PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

PC 2001 System Design Guide

The PC 2001 System Design Guide (PC 2001) is, according to Intel and Microsoft, the final document in this series. In many respects, PC 2001 is more an addendum to PC 99 than a self-supporting document. Many PC 2001 specifications direct the reader to PC 99 and state only that the PC 2001 requirements are identical to those of PC 99, or are similar to those of PC 99 but with minor changes specified. The major differences between PC 99 and PC 2001 are:

• PC 2001 eliminates the strong emphasis of PC 99 on market classifications—Basic PC, Consumer PC, Entertainment PC, and so on—although it does specify different requirements for workstations and Mobile PCs where appropriate.

• PC 2001 no longer categorizes components and functionality as “recommended,” instead specifying only those that are required. A component or function that is not required is not mentioned. Some requirements, identified as “if implemented,” are conditional. If a manufacturer provides that component or feature, it must comply with the specified standard.

• PC 2001 eliminates some former requirements because Microsoft and Intel deem them no longer important to the industry or “no longer relevant in defining the optimal user experience with the Windows operating system,” whatever that means.

• PC 2001 defines requirements intended to support new and forthcoming technologies implemented in recent Microsoft operating systems, including Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows XP.

• PC 2001 places a greatly ...