Windows ME is cool

You know, I'm getting tired of everyone kicking Microsoft.

And I hate myself for it.

Oh, I know it's a massive monopoly, stultifying the computer industry and Billy Gates probably has wild ideas of world domination (as if Steve Jobs doesn't). But it seems that every time Microsoft releases new software, media pundits feel obligated to trash the product.

You're seeing that right now with the September 14 release of Windows ME. All of the experts are saying that the new operating system is not much of an improvement over Windows 98, that it's a performance dud, that it's not even worth a $69 upgrade, etc. etc. etc.

Well, frankly, I like it. And I'm upset by that because I really don't like Microsoft that much (although I don't abhor it as much as Apple) and I hate to be on the side of the overdog.

But I still like ME.

And even worse, Windows ME is a unabashed demonstration that Microsoft is continuing to code even more applications into its operating system. Those Redmond rascals are doing this despite a court judgement finding the company guilty of breaking anti-trust laws to demolish Netscape by including a web browser in Windows. The U.S. Supreme Court is soon to hear a Microsoft appeal against that ruling, and Windows ME seems like an attempt by Microsoft to pack as much stuff into the OS as it can before that ruling is made.

BUILT FOR THE HOME

Windows ME - short for Windows Millennium Edition - is designed for the home computer user. The more robust, and frankly superior Windows 2000, released earlier this year, is slated toward the business user but does not have all the flash and whiz (especially game support) that Windows ME offers. The main "code-level" difference between the two operating systems is that Windows ME is the last of the DOS-based Windows systems. Windows ME will still use DOS applications in DOS windows, but it's been obvious for some time that the writing on the wall for DOS. I sort of hate to DOS go, because I still believe that the command line interface is the most powerful tool you can use - if you know how to use it. And yes, it's a cool way to impress people by typing in cryptic commands and getting results.

Oh well, I guess there's still Unix.

Windows 2000 is based on Windows NT code, and because of that, is inherently more stable than Windows ME. However, that's not to say the home-user version is unstable. On the contrary, (Jeepers, suddenly I sound like a lawyer.) it is one of the most robust systems ever offered by Microsoft for the home market. I've been playing with the OS for several weeks, first as an incomplete Beta version and then the full release, and I've only brought up the old "blue screen of death" when goofing around with the new Media Player. (I think we can soon expect one of those famous Microsoft "service packs" on that one.)

Otherwise the overall system has remained secure and the Cntl-Alt-Del application termination has left the system intact. And that's because Windows ME borrows some code from Windows 2000. The TCP/IP stack, that little whizmo that connects to the Internet, comes from Win Two Grand, as does the system's desktop interface. But don't be fooled into believing Win Me is Win 2000. It's not and it's clearly not designed for pickle-heads like me who try to run 42 applications at the same time.

Besides improved stability, there are two very impressive facets of Windows ME that have sold me on the system (if the price is right and we'll get to that later). The help system has been vastly improved. There are system wizards that help with just about every piece of hardware you need to install. Hopefully your old drivers will work with ME, but if not, manufacturers are busily churning out new ones. And the help system is actually helpful, which should be a delight to Windows neophytes who are tired of plaguing the neighbourhood computer guru with panicky telephone calls every night.

I'm sure the gurus will like it as well.

The second big improvement is in system protection services. Windows ME backs up crucial files in the background every 10 hours of computing time, taking a sort of snapshot of the system. If the computer crashes, a system restore wizard will guide the user to resetting the computer back to this former state. Old documents and e-mails won't be affected, but damaged system files will be repaired.

This is great news for goofs like me who are always stupidly deleting critical files by mistake.

A file protection feature, similar to a Win 2000 nicety, works in the background to prevent applications from damaging DLL files. And an automatic update feature will download newer versions of system files in the background and then asks you to install them.

ALL THAT FLASH

While this is the kind of stuff that makes Win ME better than Win 98, it's not what most consumers will notice. There are a number of changes that, as mentioned before, seem to fly in the face of the legal system's attempts to stop Microsoft from bundling extra programs into its operation system.

One such change is the Media Player, which seems to have somehow taken many of the attributes found in many third-party media-playing programs like Winamp. The player works with most standard audio and video formats (except for RealMedia) and is configurable with various "skins" and rhythmic video displays. The Media Player may look cool, but as I mentioned before, it seems to have more bugs than an Amazon picnic. It managed to crash the system every other time I used it.

ME comes with the ability to scan images and download pictures from digital cameras. The Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) wizard leads a user through creating and managing images and if your digital camera is WIA compatible, you can preview images without downloading them. Of course, if you have a scanner or digital camera, you already have software that came with your new equipment that does this stuff. But what the heck, Microsoft tossed it in anyway.

They also tossed in the Windows Movie Maker which records video from an attached camera or imports existing files and allows editing - just like some pricey high-end video editing software systems. The first time I tried Movie Maker, it also fried my system. It could be up for a downloadable patch sometime in the future. Again, the Movie Maker works with all standard video files except RealMedia.

Just about every home computer user has second computer lurking around somewhere. The home networking system has been revamped with a networking wizard that takes you step by step through setting up a network, including file, printer and Internet sharing. Win ME networking allows connection to computers running either Windows 98 or Windows 95.

The internet browser, Internet Explorer 5.5, hasn't undergone much of a change, except for a cool print preview option. Otherwise, it's still the same old program.

THE TRADEOFF

Finally, there is one major failing in the new OS. All that file protection stuff seems to take a toll on the overall performance. Several testing labs have found that Windows 98 actually runs faster than Windows ME. There may be a bit of a trade-off here, if system stability takes precidence over speed.

The full version of Windows ME is retailing at $279. The upgrade from Windows 95 is $129 and from Windows 98, $69 - a short-term offer that ends in January. If you buy a new PC, more than likely, it will come with Windows ME. Upgrading from Windows 95 makes sense. The mere $69 it take to move up from Windows 98 may be tempting, but keep in mind that a lot of the flashy stuff in Win ME, like the media player, IE 5.5, NetMeeting, etc. is available by download. I would probably spend the money, simply because I like to have the newest OS available.

But then, I might want to wait a while and see what Microsoft comes out with next - a highly anticipated consumer-based version of NT currently under development codenamed "Whistler". That OS is supposed to also introduce Mr. Gates new .Net vision in which software will be delivered to consumers by subscription through the Internet rather than off the shelf.

I wonder when software venders will start calling their lawyers?