Interface Changes

If you've ever messed with Windows 2000, you'll be familiar with the Windows ME Explorer. The Start Menu, now compresses your installed applications, and initially only shows the ones you use most often. If you have TONS of software installed, this can make the Start Menu much easier to navigate. And it only takes one click to re-expand the menu to show everything. 

By default, the Windows Explorer can now show thumbnail views of graphic images, a handy little feature available by just highlighting an image file. The "Dial Up Networking" and "Printers" folders have been moved to the Control Panel, and off the "My Computer" window, which is really where they belong although this is just a cosmetic change. 

The new skin able Windows Media player is included with Windows ME, offering an expanded user interface, and increased customization, somewhat akin to Winamp although no where near as elegantly handled. 

Internet Explorer 5.5 is the IE bundled into Windows ME, yet it appears little has changed. Outlook Express by default now auto activates the MSN chat client, a somewhat annoying feature that can be turned off. There is a new "print-preview" function in IE5.5, but it appears that most of the changes with IE 5.5 are under the hood. This can be downloaded for Win9x OS's as well, so it's not an exclusive feature. 

One thing that has been thoroughly overhauled in Windows ME, is the Windows HELP system. To be brief, the new Help system is actually helpful! Not only is it easier to navigate, it automatically updates itself when you update the OS at Windows Update. The help navigator is completely different, and appears to be html based. The overall usefulness of this tool has increased significantly, but it still only can go so far in helping diagnose problems. 

To sum up, the interface changes are rather esoteric and evolutionary, rather than being revolutionary. In the case of the new Windows Media player and IE 5.5, these can be downloaded from Microsoft for Win98/SE anyway. 

Next page: Under the hood

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