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Operating systems and software bundles
Operating systems
The operating system (OS) is the traffic cop that runs your PC,
from managing system resources to launching applications. Just about
any new PC will come with Windows 98 SE or Windows Me (Millennium)
preloaded. Windows 98 SE is the standard desktop OS, and it offers
broad support for almost any current PC hardware and application.
Windows Me is an upgrade to Windows 98 SE, and while the two are
largely identical, Me adds Windows Media Player 7.0, Movie Maker,
tools for system file protection, support for home networking, and
a better help system. But Me is also slower than SE--noticeably
so in some of CNET Labs' tests. However, Microsoft claims Me is
more stable and, when preinstalled on a new machine, offers a speedier
boot-up.
The bottom line: If you work with multimedia or find Me's
suite of new tools appealing, by all means pick this for your new
PC's OS. Otherwise, stick with Windows 98 SE.
Software bundles
You usually receive a software bundle when purchasing a new PC.
Entry-level systems often include a game suite or Microsoft Works
Suite 2000, which includes Word, Works, Encarta, Money, Home Publishing,
Expedia Streets, Outlook Express, and Picture It. Pricier systems
often come with Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business suite, with
small- or home-office software such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher,
Small Business Tools, and Bookshelf or Encarta. For a little extra
money, you can select a Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Edition
suite with Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Office Assistant,
Small Business Tools, and Publisher.
The bottom line: Choose carefully--it's usually cheaper
to buy a bundle at this point than to buy a retail upgrade later.
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