Windows 98 is Finally Shipping

There is no simple answer to the Windows 98 question. Many pundits and users are skeptical of the need to upgrade from a system that finally works to a brand-new, untested operating system with mostly hidden charms. An online survey by ZDNet in late April 1998, shows that 63percent of respondents said that " it's a way for Microsoft to earn income from bug fixes." This cynicism derives from the frustrations of millions of users with Win95s flaws and idiosyncrasies. What Microsoft touted as an easy to use and easy to maintain operating system has had problems that required countless bug fixes and several major maintenance releases. It is quite common for a Win95 machine to crash at least once a day for inexplicable reasons.

The relative lack of hype from Microsoft (the master of event marketing) makes it seem that Microsoft itself lacks a bit of confidence in the product. My sense is that this ambivalence from the Gates' crew derives from the fact that Windows 98 is an orphan product. Although there will certainly be bug fixes and maintenance releases for Windows 98, Microsoft will crown Windows NT as the ultimate solution for all users by 2000 or 2001. However, that certainty doesn't solve our computing problems in 1998 or 1999.

We agree that Windows NT is the ultimate operating systems solution from Microsoft--and that it is appropriate for many users today. But for many small businesses, it is overkill. Moreover, the user-friendly version of NT may well not appear until 2002 or 2003, given Microsoft's track record for delay.

Windows 98 probably does make sense for many business users, mostly for what's under the hood. Like a more powerful, efficient, and trouble-free engine, the merits of Win98 may not be obvious just from looking at it. Although there is a new interface which can be replaced with the now familiar Win95 look, what's most compelling about the new product is seen at the nuts and bolts level.

We'll focus on a few key elements of the new operating system and give you a quick list of pros and cons. Once we have examined the shipping version, we will provide a more comprehensive review.

Windows 98, unlike NT, does not require a bulked-up PC to operate. In fact, if you are running Win95 successfully, you will probably see a performance improvement. Here's the minimum recommended configuration:

-- 486DX/66 or higher processor

-- 16 MB or more RAM

-- 125 MB available hard drive space

-- CD-ROM drive (unless you want to load a million floppies)

One of the most important practical improvements in Windows 98 is its support for USB (universal serial bus). You probably already have a USB port on your PC, if you bought it after mid-1997. USB enables you to daisy chain up to 128 USB-compatible peripherals from a single port on your desktop or portable. For those of you who have gone through IRQ hell trying to add just one more device such as a new modem or a digital camera link, you know how valuable this can be.

There is one major new element, Windows Update, which Microsoft is touting as a wonderful feature. Windows Update will automatically download and install new version of Windows, MS applications and other software and drivers.

In my opinion, this is problematic for individuals and those responsible for managing PCs. Experience shows that many early updates are flawed and will leave you worse off that you were. And flawed or not, you simply may not want a newer version. When you have several PCs in an organization, this process can create a wildly diverse set of configurations that make for a management nightmare. Happily, this is a feature that can be turned off.

Another controversial element of Windows 98 is its tight integration with the Internet through its browser-like user interface and its integrated browser (Internet Explorer 4.0). The idea is to create a seamless environment between your PC's hard drive and files on the Internet. Like the browser it requires a single mouse click for most activities. For many users these changes may not be an improvement.

Moreover, the U.S. government is hotly contesting this integration as an anti-competitive effort by Microsoft. It is possible that Microsoft will be required to unbundle the browser. That eventuality would cause a major delay in shipment of Win98.

**Reasons why an upgrade makes sense:

-- Win98 fixes countless Win95 bugs

-- Win98 uses disk space more efficiently with the new Fat 32 file system

-- Win98 loads applications more quickly

-- Win98 is relatively less crash prone

-- Win98 supports new technologies already in the latest PCs, such as USB and DVD

-- Win98 supports thousands of new drivers for accessories such as monitors, printers, and scanners

-- We may be waiting a very long time before a real consumer version of Windows NT is available--a minimum of 2 years and probably 3 to 4 years

**Reasons not to upgrade:

-- The first version of any Microsoft product is usually more pain than pleasure

-- Win98 is a dead-end. Eventually you will need to move to WinNT

-- You are using DriveSpace to compress your hard disk. This is not supported in Win98

-- Win98 doesn't support Microsoft Fax so you cannot fax directly from your computer without buying WinFax Pro or the equivalent.

-- You don't have at least 16MB of RAM and 125MB of free hard disk space

The Bottom Line: Microsoft has worked very hard to come up with a more reliable and responsive operating system and has succeeded according to most reviews of beta versions of Win98. This alone might justify an upgrade, but without more real world reports of the shipping version it is impossible to determine whether you would be better off trading in the devil you know for the one you don't. Windows 98 is almost certainly an improvement over Windows 95, but there is no need to rush out and buy it.

Remember, the pioneers are the ones with the arrows in their backs.