Editing Microsoft Windows (section)

===== Windows XP =====
{{Main|Windows XP}}
[[File:Windows logo variant (2003).svg|thumb|A variation of the 2001–2006 Windows logo from 2003 using the [[Segoe]] typeface instead of the [[Franklin Gothic]] typeface. This variation was mainly used for branding purposes.]]
The next major version of Windows NT, [[Windows XP]], was released to manufacturing (RTM) on August 24, 2001, and to the general public on October 25, 2001. The introduction of Windows XP aimed to unify the consumer-oriented [[Windows 9x]] series with the architecture introduced by Windows NT, a change which Microsoft promised would provide better performance over its DOS-based predecessors. Windows XP would also introduce a redesigned user interface (including an updated Start menu and a "task-oriented" [[File Explorer|Windows Explorer]]), streamlined multimedia and networking features, [[Internet Explorer 6]], integration with Microsoft's [[Microsoft account|.NET Passport]] services, a "[[Windows XP#Backwards compatibility|compatibility mode]]" to help provide [[backwards compatibility]] with software designed for previous versions of Windows, and [[Windows Remote Assistance|Remote Assistance]] functionality.<ref name="cnet-xpreview">{{Cite web |title=Windows XP review |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/windows/microsoft-windows-xp-home/4505-3672_7-6534881.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526024030/http://reviews.cnet.com/windows/microsoft-windows-xp-home/4505-3672_7-6534881.html |archive-date=May 26, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2013 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2002 |title=Windows XP Program Compatibility Wizard |url=https://www.serverwatch.com/guides/windows-xp-program-compatibility-wizard/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113012030/https://www.serverwatch.com/guides/windows-xp-program-compatibility-wizard/ |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |access-date=November 13, 2021 |website=ServerWatch}}</ref>

At retail, Windows XP was marketed in two main [[Stock keeping unit|editions]]: the "Home" edition was targeted towards consumers, while the "Professional" edition was targeted towards business environments and [[power user]]s, and included additional security and networking features. Home and Professional were later accompanied by the "[[Windows Media Center|Media Center]]" edition (designed for [[home theater PC]]s, with an emphasis on support for [[DVD]] playback, [[TV tuner card]]s, [[Digital video recorder|DVR]] functionality, and remote controls), and the "Tablet PC" edition (designed for mobile devices meeting its [[Microsoft Tablet PC|specifications]] for a [[tablet computer]], with support for [[stylus]] pen input and additional pen-enabled applications).<ref>{{Cite news |last=David Coursey |date=October 25, 2001 |title=The 10 top things you MUST know about Win XP |work=[[ZDNet]] |url=http://review.zdnet.com/4520-6033_16-4206552.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090403131228/http://review.zdnet.com/4520-6033_16-4206552.html |archive-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=David Coursey |date=August 31, 2001 |title=Your top Windows XP questions answered! (Part One) |url=http://review.zdnet.com/4520-6033_16-4206367.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219121319/http://review.zdnet.com/4520-6033_16-4206367.html |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |access-date=January 3, 2011 |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive|CNET Networks]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2002 |title=A Look at Freestyle and Mira |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/showcase/a-look-at-freestyle-and-mira.aspx |access-date=January 3, 2011 |website=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows |publisher=Penton}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Mainstream support for Windows XP ended on April 14, 2009. Extended support ended on April 8, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Windows XP Professional Lifecycle Support |url=http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227071350/http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223 |archive-date=February 27, 2013 |access-date=January 3, 2011}}</ref>

After Windows 2000, Microsoft also changed its release schedules for server operating systems; the server counterpart of Windows XP, [[Windows Server 2003]], was released in April 2003.<ref name="thurrott-nt" /> It was followed in December 2005, by Windows Server 2003 R2.