The biggest software story of 1998 is likely to be the release
of Windows 98. Millions of PC owners will upgrade to this advanced
operating system. The question is, should you?
Microsoft has enhanced Windows 98 in four ways: complete
Internet integration, higher quality, a new generation of
entertainment functionality and support for the latest
accessories.
None of its new features are showstoppers, but Windows 98 has a
grab bag of improvements. Of these, integration with the Web is the
key. Microsoft has woven Internet Explorer throughout the Windows
fabric. Windows 98 lets you customize screens to resemble Web
pages, with toolbars that include Back and Forward buttons.
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Channels and subscriptions are new Internet features built into
Windows 98 to quickly deliver information. When you set up a
channel, you're creating a link to a Web site. The site
"pushes" information to you across the Net. A typical
channel might display a ticker tape of stock prices or a weather
map on your desktop.
A subscription lets you visit sites and download
information at scheduled times. For example, you can subscribe to
your competitors' sites; Windows 98 checks the locations
regularly and transfers any new pages.
Windows 98 also helps you establish yourself on the Web. Its
Personal Web Server turns your computer into a low-volume Web
server and gives you the administrative and security tools so you
don't need an ISP.
Another Internet aid is Outlook Express, an integrated e-mail
and newsgroup reader. It can retrieve mail automatically from
multiple addresses and feed it to multiple folders.
Another area where Windows 98 shines is maintenance. Its Disk
Cleanup utility warns you if less than 3 percent of your drive is
free and helps you delete unnecessary files. ScanDisk runs
automatically if it detects something wrong--for instance, if you
shut your PC down haphazardly. Disk Defragmenter optimizes your
applications' speed. You can use the Tune-Up Wizard to run
these three checkups periodically.
Windows 98 starts up and shuts down faster than Windows 95.
It's smart enough to skip operations that may have caused it to
fail before. It has a utility to convert your hard drive to FAT32
(a scheme for dividing a large drive into smaller segments) and can
save you lots of space.
Windows Update logs you on to Microsoft's maintenance Web
site from the Start menu. It downloads the latest drivers and other
components to keep you up to date.
All told, Windows 98 is smoother, cleaner and more Net-savvy
than Windows 95. True, if you already have Internet Explorer, you
won't need many of its features. But for those not yet on the
Internet bandwagon, Windows 98 may be your ticket to ride. Upgrades
for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 users retail for about $109.
(Warning: Before loading Windows 98, be sure you have at least
200MB of available disk space. This operating system, like its
predecessors, is a space hog.)
Robert Schmidt is a computer and business writer in Culver
City, California.
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