Windows 2000: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? (Part I of II)

Windows 2000 offers so many new features, capabilities, and improvements that it is a daunting task to evaluate it. The first step in the evaluation is to understand what it is.

  1. Win2K Professional: A robust desktop (client) operating system designed for businesses, Microsoft's successor to Windows NT Workstation version 4.0.
  2. Win2K Server (three flavors): Server, Advanced Server and DataCenter Server: Discussed in greater detail in next month's Technoscope, the Win2K Server series is a powerful server-based operating system designed to run applications like e-mail and database, share resources, and provide central administration for an enterprise.

Don't confuse Win2K with Windows Millennium Edition (Windows ME), which is based on Windows 95/98 and intended for home use. This two-part article will not cover Windows ME. Part I will discuss the capabilities offered by all versions of Win2K, but most specifically those offered by Win2K Professional. Next month, we will address those features offered by the Win2K Server series.

We will now discuss some of Win2K's features, grouped by category:

Stability:

All versions of Win2K offer significant enhancements with regard to stability. Real-world experience by Win2K users and independent research affirms Win2K's improved stability.

Rebooting--Microsoft has significantly reduced the need for rebooting. Changing network parameters, adding drivers, installing or upgrading software does not require rebooting.

Windows File Protection (WFP)--Win2K protects key operating system files. If a system file is changed or replaced, WFP will restore the original file to maintain the integrity of the its core components.

Windows Logo Program and Driver Certification Standards--Microsoft has established stricter requirements to certify applications and hardware drivers for Win2K. These stricter standards reduce incompatibilities between drivers and programs, resulting in fewer system crashes and increased uptime.

Security

While all versions of Win2K provide significant security enhancements, we will cover the specifics of these features in next month's article.

Performance:

PC Magazine benchmark tests indicate that Win2K will outperform Windows 98 on nearly all benchmark tests, and outperformed Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on some tests while matching performance on others.

Management:

Microsoft provides several tools to automate Win2K deployment and simplify management. We will cover these capabilities in next month's article.

Ease-of-Use:

Win2K has added a significant number of easy-to-use wizards, personalized and automatically customized menus and plug-and-play capabilities similar to those used in Windows 95 and 98.

Mobile Computing Options:

For road-warriors, Win2K adds portable computing features that improve mobile computing. "IntelliMirror™" which requires a Win2k Server computer, provides for computing resources to "follow" users whether users log on locally, remotely or work offline. Offline folders allow users to synchronize data when on and off the network, simplifying roaming computer operations. The hibernate feature for notebooks is a significant improvement over previous versions of this feature.

Why Not Upgrade:

With all these reasons to upgrade, why not upgrade? There are four major reasons not to upgrade:

  1. Cost--for new installations Win2K carries a beefy street price of just under $300, and for upgrades, $200. Cost will prove a significant barrier to many associations.
  2. Hardware requirements--To see Win2K's performance improvements, feed it a lot of memory and a fast processor. Sixty-four megabytes of RAM is the minimum required, although we recommend 128 megabytes with a 300-megahertz or faster CPU. Many legacy systems won't have the resources to migrate.
  3. Compatibility--There are many programs written for other operating systems that will not run on Win2K. Before migration, you should test all or otherwise verify your planned applications to make sure they are compatible with Win2K.
  4. Difficulty in upgrading--PC Magazine reports easy setup, difficult migration and that the upgrade to Win2K can be tricky, so you might wish to consider implementation as you cycle in newer computers.

So What's the Answer?

Never change platforms haphazardly. If you do decide to go now, first test Win2K in a lab or on selected desktops. Upgrading existing systems will complicate your migration-so consider implementing as you phase in new equipment. Implementing Win2K Professional on new systems will add between 7% to 10% over Windows 98 or Windows ME.

If budget, appropriate hardware, compatibility issues won't stop you, plan to migrate soon. In evaluating the costs and benefits, remember that the largest cost component for systems is that of long-term support. This does not account for the "hidden costs" of lost productivity. Significantly improved stability, uptime, manageability, and portable computing options should prove cost-effective in the end.

Next month, we'll discuss those features specific to Win2K Servers well as Security and Management features of all versions.

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