Windows Neptune
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| Microsoft Neptune | |||
| (Part of the Microsoft Windows family) | |||
| Screenshot | |||
 Screenshot of Windows Neptune Build 5111 | |||
| Developer | Microsoft | ||
| Web site: none | |||
| Release information | |||
| Preview version: | 5.50.5111 (December 27, 1999) Template:OS cite needed | ||
| Source model: | Shared source | ||
| License: | Microsoft EULA | ||
| Kernel type: | Windows NT | ||
| Support status | Not supported | ||
Windows Neptune is an experimental version of Microsoft Windows that was in development from early 1999 to early 2000. The goal was to preview ideas for a home user operating system from the same sources as the NT-based Windows 2000 that was developed for business users, replacing the older DOS-based Windows 9x home user operating systems. After the release of Windows 2000, the Neptune team was combined with the Windows 2000 team to work on the "Whistler" project that was released in late 2001 as Windows XP, and Microsoft released another home user DOS-based operating system called Windows Me.
[edit] Features
Some of the changes introduced in the Neptune build, such as a rudimentary firewall for Internet and network connections, were later integrated into Windows XP as the Internet Connection Firewall, later renamed the Windows Firewall. It experimented with a UI called the Activity Center for task centered operation.
Two circulated builds of Neptune are known to exist - build 5000 (leaked to very few people), and build 5111, which, although it makes up most of the existing Neptune copies, still is not very common.
[edit] Expandability
Windows Neptune build 5111 included all of the same components of Windows 2000, this includes DirectX 7 and Internet Explorer 5.01. DirectX can be upgraded to 9.0c without problems. Internet Explorer 5.01 can also be upgraded to Internet Explorer 6 SP1.
