Last week at PC Expo in New York, Microsoft was proudly showing off the next version of the Windows operating system. Windows XP, which is scheduled for formal announcement on October 25, is currently in Beta and, according to the Microsoft folks at PC Expo, should be at or nearing its first release candidate this week. That means things are pretty much on schedule for the October launch. I suspect that's the only thing about Windows XP that's going to be predictable.

First, the good news. The interface for the newest version of Windows is elegant and aesthetically pleasing. More to the point, it's a lot easier to use. If you're using Microsoft's new Office XP software, you'll be expecting the in-context, dialogue-based help, but you may be surprised by some of the other features.

Pro: Windows XP has lots of great new features
Generally speaking, the emphasis for the release is on three themes.

First is the enhanced ease of use through improvements in the interface.

Second is the enhanced reliability. This is the first version of Windows that uses the same software architecture as Windows NT. Microsoft assures users this means more reliability in every version. Beta testers report this is generally true, although, as you might expect, there are still bugs in the pre-release Beta software early users are trying.

Third are new and enhanced features. These vary depending on the target audience. Features for home users emphasize multimedia support for photographs, voice, and video. Professional systems emphasize performance, scalability, and support for high-end applications. Both offer more emphasis on enhanced help, better integration within and across applications (for both Microsoft and partners), and enhanced access and integration with new Microsoft application features such as the Smart Tags in Office XP.