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I've used 'em all -- Linux, BeOS, DOS and all the
various incarna-tions of Windows (including Win-dows
286). And, while I can sympathize with Webmaster
Dave wanting to stick with tried and true Win98SE,
it may be time for him to get his head out of the
sand!
Notice he doesn't tell us how many times he's suffered
through the agony of getting "the blue screen
of death" using 98SE. That doesn't happen with
Windows XP. Nor does he tell us how often he's had
to reboot because 98SE has hiccuped on new hardware
or software it doesn't like.
I've found XP -- Professional and Home -- to be
the most stable operating system to come out of
Redmond to date. It's easy to use, set up, configure
and, yes, uninstall. In fact, XP reduced the time
it took for me to set up my wireless home network
from several agonizing hours (using 98SE) to only
a few minutes. Plus a forced compatibility module
(not available in 98SE) allows me to install older
hardware without a glitch.
And, despite the rumours, registering it to work
with my computer (which is also a Pentium III/800)
only required me to let them know what country I
was registering from. No names, addresses or phone
numbers (unless you want to give them) required!
Result: A veritable picnic without the the fear
of spam!
Now, facing reality, with all picnics there have
to be a few bugs. And, as has become a tradition
with every computer software com-pany, XP is far
from bug free. But the Boys from Redmond have been
pretty good about posting updates and patches that
can be automatically downloaded and installed as
soon as you connect to the Internet or can be downloaded
from the company's Win XP update website.
If stability is a major concern and you're sick
of staring at the "blue screen of death"
every time you make a change, this is the answer
to your prayers.
As for Linux and those other OS wanabees (here
I go enciting those Linux terrorists again), they
have a long way to go before they can attract the
"home" or "average" PC user.
Linux's big problem is ease of use and versatility.
Linux developers are so busy making it an anti-Windows
product, they're forgetting about appealing to the
main stream. Compatability is the key! And, don't
be surprised if some of your Linux software doesn't
work with all of the versions of the OS due to "minor
changes in code" that makes you opt for RedHat
rather than Mandrake, etc. |
While it is a new year, some things never change.
I'm still running Windows 98SE on my PIII 800mhz
system.
Now, despite what Mighty Mike says, I am right
when I say that Windows 98SE is the OS of choice
for the home user.
If I happen to be wrong then I can always come
back and edit the column because I am Webmaster
Dave.
Nonetheless, here's why 98SE is the way to go:
- It's easy to use.
- It's easy to install.
- It runs Diablo and Diablo 2 without complaining.
- It doesn't slow down over time like NT and Windows
2000.
- I've tried all the others including several
flavors of Linux but Windows 98SE stands strong
as being among the best of what's out there.
Windows NT and 2000 are notorious for slowing down
after using them for a long time -- even after defragging
and doing all that other computer tech stuff you're
supposed to do in order to keep your computer running
up to snuff.
They also won't run many games because of that
enhanced security garbage. To speak somewhat technically,
it takes a bit more work for a computer game written
for Windows 9x to work on NT or 2000. Neither OS
has direct access to the video card. Without this,
games won't run unless game makers take the extra
time to code this into their games. This hasn't
happened last time I looked and I wouldn't expect
it to happen anytime soon.
Windows XP hasn't released their first service
pack so I don't plan on trying that out anytime
soon. And the fact that I'm forced to register it
makes it even less appealing. The last thing I need
is more spam.
Linux? Well, what can I say about Linux other than
the support isn't there and it's too difficult for
most. It also doesn't run many of my favorite video
games although that Nibbles game is pretty darn
neat*.
So, unless Microsoft comes out with a Windows 98TE,
I'll sitck with what I've got: A rather speedy PIII
800mhz system with 128mb of RAM, 40GB hard drive
with cable modem attached. *insert grunt here*
* Nibbles is a game where you control
a snake and try to capture items on the screen.
The snake grows after each item that's eaten. The
game ends after you run into yourself or into a
wall. |
