If your doubt is about compatibility for sharing, files trhough zip, CDRWs, folppys, etc. you won't have problems. I do that. Maybe you have to be sure about the stability of Me on the new PC. As I know, manufacturers built their PCs with WinMe because is the best option now. Problems with Me are with upgrades on old PCs, because you need to get drivers for Me, and probably they doesn´t exist. Mi Dell works fine with Me, and I can share files with my Compaq Win98. You will have te be sure if your HP Printer has the driver for WinMe.

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Thats the point! Knowone should have to be anything! You need to administer these machines. People simply want to use them. Taking all sorts of time to,"FIGURE THINGS OUT" is not popular for the avrage user!

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Just another comment just reading the others. I run ME on two systems PI 166 and on PIII 450 both without problems. At the moment some little details in my network but it is nothing big. Don't forget when you scroll to all these pages that wordlwide people react. You know how many people have ME? Me also not, if your neighbour had troubles with his car, is that a reason to order another one because yours is from the same brand? Nope, so just go ahead with Win ME and don't worry, besides that i guess Dell offers support also. Just an idea, is it not wiser (and a lot cheaper) to go to a store and let one build exactly the way you want it?

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Mike, having windows ME factory installed on a new computer does not guarantee its functionality... compaq is sendig flyers with their new computers equipped with windows ME that you will have problems connecting to AOL... you will get the flyer AFTER the computer is paid for and delivered...it is like buing a new car and after the car dealer gives you the keys he will say to you... "by the way... you might have problems starting the car"... we would not tolerate such behaviour to any other industry.... Ervin...becaues many people dont complain , does not mean that they dont have problems... they just go on a guilt trip about their hardware and drivers... and are are searching for service packs... new video cards... new modems... more memory....they are affraid to addmit that they dont understand the "rocket sience" of the operating system... and when it is "rocket science" it MUST be good... and the fault can be only in us... Regards Miro

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I SUGGEST YOU USE WIN 98 IF YOU ARE USING AOL AS YOUR ISP OR WAIT! BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO CALL AOL A THOUSAND TIMES AND IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T SO YOU MAKE THE CHOICE!

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EJ--I did call Dell and they no longer have WIN 98 available. However, you can order a PC with Win2000Professional, which adds a few $$$, but it's (supposedly) a better alternative to ME. To $$%%%@*(--you totally understand what I'm talking about. I am probably an average to less-than-average word processor who just wants to sit at the PC and have it work the way I need it to. I don't want to be bothered with hangs and crashes, etc. I think Microsoft is a horrible product (and always have)for the non-technical operator. I feel like they know exactly what they're doing when they release inferior products to the marketplace that force the general public to buy the "fixes" or replace their PCs with the hopes their PCs will once again work (at least for a week or two). My main reason for buying a Dell is simply because it's a more reliable PC and their tech support is outstanding. Most of my dilemmas are software related or peripheral related that Dell doesn't really even support. BUT, since they know most people are not "techy" people, they bend over backwards to help. I have used IBM and Compaq--both had AWFUL tech support and both computers CRASHED constantly. Not to mention they have proprietary parts, so replacing bad hardware cost me way more than my current Dell has. To date--my current Dell is 3 years old and has NEVER crashed! I think that's a record!haha So, to Erwin--that's why I won't buy a system from a store--they won't customize it any better than I will get from Dell and the price difference is minimal. I don't mind paying a little more $$ if the system will be better in the long run. My big question was with the known problems of WIN ME--and now I know I can get Win2000Pro, which seems to have fewer complaints. Bottom line--if we're talking Microsoft operating sytems--there really is no winner. I have heard Linux is a much better O/S--but for people like me with limited knowledge--I'd be lost learning another system, not to mention, many fewer people to tap for info. Microsoft is counting on the mentality of people like me--so I guess I'm just feeding into them! Thanks all who have replied thus far--it's been very enlightening and helpful. I'm VERY open to all opinions and suggestions, and I'm not trying to pit one operating system against another (or PC for that matter). I'm simply trying to educate myself to the problems I'm likely to face when I purchase a new PC with a different operating system than my current PC. As long as it's a Microsoft operating system (any MS operating system), I'm sure there will never be a lack of opinions or problems. THANKS AGAIN everyone.

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you might consider having a local shop build you a custom system. any reliable mom and pop shop can build a better pc for less than dell, gateway, compac, hp, etc. i build pc's for myself, friends, and family. buying pieces-parts from local shops gives me the advantage of having my vendors within "choking distance" so to speak :-) as a rule of thumb "the more something is advertized on tv, the bigger ripoff it is"

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Hi Mari, Firstly, I would recommend staying away from the Dell 8100. The Pentium 4 chip in there will cost you a lot more, and not offer you any better performance than much cheaper chips on the market. Dell uses slow (PC600)RDRAM with some of their 8100 systems, which hurts performance even more. For more information on the Pentium 4/Dell 8100 see: http://www.emulators.com/pentium4.htm http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q1/010130/index.html As for the Windows ME vs 98 issue - I have tried clean installs of both on my Dell and have found 98 to be faster, less bloated and more stable than ME. Windows 2000, for most purposes, is a far superior OS to both of them; but it depends on what you want to do. For games, Win2000 isn't as fast or as supported as the other two, and there is other non-gaming software that won't run on it. Windows ME, when it comes down to it, is pretty similar to 98, and not really much worse when installed on a new PC. As an upgrade to 98, it is not very good though. Good luck with your new pc, From Simon

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hello peppl i have somthing to add to this toppic i've got the basic win ME the $80.00 well on the shelf right besid it thers a $140.00 upgrade dose any one have it and is it as messed as the normal (chepper) one ive been running 98 O/S for ever never had a prob then i went to 2000 professionals all it done was caues errors so i went to ME it's not as bad lost of driver porblems but to me win 98 will always work better and 3.1 will be the eaysest to use i miss file manneger LOL ¿¿¿???

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