Microsoft has remained at the top of the personal computer industry. It is the bar that other companies in their field must measure up to. The strong hold Microsoft has established is due in great part to the strength and popularity of their operating systems. Over the past year Microsoft has released Windows 2000, a network based OS to replace older Windows NT systems. For the home user Microsoft has released Windows ME (Millennium Edition) on September 14, 2000. Windows ME is a replacement for Windows 95 and 98. Although Windows Millennium Edition looks quite similar at a glance to Windows 98, it incorporates many improvements that are quite useful.

             Windows 98 and ME share the same GUI (Graphic User Interface) that Microsoft has used since Windows 95. The task bar and desktop remain as they were, as does the start menu. Commands used in 98 are also used for ME such as Ctrl + Alt + Del to bring up the task manager. An inexperienced user could easily go from 98 to ME without even realizing the operating system had changed. An important feature for any new operating system is its compatibility with prior systems" software. Windows ME is no exception to this, programs whether they are games or office software work as they did in Windows 98.

             There are many differences between Windows 98 and Windows ME. These differences can be broken into hardware and software categories. Hardware means how the operating system reads and uses the actual components of the computer. This includes hard drives, CD-ROMs, Floppy Drives, as well as RAM (Read Access Memory), and expansion cards (modems, sound card, video card, etc.). Any program or other material on a drive can sum up software. Anything from an operating system to a computer game falls into the category of software.

             Windows ME has introduced many easier methods to hook up and use hardware on a PC compared to Windows 98. Microsoft has expanded their possibilities for their users through Windows ME.