If you are running Windows XP and have an LCD monitor, you should be running Microsoft’s “ClearType”:3. Microsoft’s description of ClearType says:

bq.. With Windows XP, ClearType delivers improved font display quality over traditional forms of font smoothing or anti-aliasing. ClearType improves readability on color LCD displays with a digital interface, such as those in laptops and high-quality flat panel displays. Readability on CRT screens can also be somewhat improved.

p. Before, you only had the option to use the web-based ClearType “tuner”:1 which required IE (since it uses ActiveX). Now you have the option to download the new ClearType Tuner “PowerToy”:2. It allows you to adjust the settings locally, and has an alternative adjustment UI in the _Advanced_ tab.

[1(ClearType tuner page IE only)]http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/Step1.aspx

[2(Download page for ClearType Tuner PowerToy)]http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypePowerToy.mspx

[3(Microsoft's ClearType page)]http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypeInfo.mspx