Windows 98 Second Edition

Once again, Microsoft has released bug fixes and a
service pack to it’s latest operating system.  This time, they released it to the
public, and not just to OEMs and companies that build the computers for them, like they
did with Windows 95 OSR 2.x.

Rants & Raves
Windows 98 SE installed just like the Windows 98 upgrade version did.  The only
difference I found was that it did not give you a choice of what to install.  After
the installation, I have found that IE 5.0 opens up MUCH faster, almost twice as fast at
it did with the first release of Windows 98.

I also noticed 2 things on the system properties
page.

First off, this version subtracts the Memory the DOS drivers take up from the total amount of
ram.  I have 128MB of RAM installed, but only 126.0MB shows up in the System
Properties.  Another, before the installation, my System was

Microsoft Windows 98
IE 5.01.xx.xxx
4.10.1998

now, it’s:

Microsoft Windows 98
Second Edition
4.10.2222 A

One more thing.  What happened to the Processor
designation.  It used to be a Pentium(r) Processor w/MMX Tech.  Now it’s just a
Pentium(r) processor.  That might lead to some confusion to some people.

Conclusion
The way I see it, the end user has 3 choices.  If you plan on upgrading to
Windows 2000 when it comes out, then you should stay away from buying Windows 98 SE.
  If you plan on keeping Microsoft Windows 98 for the life of your computer, or plan
on upgrading to Windows 2000 after all the post-release bugs are worked out, now is the
time.  If you have Windows 95 right now, and have been waiting for the bugs to be
worked out of 98, now is the time to upgrade.  Now all you have to do is by the $90
US CD upgrade, which will be Windows 98 SE.

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