The Archive

Windows 2000
Retail released February 17, 2000

Despite the name, Windows 2000 is not the successor to Windows 98. In fact, if you look closely enough at a PC running Windows 2000, you'll find traces of the new operating system's real name: Windows NT 5.0. With a slew of advanced security features and the new Active Directory, it's right at home on business networks. But it also supports DirectX7 and DirectX8, which makes it a killer platform for Quake and other decidedly un-businesslike applications.

 When it comes to Windows 2000, there are more options than might meet the eye. There's Professional, Server, Advanced Server, DataCenter Server...and without some guidance, it can be tough to tell which one might be right for you (or if you want any of them at all).

 The upside to upgrading
 
If you upgrade to Windows 2000, you'll have plenty to smile about. The improvements are profound and immediately noticeable, especially if you're moving up from Windows 95 or 98.

For starters, Windows 2000 is practically crash-proof. Really. If you've grown accustomed to rebooting your PC every few hours, whether you need to or not, you'll probably be shocked by smooth operation measured in weeks or months. Thanks to memory protection, ill-behaved programs can't lock up the rest of your system, and the dreaded Blue Screen of Death -- a system crash typically caused by a poorly written hardware driver -- is practically an endangered species.

If your PC is reasonably up to date, setting up Windows 2000 is ridiculously easy. A clean install takes an hour or less (upgrading over Windows 95 or 98 takes longer because of the extensive compatibility checks the Setup program runs). If you're responsible for an office full of PCs, you'll find everyday administrative tasks easier as well.

This operating system is also dramatically more hacker-proof than previous Windows versions.

• Support for the Kerberos protocol, which sends encrypted passwords over a network instead of clear text.
• A check box that turns on the Encrypting File System and scrambles every file on your hard disk, so a thief can't steal your data.
• Smart cards and other physical identification systems to prevent access by anyone but authorized users -- for those who don't trust passwords.

Windows 2000 is compatible with thousands of mainstream business programs, and Microsoft's Hardware Compatibility List is impressively long, too. Unlike Windows NT, Windows 2000 supports the fast-growing list of devices that connect to your PC via Universal Serial Bus (USB) or a FireWire port.

Have previous Windows versions led you straight to DLL Hell? A new feature called Windows File Protection watches, hawk-like, over crucial system files. If a Setup program replaces one of these files with an outdated or unauthorized version, Windows 2000 silently restores the correct file. The result -- at least in theory -- is a more stable system.

The Downside to Upgrading...
Some of your hardware might not work
Do you have a Creative Labs DVD player? Good luck getting it to play movies under Windows 2000. Have you backed up crucial data files using an OnStream tape backup drive from Windows 98 or NT4? Sorry, your data is not available under Windows 2000. After upgrading, you may discover that your high-end sound card is using generic drivers, effectively disabling the advanced features you paid a premium for. Of course, a steady stream of new and updated hardware drivers are trickling out, but don't be surprised if older devices never work properly with Windows 2000.

Some of your software might not work
How many system utilities do you own? You'll need updated versions of the Norton Utilities and Partition Magic to handle Windows 2000's new disk formats. You'll almost certainly need to update your antivirus software. Older versions of some programs, such as Adaptec's Easy CD Creator, will require patches before they work properly. And all bets are off when it comes to custom applications. The only way to tell whether your custom program will work is to test it yourself.

Beware the hidden upgrade costs
The price of the system software is just a starting point. Don't underestimate the other expenses that you'll incur with a Windows 2000 upgrade. You'll need to pay for Client Access Licenses, too, at $20-40 for each user. You'll probably need to add RAM and upgrade hard drives to bring older machines up to recommended standards. Users will need training. Upgrading a network from Windows NT to Windows 2000 takes months of careful planning and plenty of experienced help.

When you tally the costs, especially for networks of many machines, the bill can be eye-popping: Giga Information Group estimated that the total cost in a corporate environment could run between $970 and $1,640 per desktop system.

Slam-dunk upgrades
Windows 2000 isn't for everyone, but there are four groups of people who should be first in line to get a shrink-wrapped copy of Windows 2000 Professional.

Frequent flyers
On notebooks that support the ACPI standard, Windows 2000 manages power better than any other operating system you can buy -- although most users will need a BIOS update before power management will work properly. The new Hibernate option lets you save the current contents of memory to the hard disk when you power down. The next time you press the Power switch, you can pick up right where you left off, with all your programs and data files open where you left them. Windows 2000 also makes it relatively easy to synchronize files between a corporate network and a notebook, so you can keep working when you hit the road.

NT veterans
Anyone who's been struggling with Windows NT 4.0 for the past few years will welcome Windows 2000 with open arms: Updating a hardware driver doesn't require an engineering degree, the new OS is great with dial-up Internet connections, and it's noticeably faster.

Multitasking fanatics
Hard-core Windows users hold their breath and whisper a silent prayer every time they launch a new application. If you run out of system resources in Windows 95 or 98, a lockup or crash is practically inevitable. Windows 2000, on the other hand, can handle dozens of tasks without breaking a sweat. If you can't afford to crash, you're a prime upgrade candidate.

Speed freaks
Want the fastest PC money can buy? Windows 95 and 98 are limited to a single CPU, but Windows 2000 supports symmetric multiprocessing with two CPUs. With a pair of 1000MHz processors on board, Windows 2000 can scream through CPU-intensive tasks like video editing and financial modeling. (Quake runs better, too.)

There are always specific groups that need an OS upgrade as soon as its available. But what about the mainstream users whose needs aren't so urgent? Is Windows 2000 ready for them?

The bottom line
For small offices and carefully-managed networks, Windows 2000 Professional is an easy upgrade to justify; the potential payoffs are large, and the risk is relatively small. On larger networks, set up Windows 2000 Server in a test configuration, but don't be in a rush to upgrade every server-wait for at least one service pack and an all-clear from security experts before taking the plunge.

So, is it really a no-brainer? What about all those patches and upgrades to previous OSes...do those foreshadow the future?

 For the vast consumer market, however, this year's choice is between two unsatisfying and frustrating alternatives. Windows 98 is cheap and popular but notoriously crash-prone. Windows 2000 is reliable and secure, but it's far too expensive and complex for all but the most technically astute consumers.

Windows 2000 represents the future of Windows, and it proves that Microsoft can produce an excellent operating system. The company's next challenge is to build on that foundation, stripping away the complexity and the cost to produce a consumer version. Mainstream users thinking about an upgrade should keep waiting. Can you say WindowsXP

 How many CPUs support Windows 2000?
2 CPUs  Windows 2000 Professional
4 CPUs  Windows 2000 Server
8 CPUs  Windows 2000 Advanced Server
32 CPUs Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

Report partially from ZDNet’s Ed Bott

Back to the top

to
Help and Curiosities