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For me, the big change came with Windows 2000. It had user benefits from 9x in a stable package. That was the first version that I can play games on and also le
by ptero 4y ago
For me, the big change came with Windows 2000. It had user benefits from 9x in a stable package. That was the first version that I can play games on and also leave it running for months, just like a Linux box.
- Wowfunhappy 4y agoCurious if you'd ever used a version of Windows NT prior to 2000? Since 2000 was part of the NT line, it might not be a fair comparison.
- zabzonk 4y agoi used several versions of nt prior to 2k - 2k was better than those in every respect.
- bombcar 4y agoWindows NT before 2000 had problems with games and such, 2000 worked well because most games were now working to target XP ( and 2k had better compatibility with 98 anyway).
- Dalewyn 4y agoWindows NT 4.0's problems with gaming have everything to do with only supporting DirectX up to version 3.0a. Yes, you read that right: DirectX 3.0a. Windows 2000 by contrast supported DirectX all the way through DirectX 9.0c, same as Windows XP, 98, and ME. This is why Windows 2000 could run games properly.
- jackvalentine 4y agoGaming on NT had a lot of compatibility issues and I don’t think MS ever released officially some of the Direct3D updates for NT.
- ptero 4y agoI did not use NT at home, but I occasionally used it at school. For me at that time, the ability to play games had been as strong a requirement as the ability to be stable and run word processing, email clients and VC++. So I would use Win95 and curse its (in)stability and reboot several times per day, but not switch to NT. Also, NT cost an arm and a leg for a student. Win2k was a huge improvement in every respect. My 2c.
- Wowfunhappy 4y agoDidn't Windows 2000 also cost an arm and a leg?
- ptero 4y agoThis is ancient memory for me, but it definitely didn't feel this way. Some plausible options are: (1) Win2k Home was much cheaper than Win2k Pro. Possibly an upgrade version was cheaper still. (2) I had a bootleg version (3) I started working for real money in 1999 so didn't care that much (4) An OEM CD came with the computer hardware kit.
- Wowfunhappy 4y agoOkay, well fwiw you made me curious enough to look this up: https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/microsoft-outlines-windows-2000-pricing/ https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/microsoft-outlines-w... > When it debuts in February, Windows 2000 Professional will sell for an estimated retail price of $319, the same as its predecessor, Windows NT 4 Workstation. Note that there was no "home" edition of Windows 2000. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_2000 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_2000 So it's one of 2, 3, or 4.
- ptero 4y agoThank you for the info! As I said, I definitely remember Win2k, but not how I got it. My guess is OEM CD to be most likely, then bootleg, then full retail. Another option was student bookstore. Microsoft sold its wares at universities at steep discounts. Edit: a sister comment jogged my memory. I bet it was either a giveaway by an EECS dept or a heavily discounted disc from the university bookstore. Which is why I do not remember paying a noticeable sum for it.
- vondur 4y agoI loved NT4 and used it for a while. However the lack of USB support forced me to Win2k.
- MiscIdeaMaker99 4y agoI remember attempting to run Windows NT 4, but it lacked a lot of hardware support. Windows 2000 Professional fixed a lot of that. I consider Windows 2000 to be the first stable AND usable (for a desktop) version of Windows.
- wkat4242 4y agoThe funny thing though is that Windows 2000 was never meant for consumers playing games. They would have to put up with Windows ME, at least in Microsoft's eyes. Which was the first version you could play games on and leave it running for hours between crashes, lol. I also used Win 2k Pro and it was an amazing leap coming from 98, yes. My laptop came with ME but it sucked so bad I changed it after a week.
- hulitu 4y ago> ... Windows ME ... running for hours between crashes It depended on the definition of "hours" but sometimes the "hours" were very short.
- CUViper 4y agontcompatible.com was a great resource for this - I spent a lot of time in those forums.