Windows NT (short for New Technology) comes in two flavors workstation and server.
Workstation was designed as a high-end operating system mainly for corporations and anyone needing a robust, reliable and secure workstation for its employees.
The server version adds a comprehensive set of tools for managing and administering networks (LAN).
I deal with the workstation version in this write up and only version 4.0 (not 3.5). Windows NT marked the first time ever in a Microsoft windows base operating system was coined truly secure.
It’s designed in such a way that it earned a C-2 security rating. This just means that it meets certain government specifications for secure computing.
With Windows 95 and 98 if you didn’t know the password needed t log in to a machine, all that was necessary to thwart the security features was to press the ESC key.
This of course gave you access to the entire file system. Unlike Windows 95 and 98, Windows NT will not allow you access to the file system or the desktop by pressing the ESC key. You must know your password to gain entry.
Many of the features common to Windows 95 were added to Windows NT version 4.0. Windows NT Version 4.0 sported the same Graphical User Interface (GUI, pronounced Gooey) and many other improvements. Unfortunately Windows NT lacked some features as well, the most glaring was no Plug-and-Play capabilities.
Learn more about Windows NT
Windows ME, short for millennium edition was dubbed the most radical upgrade yet in the Windows 9x family.
It was designed for the individual home user (not for business), packed with many features to make the home user cry Bravo! Instead when the smoke cleared the home user was crying for Microsoft’s head.
I recently read an article titled “Windows ME, The Name Says It All”. Having read the article I agree, the name does say it all…well at least the ME portion of the name. Yes the name says it all “ME and only ME”; Windows ME can be such a selfish little operating system.
Windows ME at times only cares about itself, choosing to pout and not run correctly on many occasions, especially when you do something to it that it doesn’t like, such as adding a new piece of hardware or installing a new software program.
Windows ME works, it works great. However, when it doesn’t, the experience can leave you scarred for life.
Learn more about Windows ME
Windows XP represents the next version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, beyond Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium.
Windows XP is the end result of combining the strengths of Windows 2000 (Standards-Based Security, Manageability and Reliability) with the best features of Windows 98 and Windows ME (Plug and Play, Easy-To-Use User Interface, and Innovative Support Services) to create what appears to the best Windows operating system yet.
Windows XP is built on an enhanced Windows 2000 code base, with different versions aimed at home users and business users: Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
While the professional version comes with some nice features and expands on Windows 2000 technology, there is not enough differences to entice business users to run make the switch.
However, for the home user those who might be running Windows 95, 98 or ME, Windows XP is vastly different but it will be to your liking.
Visit our Windows XP Section