Microsoft Announces Immediate Availability of Windows 98 Second Edition

REDMOND, Wash., June 10, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of Microsoft® Windows® 98 Second Edition, the update to the popular Windows 98 operating system that offers consumers the latest Internet, home networking and hardware technologies, all within a fast and reliable environment. Starting today, Windows 98 Second Edition will be broadly available in retail outlets including Best Buy Company Inc., CompUSA Inc., OfficeMax Inc. and Sam’s Club, as well as local retailers. In addition, top PC manufacturers such as Compaq Computer Corp, Dell Computer Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. are now offering Windows 98 Second Edition with their consumer PCs.

“By combining the leading functionality of Windows 98 with the latest in Internet and hardware advancements, Windows 98 Second Edition provides the perfect opportunity for customers using Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 to experience a faster, easier, more reliable and more Internet-enabled PC,”
said David Cole, vice president of the Consumer Windows Division at Microsoft.
“A Windows-based PC is a great investment for consumers today, and we look forward to continuing to deliver enhancements to Windows that empower and delight consumers.”

“We’ve been impressed with the customer response we’ve experienced so far surrounding Windows 98,”
said Larry Mondry, executive vice president of merchandising at CompUSA.
“It has been one of the most popular software products we have ever carried. We are very excited to be able to offer customers who have not recently upgraded easy access to the latest and greatest technologies with Windows 98 Second Edition.”

Also today, Microsoft is making the Windows 98 Second Edition updates available to existing customers of Windows 98 interested in obtaining this new functionality. They can order the Windows 98 Second Edition Updates CD-ROM from the Windows 98 Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/ .

Windows 98 Second Edition Delivers Enhanced Consumer PC Experience

Windows 98 Second Edition builds on the core technologies in Windows 98 to enhance the online experience and further enable a connected home, all within a fast and reliable environment. Specifically, Windows 98 Second Edition does the following:

  • Enhances the online experience. With the addition of Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 browser software, users can find information on the Web faster and easier than ever. Connecting with friends and family all over the world is also easier with the addition of NetMeeting® 3 videoconferencing software, which enables chatting and collaborating online. In addition, Windows 98 Second Edition includes Windows Media TM Player 6.1 to provide playback of popular multimedia formats, including streaming audio and video such as Windows Media, MP3 and more.

  • Enables a connected home. Windows 98 Second Edition offers a first step toward enabling a truly networked home with the introduction of Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). ICS is a set of advanced technologies that enable multiple computers to share a single connection to the Internet for simultaneous Internet access. In addition, consumers can connect more easily and use a wider range of devices such as digital camcorders with Windows 98 Second Edition because of its enhanced support for technologies such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394 and Device Bay, as well as broadband network connections.

  • Operates within a fast and reliable environment. Windows 98 Second Edition extends the existing performance benefits of Windows 98, including faster application loading and faster shut-down, to offer faster rendering of items with HTML content such as Web-enabled folders and Windows Help as a result of the integrated Internet Explorer 5 technologies. In addition, Windows 98 Second Edition includes the Windows 98 Service Pack 1, which addresses top issues, such as year 2000 updates, in existing features.

“We are embarking on an exciting path of developments to Windows for consumers,”
Cole said.
“Windows 98 Second Edition is an important step in our efforts to provide significant improvements in such areas as home networking, the online experience, digital media and entertainment, and PC simplicity.”

Pricing and Availability

Estimated retail pricing for Windows 98 Second Edition for users of Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 remains at $109 (U.S.), the current estimated retail price of Windows 98. Parties interested in estimated retail pricing in local currency in other countries should contact their local Microsoft subsidiary.

The Windows 98 Second Edition Updates CD-ROM for current users of Windows 98 can be obtained from the Windows 98 Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/ . In addition to receiving the updated code, users of Windows 98 who order Windows 98 Second Edition Updates will receive
“Windows 98 and the Internet,”
a book detailing the new features and benefits of Windows 98 Second Edition and the Internet. The cost of Windows 98 Second Edition Updates is $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

More information regarding Microsoft products and the year 2000 is available at http://www.microsoft.com/year2000/ or through your local Microsoft subsidiary.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows, NetMeeting and Windows Media 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.

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