Nonetheless, the stability of Windows 2000 is an improvement on NT 4 and a big leap over Windows 98 on the desktop, users say. And that, for some users, is reason enough to move forward.
Windows 2000 Time Line:
Since the launch of Windows 2000 in February last year, Microsoft has been busy introducing and announcing a host of new products that extend and build on the new operating system.
April 1999
Windows 2000 Professional Beta 3
February 2000
Windows 2000 Professional: workstation
Windows 2000 Server: entry-level server; introduces Active Directory
Windows 2000 Advanced Server: clustering and multiprocessing support
August 2000
Exchange 2000 Server: messaging and collaboration, first application to require Windows 2000 and Active Directory
SQL Server 2000: with XML support
September 2000
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server: enterprise level, with multiprocessing, clustering and load balancing; sold only by server vendors
Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
Host Integration Server 2000: integration with older host systems
November 2000
Commerce Server 2000: online business applications
SQL Server 2000, Windows CE
December 2000
Whistler Beta 1; next major release of Windows 2000; end of Win9x line; introduction of new 64-bit version
BizTalk Server 2000: XML-based business processes
Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000: Firewall, Web caching Q1 2001
Application Center Server 2000: Application scalability, redundancy
SharePoint Portal Server: Document management
Whistler renamed Windows XP Q2 2001
Mobile Information 2001 Server: wireless access 2nd half 2001
