Windows Millenium Edition ~ What's the big deal?
Written: Aug 21 '00 (Updated Jan 30 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Greater stability, more multimedia features and system restoration ability
Cons: It is not crash proof as claimed by many
The Bottom Line: WindowsME is a great operating system with added functionality and greater stability but if you are running Windows98 and are having no problems it's best to leave well enough alone.
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| Gr8ful's Full Review: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Media Only) ... |
This newest version of Windows is catered to the home user in the same style as Windows 95 and 98. It recognizes more peripherals and is a fair improvement over the previous versions of Windows but what is all the hype about and why do many people claim it is crash proof? Although I have to admit there are fewer crashes, Windows ME is far from crash proof.
I recently obtained a final release of Windows ME and decided to upgrade from Windows 98 SE. The installation was flawless and with my particular computer took less than 25 minutes to complete. After the initial boot up, which takes a few minutes longer than normal for Windows to set up the hardware and locate drivers, I was entertained with a neat little video on the improvements of Windows ME. At first glance, it looks just like Windows 95, 98 and 98 SE.
Two of the improvements of Windows ME are the addition of support for digital cameras and video devices, and improved plug and play. They also added a Scanners and Cameras folder in the control panel for quick access to imaging devices and a My Pictures folder in My Documents to contain images. With the addition of Windows Movie Maker, you can get your videos into your computer from your digital or conventional camcorder without the need for third party software.
They added new desktop icons for My Computer, Network Neighborhood and the Recycle Bin. They also changed the name of Network Neighborhood to My Network Places. Microsoft also added multiplayer internet games to the original games that come with Windows 98. These are Backgammon, Checkers, Spades, Reversi and Hearts. These are games designed to play over the Internet.
One of my favorite new features is the System Restore. This feature works similar to the Go Back software by Adaptec. If you have Windows ME, you don't need to buy any other system restoration programs. If your computer starts to malfunction due to software conflicts or corrupted data, you can litterally go back to a configuration when your computer was working correctly and unlike the Go Back software, you won't loose any personal data or work by doing this. I have tried this feature and it works wonderfully, but I still recommend backing up your data on a regular basis... just in case.
While all these new features are great, the claim that Windows ME is crash proof is just plain wrong. Since I have installed the new operating system, I have had three lock ups and several blue screens of death. I will admit that most of the blue screen crashes I have encountered, I have been able to continue normally. This is a major improvement over Windows 98, but there have been a few that were fatal enough to have to power down and reboot. Windows ME recovers from the blue screen of death better than any Windows operating system in the past but it is definitely not crash proof.
Windows ME has no DOS base like it's predecessors and this is mainly why it is a more stable operating system. Unfortunately, this is also why it is not compatible with many software titles and drivers. There are known issues with some printer (the Canon BJC-2100 printer drivers for instance) and scanner software, drivers and compatibility issues with certain hardware devices. Some Winmodems do not perform correctly or do not function at all with Windows ME.
Although these are headaches for the users who run into these compatibility issues, the operating system itself is still better than it's previous versions. Many of these issues are already being taken care of and most are solved by a simple downloadable patch. Before you decide to upgrade, I suggest checking the Windows ME web site to see if there are known bugs with any of your peripherals or software.
The operating system is worth the $49.00 (special limited offer upgrade)for Windows 98 and 98 SE users or the $89.00 it costs to upgrade from Windows 95, 98 and 98 SE and I do recommend Windows ME for all home users and multimedia junkies. It is the best operating system with the most compatibility for home use and stability has been greatly enhanced. Even with that said, there is no reason to rush out and upgrade. If Windows 98 SE is working fine for you, then there is an old saying you may want to adhere to... "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Recommended:
Yes
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