Whistler converges two other attempts to bring the Windows NT operating system to the home market. For better or worse, it expands upon the home-geared optimizations of Windows ME to better suit multi-user households by default. In any case, this would be the operating system to fully replace the Windows 9x product lineup.

2202

Earliest leaked build of Whistler, referred to as "Windows 2001"; hardly different from Windows 2000 RTM

2211

Shares a tad few things with the canned Neptune project

2223

Renames some things on the Start menu, slightly tweaked UI aethetics, new logon screen with a user list added

2250

Setup process looks like Windows ME, theme added with all new window decorations and a heavily revamped Start menu

2257

New Start menu is set by default, modern theme is given some refinement

2267

New boot splash, OOBE video, and broken utilities

2276

GUI Setup phase redesigned, Windows ME pictures added, Media Player 7 installed upfront

2287

OOBE from Windows ME fully implemented, although not functionally different from such

2296

Official Beta 1 build released for testing, provides context menu functions for pinning items to the Start menu

2410

Earliest leaked pre-Beta 2 build, opts to move the Recycle Bin to the bottom right corner of the screen, disallows setting 640x480 on a normal boot. Also introduces a Microsoft BOB character to the third dimension, and... it foreshadows product activation.

2416

OOBE is revamped, Outlook Express identifies as version 6

2419

Last build to use the Watercolor theme, includes a prototype tour

2428

First leaked build of Whistler to introduce the Luna theme, as well as to have a fully operational activation dialog... great.

2430

Merlin is missing.

2433

The taskbar is locked.

2446

CD player is gone.

2454, 2457, 2458

Three builds.

2462, 2463

Last two "Whistler" builds.

2465

Now called Windows XP.

2469

More brand revamping.

2474, 2475

2474 - you have to click on the Start button, type "tour" in Help to get the tour. 2475 - logon screen receives a major functional improvement where the Windows logo is now animated.

2481

New sounds.

2485, 2486, 2494, 2495, 2498, 2499

Other default screensaver.

2502, 2504, 2505, 2509, 2517, 2520, 2525, 2526, 2531, 2532

Many

2535, 2542

Default icon is not Chess

2600

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