Updated: July 11, 2020 (June 19, 2000)

Windows Me Hints at Future

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Windows Me, the latest product in Microsoft’s Windows 95/98 line, is planned for release at the end of June 2000. Microsoft doesn’t recommend it for businesses, and its biggest new features-Windows Media Player 7, the Movie Maker digital video editor, and new photo scanning and manipulation features-are aimed squarely at the consumer. However, Windows Me does offer a peek at new technologies for improving reliability, exploiting simplified hardware, and setting up “unmanaged” networks, all of which might interest some corporate customers. Some of these features will show up in Microsoft’s next business operating system, Windows 2000 “Whistler,” planned for 2001.

Reliability: System Restore and Windows File Protection

Windows Me’s most intriguing new feature is System Restore. This feature allows a user to roll back changes to a PC’s operating system configuration, undoing changes (such as installing a buggy application) that have damaged the system. Users can back up to particular dates and times using a calendar-like control applet.

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