Windows 98

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.