Re: Why some people still use 98.
Here we go again with a super long post on my thoughts:
Windows 98 and especially 98SE is indeed popular because it works so well.
Sure, I admit that it does not have the stability of the NT source code but
it was fun because the 9x consumer source code allowed the user to execute
powerful commands that could completely destroy your machine and/or give you
a true feeling of power and ownership over your pc. I like how you can
easily use DOS to execute commands such as del *.* to allow you to remove all
the files in a directory. Cls being short for clear screen was nice.
Sure, I know that XP has a command prompt and you can also execute commands
within the text box but the default interface is GUI like 98SE but you do not
see the familiar and comforting at least to me --- reboot into MS-DOS mode
which allows for needed gameplay and the ability to get work done without the
confines and limations imposed by a GUI interface.
Microsoft has been very nice to allow the Classic Mode to be used within XP
and given the ability to run many older programs and even some older games
within the compatibility mode if the user can install the program to the hard
drive. XP is nice for many mainstream consumers but I liked seeing the text
based interface and thinking what can I do now. I have become used to XP but
having only a single line of code allows for hackers to more effectively
break into PC's. The remote access is nice when needed but users need to
become educated to the dangers of the Internet and make sure remote access is
not on unless being used. In addition, some of the settings within the
Internet Explorer default are just plain dumb like the ability to allow less
priveleged content to move from one zone to another. I think that setting
should be disabled by default instead of enabled by default because why would
a user want potentially dangerous files moving from a restrictive zone into a
less restrictive zone and then potentially wrecking havoc on the user's pc.
Hopefully, Chris Quirke, mvp will see and comment on this post because he is
very knowledgeable.
The modern Windows Vista machine seems much less personnel to me and I also
liked how 9x machines were built to stand on their own and not reliant on the
Internet. The modern Vista computer seems to be turning into a toy but it is
not really a toy. My reasoning is that with all the flashy interface of a
modern Windows Vista Aero-based computer compared to a standard 98 Second
Edition computer you can see a big difference. Sure, I like the Aero
interface and the amazing effects of the graphics displayed within these
machines but at least to me the novelty wears off after a while and then my
thinking goes --- okay it is time to get down to work --- and then I find
that a piece of hardware cannot work because it is no longer supported by the
company that made the hardware because it is too old and the company has
decided not to allow the device to support Windows Vista. Unfortunately,
that creates problems because although the hardware device may work fine in
XP and be even still supported there -- the hardware company does not want to
fund Vista Development for the device.
Fortunately, on my current desktop computer I have tried to get the best
hardware technology that will work for 98 Second Edition and be currently
supported in Windows XP Professional. This has pushed 98 Second Edition to
its limits but allowed for me to still have the 98 SE experience, the
backward compatibility of 98 SE to allow for gaming that cannot run on XP,
the fondness of feeling the computer is my own, etc.
Finally, I have a Windows Vista machine which is a Toshiba laptop for travel
which is nice but also frustrating because Vista still has issues to be
worked out. It is indeed much better and much more stable since Windows
Vista Service Pack 1 has been released but I still do not like User Account
Control which I have just turned off even though I let Microsoft know that it
should be able to be fully customized to allow for the administrator to make
the level of prompts when installing a program from three or four to just
one. The security of Windows Vista is indeed impressive and makes a strong
selling point for those who need high security like the United States Air
Force. The amount of hardware needed to run Vista is also disappointing but
I can see the necessity too because of the added levels of complexity and
security.
My dream is for Microsoft to create another Windows 9x consumer operating
system as a successor to Windows 98 Second Edition that does not have all the
extra services that consumers do not need and starts again the old line of
code or even starts a totally new line of consumer code to allow for more
safety for consumers on their home pcs. I know the expense for Microsoft
would be great but it would help consumers by not having all the features
that businesses need and provide another surface area that hackers would have
to learn about in order to specifically go after consumer's pcs and the
financial rewards would probably make them continue to be more interested in
business pcs again. I feel that it has gotten completely out of hand the
amount of add on programs that consumers are supposed to get to help protect
their modern home pcs.
resources for those wanting to learn more:
http://wiki.mozilla.org/Talk:Firefox3/PRD (note 98 support with secunia
mentioned is wriiten by me)
http://cquirke.mvps.org/9x/
http://cquirke.blogspot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_98
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1139
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2004/10/microsoft_should_release_windo.html
<someone else's thoughts on the issue>
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"Peter in New Zealand" wrote:
> Smith <smith@smith.com> wrote in news:OR7lzfq1IHA.528@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
>
> > From http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/2008/06/20/towards-9-
> > 51?startidx=200
> >
> > Originally posted by = illiad:
> >
> > well first I would say... WHY are you using ME when XP (inc.
> > SP2!) is available for £50????
> >
> > Maybe not everyone can afford it, if you live in UK or USA...you
> > can make those £50 in a few hours but most of the people in Asia,
> > Latin America and Africa must work really hard for entire weeks
> > to get JUST £50...that's a lot of money down here.
> >
> For my part I have a rather elderly laptop that still gives faithful
> service. It's too old for XP or Vista, and W2K is quite sluggish on it. But
> with 98SE it zips along just fine and I don't often have any trouble with
> it.
>
>
> --
> Peter in New Zealand. (Email address is fake)
> Collector of old cameras, tropical fish fancier, good coffee nutter, and
> compulsive computer fiddler.
>