Quick overview:
In 1998, the long-awaited successor to the bug-ridden and incompatible Windows 95 hit the shelves and was greeted with a wave of relief in the computer world. At last, Microsoft was able to realize its dream: An operating system that would meet the needs of beginners.
Windows 98 was designed for ease of use (drivers, installation, setup and wizards) and therefore also attracted newcomers. However, not only the user interface but also many functions were revised, which triggered a general revolution in the computer business.
Many people today are not aware that Windows 98 contributed significantly to the boom in computers, and at a price of 249 DM that was almost a gift.
A new colorful world - Windows 98 and the new features at a glance
We hereby present to you all the innovations of the time that caused a sensation on the operating system market.
The dawn of an online world - Internet Explorer 4.0
Microsoft wanted to make up for the mistakes of the failed Internet Explorer 2 and 3 versions and presented a completely renewed browser for Windows 98, which was considerably more compatible and easier to use than its predecessors. The range of functions is also far superior to that of its predecessors, which ultimately led to the breakthrough of IE 4.0 - it made the Internet famous, as many more users dared to take their first steps into the global data network.
Internet Explorer 4.0 achieved the breakthrough of the networked world
Internet Explorer 6.0 has now been released, which shines with its new features and superior speed and security. But you will find out more about this in a later article.
The new Windows 98 web view in Explorer
Of particular interest to Windows 95 users was a modified view in Explorer which provided many folder-oriented tasks. In addition to the folder information (name, access, size, etc.), previews of an image or an Internet Explorer file were also displayed, which increased convenience a little.
The new Windows 98 web view conveniently offered a lot of interesting information
Unfortunately, this view also delayed access times to folders and files, which led to a noticeable loss of speed, especially on slow computers. Fortunately, the function can be easily switched off.
DVD and USB support on board as standard
But it wasn't just the software side that had changed a lot: hardware support was also expanded to include the universal serial bus (USB), which was even very successful during operation thanks to simple installation.
Microsoft also recognized the coming boom in DVD media at an early stage and added this extension to Windows 98, although it was not used until 1999/2000, when the first films found their way onto the shelves.
The speed of Windows 98 under the magnifying glass
Microsoft has tried to keep its new operating system fast and efficient compared to Windows 95, despite numerous resource-consuming innovations. Both the Windows registry and the Windows kernel (the heart of Windows) underwent a complete overhaul, which slightly increased the speed of games and office applications. The fact that Windows 98 uses less than 30 megabytes of RAM is also commendable and has a positive effect on speed, especially in today's world (with RAM sizes of 256 MB to 512 MB).
Unfortunately, the joy is clouded by the still integrated DOS (Disk Operating System), as the relics of the past slow down the new processors a little. This becomes clear in comparison to Windows 2000/XP, as these can do without DOS completely.
The stability of Windows 98 - crash-proof?
With its predecessor Windows 95, Microsoft really didn't win any laurels when it came to having the most stable and crash-proof operating system. The long-suffering user had to fight his way through exception errors and blue screens of death until he could continue his work without any problems. Driver problems and software errors were often the cause. Unfortunately, these unstable programs always took Windows down with them, which meant a reboot and possible data loss.
Windows NT and its successors 2000 and XP are more advanced in this respect. Even a program crash cannot cause you to falter due to the completely changed architecture. A program only crashes in user mode, while the actual kernel remains untouched and this makes it possible to safely remove the program from memory.
But what about Windows 98? Does it have the necessary stability to be able to assert itself in the tough world of work? Only partially!
Many new functions make Windows 98 a more stable operating system than its predecessor in the 95 version. Unfortunately, the overall situation does not look very good for the sleek new Windows either. Crashes due to driver problems, the famous screen freezing and blue screens - this is also a sad reality with the new Windows, but this does not mean that it crashes permanently. Only if a program becomes unstable does it drag your operating system down with it.
How secure is Windows 98? An insight into the security features
Most users still put computer security first. They want absolute and permanent protection for their files, programs and settings. Attacks from outside, e.g. from hackers or unauthorized persons, should also be fended off just as successfully as protection from other people tampering with their PC.
The password properties of Windows 98 (as with 95) are a laudable approach, but totally pointless. A click on Cancel in this password dialog gives every user complete access to the computer. The creation of several separate user accounts is still reserved for Windows NT systems.
Encrypting files is also a dream that does not come true with Win98. Anyone who is looking for security is completely wrong with Windows 98 and should make friends with the professional operating systems.
Conclusion: Is Windows 98 suitable for you?
This question is very easy to answer. If you have your computer at home and you enjoy watching movies, playing computer games, listening to music or browsing the Internet as well as working on common office applications, Windows 98 is highly recommended. The speed and functions are more than sufficient for this and for most common programs.
Every professional should think carefully about buying Win98. The stability and security leave a lot to be desired and the network functions are very limited, which is why Windows 2000/XP would be more suitable here.
If you have now decided on Windows 98, read here how to install it: Windows 98 Installation - Understandable Step by Step Guide.
This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.
On Windows Tweaks you will find time-saving tech guides for PC, software & Microsoft. For a stress-free digital everyday life. Already we have been "tweaking" Windows since 1998 and just won't stop!
