Intro | Test System | Features | Verdict

Is Windows Me ready to steal the Windows 98 crown?
Microsoft's Windows Millennium (Windows Me) is still under development, it has reached the Release Candidate 1 stage and Microsoft is hoping to release the product possibly in the 2nd quarter this year. Release Candidate 0 landed in our labs last week, and we thought it may be interesting reading for our readers to have an in depth analysis of the new Operating System. Release Candidate 0, does have some changes but the main features at this stage including the look and feel are normally set in stone. However, Release Candidate 1 does incorporate some of the 'bug fixes' and a new "Welcome to Windows" that is run when the user enters Windows Me for the first time. We describe the new features, and question whether you really need to upgrade, or just sit this one out until the next release.

Introduction
Some of you probably have not even heard of Windows Millennium, and those of you that have, probably know very little about it. This is the first major update for Microsoft since releasing Windows 98 for the consumer market. Microsoft claims Windows Me will be a significant release for home users, and works towards simplifying the computing experience. This has been a phrase that's been touted by Microsoft for the last decade, and as such is it not time for Microsoft to transform the OS marketplace and deliver a truly 'user friendly' solution for consumers. In comparison the PC platform has reached the Giga stage in a relatively short period of time, while the only significant offering from Microsoft has been the change from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95. Windows 98 was what Windows 95 should have been. Microsoft is a company with vision, and has the ability to deliver an operating system that should not require any technical intervention from users, but must provide a total 'out of the box experience'. Why should users have to put up with infamous 'blue screens' emitting messages that send die hard techies scrambling for their reference books to find a solution, or reinstalling Windows because the dealer can no longer find a solution to their customers problems.

Microsoft's Windows Me was followed with announcement for the demise of Windows 9x line, once a consumer version of Windows 2000 - codenamed Whistler has been launched. Close sources to Microsoft inform us this will be the merging of the two operating systems - possibly, is it necessary to merge the two? We feel not; the business market has a specific need that possibly does not extend to or even matches closely the consumer requirements. As Microsoft has clearly defined Windows Me as a significant release for home users, we feel Microsoft will have two Operating Systems for both the home and business sectors. Ignore the rumours of merging. Microsoft has been know in the past for moving goal posts. At this point, we are only concerned with Windows Me and whether it is going to be the answer to all our current prayers?

Our test system
We used the following configuration to test Windows Me using a clean install & upgrade versions:

Configuration test
CPU:	Intel Pentium III - 500Mhz - 512k - 100FSB
Motherboard:	Abit BE6-II - BX Chipset
Memory:	64Mb SDRAM PC100 - 7ns
HDD:	Quantum Fireball LCT10 - 20.4GB UDMA66 5400rpm
FDD:	3.5" 1.44Mb - Panasonic
CD ROM:	48 x Creative
Video Card:	Diamond Viper 770 AGP 16Mb
Sound Card:	Creative PCI128
Modem:	Diamond Internal 56i SST Soft Modem
Keyboard:	Keytronic
Mouse:	Ms Mouse Defender - 2 button

What are the new features?
Windows Me shares the look and feel of Windows 2000, however you will be forgiven if you think there are no changes from Windows 98. The changes are subtle, as you navigate and spot the changes in the desktop icons, Start menu, and extra options within the Control Panel. You need to go to core of Windows Me, and you'll find new features and many little enhancements that make Windows Me stand out from the crowd and yell "Buy Me".

The changes fall into three main categories. Firstly, Microsoft has added features to make the OS faster and more reliable, but should you bolt your Windows to the ground a neat restore system will allow you to turn back the clock to recover. Secondly, Windows Me makes home networking and Internet connections, using wizards, a breeze. Finally, digital imaging and multimedia has had a complete facelift, by facilitating the grabbing of images from digital cameras, making your own movies, and turning into streaming audio and video. This provides ample evidence to confirm the arrival of Windows Me into the 21st century.

System Restore - (see figure 1)
A feature that should have been included a long time ago, we appreciate consumers may lap it up; Windows support personnel will applaud it, as this was one area that demanded the most support. Ever installed a new ISP and messed up your modem installation? Downloaded a file and bolted your systems registry to the ground? Sound familiar? Guess what? you can now use system restore to step back to an earlier setting without loss of current work. Not bad eh! You can create your own restore points (called system checkpoints). We were actually able to test this facility and it worked perfectly. Nice touch, it's been a long time coming.

Automatic Update - (see figure 2)
A facility allowing updates for latest drivers/patches when you are connected online.

Help & Support Centre - (see figure 3)
A slick presentation is followed by prompts to guide you through your support issues, and also help you understand how Windows Me works. This section is ideal for the beginner without previous knowledge of Windows, it was difficult for us to evaluate the Support Centre as in the version we had, the support shell was completed, but the contents were yet to be determined. This centre will be the main Help engine and will be the starting point for any technical support the user requires. This inclusion seems to signify Microsoft has finally accepted responsibility towards supporting their client base, as opposed to passing the buck to their respective Microsoft OEM's, particularly when the problem reflects an inherent Windows bug!

Digital Media & Entertainment - (see figure 4 & 8)
This has to share top billing in the Windows Me features list, with the easy to use Windows Media Player 7, with a database called Media Library allowing you to store all your downloaded MP3 files, organise your Audio, WAV's, Video files into one source. The best part has to be the facility to allow you to rip your own CD's copying them to your hard disk in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. This coupled with Windows Movie Maker, which allows you to bring together various media files and assemble them into movies, which in turn can be delivered as streaming media. Windows Media Player is Microsoft's first program that is skinnable, (see figure 9) allowing you to change the programs appearance. Only a few skins are currently available, but you can be certain more will follow in due course.

The Online Experience
Windows Me will enable consumers to connect up to the web, coupled with new Internet Explorer 5.5. ( see figure 10), for fast rendering of pages and to locate and determine the desired content.

Home Networking - (see figure 5)
The phrase 'Windows for Toasters' was coined when Microsoft announced plans to embed its operating system into domestic appliances. Many of us did not take Microsoft seriously, always a dangerous sign, the phrase became a joke, Microsoft's Home Networking brings this reality a step closer, as it provides a component called Universal Plug and Play enabling connectivity and communication between Windows and intelligent appliances. In not to distance in the future your refrigerator will be activated intelligently to track what needs to be ordered by means of a minimum level, trigger off the your order via your Windows PC through the internet to your favourite chosen supermarket and have your goods delivered to your home. Pie in the sky? remember you first heard on One2Surf. However, what constitute appliance goes a lot further than your Fridge, something we shall have to discuss at a later stage. Home Networking in Windows Me is provided to make connectivity easier than was previously available. This it does requiring no technical expertise. The support aspects for Home Networking are covered by the Network Troubleshooter and are easy to follow - (see Figure 6).

Windows Boot Up & Shut Down - (see figure 7)
During our labs we tested the shut down and boot up times for the new Operating System. Microsoft claims the boot up can be achieved in 30 seconds, depending on your system configuration. Our timing tests were carried out on an upgrade version and a clean installed version of Windows Me - Release Candidate 0. The upgrade version returned a score of 36 seconds and the clean install version returned a score of 31 seconds. Not bad at all, so how did Microsoft achieve this? We have a theory, and it's only our theory - In the old days of Windows 3.1 it used DOS as a boot loader, and in the most recent Windows, ver 95 and onwards DOS is used as a Virtual machine inside its shell and not the other way around as most of us think, this is known as Real Mode DOS, which the system uses to boot. So, when you select to go to MS-DOS mode what you are really doing is loading Real Mode DOS. Windows Me however, removes this support creating a more reliable environment, and in turn loads and shuts down much quicker, because the legacy DOS mode can be ignored. Does this pause any problems? yes it may, to start with you will not be able to use any Real Mode drivers that are in your Autoexec.bat and Config.sys, so you are going to end up not being able to use some of your older hardware, unless of course, they conform to the new Windows Driver Model (WDM). This also applies to any software that requires total control of the system, as these will not operate either.

Our Verdict
We reviewed Windows Me - Release Candidate 0, however Release Candidate 1 was out two days after we completed the review and incorporates some of the 'bug fixes' and a new "Welcome to Windows" section. It really is far too early to make a prediction as to whether consumers should form a queue outside retail chain stores to purchase the first upgrade version when the OS is out. However, the OS has some nice touches over Windows 98, but currently it's in the same shell, except for the changes mentioned earlier. The OS is currently not on sale, but should it have been we would have advised new PC buyers to ensure it's bundled with their PC, as regards to upgrading the price would have to be competitive to ditch your copy of Windows 98. We shall keep you abreast of further developments as and when they occur. Keep checking.

Back to top