(FORTUNE Magazine) – Let's face it, there's not a lot of drama around the introduction of a new Microsoft Windows operating system these days, even when the newest version, called XP, is clearly the best yet. The courts have officially ruled what you already knew, that Microsoft has a monopoly on PC operating systems. Unless you are the one in ten who defiantly chooses a Macintosh or a Linux machine, or unless you're a Luddite, you'll probably buy the new Windows XP eventually, perhaps the next time you buy a new PC. In terms of giddy anticipation, XP ranks up there with the arrival of new telephone books or the redesign of the $20 bill. And that's a shame, because Windows XP is surprisingly good news for consumers. It's significantly more reliable and easier to use than any of its predecessors, including Windows 98 and the disappointing Windows ME. It has all the best features of the solid Windows 2000 Professional, but without the complexity.

Given that we are dealing with a monopoly, and the fact that XP is the best Windows available, the questions that most PC users are asking are pretty straightforward: Should I upgrade right away? Should I wait to upgrade automatically the next time I buy a new computer? Which flavor of XP should I get, XP Home Edition or XP Professional? And where did Microsoft come up with a dumb name like XP, which is even less mellifluous than "Microsoft Bob"?

The answers are equally straightforward. Windows XP (short for "eXPerience," according to Microsoft, and not supercalifragilisticXPalidocious, as some suspect) is less likely to lock up or crash than earlier versions of Windows, so if you're sick of Windows errors, go to the store on Oct. 25 and buy the upgrade. (But first make sure your computer has the necessary system requirements; see checklist, right.) You should rush out to buy a brand-new, XP-based computer only if you're on a personal mission to revive the economy through spending, or if you're a Microsoft shareholder, or if your current PC is near retirement.

If you use a desktop PC at home or in a small business, get the home edition, a $99 upgrade. If you use a laptop, or if you connect your desktop or laptop PC to a larger corporate network, get the professional upgrade, $199, that does everything the home version does but adds better networking tools and security features. If you decide to install XP from scratch, instead of upgrading, the full version of XP Home Edition costs $199 and the Professional version costs $299.

Otherwise, my standard advice applies: Wait a few months until the most common glitches--and there are always glitches--are identified and fixed.

Waiting also gives other software and hardware companies more time to come up with XP-compatible versions of their products. In order to achieve XP's improved stability and reliability, Microsoft jettisoned its creaky DOS foundation and cracked down on the often-flaky programs called drivers that enable peripheral devices to work with the computer. XP has already been distributed to PC makers, but as of this writing I still can't install my Hewlett-Packard inkjet printer, connect to the corporate computer system over the special link called a Virtual Private Network, or even use my favorite antivirus software, and I won't be able to until the software has been certified as compatible by Microsoft's boffins. Ideally, all major third-party companies will have XP-compatible drivers and versions ready in time for the official XP launch date of Oct. 25. I'm not holding my breath.

That said, Windows XP is not just less annoying, but even almost fun to use. Space does not permit a full listing of its welcome advances, but here are a few:

It makes my PC boot up and shut down faster, which alone is worth the price of upgrading. XP installs easily. Everything has a fresh, clean look. Navigating through folders and files is streamlined. Setting up a home network is simplified, and once the network is set up, several family members can share a high-speed Internet connection at the same time, leading to greater domestic harmony, or at least fewer fistfights. In fact, XP makes it easy for several family members and guests to share a single PC without messing up one another's files and settings, or compromising their privacy. There are some P.U. features of XP, like the inability to encode MP3 music files, but overall this version of Windows is a breath of fresh air.

Feedback? technology@fortunemail.com