What's New in Windows 98 Second Edition

Microsoft^™ Windows^™  98 Second Edition is an update to the Microsoft Windows 98 operating system that enhances the leading consumer operating system with the latest Internet, home networking and hardware technologies.

For an overview of all the features of Windows 98, see the Windows 98 Second Edition Fact Sheet.

Windows 98 Second Edition improves Windows 98 by:
Making it work better by enhancing hardware support and improving the initial PC user experience.

Delivering home networking capabilities through Internet Connection Sharing, advanced technologies that enable multiple users to seamlessly and securely access the Web at the same time, using a single shared Internet connection.

Delivering an improved online experience with enhanced Internet browsing, conferencing and multimedia technologies that provide a faster and easier way to take advantage of all that the Internet has to offer. 

Key new features and enhancements in Second Edition include:
Internet Explorer 5, Microsoft's popular browser software, provides breakthroughs in Web performance, usability and flexibility. 

 Windows NetMeeting™ 3, the latest version of Microsoft's award-winning Windows-based conferencing software, brings Internet conferencing capability to consumers by offering an easier user interface, data conferencing security, enhanced standards support and more. 

Internet Connection Sharing, a set of advanced home networking technologies, enables multiple users to share a single connection to the Internet for simultaneous Internet access.

Windows Media™ Player 6.1, the latest version of Windows Media Player, enables playback of popular multimedia formats, including streaming media such as Windows Media, MP3 and more.

Enhanced IEEE 1394 support gives support for more devices, such as digital camcorders.

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) advancements deliver hardware optimizations and more granular control over settings on a device-class basis.

USB improvements include the capability to work with devices on a per-device basis rather than a per-port basis.

WDM modem support supports USB modems and enables hardware vendors to write a single WDM modem driver for Windows 98 and Windows 2000 Professional.

WebTV™ for Windows updates provide support for a broader array of analog television tuner cards and Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (AVTEF) standards for HTML-based enhanced programming.

DirectX™ API 6.1 delivers a variety of improvements to Windows multimedia technologies, including better audio and video synchronization.

Processor and motherboard optimizations for the latest hardware technologies, including Intel Pentium III, are featured.

Device Bay support enables a system to ship with Device Bay hardware.

Windows 98 Customer Service Pack addresses top issues in existing Windows 98 features, such as Windows 98 year 2000 updates

System Requirements for Windows 98 Second Edition Upgrade
Here's what you'll need to get up and running with the latest version of Windows 98:

• 486DX/66 MHz or higher processor
• 24mb of RAM; more memory improves performance
• Typical installation requires approximately 205 MB of available hard-disk space (includes 45 MB average for backup files during installation), but may range between 140 MB and 315 MB, depending upon system configuration and options selected
• CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive
• VGA or higher resolution monitor
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

• 14,400 or higher-baud modem or fax modem riequired for internet access
• Access to the internet through a service provider (a separate fee may be required)

For sound:

• Sound card with speakers or headphones, OR
• USB speakers (requires PC with USB support)

For DVD Video:

• DVD ROM Drive
• Compatible DVD decoder card or DVD decoder software

For Broadcast TV and Web reception:

• Compatible TV tuner card
• Pentium or higher processor
• Additional 65 MB of hard-disk space
• Reception depends on availability of broadcast sources in your area

For Internet Connection Sharing:

• Network connection between the connection host computer and other computer devices sharing internet access

Price and ordering information
Windows 98 Second Edition is available in a retail box as well as preinstalled on personal computers. Estimated retail pricing for Windows 98 Second Edition for Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 users is $109 (U.S.), the current estimated retail price of Windows 98. Current users of the Windows 98 operating system can receive the updated functionality by ordering Windows 98 Second Edition Updates on CD-ROM for $19.95 US ($34.95 CDN), plus shipping and handling.

Microsoft, Windows, NetMeeting, Windows Media, WebTV and DirectX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.