Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP

The program is divided into four distinct categories--Digital Media, Games, Screen Savers, and Themes--each of which may be accessed through a single, convenient graphical interface. Of these, the Digital Media component is clearly the deepest and most interesting. Its handy utilities include an MP3 audio converter for transforming disk-hogging WAV and MP3 files into space-efficient WMA format, a music playlist organizer known simply as Personal DJ, an exceedingly capable CD label maker, 20-plus Media Player skins, and three animated Media Player visualizations (including one culled from the Xbox game Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee).

Music and video fans in particular will immediately gravitate to the Voice Command for Windows Media Player module, which allows users to operate most Media Player functions by issuing verbal commands into their computer microphone. Even when faced with garbled enunciation and loud background music, Voice Command faithfully recognizes commands such as "Volume Up" and "Pause." Sadly, Microsoft's seemingly innovative Speaker Enhancement tool is ultimately little more than a glorified tone control that often hinders rather than improves the sound of your speakers.

Of the three games included in the package, the most intriguing is Russian Square, a deceptively addictive puzzle affair that plays like a one-dimensional offspring of Tetris and Rubik's Cube. Far less involving are the arcade bowling knock-off HyperBowl and the three-dimensional Labyrinth, a virtual take on the real-life game that involves a tilting table, metal ball, and lots of ball-gobbling holes. Eight animated screen savers and four desktop themes complete the package, the most notable of which is the stunningly lifelike and absolutely gorgeous underwater screen saver called "Aquarium." Otherwise, the program's themes and screen savers are no better than those that can be downloaded free of charge from various Web sites.

With Plus! for Windows XP, Microsoft has assembled a multipronged mixture of useful and not-so-useful multimedia tools and lighthearted amenities into one easily accessible compilation. If you aren't the type to scout around the Internet for individual components and feel the need to spruce up your XP audio-video environment, it may be for you. --Gordon Goble

Amazon.com Product Description
With Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP, you can personalize your computer experience like never before. Built exclusively to take advantage of the power of Windows XP, Microsoft Plus! delivers exciting new features for digital music, gaming, photos, and more. Tailor your digital audio and video to your own tastes, challenge yourself with a variety of fun and exciting games, and customize the look and feel of your desktop with amazingly lifelike screen savers and images.

Everything you need to amplify your audio and video experience is included. Use the power of your voice to control Windows Media Player without lifting a finger. Easily create colorful, customized CD covers, labels, and inserts, and automatically add your own track listings and artwork using Plus! CD Label Maker. Enjoy stunning 3-D visualization effects, vibrant speaker enhancements, and a powerful personal DJ for automatically creating custom playlists in Windows Media Player. Quickly and easily convert your library of MP3 files to Windows Media Audio (WMA), saving valuable space on your hard drive.

Challenge yourself with fun and exciting new games. Take the fun and excitement of bowling in 3-D into the streets of ancient Rome with HyperBowl Plus! Edition. Labyrinth Plus! Edition rolls the classic tabletop labyrinth game into a 3-D world filled with vibrant visuals and sounds. Test your skills for quick thinking and strategy with Russian Square, an intense new puzzle game for fans of Tetris.

Customize your computer with 3-D graphics and photos. Personalize your computer with exciting new desktop visuals, including eight photorealistic 3-D screen savers and four enhanced themes, including wallpapers, screen savers, media player skins, and much more. Watch exotic fish come to life on your desktop in this amazingly lifelike recreation of a marine aquarium or display your favorite photos in a variety of custom-animated 3-D photo galleries. Even add your favorite background music.

Product Description
MODEL- MS-CD75309WI VENDOR- MICROSOFT CORPORATION FEATURES- Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Built exclusively to take advantage of the power of Windows XP Microsoft Plus! delivers exciting new features for digital music gaming photos and more. Tailor your digital audio and video to your own tastes challenge yourself with a variety of fun and exciting games and customize the look and feel of your desktop with amazingly lifelike screen savers and images. Discover the new and vibrant multimedia experience. * Quickly convert MP3 files to space-saving Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. * Personalize the style of the Windows Media Player in Windows XP with attractive custom skins and use Plus! Personal DJ to create play lists of your favorite songs. * Boost the clarity and richness of music with new speaker enhancement technology. * Enjoy digital audio and video like never before! * Challenge yourself with captivating new arcade-style games featuring stunning 3-D graphics. * Explore the fun and excitement of bowling through the streets of ancient Rome. * Discover an intense game for fans of Tetris that will test your skills for quick thinking and strategy. * Navigate a new 3-D version of the classic tabletop labyrinth game filled with vibrant visuals and sounds. * Test your skills with over 40

For those who are looking to buy this, please note that you at least need a 500 megahertz computer, 64MB of RAM, and a 3D video card with 16, I repeat 16MB of video memory.

If Microsoft had added such things as an Antivirus to the program, more desktop themes, FULL EDITION Games, and less steep requirements, then I'd recommend this to everyone.

So if your at the store, leave this on the shelf!!!

PS - This program is a prime example of Bloatware.


A must have!   October 3, 2001
71 out of 102 found this review helpful

It's hard to get used with "plain" Windows XP after you use it with Plus. Besides the obvious stuff that you might expect in Plus, like nice screen savers and desktop themes, this Plus comes with games, and a bunch of digital media programs.

One of these days, I had my hard drive completely bloated with MP3 files. After I installed Plus, I ran the "Audio Converter" and converted the MP3 files for WMA, and now I have plenty of space on disk for more music. Then I created CDs with my music, and used the "Label Maker" to create a nice cover. After that, I created a playlist with Personal DJ and played with Media Player. The nice thing: I actually was *speaking* to Media Player! Plus comes with a feature that allows us to give spoken commands to Media Player. And it understood all of my commands: Play, Stop, Next. I just say "Media Player Play Artist Pixies" and voila, it plays!

I also did enjoy the games, especially "Russian Squares". I got really addicted to this very simple game, the graphics are really well thought and the music is superb.


Just not worth the money   April 15, 2002
Todd C. Spears (Valley Village, CA United States)
68 out of 72 found this review helpful

I received Microsoft Plus! XP as a gift and I really don't have the heart to tell my friend that they wasted their money. Oh, there are a couple of good things on the disc but nothing that really merits the purchase price. It's almost like the software was an afterthought - let's see what we can put in it since we don't really have anything.

First off lets start the Digital Media collection. Nothing here really to speak of that's worth anything. A voice recognition system for the media player? It's not worth fighting with to run just a media player. The label maker, speaker enhancement and personal DJ? They don't do anything that really matters (or other software doesn't do without spending the extra cash). Media Player skins and Visualizations? You can download those for free from a number of sites - and again without paying for it. As for the MP3 audio converter, yes the new files are smaller but the only player you can use is the Microsoft one and the sound quality is not as good as an MP3.

The games - there are only three and only one is a full version. The other two require downloads and additional purchases. The Bowling game is difficult to control and well, boring. The Labyrinth game isn't too bad but it's very difficult. The winner is Russian Square which is actually fun and addictive.

As for the themes and screen savers - most aren't anything that special or noteworthy. The one exception is the aquarium screensaver which really is something to look at. But again, if you want the full version of the program you have to pay an additional cost. The rest aren't anything that really merits the cost of the program.

Overall I'm really disappointed in the entire package - the cost is far too high for what you get and I can't help shaking the feeling the entire package is just a cheesy gimmick to sell you even more software. "Look at the great things in Microsoft Plus! XP" then when you buy it you find out you have to pay even more for the rest of the programs.


Save your money and look online.   October 9, 2001
51 out of 66 found this review helpful

Most of the application in this package can be found online.
Their are only 4 thems in this package unlike the previous PLUS pack MS put out.


Save your money!   November 2, 2001
Arturo (Guatemala, CA)
39 out of 42 found this review helpful

As always, Microsoft has been releasing a Plus! extension for Windows. Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP does have new cool themes, screen savers and much more, but the reality is that for the price they are charging is better to save it for something else. It only comes with four themes (Aquarium, Space, Nature and da Vinci). Each theme has 2 screensavers (the aquarium screensaver is the most realistic 3D screensaver I have seen). Only three games which aren't that much fun. Some features like the CD Label Maker or MP3 Audio Converter are interesting, but everything else...you can find it over the Internet for free.

My advice is, don't spend the money!! If you really are a fanatic of Microsoft and want to have Microsoft Plus!, then it's your choice, but for the rest of consumers out there, save your money...I really mean it!! Buy something that is worth the money.