Product Reviews

At the time of writing, the first shrinkwrapped copies of Windows 98 are being shuffled onto store shelves nationwide. There's certainly been some degree of hype, both in the popular press and specialist IT titles. When compared to the wave of marketing that surrounded the launch of Windows 95, however, the 98 release has been relatively understated. In some ways, this reflects the nature of Windows 98 itself. While Windows 95 represented a dramatic paradigm shift from the old 3.x style, in the terms of the interface and the underlying technology, Windows 98 represents a gentler evolution. It was still codenamed Memphis when it first emerged in beta, but it steadily grew into what we now know as Windows 98. Memphis was conceived as Windows 95 with the Internet Explorer browser integrated directly onto the Desktop and that, in many respects, isn't too far from what Windows 98 actually is. The key question facing users and IT departments, therefore, is whether the upgrade is worthwhile.

You'll have a better understanding of what Windows 98 is like if you think of it as a kind of giant Service Pack. There are, of course, important changes in the core operating system, but that could be also said about the OEM service releases. It's also arguable that the simple act of adding Internet Explorer 4 to a Windows 95 installation makes the most dramatic change to your working Desktop that Windows 98 delivers. However, as well as adding many new features, what could really persuade experienced users, novices and IT departments alike to upgrade to 98 is that it also goes a long way towards sorting out many of the bugs, crashes and patches of instability that have afflicted Windows 95, particularly since the launch of IE 4.

Naturally, Windows 98 is bound to create some of its own problems, but that only reflects the complexity of the problems facing software developers these days. If all PCs were identical it might be possible to produce bug-free software. However, when you consider the thousands of different system combinations out there - different hardware drivers, dynamic link libraries, hardware combinations, variants of system BIOS, and so on - it's easy to see why it's difficult to write an operating system that runs smoothly and never crashes.

Nevertheless, Windows 98 isn't doing badly. At PC Pro we've installed Windows 98 on many different systems and, while there have been occasional difficulties, the vast majority of installations have gone like a dream. We've installed it over Windows 95 systems, both the original release and OSR2, and even had it happily dual-booting with Windows NT 4 Workstation. The few problematic installations have involved obscure components, extremely complex, heavily patched systems, or difficulties between plug and play and non-plug and play components.

Setup and deployment

You'll be pleased to know that the new installation routine is about as painless as it gets. You're faced with the usual initial questions, but after that it just gets on with things. The next time you have to worry about your machine will be when the installation is complete. On a reasonable Pentium system, you can expect the whole process to take about half an hour to work its way from start to finish. One departure you might notice from the old Windows 95 installation routine is that you no longer have any choice in the matter of an emergency boot disk. You're going to have to make one whether you like it or not. At least it now includes a generic ATAPI CD-ROM driver which, unless you're planning to install all the CAB files to your hard disk, is essential for any sort of re-installation.

When upgrading from Windows 95, we've been surprised at how simple the setup is. With Windows 95, there was always a rush at the end to finalise hardware settings and find the right driver disks for your hardware. Windows 98 appears to have a far higher level of hardware support built in. Sound cards, graphics cards, SCSI controllers and 3D accelerators all seem to be discovered right off the bat and the appropriate drivers installed. If the drivers aren't on the disc, Windows 98 is also perfectly prepared to use the Web to find them. The importance of this advanced plug and play implementation shouldn't be downplayed. A simplified setup is vital for Windows 98's chances as an operating system for non-expert users. The less time these users have to spend searching for drivers and configuring hardware, the more comfortable they're going to be just using their PCs and applications. Windows 98 may not be perfect but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

If you're used to employing various service patches in order to get support for AGP and USB, it's good to see that Microsoft has finally caught up with Intel and included fully functional support within the operating system. On one test system, where USB had proved impossible to configure, Windows 98 had it up and running by the end of setup. This is exactly the sort of thing that every user wants.

It's not just individual users who'll be pleased with the simpler setup sequence. Any large roll-out is going to be a serious operation, but the fact that the installation needs such a small amount of user interaction will make it that little bit easier. The only real issue is that, for those who are used to the flexibility and small footprint of a minimal or custom installation, there's no longer any choice. Windows 98 runs a default setup without asking, although you're free to delete or add whichever components you want at a later date.

Microsoft has introduced a new secure CD code for the setup program and, for once, it has a purpose apart from causing minor frustration to would-be software pirates. Codes can always be stolen or found floating around the Net, so the decision to use legal or pirated software is really only a matter of conscience. If you fancy taking advantage of the new Windows Update feature, however, you're going to need a legitimate code. The Windows Update page on the Microsoft Web site allows you to run a series of checks that wander over your system and make sure you have the latest versions of the various files and components that make up Windows 98. This means you won't have to worry about not having the right files and should ensure that Windows can deal with corrupt or mistakenly changed system files. Theoretically, this is a huge step towards ensuring the stability of your machine. The good thing from Microsoft's point of view is that you have to be a registered user before you can take advantage of this feature, and the only way to register is to use your CD code. If nothing else this provides at least one very tangible benefit for the legal, registered user.

The way of the Web

Windows 98 might not be faster than 95 when it comes to application benchmarks but it certainly feels faster in real use. This has been true from the first stages of the beta test program. Part of the new feeling of speed comes from the different ways the user interface can be set up. As you know, the central feature of Windows 98 is the integration of IE 4 to the extent that it's part of the interface and of the core OS. One of the benefits, if you like the IE 4 feel, is the ability to set up the Windows 98 GUI so that it shares the Web-based look and feel of the Internet Explorer browser. This means you get files underlined in Explorer, just like a hyperlink on an HTML page, which can then be launched with a single click rather than the traditional double. Not everyone will like this, but at least you're not stuck with it. The settings, and therefore the GUI, are very customisable via Explorer's Folder Options dialog. It's entirely possible to get the best of both the classic Windows 95 interface and the new Web styles, depending on your personal tastes.

Internet Explorer is only as intrusive as you want it to be. People with leased lines and time on their hands may happily find a diversion in (or at least some useful purpose for) Active Desktop, wonder at the continuously updating Active Channels and discover the wonders of Push technology. Others may find it a complete waste of time and a terrible resource hog. While it isn't always the case, in our experience the simple act of right-clicking on the desktop and switching on 'View as Web page' can result in an immediate, unfortunate and very noticeable slowdown.

In line with the Web-centred ways of Windows 98, the on-line help has been transformed into an HTML extravaganza. The content doesn't appear to have changed much and it's unlikely to surprise anyone. It closely resembles the usual mix of stating the obvious and bizarre mystification that many will associate with Microsoft help files.

Although members of the US Department of Justice might disagree, Windows 98 isn't particularly hostile to other Web browsers.

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We've happily run Netscape's Communicator and Navigator without anything nasty occurring. If you're one of the unlucky few who has encountered problems with IE 4 and Active Desktop under Windows 95, you'll be glad to hear that we've experienced far fewer hangs and crashes using them with Windows 98. The stability still isn't perfect and the new integrated OS couldn't really be described as crashproof, even if it's a distinct improvement. However, on systems where the Windows 95/IE 4 combination seemed to be the kiss of death after only a few days' use, Windows 98 is still running strong.

Since browsing the Web is now an integral part of Windows 98, it's only to be expected that you can also use it to create your own Web content. To this end, Microsoft has included FrontPage Express, as it did with the original release of IE 4 late last year. Express is essentially a cut-down version of FrontPage 98 (reviewed issue 38, p208), Microsoft's flagship wysiwyg Web site authoring package. The inclusion of a Personal Home Page gets first-time users on the right track straight away. The package also has comprehensive support for most Web page basics like bulleted lists, tables, fonts and forms, along with support for more advanced features such as Java applets, JavaScript, and ActiveX controls which should be enough for the slightly more ambitious.

While Express is an adequate wysiwyg editor for simple pages, it doesn't have any of the site style templates, the same range of standard site templates or, most importantly, any of the rather good site management tools that come with the full FrontPage 98 package. So, if your ambition is to create a site consisting of more than three or four pages, you'll have to invest in the full monty.

FrontPage Express, Personal WebServer and the associated Web Publishing Wizard certainly won't do any harm to the cause of Windows 98 in its core audience - the small office and home users. This group now has a simple set of tools for communication and publishing on the Web and small intranets. For high-end business users, these packages are practically irrelevant: they're too low-volume and too limited in their functionality for professional applications and aren't the sort of thing that any sensible IT manager would allow on the Desktops of users on the corporate network. They provide too much temptation for time wasting, not to mention a potential security risk.

As with the standalone release of IE 4, Outlook Express is included as the email client. While it's not that different to Outlook 98 in terms of look and feel, you can forget about the advanced PIM contact and time-management features. What it does provide is a powerful email and newsgroup editor, complete with support for HTML in email, stationery templates, digital signing and encryption, an address book and spelling checker, the ability to cope with MIME and UUENCODE attachments and support for SMTP, POP3, IMAP4 and LDAP. Of course, if you're already running Outlook 97, or if you upgraded to Outlook 98 within the free period before July, you might be annoyed to discover that Outlook Express installs by default during the upgrade process, whether or not you have either of its more powerful siblings installed already.

Networking

On the network front, the most prominent item is VPN (virtual private networking). This enables you to create private dial-in, LAN or Internet connections between your system and your network, regardless of where you are. It uses the PPTP (Point To Point Tunnelling Protocol) and this needs to be running on your network. This has been available for Windows 95 for a while now, with PPTP for Windows 95 being one component of the Dial-Up Networking 1.2 Upgrade, but many users seem to have missed this entirely. The recommended usage method is to first create a connection to your ISP and then connect to your network via the RAS Server setup on your corporate NT Server. The connection is easy to set up and use. The documentation supplied with Windows 98 is a little weak, to put it mildly. Luckily there's enough information on-line (www.microsoft.com/communications/ and the Microsoft Developer Network site) to help you on your way. For many users VPN isn't a major inclusion, but for those who need to work away from the office it could be a lifesaver. If it wasn't for the reduced bandwidth, you'd think you were still on your LAN.

Dial-Up Networking has also seen an enhancement in the form of Multilink Channel Aggregation. This is really just a fancy name for the ability to use more than one line at the same time when connecting to the Internet, the obvious benefit being expanded bandwidth and, therefore, smoother connections and faster downloads. This feature is designed primarily to let you use two ISDN lines simultaneously, but you can also use it with a pair of analog modems. However, Microsoft points out that this could result in potential serial overrun problems. The technology also requires that your ISP supports both PPP and multilink connections.

Microsoft claims Windows 98 has a faster and more reliable TCP/IP protocol. Charitably, we might say that this could take time to make itself felt and that anything of this sort is difficult to evaluate independently of the demands of individual networks. Cynically, however, we could also say that the response doesn't seem to be any quicker or smoother.

For those who feel lost without a quick burst of coding, Windows 98 will offer much-needed relief with its incorporation of the WSH (Windows Scripting Host). This is a language-independent scripting host for ActiveX scripting engines which will also appear in Windows NT 5. Microsoft will supply both VBScript and JScript engines, while third parties will chip in with engines for other languages such as Perl, Python and REXX. Scripts can be executed from either a Windows-based or a Command Shell-based host. You can use it to automate system and network tasks, as well as to create logon scripts. While this might not be all that interesting for the small office and home markets which Windows 98 is apparently aimed at, it's actually one of the few features that might drag corporates towards the new version.

Where do we go from here?

Windows 98 isn't a brand-new operating system but an extremely welcome improvement on an old one. It's tempting to go down the Windows 98 route if Windows 95 is currently providing almost everything you need in terms of functionality and features and you're not looking for a more fundamental OS upgrade. There are many enhancements to elevate Windows 98 above its older incarnation, but the change isn't one which will cause people to see 'training costs' written in large, red letters float in front of their eyes. If you know Windows 95 then you know Windows 98. This will be very reassuring for those whose job it is to roll the new OS out to their users, be the numbered in ones, tens, hundreds or thousands.

Whether or not to upgrade is also a pretty simple choice for users with a PC at home. Windows NT 4 is a business-orientated OS and not as flexible an operating system for home and work. The NT OS can't really cover both markets as long as the latest multimedia hardware remains unsupported and Direct X remains tied to the Windows 9x platform. If you hanker after playing games as well as working (and what home user doesn't?) then you'll want to follow the Windows 98 path, for now at least.

Until NT 5 comes along, Windows 98 is looking like a good bet for portable users. The Pentium II notebooks on the market are now capable of running NT 4 at similar speeds to their desktop equivalents. However, support for power management, docking stations and PC Card remains weak or reliant on proprietary solutions from various manufacturers. While corporates with a working setup based on Windows 95 might not be keen to rock the boat with Windows 98, it's currently Microsoft's best bet as an operating system for mobile users.

Upgrading is an altogether more difficult choice for serious power users or corporate customers running desktop machines. The fact that Windows 98 has proved slightly quicker and more stable than the 95/IE 4 combination might prove compelling, but that's not really such an issue for users and departments who haven't needed an advanced browser and don't need Push technology. The impressive range of peripheral and component support in Windows 98 is an excellent move on Microsoft's part for home users and enthusiasts whose systems are packed with new and exciting hardware, but this is practically irrelevant if you're running a plain vanilla desktop with mainstream office apps.

That's really the crux of the matter. Taken as a desktop operating system for home and small business users, there's little doubt that Windows 98 is an essential upgrade and will find a place in the hearts of new users and Windows 95 old hands alike. For serious business users, however, 98 may be an improvement on its venerable ancestor but the operating systems that should be on the minds of SMEs and corporates alike should be Windows NT. NT 4 is streets ahead of Windows 98 for mainstream business use and ease of administration on a corporate level. If it ever ships, NT 5 must be the target that every serious IT manager has in their sights. While Windows 98 represents a solid evolution of the Windows 95 line, it's only really clouding the issue for the corporate market.