More than 75 scenarios that required a reboot in Windows NT Workstation 4.0 have been reduced to seven in Windows 2000. Theoretically, an employee can sit down at any company computer, anywhere in the world, and access his normal network privileges, directories and files. If one of his normal programs is not installed on the computer, it will install in the background. Through IntelliMirror, notebook computers will synchronize automatically while connected to the network. They will allow users to work on files, read Web sites or carry entire mapped drives offline when disconnected from the network.
Network administrators can control which directories and documents are readable offline.
We remain skeptical of Plug and Play for the PC, however, because of inconsistencies between vendors. Plug and play works some of the time, but often you will try to install incompatible devices that should work together but don't. This version of Windows continues to claim the ability to detect damaged or missing software and reinstall every program correctly. Windows Installer ensures that no resource is installed or removed unless the component that owns it is either installed or removed. An explanatory document on the Microsoft Web site walks you through the process.