- Platform: Windows 98
- Media: CD-ROM
System Requirements
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Product Description
Amazon.com Review
With the cutely named Windows Me (for Millennium Edition), Microsoft raises the bar a bit with a new operating system that you'll certainly want to consider for your next new PC. While this version will probably not be a compelling upgrade for most Windows 95/98 users, the newest member of the Windows operating-system family bundles a number of minor improvements aimed at making computing life easier for home users. This upgrade version is a special offer from Microsoft and can be purchased only by those who currently run Windows 98.
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, improved user interaction, 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, such as DirectX, graphics accelerators, in-game chat, and more.
Using Windows is now even safer with new features like System Restore, which quickly restores 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, HomePNA, 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.
Notes:
- This upgrade requires a licensed copy of Microsoft Windows 98.
- Many products from Symantec released prior to the 2001 line (i.e. those without 2001 in the title) are incompatible with Windows Me, and must be removed or upgraded to the 2001 version prior to attempting to install Windows Me. Please see Symantec's Web site (www.symantec.com) for further product compatibility information.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Zenith of DOS, plus USB support!,
This review is from: Microsoft Windows Me Millennium Edition (CD-ROM)
Why I like Windows Me and still use it in 2011:
-It has USB support which Windows 98 doesn't. Modern flash/thumb drives that you buy at Rite Aid or the grocery store will still work on it. -It doesn't require any "product activation" codes (Microsoft's permission) every time you install it. You buy a copy of WinME, and you can install it on tons of computers without Microsoft being aware of it. -It's cheap and easy to fix. Old Hardware is dirt cheap too. -There's still plenty of cool, up-to-date free software. DeepBurner, ImgBurn, 7-Zip, XnView, IrfanView, ClamWin Antivirus, Tiny Personal Firewall, Sygate Personall Firewall, K-Meleon web browser, SeaMonkey, Opera 10.63, etc. -You can play all those ancient DOS games (I love those), Windows 3.1 games (forgotten little masterpieces), and even QBasic Gorillas and Nibbles (okay, those games suck!), but still. -Most importantly, by still using this ancient operating system you won't be participating in Microsoft's racket of "Forced Obsolescense." You know, where you have to buy a new computer every 3 years because you need the next version of Internet Explorer. Good grief. -Security through obscurity. What's the Windows ME market share these days? Less than 0.01% of all internet users. Nobody writes viruses for it anymore. You're in the clear. -You can be cool like me.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Snappy OS for old hardware,
By
This review is from: Microsoft Windows Me Millennium Edition (CD-ROM)
With all the updates applied this OS is quite usable and runs very quickly on old hardware. It has low requirements and still offers more modern features than Windows 98.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Upgrades are never as good,
This review is from: Microsoft Windows Me Millennium Edition (CD-ROM)
Generally speaking, to get the best performance from any operating system a clean install of a full version is recommended. The best choice is to choose a full version of the product and enjoy the benefits of not being left with artifacts and leftover's of your previous operating system which can lead to instability in certain cases. I would only buy this on a limited budget.
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