by Linda Ritch
Published in the January 2001 issue of microCHIP
I was a little apprehensive about installing Windows Millennium Edition (Windows ME) on my computers. First of all, my desktop is fairly new and running smoothly. I decided it was best to leave well enough alone. I wanted to review Windows ME, so my next option was my laptop. It was just as important, but I felt I was able to reinstall everything on it easier if all failed.
Anxious to get started, I inserted the disk and was soon greeted with a message to disable my GoBack software if I wanted to continue. I did as instructed and disabled Norton Antivirus as well.
The installation went very smoothly with no other problems. I waited patiently for the machine to start Windows ME for the first time. I was greeted with a new sound and a new look to familiar icons. The desktop looks and feels very much like Windows 9x. Windows ME uses the same Desktop interface as Windows 2000 Professional. After some use, the Start Menu remembers the most frequently used programs and shortens the Menu to those programs. This is a feature that users of Microsoft's Office 2000 are already familiar with. You can still access the other menu items by clicking on the down arrow, thus expanding the list.
There are several new improvements to Windows ME. I will discuss them briefly and give my own experience with them. First is the System Restore. This allows users to "roll back" their PC software configuration to an earlier time when things worked properly. This can be found by using Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools and System Restore. I didn't test this feature (yet) but it looks very easy to use. You can also find System Restore by clicking Start and then Help. The Help window has a new layout that makes it much easier for beginners to use.
Another new feature is the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA). This helps users to transfer their digital images from digital cameras, scanners or other WIA compliant devices. I found this very easy to use. Windows ME easily recognizes most cameras and scanners. As soon as I plugged in my Kodak 260 camera via a USB port, it found it immediately. I could view my photos and choose which photos to upload onto my hard drive. Although my Kodak camera came with Picture Easy software and does the same thing, I had a much harder time getting it to work properly.
Windows Movie Maker provides tools to digitally edit, save and share home movies. Windows Media Player, version 7, is an easy to use way to play digital music. These are both new features, although you can download Media Player from the Internet without having Windows ME. I liked the Media player and have already downloaded new "skins" for it from the Internet. Skins are "covers" so to speak that change the look of the player.
Windows ME includes new games that you can play with others on the Internet. While logged on to the Internet, choose either Internet Hearts, Checkers, Backgammon, Reversi or Spades and play in real time with others via the MSN Gaming Zone. The games also include "chat" to communicate with other players. MSN Gaming Zone can also be used with or without Windows ME by logging on to www.zone.com.
Windows ME is built on DOS code but no longer includes the real-mode DOS that let Windows 9x restart in MS-DOS mode or boot to a DOS prompt. A benefit of this change is that DOS windows and full-screen DOS boxes under Windows ME are snappier than in earlier Windows versions. Advanced users, however, will have to cope with Windows Me's inability to load device drivers or Memory-resident utilities listed in the Config.sys or Autoexec.bat files used by earlier versions of DOS and Windows. If you want to use Memory-resident programs in DOS windows, they must either be launched manually or from a batch file that you create and list in the Properties tab of the MS-DOS Command Prompt shortcut.
I had a smooth transition to Windows ME with no problems. I like the new features and small learning curve from Windows 98. I have my computers networked together. The server has Windows 98 SE and the client Windows ME. I have not experienced any problems thus far. I will continue to keep my current operating systems as such. I would like to hear from others with different views and experiences with the upgrade. I would recommend doing a clean install rather than an upgrade and, of course, if (or when) buying a new computer choose Windows ME. For the review however, I used the upgrade version installed over Windows 98 SE. I would like, at some future time, to change my laptop to Windows 2000 Professional. If I ever do, I'll write another review.
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