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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dave who wrote (49271)	9/14/2000 9:39:23 AM
From: nnillionaire	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

From today's WSJ Interactive: interactive.wsj.com September 14, 2000 It's Not You, It's 'Windows Me': Microsoft OS Still Needs Work By WALTER S. MOSSBERG Q. I read your negative review of the new Windows Me operating system, but I'm in a dilemma. I'm shopping for a new PC, and the ones I've seen have this Windows Me installed. Am I safe buying it? A. Though I advised against upgrading to Windows Me, I said in my review that I assumed a new PC with the new operating system installed wouldn't have any problems, and might even be more stable than if it used Windows 98. However, I didn't test any new Windows Me PCs, and since then, I've seen and heard of a few problems on new computers. For instance, the other day, officials of a major computer maker came to my office to show me some new models with Windows Me pre-installed, and the built-in Windows Media Player refused to run. Such glitches aren't uncommon with new versions of Windows, but I just don't have enough data on manufacturers' Windows Me installations to tell you if there are more serious issues. Q. I was about to upgrade my Windows 98 system to Windows Me, in hopes that it could stop the constant crashes I have experienced. But, after reading your critical column on Windows Me, I don't know what to do. Should I wait for the new home version of Windows 2000 you say is coming next year? Should I buy Windows 2000 in its current form? A. It isn't easy to figure out what to do. In general, I suggest most consumers wait for the new consumer version of Windows 2000, which is code-named "Whistler" and is due in 2001. Windows 2000 is far more stable and reliable than Windows 98 and Windows Me, because it's built on an entirely different underlying code base. And I assume that stability will carry over to Whistler. However, if you are plagued with constant crashes, you can't wait for Whistler. If you don't do anything too flashy with your computer, you might consider switching to Windows 2000 now, before it's "consumerized." But I only advise doing that if you're prepared to buy a new PC. Upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows 2000 can be a real ordeal. If you're not keen on buying a new Windows 2000 machine, I think you're stuck. You could stay with the devil you know, Windows 98, or roll the dice with the devil you don't, Windows Me. Maybe your luck with Windows Me will be better than mine.