The main difference is that Windows NT (and 2000) are 32-bit operating systems and able to apply 'pre-emptive multitasking', which means that applications will run in protected memory areas without interfering with each other. In other words, if one application hangs due to a general protection fault, it won't make the operating system or other applications hang. Up to a point this is also true for Windows 95 and 98, but they also support 'co-operative multitasking' for running older 16-bit applications (read: Windows 3.1 or DOS applications). Windows NT can also run most 16-bit applications, but does this, by way of the 'Virtual Dos Machine', in protected mode.
So Windows NT is more stable than Windows95/98, but in most cases also slower and less userfriendly. Windows 2000 is still slower than Windows 98, which is probably why this version will coexist with 2000. But what is 'slower' if you regularly have to restart because of an invalid page fault?
Kernel crashes do occur but are rare in Windows NT, and they will be just as rare or even more so in Windows 2000. We would recommend you to have some patience though and not take refuge to NT 4.0 if you are a home user, because it will seem a cumbrous system if you are used to Windows 95/98, and possible problems will be more difficult to handle. If you are interested in running Windows 2000, be sure to have at least 64Mb RAM and a 300MHz processor, and wait untill the official release--don't be tempted to order the bèta-version (unless you love trouble, being just the kind of person bèta-versions are released for).
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