What Windows 2000 Does for Laptop Users

Windows 2000 Professional is the first operating system from Microsoft to address most of the requirements of laptop users. Like NT 4.0, it provides significantly higher reliability and security than Windows 95 and 98. Like Windows 95 and 98, it supports the latest hardware devices and provides power management and plug and play out of the box, without difficult-to-maintain third-party add-ons. It thus gives companies a chance to standardize on a single operating system that works reasonably well on laptops as well as desktops.

Why Laptops Matter

Laptops are an important part of Microsoft’s strategy for mobile workers. The number of workers who travel as part of their jobs continues to grow-International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that the number of mobile workers in the United States will grow 32% over the next four years. In addition, some companies (such as Intel) are issuing laptops to employees who don’t travel so that they can take work to meetings or home. Laptops will remain the most popular mobile computing tool for the next few years, even as smaller devices (such as hand-held computers and smart phones) continue to gain users.