win 2k vs win 98se

[Jerry Smith]

For home use, email, word, some excel - no games or dvd kinds of things, are
there advantages of win2k over win 98se? Thanks

 

[Chris Knapp]

Stability & Security are the 2 main reasons. Since I've switched to 2k/XP, I
can't imagine going back. They both run every business/productivity program
I've tried. But even more important, they don't crash. Plus I can keep my
desktop, programs, and file secure from my kids. I can lock down security at
the file or folder level so they don't delete anything. Takes a bit of work
but once you know how to do it, its worth the effort.

 

[Dan Seur]

W2k offers much better reliability, security, and integrity. However,
its hardware requirements are stringent.

While W98 may crash fairly regularly, depending, it'll run on older
hardware and it's probably available very inexpensively if you nose around.

 

[Marc Reynolds [MSFT]]

For home use you should consider Windows XP Home or Professional Edition
over Windows 98SE or Windows 2000.

--

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Rick]

I'll consider WinXP just as soon as Microsoft drops its silly
and pointless WPA. If they don't drop it by the time Win2K
is end-of-life'd I'll be dropping their products entirely and
moving to Linux and BSD.

Rick

 

[Chris Knapp]

Spoken like a true software thief. Have fun with linux . . .

 

[Rick]

Spoken like a true brainwashed corporate droid.

It's none of Microsoft's business what I do with my own
computer hardware. It's got nothing to do with theft. If it
did have something to do with theft, and if casual piracy
was this huge boogeyman Microsoft claims it is, their
revenues should have skyrocketed when XP/WPA was
released.

It didn't happen. Not even a little.

So what's the point? Well, the point is people like you.

Look, it's bad enough Microsoft was found guilty by three
different courts of illegally maintaining their monopoly, now
they're trying to set it in concrete. Ain't gonna happen.

Rick

 

[Warren C. E. Austin]

Spoken like a true software thief. Have fun with linux . . .

I must agree with Rick, too; and therefore in your eyes I must be a software thief as well; this not-with-standing that I currently license several copies of Windows'NT Server and Workstation 4.0, a dozen or more of Windows'98 SE, half-a-dozen or more of Windows'2000 Professional, and for the time-being ONE ONLY of Windows'2003 Server Enterprise Edition. I threw away half-a-dozen copies of both Windows'XP Home and Professional, and refuse to even allow either on one of my boxes. This latter situation arising from continued Windows'XP instability, and diminished security and privacy. The WPA thingy was just another annoyance; especially when I was having to re-install the OS every other day or so on at least four of my machines. Ironically when I reverted those same machines back to Windows'2000 none of those problems again manifested themselves, and each reverted machine has been running for well over a year non-stop with no difficulties. I license 2003 for testing purp
oses only, and unless Microsoft does abandon the WPA, I will not ever again be upgrading beyond the Windows'2000 level. I incidentally refuse to use any Microsoft application which does employ WPA, holding licences for several products which I will not ever upgrade until it is abandoned there too. Similarly, I will NOT EVER accept internet only delivery, and licensing of my OS, or applications either; if I cannot buy it at retail, from a local source within my neighbouring community, I won't be buying it.

Warren C. E. Austin
Toronto, Canada

 

[Chris Knapp]

I'm not brainwashed, but I am a corporate droid. ;-)

WPA fails because Microsoft allows License Media to be released without WPA.
I can install XP from a media set til the cows come home. Until they fix
that, they won't be recouping much in the way of $.

And I don't think Microsoft has any care what you do with your hardware any
more than any other software vendor does who asks you to submit a hardware
survey when ever you register a piece of software. have you installed a
piece of game software recently? They all want my computer's life history
when I register. Not sure why you'd object to that. Everyone cries "Security
& Big Brother." It always seems to me the ones who want the most privacy
have the most to hide.

From personal experience, I used to find Office 2000 & Windows 2000 CD's
"missing" from our locked filing cabinets at work all the time. Everyone
knew you could install it anywhere anytime. But since we switched to XP, I
can leave the CD's on my desk and they won't go anywhere.

So, until you are a victim of software theft at a business that you are
responsible for, I wouldn't expect you to understand.

Yes, I have also used Linux and OpenOffice. You know what? They stink
compared to Win/Office XP. In my opinion they are at the level of Windows
3.1 and Office 4.

Either way, no worries and good luck to you.