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WINDOWS 98: NEW ACCESS FEATURES

Moti Krauthamer
Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, WA

Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system is designed to make the PC work better by improving computer performance and making it easier to access the Internet and keep it running in top form. With Windows 98, the PC "plays" better via support for the latest graphics, sound, and multimedia technologies, easy addition and removal of peripheral devices, and by bringing TV to the user's computer. This version of the Microsoft operating system builds on features introduced with Windows® 95, and maintains the best support for older Windows-based applications and technologies. Specifically, Windows 98 allows the PC user to:

• Browse their computer and the Internet with Internet Explorer, giving them one-click access to Windows or the Web
• Communicate via Outlook Express e-mail, Microsoft Chat, NetMeeting conferencing, and Windows Media Player
• Work faster through performance improvements in getting started, shutting down, and in between
• Tune their computer through automatic maintenance and new help and support options
• Have fun with entertainment features involving TV, DVD, multimonitor support, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology that makes it easier to add and remove peripheral devices

PC users want to enjoy all the Internet has to offer--surfing the Web for information, shopping for products and services online, hanging out in newsgroups, and chatting with friends and family via e-mail. With the Internet features built into Microsoft® Windows® 98, Microsoft has tried to make it easier to find the information needed, whether it's on the computer's hard drive, a local area network, or the Internet. Key improvements include the following:

• Web-Aware User Interface-lets the user access information regardlesss of its location.
• Information Delivery-brings the information to the user, rather than the user having to look for it.
• Smarter Browsing-the user doesn't have to "remember" Web addresses or file locations, Internet Explorer does it.
• Easy Internet Connections-helps the user find an Internet service provider or set up their existing account.

With the rapid growth of the Internet, PC users want to be sure they're fully experiencing the rich multimedia content available today, and maybe even create some of their own. Microsoft® Windows® 98 offers a full set of Internet communication tools that let the user experience some of the more sophisticated options available through the Internet, such as full-featured e-mail and news reading and quality audio and video content. Users can even create their own Web site--complete with graphics--to post on the Web and share with family and friends. Windows 98 includes the following Internet communication and collaboration tools:

• OutlookTM Express--a full-featured e-mail and news-reading program.
• Microsoft Chat--a family of chat technologies using text, avatars, and 3D environments.
• NetMeetingTM Conferencing Software--the complete collaboration tool, letting users hold a "virtual meeting," sharing files, programs, even video and audio over the Internet.
• Microsoft Windows Media Player--a multimedia player capable of receiving live or pre-recorded audio and video transmissions on the Web.
• FrontPage® Express--an easy-to-use Web page editor and publishing tool.
• Personal Web Server--an easy way to publish pages straight to the Web.

Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system improves the computer's performance and provides automated tools that make it easy to keep the PC in tip-top shape. The latest enhancements include:

• Simple, streamlined setup. Get up and running more quickly using a faster, more reliable setup.
• Quicker launch. A smarter operating system cuts the time it takes to open and close programs.
• FAT32. Put more of the computer's hard-disk space to work with the improved File Allocation Table (FAT).
• Faster shutdown. The new shutdown protocol in Windows 98 shuts the computer down quickly, reliably, and safely.

Computers run best with an occasional tune-up. Microsoft® Windows® 98 includes a variety of features that helps the user keep the PC running smoothly and efficiently. From helping the user learn how to use Windows 98 to making it easier to keep up to date, these features make it possible to get the most out of the PC:

• Windows Maintenance Wizard. A tool that schedules regular system tune-ups.
• System File Checker. A tool that restores corrupted or modified operating-system files.
• Troubleshooting Windows 98. A set of tools for troubleshooting or resolving common operating-system problems.
• Power-management improvements. A group of pre-arranged power-management schemes (power settings) that make the computer run more efficiently, based on how the user typically uses it.
• Accessibility Wizard. A tool that guides the user in setting options that adapt Windows 98 to his/her needs and preferences.
• Windows Update. The online extension of Windows 98, providing the latest operating system updates and technical support information.

Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system transforms an ordinary computer into an advanced entertainment center by taking advantage of a range of new-generation hardware accessories and graphical enhancements. PC users can enjoy desktop computer games with arcade-style amenities--eye-popping special effects, dazzling color, and surround sound. Users can even watch full-length movies or television programs right on their computer. Windows 98 provides a more exciting and satisfying multimedia and gaming experience by supporting the following capabilities and technologies:

• Watch TV on the computer. Install a TV tuner card on the Windows 98-based computer and the user can watch not only standard TV, but also new programs with interactive content.
• Adding accessories. Windows 98 supports the Universal Serial Bus (USB), which makes setting up hardware accessories as easy as plugging in a coffee pot.
• Multiple Monitor Display Support. A single Windows 98-based computer can support up to nine monitors.
• DVD support. This optical-disc storage technology encompasses audio, video, and computer data resulting in theater-quality video--including full-length films--on the computer.
• Display enhancements. High-performance, component-level technology supports exceptionally sharp 3-D graphics.
• Support for MMX, AGP, and DirectX 5.0. These technologies form the foundation of the latest generation of multimedia and computer-game enhancements.

Windows 98 is designed with the goal of making computers easier to use for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. It has several new accessibility features in addition to those already present in Windows 95. The new features are based on input from users with disabilities and the organizations representing them, workers in the rehabilitation field, and software developers who create products for this market. New accessibility features include the following:

• Accessibility Wizard makes it easier for users and administrators to set up accessibility options by selecting from examples instead of having to change numeric values or individual settings in Control Panel.
• Magnifier displays an enlarged portion of your screen in a separate window. Please note: Magnifier is not a replacement for the full-featured magnifiers available from other software companies.
• New Pointers include three sizes in white, black or one that changes color in order to heighten the contrast with the background.
• High Contrast Schemes are available in greater number and variety than the color schemes in Windows 95.

In addition, Windows 98 contains the following features carried over from Windows 95:

• Size/Color of Navigation Elements benefit users with low vision or color blindness because they can change the size, contrast and/or color of window titles, scroll bars, menu text, and other elements. In addition, the mouse pointer can be enlarged, animated, and made more high-contrast.
• Special Keys allow users with limited mobility to access an array of useful features in Windows. StickyKeys enable users who type with one finger or a head-or-mouth-stick to press two or more keys simultaneously. FilterKeys disregard keystrokes not held down for a specified length of time. ToggleKeys make the computer emit a beep whenever the Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock keys are pressed. And SerialKeys let users control a PC using alternative or augmentative communication devices.
• Sound Enhancements in the form of ShowSounds and Windows Chat. ShowSounds allow applications to show captions for sounds whenever an application has added captions. The Windows Chat utility enables up to eight users to hold a conversation via networked computers, which is useful for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
• User Profiles enable people to customize Windows with their own preferences and then retain that customization the next time they start the computer.

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