Editorial Review
Microsoft Windows 98 has quickly become the standard operating system for the vast majority of (non-Macintosh) personal computer owners. If you're thinking about upgrading from Windows 95, or adding Windows 98 on to a multi-OS platform, you'll get a comfortable, fairly intuitive graphical user interface, with point-and-click simplicity.
The biggest (and most controversial) feature of Windows 98 is its deep Internet integration. The Internet Explorer browser bundled with Windows 98 pops up constantly, inviting you to connect to the Internet and surf the Web quickly and easily. All the plug-ins you need are supported, and for folks who don't want a high level of under-the-hood control of their OS and Internet software, the stability of the combo can't be beat. In fact, diehard Netscape users often don't uninstall Internet Explorer from Windows 98 because the program is so deeply integrated in the OS.
Windows 98 has all the features of Windows 95, but some have been retooled, renamed, and spruced up. Perhaps the nicest improvement about Windows 98, though, is its use of a better file allocation system, enabling much more efficient use of hard drive space. Windows 98 supports the most widely used software programs, peripherals, and hardware, and it comes standard on most new PCs in the United States.
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Customer Reviews
Windows 2000 or XP is much better! 
2004-10-10
Windows 98 is much better than Windows 95.
2000 or XP is really the way to go if you have the hardware for it.
Windows 98 SE 
2004-10-02
I ordered this product on a Monday and received that week on Friday. Shipping was on time and the shipper even sent an email to let me know he received my request for the item.
Very Good!
Instability is my middle name... Shhh.... Don' tell a soul! 
2004-04-02
I was completely in the unknown in how to buy Pc's back in the day (2001). I unfortunately bought a HP Pavilion computer loaded with a Windows 98se. The operating system is unstable because it freezes if you run too many programs. It also doesn't have a "eye-candy" interface with the fancy metallic stream-lined toolbars, [see mac os x if you want to know better], if you care. Overall, if you're tight on the budget and can't afford a Apple Macintosh like me, you're stuck with Microsoft. Its a cheap, unstable O.S made WAAAY too fast without care, for a massive population. Get an apple if you want a life-time reliable computer, because if you're stuck with a microsoft windows computer, you'll be changing your computer every 2 to 3 years BECAUSE THE OS WILL BURN UP LIKE A SHRAPNEL!.
Great shopping 2003-04-17
Seller was very fast and efficient. I would deal with him again.
He was exceptionally helpful with my questions regarding the product that I purchased from him. A GREAT GUY!
Great service 2003-03-31
Very prompt and helpful. I would purchase from him again. He was fast, efficient and helpful.
MacBook 98 
2008-06-02
Not bad. Windows 98 will work on most modern Intel computers. It can run both the old and new applications for the most part. Go to CNET.com if you have driver issues.
Sucks 2008-05-09
This is still the windows operating used today just now it's called Vista. Same crashing, bugs, bloatware and horrible performance.
Still the BEST Microsoft operating system around! 2008-04-28
This is by far the best operating system that Microsoft has ever created. I don't know why some of these reviews are complaining of problems. I use this operating system on most of my computers; as soon as I buy a system I immediately format the hard drive and load Windows 98 SE. In 10 years I have never had a problem. Most of the problems that I read are attributed to manufacturer hard coding for a particular operating system, and simple hardware problems.
Windows 98SE stopped problems that occurred in Win95 where a program could freeze your system. Even that Win95 later became available in Fat32, the first versions were in Fat16. Win98 started out using Fat32.
Also, the reason why it is touted as the best gaming system still out there is simple. It takes up less memory and hard drive space to operate. All later operating systems produced by Microsoft are extremely resource intensive. One last note, all modern viruses are being created for the new operating systems. Therefore, Windows 98 SE is safer, faster, and more reliable than ever. Good luck.
Windows 98SE is probably Windows' best overall OS to date 2006-09-24
After reading just some of the 'horror stories' of Windows 98SE written here, I have to say BUNK! I've used Windows 98 since it was introduced, upgrading from Windows 95. I upgraded to Win98SE when the Second Edition became available. I Still use Windows 98SE today.
I have used this OS on countless laptops/notebooks, and Desktop and Tower PCs in various makes and models: IBM, Toshiba, Compaq, and even generic self-built systems using a plethora of hardware.
It isn't that I haven't used other Windows systems such as 2000 ME, XP and XP Professional, because I have. It is my standard practice, that unless I am selling a system to a client that wants a later operating system, I will re-partition the Hard Drives and reformat it and then install Windows 98SE in its place. It is the most widely acceptable OS that I know of today that runs almost all current software programs on the market today. I use Windows 98SE to create DVD videos, to run blue tooth networking devices between various computers (also running the WIN98SE platform), and almost 365 days out of every year, the system works flawlessly. I have also used the WIN98SE network support to create 10/100 wired networks -- although I prefer Blue Tooth's wireless capability.
Again, I simply cannot believe some of the horror stories bantered around here by so-called reviews of Windows 98SE. While it is still available, I highly recommend that if you are looking for a great, stable operating system for a used or new computer, that you consider the many advantages of Windows 98SE. Frank Reichert (frank.reichert@excite.com)
too unstable! 2004-10-31
I have used most of Microsoft's operating systems released since 1995 (95A, 95B, NT, 98, 98SE, 2000, and XP), and Windows 98SE seems to have the most bugs. I have installed Win 98SE on about 6 different computers, and have had one or more of the following difficulties on each machine:
1) I was already having problems while installing it. For example, when the installation was 99% complete (i.e. after almost an hour of hard work!), it gave me a "Windows protection" error, which prevented the computer from starting up. It took me a while to figure out how to get around that.
2) When I installed other programs, I sometimes got error messages at the end of installation, though the programs seemed to run okay afterward.
3) When I run many programs simultaneously, the computer crashes easily.
4) About 4 out of 10 times I shut down the computer, it freezes and I have to turn it off by pressing the power button!
Thus, if your computer can support Win 2000 or XP (i.e. if it's fast enough and the hard drive has enough space), avoid 98SE at all cost! Not only Win 2000/XP rarely have the above problems, but some of the latest software (e.g. Microsoft Office 2003) requires at least Win 2000 and won't run on 98/98SE. In addition, if I am not mistaken, only Win 2000 Service Pack 4 or Win XP Service Pack 1 or 2 can natively support hard drives bigger than 137 GB. Another (minor) inconvenience is that for hard drives between 64 and 137 GB, you need to get a special, free update from Microsoft if you want Windows 98/98SE to recognize the full capacity of the drive.
However, if you must use either Win 98 or 98SE, Win 98SE is the better choice because certain programs are supported only by the former but not the latter, e.g. Acrobat Reader 6 and Windows Media Player 9, and many USB devices I have used are supported by 98SE but not by 98.
