YOU can't have missed the fact that Microsoft has launched its new operating system, Windows XP, this week.

But as ever the hype seems to be drowning out the facts, so the big question for many thousands of computer owners is -- should I upgrade?

There's no doubt that WinXP is a considerable step forward for Microsoft.

It finally breaks away from the original code, known as MSDOS, that has lain hidden from most users since Windows 95.

It is said to be much more stable, and so less prone to crashing and there are other advantages, especially on the design side, to using WinXP.

But the software is very demanding of your computer and requires a lot of memory to run productively.

And it also sends a snapshot of your PC over the internet to register you with Microsoft, a great idea to stop piracy, not so good if you've built your own machine.

For more details and a full tour, see the site, found at www.microsoft.com/uk/windowsxp/.

And for a more independent view, there are reviews and opinions about the software at www.cnet.com and at www.arstechnica.com.