Differences Between Win98 and Win2k?

[Salvador]

Hi,
I'm strongly considering purchasing Win2k and dumping Win98SE. I wanted to know a few things about Win2k before I took the plunge though.

First of all, is the Win2k GUI similar to Win98? I'm asking because I share a work computer with my dad and I don't want their to be any problems with him trying to work in Win2k. In other words, he's not that great with the computer and I want it to be something he can handle.

Can anybody give me any drawbacks for going with Win2k over Win98? I've heard that Win2k is much more stable, but I've also heard that for home use, I should stick with Win9x.

I heard that there was limited software available to Win2K. Is this true? Will I have a difficult time finding applications to run on Win2k?

TIA,

Sal

 

[duragezic]

There has been a lot of threads about this so try searching. But I'll answer your specific questions:

Yes, the GUI is similar. Some of the settings and configurations are in SLIGHTLY different spots but my desktop looks the same as in 98 except different in icons.

Drawbacks? Compatibility would have the be the biggest one. MS has a compatibility list for hardware and software that is officially supported. And although win9x/me is for the home user, I think win2k is great for the power user. It's so much more stable, I found it to be faster too. All of my software and hardware worked fine in win2k. When I was dual-booting, I could run several applications from the win98 partition through win2k and it still worked fine. There is also a compatibility mode option which supposedly allows you to run non-compatible software but I haven't used that (haven't needed to!). Make sure the manufacturer of your hardware and peripherals has win2k drivers though.

Limited software... well again all my software I used when I had win98 works fine in win2k. I have service pack 2 and the compatibility updates so that might've helped. I *think* that if the application isn't full 32bit then it won't work in win2k but most programs are or have been updated to.

I'd check the compatibility list, check for win2k drivers, then I'd dual boot win98 and win2k. I did that for a few days and since everything worked great I got rid of 98.

 

[Salvador]

Thank you! I tried a search and kept on coming up empty. There was some information on ME vs Win2k, but not much. There must be something up with the search engine because I tried to pull up a couple threads on one of the other forums (cases and cooling) that I knew that I saw before and it never came up in a search.

Anyway.. Thanks again!

Sal

 

[armypants]

win2k is great youll never go back after you use it
90-95% of programs that work in win98 work in 2k everything ive ever tried works
only bad things is no sound in dos and you lose 1-2 fps

edit:the gui is almost exactly the same there are just a few options moved around but its all there and then some

 

[ProviaFan]

One other advantage of Windows 2000 (since it is based on Windows NT) is that it can use the NTFS file formatting system. This means that, if you give your dad a regular user account, the system won't let him mess it up; in other words, he won't be able to accidentally end up in \Program Files\Microsoft Office and delete WINWORD.EXE. The system will tell him that he doesn't have permission to do that.

 

[Salvador]

Hehe.. That's a better feature for when my mom wants to play with the pc.

If it looks about the same, I think I will just go ahead on get it. My dad only does a few things in the computer like Word and websurfing mostly. I don't think he'll notice the difference. 😉

Thanks for all the replies!

Sal