As Windows grew, it expanded on a range of built-in applications - known by many as applets. By the time Windows 95 came on the scene three years later, it was positively bristling with extra features and handy tools. It was in Wf. indows 95hthat we Windows 95 brought with it the popular Start button lrst saw t e Start
button and Start Menu, for.example - something relatively small but significant._ enough.to remain a central part of Windows right up to Vista. Also included were Windows Explorer, a Search function, networking features, a media player, a sound recorder and a fully customisable desktop, all of which can still be found in Windows today.

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Over the years, subsequent Windows releases have brought with them even more features. Windows 98 introduced USB support. Windows ME came with a broader range of internet and multimedia tools, including the video-editing application Windows Movie Maker. In 2001, Windows XP provided the biggest revamp of Microsoft's as till date. It was built using a completely different architecture to previous consumer editions of Windows and featured a radically overhauled graphical interface. It also had a startling array of applets, features and options. XP's Control Panel came with loads of tweaks and settings that allowed you to customise your experienc:e. Its built-in Media Player was a proper grown-up music and movie program, with streaming capabilities, CD ripping and burning functions and a library-type interface.

Crucially, XP was fully internet-ready - well, almost. Its arrival happily coincided with the proliferation of home broadband connections and its built-in networking, web browsing and email functions made it easy for users to get online and make the most of what the net had to offer. However, early editions of XP were heavily criticised for their lack of security features. In order to protect their PCs against internet-borne threats such as viruses, hackers, spyware and other evils, XP users were forced to turn to third-party security software.