Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

There are several noteworthy features in Windows Me, even if no one feature really stands out. First, we liked that Windows Me boots noticeably faster. The reason is that the underpinnings of DOS have been removed from this new release. One result of this absence is that you can no longer boot to a command window as in Windows 95/98 without special diskettes. (Also, don't expect Windows Me to support older hardware that uses virtual device drivers written in the days of yore.) Of course, you can still run DOS command sessions within Windows Me.

Besides removing legacy support for DOS, Windows Me adds several other improvements to reliability. The most important is that every 10 hours or so, the operating system automatically backs up its system files (just like Windows 2000), thus reducing the chance of your system being corrupted. Windows Me also borrows the TCP/IP stack (the low-level code that connects to the Internet) from Windows 2000, meaning you should have slightly more reliable networking connections. For laptop users, you can also hibernate a session and restore it quickly, another feature borrowed from Windows 2000.

The personality of Windows Me also changed a bit for the better. Principally, you can take advantage of personalized menus, which show the most frequently accessed menu choices on the Start bar and hide the others. (This feature is also based on Windows 2000, but don't worry, you can turn it off.) Internet Explorer 5.5 is bundled here; so is support for working with compressed Zip files, which no longer require an add-on.

Microsoft has been touting the multimedia capabilities of the new Windows Me. There's a built-in video editor for video files, and the operating system makes it easy to connect to today's video cameras, scanners, and digital cameras. But without built-in support for Real Media files, these features probably won't please everybody.

So what's the verdict on Windows Me? Provided you have recent hardware, there are some good reasons to upgrade, but most users will want to stick with their current OS. If you are buying a new system, by all means choose Windows Me instead of Windows 98. Even though it isn't a major release for most users, Windows Me shows that Microsoft has done its homework when it comes to improving the computing experience for consumers. --Rich Dragan

Amazon.com Product Description
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition is a home operating system featuring digital media, an improved user experience, enhanced home networking, and a rich Internet experience. Windows computing offers extras like the Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker, and it supports the latest in gaming technologies like DirectX, graphics accelerators, in-game chat, and more.

Using Windows is now even safer with new features like System Restore, to quickly restore your computer to a previous working state, and System File Protection, providing built-in safeguards to prevent accidental deletion or overwriting of key system files. This operating system even updates itself by automatically downloading the latest enhancements from the Web.

The included Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and Outlook Express afford a rich and full Internet experience. Take advantage of simple desktop-based tools to import photos from scanners and cameras, then organize, print and share them. Newly enhanced support of home networking includes step-by-step directions for setting up shared Internet connections, printers, and other peripherals, with full support for Ethernet, Home PNA, and wireless networks. Need help? Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition now offers a centralized location to find comprehensive and easy-to-use help--the Windows Help Center.

Note: This upgrade requires a licensed copy of Microsoft Windows 98.