Win ME cf Win 2K: What do you think?

[Paddy]

I am building another computer and I was wondering how close ME is to 2K. Security is not an issue and NTFS is not a requirement.

• How visually similar are they?
• Is there better networking support than 98?
• Is it any better than 98?

I will use it as a gaming machine, but i dont think i could revert to 98 after being on 2K for so long.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Paddy

[Paddy]

I have read on other posts that the hibernate function is not as nice as the one in 2K. Are there any other glitches that i should be aware of?

------------------
I am running Win2K Pro: SP1 on the following:

• T'bird 1GHz on an Asus A7V
• 224 Mb PC100 RAM (128Mb Double bank, 64Mb single bank, 32Mb double bank)
• IBM DJNA-372200 21Gb UDMA 66 Drive
• IBM DNES-309170W SCSI Disk Drive
• Matshita DVD-ROM SR-8584A
• Plextor PX-W1210S SCSI CD-RW
• Intel Pro/100+ Management Ethernet Adaptor
• Iwill 2936 Ultra Wide SCSI controller (reported as an Advansys 3550)
• SB Live! 5.1
• USB IntelliMouse Explorer Optical
• UM9800 V.90 USB Modem
• Tornado 1000 case (with six 80mm fans!)

[giskard]

WinME is just a 'flossed' version od win98. Network components are much more robust in Win2k. Stick with Win2k.

Cheers,

Giskard

[DosFreak]

Stick with 2k. Also Cruise the Ars and Ntcompatible forums for help.

[walrusbonzo]

Paddy, you from Leicester..

Too many exams???

What Uni are you at?

I'm at De Montfort!!!!

Walrusbonzo

[birdy]

visually they are the same. I have to check the start menu to figure out what OS i am in sometimes :-)

Basically tho Me is just 98 with a better GUI. It is a little more power hungry than 98 so if it's just games then win 98 may give you the edge. I would dual boot myself, keep win 98 clean just for games and then stuff all the other stuff on w2k.

[Rags]

Paddy, what games can't you play under win2k? You do know there is a way for almost every game out there to work, ask Haig

Rags

[Ovi]

Hi Birdy
I've noticed that Win98 and Win Me give exactly the same benchmarks related to games (like 3D Mark ,Quake3) Maybe the extra resource hogging operations in Win Me are compensated by no loading of Dos drivers.
Just an observation
Cheers
Ovi

[SteveC]

I use win2k all the time now - no problems at all. I did use WinME for DVD playback (to get the digital audio out), but I got myself a 'proper' DVD player and so haven't gone into WinMe in quite a while...

------------------
Cheers,
Steve

"Life is what we make of it, yet most of us just fake"

[Paddy]

I want to use the machine for games as 2K does not support some of my older ones...

perhaps i should dual boot again...

[Guyver]

WinME is more than just a flossed over version of 98.

#1 - The TCP/IP networking layer is pretty much straight out of 2K (a lot less buggy and more stable)

#2 - Better device management than 98 (more updated drivers, and better implementation).

Everything's not perfect, but I use my ME for gaming only and I don't have any problems with it. I use my 2K rig for office type work, e-mail, dial-up for work, etc...

Guyv

[Gurm]

If you need raw gaming speed, of course Win95 (yes, Win95) is the way to go. Load it with nothing but device drivers and DirectX, and off you go.

However, I am firmly of the opinion that all games can be made to run with Win2k if you try hard enough.

- Gurm

------------------
Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[Paddy]

You are right, I will stick with 2K...

I was getting itchy as my build as a couple of months old now - You know how it is!

Cheers lads.

p.s.

Walrusbonzo: I'm at Leicester Uni doing Medicine (3rd Year). But i live real close to DeMontfort Uni.
Ant is from Notts! Small world

EDIT-
cant spell!

[This message has been edited by Paddy [MU] (edited 01 December 2000).]

[walrusbonzo]

It has to be said that if you know what to tweak Windows ME is SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER MORE STABLE AND USES LESS MEMORY THAN ANY OS I'VE USED BEFORE... Apart from Amiga OS, DOS and probably Win 3.1.

Try using Win ME Build 3000. Use 98lite PRO Version 4 to customize the installation. Use TweakUI to disable Web integration and other nonsense. Uninstall System Restore and make a few more minor adjustments and tweaks in the right areas and you'll have one blazing fast System...

Eg. On my AMD K6-3 450MHz, ASUS P5A Mobo, 128mb RAM, Matrox G100 8mb(My G400 is ****ed up) and 10.2 gig HD(Only 5400RPM). Win ME boots in under 15 seconds!!!! Uses less than 160mb HD space, uses 0% CPU time when idle and only uses 17% of my 128mb RAM after bootup!!!!!!!

If that ain't good I don't know what is... I also know its faster because my Distributed.net client runs faster than it did with Win 98, games seem much smoother, and generally the whole system is better..

Win ME rocks.