Windows 3.1 and Windows NT System Application Comparison (100628)

SUMMARY

The "look and feel" of Windows NT is generally the same as that of Windows 3.1. Most of the applications were derived from their 16-bit counterparts and were changed only to reflect new functionality Windows NT provides. Print Manager is the major exception to this rule; it was modified from Windows 3.1 to provide cleaner and more consistent methods to install, administer, and query printers. The following text lists other major differences between applications:

Program Manager

The Windows NT Program Manager introduces the concept of common and personal groups. A common group is created by an administrator account when an administrator installs an application. A personal group is created when a user account installs an application or creates a group.

The Program Manager title bar lists the user name and the domain name to which the user has logged on.

Other minor differences include: The file menu has log-off and shutdown options. The Options menu allows the user to save Program Manager settings immediately rather than waiting until the user logs off.

Task Manager

The Task Manager has a new field, New Task, that enables the user to quickly start a new application. To start an application in Windows 3.1, you must choose Run from the File menu in File Manager or in Program Manager.

File Manager

File Manager contains a toolbar similar to that of the Windows for Workgroups File Manager. Because Windows NT has Microsoft Mail and security built in, these items always appear on the main menu. Also, the internal workings of File Manager were modified to exploit more than one thread. File Manager starts a thread to perform a network query and to format a disk while allowing the user to interact with the File Manager to perform other tasks simultaneously.

Print Manager

All query and manipulation functions related to printers and print jobs is consolidated into the Print Manager. You can install local or remote printers, connect printers to ports or network connections, query print job queues on local and remote printers, and pause, resume, and delete print jobs and printers. To access the Print Manager, choose the Printers icon in Control Panel.

Control Panel

The Control Panel contains several new icons. For example, the Cursors icon enables and selects animated cursors. The Ports icon provides information about the capabilities of serial ports and allows you to select a higher baud rate if the port supports it. Other icons support new features in Windows NT such as Devices, Server, Services, and UPS (uninterruptable power supply).

Accessories

The applications in the Program Manager Accessories group are essentially the same as those in Windows 3.1.