Bill is Laughing...hard
Jul 06 '01
The Bottom Line Judgment call. W98 in full dress, approximately $60. Windows XP who knows, ME send me a check, and 95 if I have to but upgrade and patch like crazy.
While most of us benefit daily from the power of computers with a Micro Soft O/S it is also evident that there are the downsides. What I will focus on is what platform makes sense for the average personal computer user. I'd also add that I am not a computer expert but I rely heavily on the information that is easily exchanged through the use of a PC.
As a consumer, my initial exposure to a Windows platform was with my Dad's MAC. Having long been exposed to DOS and to software written for this platform, I have to say that when I saw Windows in action I knew that the computer illiterate population would jump all over it. The beauty of Windows is and was 'point and go'.
Some people who have been computing BW (Before Windows) may feel like I do, Windows is like giving a perfectly healthy person Multiple Sclerosis. Ok, maybe that is extreme but remember when a 40MB hard drive was vast? The space that a present day Windows operating system chews up is staggering.
Easiest to navigate and work around for the general population is Windows 98. The benefits are numerous and I will highlight the key benefits.
1. Widespread platform support- most hardware and software will function with a 98 O/S
2. Plug and Play- When a new component is added to a system with a 98 O/S more times than not the component is detected and loaded with drivers on boot-up.
3. Restore- A feature that previous Windows versions don't have. The use of 'restore' is a great way to save a system that is experiencing glitches. Select the start button and
then select help and type ‘Restore’ in the search box and you will be amazed at what can be put back in working order with the restore feature.
4. Complete- When you first start using the 98 O/S you will find that there are more features built in than previous versions and not as internet dependent as the ME platform.
5. DOS- while the majority of computer users are not too concerned about running DOS programs 98 allows the use of DOS programs freely where other versions don't. Sure there may be a series of prompts that you need to sort through but in the end the program ultimately will run.
When something works it should be refined and tweaked not thrown out.
Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000 are very close in their performance and this is a system that is optimally used by large networks, businesses and organizations but for the typical PC user it does not lend itself to user friendliness. The file system is VFat 16 so when it comes to space it uses more space and will run fewer programs. NT/2000 unlike the Windows for Workgroup version of 3.1, will not run DOS applications reasonably or at all.
Windows ME, while I have owned a copy for several months, I can honestly say that it is an obnoxious operating system. When I first installed my ME system into my network I found that it wanted to reveal less information to me than was reasonable. It took the role of "Father" far too seriously and always wanted me to check this or that online and when you asked for a reprieve from incessant pop ups it would just fire more at you. Music that I purchased in CD form that I installed on my hard drive became inaccessible with out getting a license from some web-based agent. Couldn't ME see that I had the receipt? This system would best be renamed Windows PO, Protection Overkill. I have retired this system to the bench and it serves only as a testing system for components and is no longer able to get an online connection for verification of anything, it is lucky to be alive.
The future is upon us as the XP platform is due out. Code name "Whistler", no doubt for its resemblance to a powerful detector, this O/S is very user friendly. My experience was limited to the Beta version but a couple of friends and I pooled a bunch of far out programs and went install crazy. What a system this will be but I am afraid of the cost and the damage it could cause to the market, where so much out there is geared to W98.
Xp is fast and unlike the previous versions of Windows there is no "in order to run this...restart.." pop up. When we installed a data base software that used almost a gig and it ran right from the icon as soon as it was loaded. WOW! The final proof will be in the test of durability. As most of us now know that reloading Windows from time to time is necessary, the XP O/S has a maximum limit on reloading and also has an online registration timer built in that requires its registration within a specified time table or the program will be useless. So as time unfolds and users get geared up we will eventually get the real dirt, but for now the money is best spent with W98.
Bill is still laughing with his buddies. "Man didn't we get a bunch with that ...vxd file missing stuff. Can't wait till they see the 'you missed registering your copy of Xp by .003 seconds, please contact your system retailer or Micro Soft for a new license', that'll fry a bunch".
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Member: Gene
Location: Cowhamsha
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