Windows Millennium Edition

Q: What is Windows Millennium Edition?
A: Windows Millennium Edition was the last release of the Windows 9* operating system. It is designed solely for the home user.

Q: What will be new in Windows Millennium Edition?
A: Not a great deal is new in Windows "Millennium Edition" despite the hype that is sure to come out around its release date. Here are the basics from the Press Release Microsoft sent out.

• "Digital Media and Entertainment" Digital media is becoming increasingly popular, as illustrated by the exponential growth in areas like music on the Web and digital photography. The Consumer Windows Division will focus on enabling users to take advantage of all this new content, making it easy to access, play/view and store as well as providing an enhanced PC gaming experience.

• "Online Experience" Providing consumers a premier home online experience is a primary goal for the Consumer Windows Division. This means ensuring consumers can easily connect to the Web, locate desired content and determine which content is right for their family.

• "Home Networking" With more than 15 million households now owning two computers and the cost of new PCs continuing to fall, as well as the many intelligent hardware devices being created, networking at home is becoming a reality for more people. The Consumer Windows Division will work to simplify the process of connecting multiple computers in the home, enabling them to share information and an Internet connection, and provide the infrastructure for connecting different intelligent devices to the PC.

• "It Just Works" The Consumer Windows Division is committed to providing consumers with a solution that 'just works,' from the moment a user starts their PC and throughout their daily computing experience. This promise will be delivered upon by the advancement of the PC's self-healing functionality, in addition to providing a simpler set-up and a great out-of-the-box experience for new computer users.

There are a number of other new features such as the following:

• Universal Plug and Play: Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) defines an architectural framework for creating self-configuring, self-describing devices and services. It enables seamless connectivity and communication between Windows and intelligent appliances in the home, office and everywhere in between.

Q: What can we expect to see in Windows Millennium Edition that will make us upgrade from Windows 98?
A: The major plus points are a much faster booting time (30 seconds for some new users) and far great stability.

Q: If I am a games player, should I go for Windows 2000 or wait for Millennium Edition?
A: Defiantly wait for Windows Millennium Edition for the simple reason that it is designed for the consumer thus is more adept at games playing.

Q: Will my games run faster and smoother on Windows Me compared to Windows 98?
A: No, even though Windows Me ships with a newer version of DirectX 7, there is little speed increase in any game we have tried out, the main difference is stability across all fronts.

Q: I hear that MS-DOS has gone, how will I run some older programs like Scandisk etc?
A: MS-DOS isn't gone, its just harder to get too. Just create a Windows Start Up disk and you can easily get to MS-Dos. Programs like Scandisk no longer need to run in Dos if there is a bad shutdown, Microsoft has improved the program to run when Windows restarts.

Q: Is the version of Internet Explorer 5.5 in Windows Me older than the final released to the public?
A: It seems so. Installing Windows Me over Internet Explorer 5.5 final keeps the newer version that you downloaded.

Q: Does Windows Millennium Edition support dual processors like Windows 2000 does?
A: No - Windows Me is still based on the Windows 9* core and the first consumer edition of Windows that will support Dual Processors will be Windows Whistler (Windows 2001)

Q: Where can I find more information?
A: Microsoft's Windows Me site.

Q: I have Windows Me - is it advisable to upgrade to Windows XP?
A: Yes without a doubt we wholly recommend upgrading to Windows XP and as you are a Windows Me user, we recommend that you purchase Windows XP Home Edition for your PC.