Microsoft Ends Support of Operating Systems Windows 98, Win98 SE, and ME as of July 11, 2006.

The Word has been made official in accordance with their Lifecycle Policy, and we shall accept it…I believe this means that there will be no more technical support available and no more patches, fixes, or security updates made for these operating systems. Some information for Win98, Win98SE, and ME will, however, be included on the Microsoft website at Microsoft’s Support Product Solution Center. IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS and you plan to continue using it, PLEASE GET ALL THE AVAILABLE UPDATES you may want prior to these dates. If you need help, post your questions on ICON’S Forum or call or email an ICON officer.

One option is upgrading your computer’s memory and operating system to Windows XP. Recommended requirements for Windows XP include: 300 MHz processor, 128MB or more ram, 1.5 G available hard drive space, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, keyboard & mouse, Video adapter & monitor with Super VGA (800 x600) or higher resolution, sound card, and speakers. In ICON’S Education library is a program that will check your system hardware and tell you if your computer can handle Windows XP. The updated version of Windows XP is the most stable of the Windows operating systems—has the fewest crashes and conflicts, the best recovery system, and the most drivers included. XP has been out about four or five years now, and Microsoft’s Vista operating system is due out early next year. Internet Explorer 7.0 Beta 2 version can be downloaded now. A few of our members are also using the Linux operating system, about which I know almost nothing.

With the lowest prices on new computers that I’ve EVER seen, this might be the time to make the jump to a new computer. Laptops can be purchased for under $500 and desktop computers for under $300 complete with printers.

See you at the next meeting.

Mary Phillips