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Windows Operating Systems

How are Windows xp, me, 2000 different from Windows 3.1, 95 and 98 in general?

Systems Operating Windows

There are many, many differences. First the way they operating system is actually engineered is quite different. They way they handle security, etc. On a machine earlier than NT/2000/ME, anyone could access the PC. All they had to do was turn it on. The newer OS's require a login name and passord.

You can have each user set their desktop up differently. Assign certain access rights to particular users for specific directories, etc. Windows XP and Windows 2000 are more stable than earlier versions as well. They don't crash as often. Windows XP is very stable. Windows ME is terrible. I believe it is the worse OS Microsoft has released to date.

Windows Operating Systems Gaming Video & Issues Computer

A classification can also be made of Home Operating Systems vs Business Operating Systems. Win95, 98, ME and XP Home fall under the Home Operating Systems and usually come with software that supports use in a home environment. Win NT, 2000 and XP Pro are business Operating systems and support networking applications and business apps better. Now, having worked in Tech Support for 5 years now, I have seen many businesses attempt to use some of the traditional home OS' for business use because of the cost factor, but it is usually not a good idea to do so.
I will also make an argument for WinME and say that it is not the best OS out there, but is far better than Win95 and 98 were, and so is not the worst either. ME should not be included with the likes of NT and 2000 because there is no secure logon process like those OS' have. I have had WinME on my home pc now for 3 years and havent had much of a problem, so I will vouch for its stability. I agree though that Win2000 and XP are the most stable OS' available today.

Systems Operating Windows

I have often wondered if I should upgrade to XP since it does not run a lot of 95/98 software. I use ME now and really have not had problems with it so I am not convinced that I need to upgrade. What can XP have that makes it better than ME?

Systems Operating Windows

Good question; I have the same dilemma. I hear how bad WinME is but I haven't had a major issue with it. In fact, its System Restore feature has already saved my butt on a couple occasions. I don't see the need for me to personally upgrade because of this, and the only reason I considered it was because of the consensus in the IT community that XP is far superior. Until I run into a major bug or failure with WinME, I will probably stick with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Windows Operating Systems

If you're referring to basic home use,, word processing and so on, not a lot really. I've used both and am currently using ME.

XP Home Edition is big into making the computer a "home entertainment center" and is designed for things like gaming, DVDs, and digital photography. An example of this is it's "Digital Media" enhancements with WinXP plus. Using that you can use basic voice control with the Windows Media Player. While this is cool, it's just glitz and not really an efficient use of Operating System software. If none of that appeals, and you're having no probs with ME, I'd stick with that.

Plus (on my machine at least) XP takes a lot longer to boot up than ME, and for underpowered machines it takes a LOT more system requirements than ME, and, when installed, it takes a lot more hard disk space than ME.

There is some older software (especially older MS-DOS stuff) that won't run under XP, although it has a "Program Compatibility Wizard" which you can run to try and "fool" your older Windows-based program to thinking it's under Win95/98. While I did have some success with that, it is hit and miss and frankly it's a pain to have to run it to make software work under a new system that worked fine under an old system.

One selling point of XP (albeit a shallow one) is that it looks different. A lot of people like it's supposedly "Contemporary" appearance (maybe it remnds them of the Macintosh OS), but at the end of the day it's just a skin.

Also a plus, in my experience it IS a lot more stable than ME, but again, if that doesn't affect you and your ME is stable enough for you, then why spend $100 if you don't need to?

Windows Operating Systems

Windows ME is a cross breed between the New Technology and the old technology. The biggest improvement from Windows ME to XP is the NTFS file system. NTFS allows for file level security and allows for file level encryption. As you can see, security was a big upgrade for XP.

Other features include much greater hardware and software compatability. Hardware plug and play is realized the way that it was truly envisioned. Rarely is there ever a hardware device that you even have to know that its being installed. Most hardware is installed seamlessly behind the scenes.

Simplified log in, fast switching between users, and new easier to use interface make Windows XP the better operating system by far. Security has been simplified also. Windows service pack 2 for XP includes a new Windows firewall, and new Windows spyware remover. In this same update, a new windows update program and a new anti-virus program checker are installed.

Multi-media support for movies, music, and pictures has been upgraded so that almost every format available has built in support for its standard. Direct X 9 add greatly improved support for gaming.

This is just with XP home, if you choose to run XP Pro, you get the added benefits of Remote Desktop Protocol, multi-processor support, dynamic disk support, built in fax support, and IIS. Formerly IIS was only on server editions of Windows, now it can be used on workstations at home or office!

Package in 64-bit support, Active Directory compatability, Encrypted File System, and full networking support, you get an operating system that far exceeds that of Windows ME. Its faster, better looking, and has three times the built in support and functionality of any Windows Operating system before it. You should definitely upgrade. But remember, find the system requirements before you do, ME needs decidedly less resources to run efficiently than XP.

Windows Operating Systems Computer Issues & Video Gaming

Thanks for the insight konquererz, but most of the features you have touched on are really not that viable and useful to the average home user, which is why I would suggest to them that they stay on ME instead of going to XP. The built in firewall in SP2 has proved to be more of a nuisance in my experience than a help, and I detest the fact that SP2 installs and enables the firewall as a default feature. In my line of work, making changes as a default feature is taboo, because generally there is no warning, and then other applications start failing or exhibiting strange behavior. I have had more than one situation where the now enabled firewall in SP2 has caused problems with existing applications, especially network applications. Really this is more of my problem with Microsoft as a corporation than anything else, but I will stick to my philosophy of keeping it simple and sweet, and stay with ME for now. Thanks though for the insight!