By: Eugene Reyes

Before you trot off to stand in line at the local computer store to buy one of the first copies of Windows 2000, let's talk about this in basic terms.

First, it's important for you to understand that Windows 2000 is not an upgrade to Windows 98.  Instead, it's an upgrade to Windows NT 4.0 that gives you the look, feel, and ease of Windows 98--with the power of NT.

If you're looking for Microsoft's "true" upgrade to Windows 98, that comes later this year, with the release of Windows Millennium Edition.  Don't panic and upgrade to Windows 2000 now, thinking it's your only course of action.

Second, you need to understand that Windows 2000 isn't for everyone, not yet.  Windows NT was once only the domain of the heavy-duty corporate administrator or developer.

Today, Windows 2000 has evolved to make it much easier for the average user to perform the same basic functions they would on Windows 95/98.  Windows 2000 removes some of the NT headaches involved in installing hardware and playing many games.  But if your needs are simpler, it's more cost- and time-effective to run Windows 95/98.

Are you a good candidate for Windows 2000?  Ask yourself these seven questions.

1. Do I have the time?

With any new operating system comes a learning curve--and the inherent power of Windows 2000 means there is a lot under the hood.  If you don't have the time, why frustrate yourself?  However, if you've been using Windows 9x for years, then you'll feel right at home in Windows 2000.

2. Do I have the need?

This is a really good question, and a really good answer probably shouldn't be, "Because 2000 is the latest and greatest."  If you are currently satisfied with Windows 9x, wait on Windows 2000.  If you need to work with or support Windows 2000 at work, demand its stability on your machine, need its features now, or need to learn it for your continuing education, upgrading is a great idea.

3. Do I have the equipment?

If your poor PC is barely chugging along under Windows 95/98 because the hard drive is getting cramped, or memory is tight, or your system is showing signs of instability, upgrading to Windows 2000 isn't wise.  Windows 2000 looks like Windows 98, but has a lot more power beneath it.  Power needs resources.

Plan a serious hardware upgrade, looking at the requirements for running Windows 2000, then try Windows 2000 on a clean machine.  I recommend a Pentium 166 MMX with 64 MB RAM and 1 GB HD space free as the bare minimum for upgrading to Windows 2000.

Remember: If Windows is unstable, don't apply a new operating system on top of it to try to fix it.  It doesn't work.  That's like building a house on a crumbling foundation mired in mud.

4. Do I like to read and research (and only tweak once I read) in my quest to master my PC?

If your answer is no, then wait.

5. Do I know what to do if there's a problem, and Windows won't boot, or hardware isn't available, or Windows goes into Safe Mode?

Too many Windows 95/98 users, still fairly new to the process, try to fix almost any problem by reinstalling the operating system.  Or they re-format and then find themselves missing drivers.  There are usually better fixes available, particularly with Windows 98/98SE.  If system tools in Windows 98 stump you, Windows 2000 probably isn't a good match for you.

If you don't know what a boot or emergency disk is, if you don't understand the basics of troubleshooting, if you're prone to PC problems, better to wait.  Master Windows 95/98, then move on.

6. Do I have a desire to learn about networks and servers if needed?

If the word Ethernet makes you break out into cold sweats, forget Windows 2000.

The beauty and the power of Windows 2000 lies in what it does beyond the scope of using the desktop and programs, including:

• Professional networking and server operations
• Better handling of resources in running programs and multitasking
• More control over system settings and policies (more control always means more responsibility)
• Substantially better security

Face it, networks are becoming commonplace at home.  But you don't need Windows 2000 to have a fully functioning network if you already have Windows 98 SE.

7. What do I use my PC to accomplish?

If the answer is run simple applications on a single PC, or play every single game, Windows 98 will do all of that.

However, if you want to learn standard protocols and configurations, if you want to set up your own professional Web server, if you want to call more of your own shots in PC administration, if run multitask frequently, choose Windows 2000.

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