Introduction
Many of our users have asked us for an update on Dave Casey’s excellent article on PC optimization for audio. They’ve observed that, while the hardware info in the article is useful for all PC users, the article is heavily focused on Windows 98 and Windows ME, the dominant operating systems when the article was written. As more and more PC’s ship with Windows XP, we’ve prepared this addendum to address those users’ needs.
It’s strongly suggested that you also read Dave’s original document, as much of the information contained within is useful to all Windows users. (You can find it on the TASCAM website at www.tascam.com/support/faq/pc_optimize/index.php) This article will focus specifically on the particulars of these two Windows operating systems, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Some basic background: Windows 2000 and XP are based on the Windows NT kernel. (The kernel is the basic set of coding “building blocks” upon which the operating system is built.) Windows 98 and Millennium Edition (ME) are based on the Windows 95 kernel. Windows 95 had its beginnings as a
Since Microsoft originally marketed Windows NT and 2000 as its business solutions, Windows 2000’s user base is largely made up of corporate users who value its ability to create and maintain large networks of computers. There are, however, considerable numbers of audio and multimedia users who praise Win2K’s stability and use it by choice.
In contrast, Microsoft is marketing XP as its “OS for everyone” by offering Home and Professional versions. Anyone contemplating the purchase of a new computer will undoubtedly find it preloaded with XP, and many users of
The majority of Windows 2000 users have been using Windows 2000 for some time now, whereas XP is still a relatively new player, with more users actively seeking solutions to common issues. Consequently we’ve tired to focus a bit more toward XP where differences exist.
One final note: as with most
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