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Features:
* Enjoy the added functionality of Windows Media Player 7 and Windows
Movie Maker * System Restore quickly restores your computer to a
previous state * Operating system updates itself by downloading the
latest enhancements from the Web * Rich Internet experience from
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and Outlook Express * Full support of
home networking, including step-by-step directions With the cutely named
Windows Me (for Millennium Edition), Microsoft raises the bar a bit with
a new operating system that youll 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. 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,
dont 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 dont 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. Theres a built-in video editor for
video files, and the operating system makes it easy to connect to todays
video cameras, scanners, and digital cameras. But without built-in
support for Real Media files, these features probably wont please
everybody. So whats 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 isnt 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.
System requirements:
* 150 MHz Pentium or faster processor (300 MHz or faster needed for
using Windows Media Player, 400 MHz if using a digital video camera) *
32 MB RAM (64 MB needed for using Windows Media Player) * 270 MB hard
disk space for typical installation (includes 100 MB average for backup
files during installation; total may range from 220 to 410 MB depending
on system configuration and options selected; additional 4 MB required
for each stored song if using Windows Media Player) * CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive * DVD-ROM drive and a compatible DVD decoder card or DVD decoder
software (if using DVD-ROM functions) * Monitor with VGA or higher
resolution * Sound card with speakers or headphones (compatible audio
and video capture devices also needed if using Windows Media Player,
which also supports portable audio player) * Mouse * 28.8 Kbps or faster
modem (or fax modem) and an Internet service provider (for Internet
functions; Internet access may require a separate fee) * NOTE: 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 Symantecs web site for futher product
compatibility information. |