[WEB4LIB] Windows millennium edition (ME)

[Richard Wiggins]

Microsoft's company line has been that Windows ME is the new, modern version of Windows for home use, and Windows 2000 (one of the several variants) is the new, modern Win for business use.

Unfortunately that is cookie cutter advice, and one size does not fit all.  Just last Friday I had to basically prick my thumb and bleed on the invoice to convince the campus computer store sales clerk that I *really did* want to run Windows 2000 Professional at home and would take responsibility for my actions.  As far as she was concerned, it was impossible (if not illegal and immoral) to run Win 2000 at home.

So I wouldn't make a blanket assertion that Windows ME is right or wrong for home.  I'd look at the features and see if they are useful for what I want to do.  The video editing and home networking support may be useful to some people.  In fact if they get it right I expect the home networking pieces to be VERY popular.  There may be small businesses that benefit from ME and there may be home users that are better off with Win 98 or Win 2000.

The warning about DSL in the article Julie references doesn't seem as explicit as she implies, but a net search shows Pac Bell and other DSL providers warning lack of support for ME currently.  So if I had DSL or a cable modem I'd check with the provider before going to ME.

ZDnet has previously pointed out that many of the incremental features of ME can be obtained by starting with Win 98 SE and running Windows Update and downloading all the goodies.

Here's another cautionary piece on ME:

http://www10.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/07/circuits/articles/06pete.html

/rich


------Original Message------
From: Julie James <JJames at lva.lib.va.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: October 30, 2000 4:51:23 PM GMT
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Windows millennium edition (ME)


PC Magazine has some ongoing articles about ME, recommending that if you are
buying a new computer for *home* use, get ME, but you might want to wait if
you're upgrading, especially if you use a DSL connection.

several pages here
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/pipreviews/0,9836,176419,00.html

Julie

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: web4lib at webjunction.org
> > [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Tami-Jo M. Eckley
> > Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 9:11 AM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject: [WEB4LIB] Windows millenium(?)
> >
> >
> > Forgive me for posting something a bit off-topic but this group
> > is so knowledgeable and accomodating.  I am in the market for 2
> > new computers - one for my home and one for my husband's store.
> > He heard that windows ME was something to avoid - which doesn't
> > bother me - I'll stick with windows 98 happily but it seems that
> > all the new computers (we were looking at DELL) come with windows
> > me and no option to select otherwise.  Is this really the case
> > and is windows me really to be avoided?
> >
> > --
> > Tami-Jo Eckley
> > Electronic Services & Media Librarian
> > Manhattanville College Library
> > Purchase, New York 10577
> > http://www.mville.edu/library
> > Tel:(914) 323-5274
> > Fax:(914) 694-8139
> > ______________________________________
> >
> > --
> 
~~~
Julie James
Technology Consultant
The Library of Virginia
804/692-0800  
jjames at lva.lib.va.us
Richard Wiggins
Consulting, Writing & Training on Internet Topics
www.netfact.com/rww         wiggins at mail.com
517-349-6919 (home office)  517-353-4955 (work)  
______________________________________________
FREE Personalized Email at Mail.com
Sign up at http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup