Re: Win98 -- no big deal
Windows 98 Features Not So Much New
By CHARLES PILLER, Times Staff Writer
latimes.com;
Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95, the operating system used on more than 90% of the world's computers.
Um, I think Piller better check his references. Win 95 is most definitely NOT 90%+ total computer penetration.
"This is not a must-have upgrade for anyone," said Steve Fox, editor of PC World magazine. "If it's delayed, it's hard to see any particular effect on consumers or businesses."
I agree with that -- for Win98 buyers. On the other hand a delay would be pretty painful for the PC supplier chain who've geared up for the demand spike ...
According to Fox, most PC vendors would provide a free Windows 98 upgrade coupon ...
Yeah but what he DOESN'T say is that a "free" upgrade only gives you the software itself. You would still have to install it. Having installed about a dozen Win98 machines, my experience thus far has been that 98 goes in easier than 95, but not materially so. OS upgrades are not now and should not ever be something casual PC owners/users have to deal with. For these people waiting until they can buy a rig already outfitted with 98 is a much better proposition. Basically I think it breaks down into two factors:
1. Most PC owners (both consumer and business) are not in a big hurry to upgrade existing machines, or acquire new ones.
2. Most PC owners would be better served by avoiding any OS upgrade process by waiting for a preinstalled rig.
However these effects do point to a demand spike when 98 does come out.
Many businesses plan to bypass Windows 98, instead upgrading to a new version of NT due late this year or early in 1999.
Hmm, I wonder how Piller defines "many" ... does that mean "more than three"?
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