January 12, 2000

Loving/Hating Windows 2000

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What are the things you most like about Windows 2000? What are the most welcome (or most needed) improvements over NT4 and Win9x? Join in the discussion!

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Fred Langa is a senior consulting editor and columnist for Windows Magazine. Fred's free weekly newsletter is available via subscribe@langa.com. You can contact him at fred@langa.com or via his website at http://www.langa.com.

By Fred Langa

First impressions are lasting ones. Based on late betas, I've already developed a list of likes and dislikes about Windows 2000. (You probably have, too.) In this column, I'll focus on five things I like a lot about the new operating system, and in the next column, I'll tell you the five things I most dislike. As always, I welcome your feedback and input--your likes and dislikes about the long-awaited upgrade--in the discussion area.

Five positives:

1) Speed and Stability
Raw speed is nice, as far as it goes, but merely being fast isn't enough. A system that runs and crashes at lightning speed is hardly worthwhile. Likewise, a system isn't very useful if it offers rock-solid stability but is as sluggish as the proverbial molasses in winter. But Windows 2000 offers speed and stability--and that's a welcome combination.

Even in beta, Windows 2000 is noticeably faster than NT, and it seems significantly faster than Windows 98, too. In fact, Microsoft claims it's up to 40% faster than Windows 98. In any case, Windows 2000 performs admirably on relatively inexpensive Celeron-class systems with 64 Mbytes of RAM or more.

As for stability, Windows 2000 has reduced the need for reboots after system configuration changes, has better protection of kernel-mode writes, and has a new driver-verification tool that should help prevent errant third-party drivers from introducing instabilities.

NT was already more stable than its Windows9x cousins; Windows 2000 ups the ante and looks as if it will be the most stable Windows ever.

2) Better Hardware Support
First, Windows ships with a wide range of drivers and should install on a wide range of hardware of reasonably recent vintage.

Second, it finally catches up to Windows9x in its support for current hardware standards such as power management and plug and play. Now, mobile workers and notebook users can get the most from their systems, and everyone can enjoy the power savings and environmental benefits of systems that correctly power down (and back up again, such as with "Wake On LAN" events) when they're supposed to.

3) Software Support
There's a ton of Windows 2000 software in the pipeline. Plus, the operating system also runs all the existing 32-bit Windows NT applications, making this an additive rather than substitutive process. (No, Windows 2000 doesn't support the 16-bit applications that could run under NT; the backward compatibility has to stop somewhere.)

Beyond the raw counts of applications, Windows 2000 also supports current software technology standards. One example: It ships with an MP3 music decoder.

4) Easier Setup
Items 2 and 3 allow Windows 2000 to install and work easily on a wide range of existing systems--even if Microsoft's claim of a "three-click upgrade" is perhaps somewhat exaggerated. But beyond just getting the basic system to install and run, Windows 2000 makes some once-convoluted setup options, such as multiboot configurations, fairly straightforward. Setting up TCP/IP networking is easier, too, with Windows 2000's Internet Connection Sharing service--a lightweight proxy server with support for dynamic IP addressing. This vastly streamlines the process of getting Windows 2000 systems on a LAN for shared Internet access.

5) User Interface Improvements
Say "improved user interface" to most people, and their eyes will start to glaze over. But say "reduced training and support costs," and you'll see those eyes snap back open again.

While some of the user interface changes seem, well, gratuitous, others clearly are intended to reduce inconsistencies and avoid confusion. Prime among these is the way almost all control options are logically aggregated into the control panel rather than being scattered among control panel and various submenus and property sheets. The new user interface changes can even assist novices. For example, there's an animated log-on screen that shows users how to click a mouse.

Yes, there are far more than just five things to like about Windows 2000, but in these early days of living with the upgrade, these are the ones that seem top of mind to me. Next column, I'll tell you my five top-of-mind negatives.

But what's your take? What are the things you most like about the new operating system? What are the most welcome (or most needed!) improvements over NT4 and Win9x? Join in the discussion!

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