Windows (Makes) Me (Yawn)

[ixl]

Has this been the most boring new OS launch from MS in years, or what? Even on CNN they were struggling to find anything good to say about it, and even mentioned that few existing Windows users will find much to compel them to purchase it.
Of course MS will "sell millions of copies" -- all through give-away licensing deals with OEMs. Yawn.

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Charles M. Kozierok
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...
Note: Please reply to my forum postings here on the forums. Thanks.

[ReddDogg]

I am sorry charles, but I disagree. I find Me so far for me to be a much improved operating system in the area's that I want it to impove the most. The feature I love the most thus far is when you are updating or installing drivers from a cd, it scans the entire cd, so you don't have to point to the folder the driver is in. the system restore feature is wonderful... I know, not a new technology, but it is nice how it is integrated into the os, it makes complete moron users with no clue on how to buy or install a goback program have that capability at their finger tips. Also, walkin people though problems over the telephone, Me is alot quicker to get you to search screens and to properties screens than previous winders. I like the fact that it seems to have less internet connection issues, only thign it didn't do was improve the drivers for periphals as far as I can tell, while it does support them, the drivers dont' have any improvement whether they are the winders defaults or they are the manufacturers released drivers.

I hear the arguements about it needs a newer system for install, but anyone not running more than a 200 processor is running in the dark ages, and if they don't have any computer better than that in their midst, they either don't need a computer period or they are too cheap to go get a better one, because for 300 dollars you should be able to find a 300 with 64 megs of ram, which will run Me just fine and dandy, I have it on 3 systems of that range, a PII 300, a AMD K6 333, and a Celeron 366. I have too many computers, but I can't see selling them when they are of that quality, I will lose money on them. I know, not good logic, but anyway.

I love Me, I have only one system that it seems to have any problems wiht, that is the K6 333 system, it seems to slow down to a standstill after about 4 days, but I of course dont' havea store bought edition of Me, and it is the only system I didn't download the updates for yet, so I will have to try taht and see if that takes care of that problem or not. Other 3 computer haveing no problems.

By the way Charles, if I am the first Geek Adept, I am very honored. I only wish i was as knowledgable and well paid as you, and I would love to have a job that takes up all my time if it was something similar to yours. Obviously you work about 16 hours a day, I can tell, and the quality of this site reflects that. I enjoy sitting at work scanning the forum for questions I know something about, and I enjoy even more seeing the answers to those things I don't know the answer to.



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Joe Redd
MCP

[ixl]

Originally posted by ReddDogg:
I am sorry charles, but I disagree. I find Me so far for me to be a much improved operating system in the area's that I want it to impove the most.
That's fine. People can disagree agreeably. And you've actually used it, which makes your opinion arguably more valid than mine anyway.

The feature I love the most thus far is when you are updating or installing drivers from a cd, it scans the entire cd, so you don't have to point to the folder the driver is in. the system restore feature is wonderful... I know, not a new technology, but it is nice how it is integrated into the os, it makes complete moron users with no clue on how to buy or install a goback program have that capability at their finger tips. Also, walkin people though problems over the telephone, Me is alot quicker to get you to search screens and to properties screens than previous winders. I like the fact that it seems to have less internet connection issues, only thign it didn't do was improve the drivers for periphals as far as I can tell, while it does support them, the drivers dont' have any improvement whether they are the winders defaults or they are the manufacturers released drivers.

I mean, these sound nice, but enough to spend a hundred bucks on? I just don't see it.

I hear the arguements about it needs a newer system for install, but anyone not running more than a 200 processor is running in the dark ages, and if they don't have any computer better than that in their midst, they either don't need a computer period or they are too cheap to go get a better one, because for 300 dollars you should be able to find a 300 with 64 megs of ram, which will run Me just fine and dandy, I have it on 3 systems of that range, a PII 300, a AMD K6 333, and a Celeron 366. I have too many computers, but I can't see selling them when they are of that quality, I will lose money on them. I know, not good logic, but anyway.

Now in this paragraph, Joe, I think you're limiting your vision to some extent. Remember that not everyone is a technology wonk, not everyone upgrades their machines regularly, and not everyone can spend a bunch of money to upgrade just to get a new OS. And the question is: what are they really getting for their money? Most users don't have any reason to care about system restore or driver search features, for example. Why would they want to spend money for that?

As for the "dark ages", you'd be surprised. My primary machine is a 2-year-old PII-266 notebook PC. I could run Windows Me on it I am sure, but why spend the money, go through the hassle, risk screwing up things, and then have to put up with more bloat? I just don't see the upside. Maybe you can convince me. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

I love Me, I have only one system that it seems to have any problems wiht, that is the K6 333 system, it seems to slow down to a standstill after about 4 days, but I of course dont' havea store bought edition of Me, and it is the only system I didn't download the updates for yet, so I will have to try taht and see if that takes care of that problem or not. Other 3 computer haveing no problems.

Don't worry, they'll come out with "Windows Me Too", that will contain all the bug fixes you unpaid beta-testers come up with. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

By the way Charles, if I am the first Geek Adept, I am very honored. I only wish i was as knowledgable and well paid as you, and I would love to have a job that takes up all my time if it was something similar to yours.
Laugh. You're too kind, Joe. Frankly, your career is off to an awesome start and from what I can tell, you'll have no problem doing whatever you want if you just apply yourself to it. I have to keep reminding myself of your age! I was certainly not knowledgeable or highly-paid at that point of my life, believe me.

Obviously you work about 16 hours a day, I can tell, and the quality of this site reflects that. I enjoy sitting at work scanning the forum for questions I know something about, and I enjoy even more seeing the answers to those things I don't know the answer to.

I had my doubts about starting these forums. Meeting folks like you, King Mongo, Paleo Pete and others has been a pleasant surprise (I figured I'd be answering all the questions around here for the first several months). We are all learning from each other, and that's what this is all about.

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Charles M. Kozierok
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...
Note: Please reply to my forum postings here on the forums. Thanks.

[der King Mongo]

Heh, I just built-up my mother's Dell, which shipped with ME on it. I haven't found any differences between it and Win98 other than a helluvva lot more desktop icons, more games, more screensaver options (all of the one from MS Plus!) and...uh...better wizards...*grunt*

I found this hillarious link from a local paper, tho, it's an amusing editorial about Windows ME!

I have to agree about the dated technology comment from Redd--while I, personally, would not be caught dead with an older system, I DID find a use for a decrepit 486DX I had lying around. I have friends who DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPUTER AT ALL. So, I set them up with BlueLight (Kmart's free ISP) and Netscape Mail, and they're off and running, for free! No, they won't be viewing DVD porn on those machines, but they WILL be learning how to send email and be able to get ahold of me when my phone lines is busy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

And my main gripe with ME is that it ought to be free. Most of the improvements are really patches, IMHO, and we shouldn't have to pay for them.

P.S. I'm honored that you think I'm knowledgable, Charles! I sure don't feel like it http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


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***He who eats when he is full, digs his grave with his teeth***

[ReddDogg]

I guess to a normal user, windows Me won't appear to look much different, even if you are using computers alot, unless you have to spend all day fixing problems on them, you won't really appreciate teh stability of windows Me and the neat little options.

I will note though, that when you open outlook express for the first time, it does like automatically start you into the MSN internet signup, which when you cancel cancel's you out of OE all together. Fix for that is to delete the setup for MSN from the system, and it won't do that anymore. I was under impression that microsoft was told to stop trying to do things like that.

Der King Mongo, you have alot of valuable information, dont' underestimate yourself. I don't know anyone that knows everything about computers, and I know I don't even come close, but when you share yoru information you do have with others, and they share with you, you come just that much closer.

As for old systems, I have my share of them. Heck, I have 5 working commodore 64 systems (1 monitor, 1 tv in house, so not all running at once) 2 486 computers, a p75, a p133, and then my host of computers that are above the 300 level. I love all of them, but as far as a main computer goes, there is no reason for a computer nerd to not be able to get a faster computer, I mean, they are inexpensive. I personally am disgusted with myself for having no faster than a 600 Athlon in my house, but right now I am broke, I need a better job first. In order to do that, I have to complete my final two classes to complete my second degree, and then I have to move out of the economically repressed area I live in. But that is another story...


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Joe Redd
MCP

[ixl]

Well, for a number of reasons my main machine is a notebook. I plan to upgrade to a new one soon, but inexpensive is definitely not a word that will be involved in the transition. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Charles M. Kozierok
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...
Note: Please reply to my forum postings here on the forums. Thanks.

[Son of Zeus]

"I hear the arguements about it needs a newer system for install, but anyone not running more than a 200 processor is running in the dark ages, and if they don't have any computer better than that in their midst, they either don't need a computer period or they are too cheap to go get a better one, because for 300 dollars you should be able to find a 300 with 64 megs of ram, which will run Me just fine and dandy, I have it on 3 systems of that range, a PII 300, a AMD K6 333, and a Celeron 366."

Hey ReddDogg I think these comments are getting a little personal. Obviously u feel strongly about Win Me, & good luck to u. If that's how u want to spend your money, so be it. But personally having mortgages, a daughter & all the rest that goes with it to pay for I would have to say that I can find better ways to spend my money right now. Each to their own. I bought my DX4/100 in January to access the Internet & learn about modern hardware & software as I intend to change career direction & start a Bachelor of Computer Science or Information Technology Degree in 2001.

My younger sister bought, at about the same time, a Pentium III 500MHz system. For her it was a business expense, & is therefore a tax write off, which makes it a much cheaper machine. But after comparing notes we both feel that modern hardware & software is overpriced.

For me to buy a more expensive machine it would need to be for a business to write it off as a tax deduction. If push comes to shove & I can no longer access the Internet, do email, or word processing on my DX4 then I would have to say bye, bye Internet. I have a life outside of the Net & although I enjoy the WWW I can live without it.

Rather than upgrading my PC because I am pressure by others, or because there is some stigma attached to having legacy hardware/software I will simply sell my old system for what I can get & use the Universities computers for study, research & learning.

Cheers.......Son of Zeus.

[ReddDogg]

I am sorry charles, I forgot, laptop's and inexpensive don't go in the same sentence. But if you want a 500 mhz system, with say 128 megs of ram, it is inexpensive in comparision to say, what we spend on other stupid useless gadgets sitting around the house (dishwashers, t.v.'s, vcr's, stereo equipment). Or worse, the entertainment industry (not even mentioning pornograpy in that either)... you can go to www.vidnet.com (http://www.vidnet.com) and see music videos, you can download movies from warez sites, you can get mp3's and such. Then again, I am pure computer geek now days... I play on my laptop in kitchen while cooking... man, why does my gf put up with me?

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Joe Redd
MCP