
It’s not unusual for a major new operating system to run best on a relatively new or recently improved machine, said Kleynhans, who praises Microsoft for warning users about that likelihood.
"In previous releases, many times they were unrealistically claiming that you could run it on any older hardware … and ended up with an awful lot of unhappy customers," he said.
A new operating system also has traditionally been an opportunity for hardware and software makers to push users to buy new versions of products they already own. Companies may decide it’s not worth the cost of writing drivers, the software tools that make hardware work with Windows XP, for older machines and peripherals, Enderle said, especially if they can get people to buy new products.
That strategy paid off in the boom years of the tech economy but may backfire in these lean times, especially after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"If all other things were equal, it would provide a bit of a positive end to what in the PC industry has been a pretty dismal year," Kleynhans said of Windows XP’s release. "But I’m not clear that is going to happen."
As well, there are many desktop staples such as antivirus software or firewall security protection that even owners of computers purchased this year will be forced to upgrade with the new system.
"This is sort of a quantum leap," said Sarah Hicks, vice president of product management for Symantec, which makes the popular Norton system maintenance and security products and will require all Windows XP users to buy a new version of their software if they upgrade. "The internals of the operating system are just completely different now."
Microsoft is predicting that Windows XP will have a slow burn, building its customer base — and helping other products build theirs — over months and years rather than weeks as in releases past.
Microsoft says its partners have provided drivers for more than 12,000 products and that it is doing everything it can to make products compatible.
But Enderle said many companies have not had time to complete their drivers, so it may be weeks before users know what works and what doesn’t.
"Compatibility issues are going to be kind of harsh for a couple of weeks at least," he said.
Verizon, for example, said its high-speed Internet access won’t be ready to work with Windows XP until about a week after launch. Other companies, such as printer and scanner maker Epson, also plan to release a much broader range of drivers starting next week.
"If people wait until probably early next year, they’re going to have a so much better experience," Enderle said.
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