How long can I use windows 98se another 10yrs.?

 

As long as you want - there are people still using DOS out there.

On the other hand, I don't know why anyone would want to use Win95/98/SE/ME when 2k and XP are out and fairly cheap.

 

I know I got my system fairly cheap
and it works great windows 98se..for
all I need it for..I know the better you want It the
more everything costs,I pretty much had to take what I get
To get the deal I got a bigger monitor NOT
But I hear what your saying..It looks like the prices will keep coming down all the time?

 

From my perspective, so long as it does what you want, keep it.

But you can upgrade for $100. XP is much nicer than the 98-98se bunch. Then there is Mandrake.

Hope this helps.

 

The upgrade packages I see are in the $160-200 range unless you go for the EOM upgrade.

I'm leery of an EOM upgrade. Are my fears misplaced?

As for how long? Yea, depends on what you want to do. I'm still using win98 on a rebuilt computer. However, some new software I will be using won't run on win98. So I have a choice - either use the software on our XP machine and switch between computers or upgrade. You'll be having to make the same decisions in a year or two.

 

Microsoft completely ends support for Win 98 on 1/16/2005. If you are a home user, this is probably not a big consideration, but there will be no fixes or vulnerability patches after that date. In other words, your system will continue to work indefinitely, but it may become less secure and more vulnerable to virus and hacker attacks, especially if you are connected to an "always on" internet connection like cable modem or DSL.

Purchase of an OEM operating system is permitted as long as a computer hardware purchase takes place at the same time. Operating systems are the only MS product that have this exception. Otherwise, OEM may not be purchased by anyone other than the system builder who is including it as part of a PC package. It also may not be transferred from one system to another.

Doug M.

 

Should have looked at pricing before I sent the last reply...

Upgrade to XP home edition retails for $99. Professional edition retails for $199. There isn't much margin on these so expect prices to be very close to MSRP.

If upgrading apeals to you, make sure to check compatibility of your PC with the new operating system. Some PC manufacturers will tell you that their system is optimized for a certain operating system and will not run as well on a different one. In my experience, that's often true.

Doug M.