Technology
 

Windows 98

From Micropedia

Windows 98
File:Windows 98 logo.gif
File:Windows98.png
A typical Windows 98 Desktop.
Company/
developer: 		Microsoft
OS family: Windows 9x
Source model: Closed source
Stable release: Template:Latest stable release/Windows 98 [+/-]
Preview release: Template:Latest preview release/Windows 98 [+/-]
Kernel type: Monolithic kernel
Default user interface: {{{ui}}}
License: Microsoft EULA
Working state: unsupported; security updates were provided unpaid until July 11 2006[1]
Website: www.microsoft.com/windows98

Windows 98 (codename Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25 1998 by Microsoft.

The new operating system was essentially an updated version of Windows 95, and like that earlier version, it was a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit product. Among its features were better AGP support, functional USB drivers, and support for multiple monitors and WebTV. Also added was full FAT32 support for better usage of hard disk space. As in later releases of Windows 95, Internet Explorer continued to be integrated into the Windows Explorer interface (a feature which was called Active Desktop). It was also the first version of Windows to support ACPI.

Although the upgrade sold well from the outset, Windows 98 was substantially larger and slower than Windows 95 and the original release had a significant number of compatibility and stability issues.

The release of Windows 98 was preceded by a notable press demonstration at Comdex, in April 1998. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates highlighted the operating system's ease of use and enhanced support for plug and play. However, when an assistant plugged in a scanner and attempted to install it, the operating system crashed. [1] Bill Gates quipped that "this must be why we're not shipping Windows 98 yet". Video footage of this event became a popular internet meme.

Windows 98 "First Edition" is designated by the internal version numbers 4.10.1998, or 4.10.1998A if it has been updated with the Security CD from Microsoft.

Contents

[edit] Windows 98 Second Edition

Windows 98 Second Edition (Windows 98 SE) was released on May 5 1999. It included fixes for many minor issues, the replacement of Internet Explorer 4 with the significantly faster and lighter Internet Explorer 5, and Internet Connection Sharing, which allowed multiple computers on a LAN to share a single Internet connection through Network Address Translation. Also added was Microsoft NetMeeting 3.0, and support for DVD Playback.

Though it was a successful product, it was not a free upgrade for Windows 98 (first edition) customers.

Windows 98 was succeeded by Windows Me, which was in turn succeeded by Windows XP.

Microsoft planned to discontinue its support for Windows 98 on January 16 2004. However, due to the continued popularity of the operating system (27% of Google's pageviews were on Windows 98 systems during October-November, 2003),[2] Microsoft decided to maintain support until July 11 2006. Support for Windows Me will also end on that date.

Windows 98 Second Edition is designated by the internal version numbers 4.10.2222A or 4.10.2222B if it has been updated with the Security CD from Microsoft.

The system requirements of Windows 98 Second Edition are: a 66 MHz 486 processor, 16 MB RAM and at least 195 MB of free hard disk space.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Microsoft Product Lifecycle - Windows 98. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-06-05.
  2. ↑ Zeitgeist. Google Press Center. Google: (October-November 2003). URL accessed on April 22, 2006. Note: A graphic depicting the decline in use of Windows 98 from June 2001 to June 2004 as an operating system to access Google is available on Wikimedia Commons; IMAGE.

[edit] General references

[edit] External links

Microsoft Windows
MS-DOS/9x-based: 1.0 • 2.0 • 2.1x • 3.0 • 3.1x • 95 • 98 • Me
NT-based: NT 3.1 • NT 3.5 • NT 3.51 • NT 4.0 • 2000 • XP • Server 2003 • FLP • Vista
CE-based: CE 1.0 • CE 2.0 • CE 3.0 • CE 4.0 • CE 5.0 • CE 6.0 • Mobile
Forthcoming: Server 2008 • Home Server • 7
Other projects: Neptune • Nashville • Cairo • OS/2
Retrieved from "http://windows.wikia.com/wiki/Windows_98"