“…Windows 2000… ‘consumer’ edition, code-named Windows
Millennium. Microsoft shipped the beta 2 version to testers this
week. What we found, after a long installation and the expected
beta crashes, is a familiar-looking operating system with some
interesting new tools that were once limited to stand-alone
products. Some will like the new stuff, others will ignore it,
and most will be hard pressed to point out the differences between
this OS and Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition.”
“One new feature that seems to work as advertised is AutoUpdate.
While you surf the Web, this tool checks Microsoft’s site for any
updates your system can use. It downloads them in the background,
and a wizard asks if you want to install the updates. That
arrangement is the default, and hands-off people will like this
kind of automation. Others will be quick to turn it off, or switch
to an alternative method that lets you monitor what’s happening. We
found it worked without a hitch.”
“Millennium’s developers promise streamlined image acquisition
and editing through its Windows Image Acquisition technology. Using
WAI, you should be able to import directly from digital cameras and
scanners, provided that Windows drivers support the device.”