So What Will You Be Teaching in Fall 2000—Windows 2000: Millennium Edition?By Jim LeisyJim Leisy is the publisher of eTechNotes. Download the PDF file for this article.One Windows on every desktop was the strategy for Windows 2000. However, the consequences of such a migration would be significant and costly for users at home and in small business. So Microsoft's strategy was revised without any of the usual fanfare. In August, Windows 2000: Millennium Edition was mentioned by a Microsoft presenter at an educators seminar. Not many details were given, which was not very satisfying to those in attendance. Of course, this raises the question of what operating system will be on the computers bought by students in the coming year? A visit to the Windows 2000 area on the Microsoft Web site informs you of three forthcoming iterations of Windows 2000: Professional, Server, and Advanced Server. Then there is an area for Windows CE. So there is big Windows for business and hand-held Windows for personal appliances. There is no mention of the forthcoming Windows Millennium (small Windows) for consumer machines ¾ the machines that will be sold by Dell, Gateway and others for home and small business usage. But Windows Millennium is out there. Two months ago Sm@rt Reseller ran an article by Mary Jo Foley and John Spooner on Windows Millennium. They report that efforts have been scaled back on the product. That it will be more like a service release for Windows 98. The main features are reported to be improved ease of use, ability to troubleshoot itself, expanded capacity to support digital media and enhanced online performance. It will look like Windows 2000, but will be designed for single platforms or small peer-to-peer networks just like Windows 98 according to one beta tester. And the tester reports it consumes two gigabytes of disk space. Beta 1 is in circulation to a small group of testers. An informed source outside of Microsoft thinks the software maker is interested in establishing superiority in the electronic book arena. Hence the concentration on digital media and online enhancements. This falls in line with recent product announcements concerning Microsoft's ebook initiative and ClearType. One of the big issues being grappled with is whether or not to remove access to the DOS kernel. The question remains, is DOS dead? Some think it should be. But DOS allows expedient solutions to many underlying system conflicts and so it still has strong proponents. Betanews.com's Aaron Dobbins writes in an Oct. 12 article entitled "Windows Millennium Not Canceled Tuesday" that Microsoft has not canceled the product and that it will not be a mere service release. Other sources say the product will be released in third quarter 2000 in time for the start of Fall classes and the Christmas shopping season. |