Windows Me Review
Continued from Page I
Multimedia
Windows Me has a great focus on multimedia. It comes with tons of multimedia-focused enhancements. Many of these multimedia enhancements are build around the new WIA architecture: Windows Image Acquisition. Windows Me also includes video editing software named 'Windows Movie Maker'. With this new easy-to-use tool users will be able to capture videos from any supported source (the only requirement is to have a TWAIN compliant device) like a VCR or Web cam. WMM is a nice product, but you have to wonder why this product is included in an OS. Looks like another potential court case for illegal product bundling.
Also included is Windows Media Player 7. This multimedia player can now play CD Audios, retrieve track and album information over the Internet and copy entire Audio CD to your hard disk with just a mouse click. Media Player also plays MP3, AVI, WMA, MPEG files and many more! Be warned though, WMP7 is a resource hog, and can't be removed from Me (you also won't be able to choose not to install it). Sounds familiar? (hint: Internet Explorer).
Networking
Windows Me now includes a wizard to help you set-up a home network. It also supports Internet Connection Sharing, first introduced in Windows 98 Second Edition, which lets you share a single Internet connection with the other computers on your home network.
Windows Me also includes a new TCP/IP stack which should offer increased performance.
Gaming
Windows Me comes with additional games, however the old games like the solitaire, minesweeper and freecell are included as well. Also included is the spider solitaire of Plus! 98. Windows Me now includes several multiplayer Internet oriented games: users can play over the net through the MSN GameZone with computer or human opponents.
Windows Me also let you change controllers, controller ID's and setup voice chats in games easily.
Conclusion
Windows Me is a nice OS. Nothing more.
If you have a PC older than around 6 months, I wouldn't suggest you upgrade. The only things that really make Windows Me worthwhile is it's enhanced support for Multimedia. For some the 'System Restore' function could be of use, but generally I would suggest you stay with your current OS.
If you really want better stability I suggest you take a look at Windows 2000.
If you are running Windows 98 SE, and you have $59.95 burning a hole in your pocked, you can take advantage of Microsoft's (time) limited upgrade offer.
We have already had many reports from people with problems when they upgraded to Me. Specially if you do a clean install, as Windows Me includes fewer drivers for your hardware.
If you get a new system, get Windows Me pre-installed, your vendor will make sure that only supported hardware is used, so Me should work fine.
You can find the Microsoft Windows Me Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) on the Microsoft FTP site