• Microsoft to launch X-Box next month
  Time: 16:01 EST/21:01 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft will unveil its would-be PlayStation 2 killer, X-Box, next month during the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, California.

  At least that's what UK trade title CTW is predicting. It reckons Bill Gates will play second fiddle to Lionhead co-founder (and lookalike to The Register's own Mike Magee) Peter Molyneux who will be on stage to demo his upcoming online multiplayer Black and White running on the X-Box.

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• First Win2000 Fix Out
  Time: 15:59 EST/20:59 GMT News Source: Wired News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Just one day after trumpeting Windows 2000 as the solution for business, Microsoft issued its first update to the OS that adds compatibility with 45 popular games. The compatibility update also includes one hardware fix, adding support for Iomega Zip drives connected to the parallel port.

  Company officials said the patch will help Windows 2000 work better with applications. Microsoft’s own FrontPage 98, a Web page building application, is on the list of programs that are helped by the patch. But the bulk of the list is mostly games, such as Creature 3, F22 Lightning III, and Mageslayer.

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• French accuse Microsoft of working with U.S. agents
  Time: 15:58 EST/20:58 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  According to wire news service AFP, a French intelligence report has accused U.S. secret agents of working with Microsoft to develop software allowing Washington to spy on communications around the world. The Strategic Affairs Delegation report, quoted in the newsletter Le Monde du Renseignement, claims agents from the U.S. National Security Agency helped install secret programmes on Microsoft software. According to the report there was a 'strong suspicion' of a lack of security fed by insistent rumours about the existence of spy programs on Microsoft, and by the presence of NSA personnel in Bill Gates' development teams.

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• MS thumps tub for Win2k rollout
  Time: 15:56 EST/20:56 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Fashionwise, the big Win2k launch was a sports jacket event for the Microsoft stars, but there was an uneasy balance between formality and fun at the carefully scripted event in San Francisco. Some 5.000 people were present, which just happens to be the number of Microsoft staff involved in creating the $1 billion product (or possibly the $2 billion product - strange inflationary forces seem to be at work in MS presentations).

  The biggest launch party, however, was in Philadelphia, prompting a city councilman and a senator to introduce resolutions that the day be proclaimed "Windows 2000 day", for so it was.

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• MSN's next big heave -- broadband access from space
  Time: 15:54 EST/20:54 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft's numerous attempts to build market share for the Microsoft Network have failed so far, but the company keeps coming, and the latest heave, broadband satellite access, could just turn into MSN into a 'must have' success. The new service will be available in the US initially, will only be available for MSN on Win9x operating systems, and will only be sold by Microsoft and by MSN retailers. But as MSN isn't a monopoly by a long chalk, that's OK, right?

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• Intel Still Questions Win 2000 Needs
  Time: 15:52 EST/20:52 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Intel and Microsoft's public squabble over Windows 2000's processor requirements continues. On Thursday, Microsoft rebutted the chip maker's claims that to run well, the new operating system requires significantly more processing power than most computers offer.

  On stage at the Intel Developers Forum here, just hours before Microsoft officially released Windows 2000, Microsoft spokesperson Charles Fitzgerald delicately raised the issue. He also noted that Intel performed its tests on a beta release of the operating system.

  The beta version--sent to Intel months before Microsoft completed its final work--was not "performance tuned," Fitzgerald said. The shipping version of Win 2000 actually runs faster on existing hardware, he said.

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• Microsoft Won't Open Code to Close Case
  Time: 15:50 EST/20:50 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft representatives deny a report that Bill Gates said yesterday that he would agree to open up the source code for the Windows operating system if that's all it would take to settle the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case against the software giant.

  Gates was interviewed by Bloomberg News television anchor Dylan Ratigan yesterday as the company officially launched its latest operating system, Windows 2000. But the comment in question came after the taping ended when Gates was leaving and the reporter asked whether he would be willing to open up Windows source code to third-party companies in order to settle the case.

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• New Microsoft Virtual Machine Released
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  A new version of the Microsoft^® virtual machine (Microsoft VM) is now available for download. A recommended update, this version eliminates a security vulnerability. Download your free copy of the Microsoft VM (build 3240 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, build 3193 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, or build 2445 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01) today (connection fees may apply).

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• MDAC 2.5 RTM English is available for download
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  MDAC 2.5 RTM (2.50.4403.12) is available for download. This is the same version of MDAC components that are installed by Windows® 2000. This redistributable setup is supported on Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0.

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• Site News: E-Mailing Us Questions
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We are getting a large amount of e-mails asking us to help out with technical problems based around Windows 95/98/2000, unfortunately (as we are sure you will understand) we can't answer most of these by e-mail because there are just too many being sent in now. As many of you know, we run a message board which we check through a number of times each day, we would prefer you all to use that as a means of asking us technical questions, it makes it easier on us and also means that more questions get answered and that more people see the answers. Thank you for understanding.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-010) - Patch Available for "Site Wizard Input Validation" Vulnerability
  Time: 09:00 EST/14:00 GMT News Source: Microsoft Product Security Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in web applications associated with Microsoft® Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition. These applications are provided as samples and generated by wizards, but do not follow security best practices. If deployed on a web site, they could allow inappropriate access to a database on the site

  Read more

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• Bugs found in servers, workstations using Intel chipset
  Time: 21:58 EST/02:58 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  The Santa Clara, Calif., chipmaking giant has discovered a bug that affects some server and workstation computers incorporating recently released Intel chipsets, just when it seemed like the company was digging out from a series of manufacturing snafus in 1999. Though the glitch occurs somewhat rarely, three circuit board ("motherboard") designs have been canceled in response.

  Intel is moving to correct the error and will work with computer makers to resolve any current product issues, according to spokesman Dan Francisco.

  Still, the bug is not likely to sit well with hardware manufacturers, who had to endure shortages and product delays last year. The shortcoming also could prove a boon to chipset start-up ServerWorks, which makes components that compete with the problematic Intel parts.

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• Windows 'Me' Next Up for Microsoft
  Time: 21:50 EST/02:50 GMT News Source: Yahoo! News Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Now that Microsoft Corp. has finally shipped Windows 2000, its most ambitious product yet, the software giant is turning its attention to a face-lift of its ubiquitous consumer operating system.

  Because Windows 2000, launched by Chairman Bill Gates on Thursday, targets businesses, Microsoft says average users should wait for the updated version of Windows 98, officially dubbed Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me.

  That software will not make the kind of dramatic leaps in performance and stability that Windows 2000 boasts, but it will sport a slightly newer look and built-in tools for gadgets such as digital cameras and digital music players.

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• Microsoft, government head back to court
  Time: 21:49 EST/02:49 GMT News Source: USA Today Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  The landmark antitrust case heads back to court Tuesday.

  Microsoft Corp.'s antitrust battle with the government returns to federal court next week as the two sides have failed to reach a settlement of the landmark case.

  Opposing lawyers will present closing arguments Tuesday on whether the world's leading software company violated the law, setting the stage for a later ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson. He declared the company a predatory monopoly on Nov. 5, stopping short of finding it acted illegally.

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• Gates buys stake in nuclear shipbuilder
  Time: 21:48 EST/02:48 GMT News Source: USA Today Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, the world's richest man, has placed a bet on the defense industry through the purchase of a 7.8% stake in Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., the only U.S. maker of nuclear aircraft carriers.

  Cascade Investment LLC, an investment vehicle for Gates, filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission showing he holds 2.6 million Newport News shares. The stake is worth about $68.9 million at current prices.

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• Users Look Forward To Deploying Windows 2000
  Time: 21:40 EST/02:40 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Minutes after Microsoftchairman and chief software architect BillGates formally launched Windows 2000 Thursday, a pleased-looking Joe Kriegel, a senior analyst at Principal Financial Group, said he is looking forward to "the scalability and reliability" of the long-awaited operating system.

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• Win2000 Launch Guru Talks Strategy and Linux
  Time: 21:39 EST/02:39 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  One of the main architects of the Windows 2000 launch event -- Jim Ewel, Microsoft general manager, Windows marketing -- talked with TechWeb Software editor Stuart Glascock about a number of key issues related to the worldwide roll-out. Ewel also manages the Microsoft team charged with combatting Linux, and he shed some light on Microsoft's view of the rapidly growing alternative operating system.

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• Faster USB On Track For This Year
  Time: 21:39 EST/02:39 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Version 2.0 of the Universal Serial Bus is on track for introduction by the Christmas 2000 selling season, according to Intel executives speaking at the Intel Developer Forum this week. The latest rev of the USB spec will support data-transfer rates of 480 Mbits/second for peripherals connected to a system.

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• Windows 2000 Compatibility Updated On Windows Update
  Time: 15:14 EST/20:14 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Yes, already updates for Windows 2000 are appearing...Microsoft has released a Compatibility Update for Windows 2000 on their Windows Update site. The download, which takes about a minute to get hold of, adds compatibility for a whole host of applications and games.

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• New Windows 2000 Drivers
  Time: 11:32 EST/16:32 GMT News Source: E-Mail/Various Posted By: Byron Hinson

  3dfx have finally released the new Voodoo3 2000 / 3000 drivers for Windows 2000 This first release contains an OpenGL ICD, GLide support, better 2D.

  ATi has released some new drivers for Windows2000 and their Rage 128/Pro series of video cards. Download them here.

  Creative has released some new drivers for Windows2000 and Creative Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT, 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 Ultra Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT2 Value (32Mb) 3D Blaster GeForce/3D Blaster GeForce Pro

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• Could Microsoft open source code to settle?
  Time: 11:25 EST/16:25 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft would be willing to open the source code for its Windows software to competitors if that was all it would take to settle the antitrust case filed by the Justice Department, chairman Bill Gates said.

  Microsoft is seeking a settlement with the Justice Department and 19 states that are suing the software maker and would "do our absolute best to achieve it," Gates said in an interview with Bloomberg News yesterday.

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• Microsoft and Intel Deliver Increased Developer Support for 64-Bit Windows For the Itanium Processor Platform
  Time: 11:25 EST/16:25 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. today announced updates to key tools as well as resources for software development on the 64-bit Windows^® for the ItaniumÔ processor platform. Microsoft has opened a 64-bit Windows Developer's Lab in Redmond to support the porting and tuning of key software applications. Microsoft and Intel also announced delivery of an advanced version of the IA-64 Software Development Kit (SDK) for 64-bit Windows, providing the latest operating system release, compilers, linkers and libraries to hardware and software developers who are already working on software development for 64-bit Windows. To extend the reach of these tools, Microsoft plans on releasing a beta version of 64-bit Windows and tools in the second quarter of 2000. Microsoft expects to release 64-bit Windows concurrently with production of the Itanium processor.

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• MS Games & Hardware Update
  Time: 06:31 EST/11:31 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have updated our MS Games & Hardware section with more information including, new info on Motocross Madness 2 which includes the release date and first box shot...More fan sites and more updates of the upcoming games area.

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• Office 2000 SR-1 News & Date
  Time: 06:08 EST/11:08 GMT News Source: Microsoft Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is to release a new version of Office 2000 in stores from the 20th April 2000. Meanwhile, the patch to upgrade to Office 2000 SR-1 will be released a month earlier during the week beginning 20th March and is expected to be quite a hefty download.

  WHAT'S NEW TO MICROSOFT OFFICE 2000 PREMIUM?
  Microsoft Office 2000 Premium has been updated with Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 Version 2. In addition, Office 2000 Premium has been updated to Service Release 1 (SR-1).

  WHAT'S NEW IN MICROSOFT PHOTODRAW 2000 VERSION 2?
  Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 Version 2 builds on the powerful combination of easy-to-use image editing and drawing tools brought together in the initial release of PhotoDraw. Among the significant improvements in Version 2 are a wide array of new Web graphics features, improved integration with Microsoft Office 2000, and better overall speed and performance.

  WHAT'S NEW OFFICE 2000 SR-1?
  Office 2000 SR-1 is a planned service release that provides Office 2000 customers with a convenient way to receive the latest product updates to Office 2000 and related technology like Windows Installer 1.1 and Internet Explorer 5.01. Note, Office 2000 SR-1 does NOT provide new features or functionality in Office 2000, and existing Office 2000 customers can visit the Microsoft Office Web site to download the Office 2000 SR-1 patch or order the SR-1 patch on CD.

  IS OFFICE 2000 SR-1 REQUIRED IF A CUSTOMER WANTS TO RUN OFFICE 2000 WITH MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000 PROFESSIONAL?
  Office 2000 SR-1 is NOT required for Office 2000 to run on Windows 2000. However, Windows 2000 customers who update to SR-1 will receive optimal benefits, including improved supportability, interoperability, reliability and performance.

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• Pirates Hijack Win2K Launch
  Time: 05:28 EST/10:28 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Hawkers' stalls in Moscow streets and metro stations were filled with Windows 2000 discs on Thursday, the product's world launch date. But then they have been for months, thanks to industrious pirates.

  U.S. software maker Microsoft (MSFT) says Windows 2000 is a revolutionary version of its operating system -- fit for e-business and with new anti-piracy features.

  Moscow street hawkers offering pirated test versions on CD-ROM for 80 roubles, or US$2.75, instead of hundreds of dollars for legitimate version, say customers are satisfied.

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• Gates: We'll open Windows code to settle case
  Time: 05:16 EST/10:16 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft would be willing to open the source code for its Windows software to competitors in order to settle the antitrust case filed by the U.S. Justice Department, chairman Bill Gates said.

  Microsoft is seeking a settlement with the Justice Department and 19 states that have filed an antitrust suit against the software giant and would ''do our absolute best to achieve it,'' Gates said in an interview.

  Gates said he would agree to open the source code for the company's Windows operating system as part of a settlement, a move that would allow competitors to create and sell their own modified versions of Windows.

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• Licensing fees a feature of Windows 2000, researcher says
  Time: 05:10 EST/10:10 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft's new corporate operating system could force many business to pay thousands of dollars in additional licensing fees, a research firm said.

  GartnerGroup, which has slammed Microsoft's pricing policies in the past, said that charges built into how Microsoft sells its software would affect a large percentage of companies upgrading to Windows 2000. Many of these fees are not up-front, said analyst Michael Gartenberg.

  One important hidden cost is the client access license, essentially a passport that allows a Windows 2000 desktop to connect to Windows 2000 servers and take advantage of programs like Active Directory, Gartenberg said. Client access licenses, which are required, cost $999 per computer, more than three times as much as the $319 Windows 2000 Professional Desktop software itself.

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• Companies committed to deploying Windows 2000 on nearly 2 million PCs, servers
  Time: 05:00 EST/10:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft® Windows® 2000 became available in stores yesterday, and it's already a hit with many customers.

  Companies such as General Motors, Wells Fargo Bank and Merrill Lynch have committed to installing the new operating system on nearly 2 million PCs and servers. And more than 250 corporations worldwide have already deployed the operating system in a variety of mission-critical environments. These early adopters are experiencing benefits such as better reliability, manageability and scalability and lower total cost of ownership. They also expect a return on their investment in less than one year.

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• Voodoo Drivers Soon for Windows 2000
  Time: 19:12 EST/00:12 GMT News Source: AVault Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The official Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo3 2000 and 3000 are completed and have finished certification testing. 3dfx is waiting for Microsoft to return the final certification on these drivers. Due to Microsoft WHQL restrictions, the company cannot post beta drivers for Windows 2000. 3dfx will post Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo3 2000 and 3000 as soon as Microsoft returns our WHQL certification. In the meantime, Windows 2000 users may use the imbedded drivers for the Voodoo3 that ship with Windows 2000. The company says it also plans robust support for Windows 2000 with Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 when those products ship.

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• Win2K's rivals: So what?
  Time: 19:07 EST/00:07 GMT News Source: Marketwatch Posted By: Byron Hinson

  As the business world awaits the arrival of Windows 2000 Thursday, Microsoft's rivals aren't exactly running for cover just yet from the killer operating system that analysts once thought would destroy the competition. Microsoft (MSFT: news, msgs) is widely seen as having made strides in improving its business operating system -- enough to have Windows foes taking note of the massive product launch. But executives at competitors like Sun Microsystems (SUNW: news, msgs), Novell (NOVL: news, msgs) and Red Hat (RHAT: news, msgs) say they won't need to play catch-up in the wake of Bill Gates' latest technology advances.

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• Microsoft Unveils Technology, Details Road Map For Unlimited Internet Scalability
  Time: 15:09 EST/20:09 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today revealed new scalability features in the upcoming release of Microsoft^® SQL Server™ 2000 and detailed a technology road map that together will provide customers with virtually unlimited scalability on the Windows^® 2000 platform, a key element of friction-free operations. The company also announced an array of world-record database benchmarks, including a TPC-C benchmark result, demonstrating the power of the Microsoft platform in both scale-out and scale-up scenarios. At 227,079 order transactions per minute, the TPC-C result sets the world record for any hardware, operating system or database. The result was achieved with Windows 2000 and SQL Server 2000 running on 12 Compaq ProLiant servers in a scale-out configuration.

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• Record Number of Corporations Deploying Windows 2000 Before General Availability
  Time: 15:09 EST/20:09 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. announced today at the launch of Windows^® 2000 that over 250 corporations have deployed the product successfully in a variety of mission-critical environments worldwide. Even before the general availability of the product, these businesses - large, small, brick and mortar, and Internet-based - have deployed over 150,000 copies of Microsoft^® Windows 2000 Professional on desktops or notebooks and over 9,000 systems running on Windows 2000 Server or Advanced Server in production environments. In fact, customers such as AIMCO, Phoenix Suns-Arizona Diamondbacks, Sears Homelife, Troop Law and Stride Rite Corp. have completely deployed Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server across their organizations. In addition, key customers from around the world, such as General Motors Corp., Merrill Lynch & Company Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, which have already begun their deployments, have committed to installing Windows 2000 on almost 2 million desktops, notebooks and servers. Finally, major corporations are continuing to see total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits from deploying Windows 2000, saving millions of dollars every year, thanks to the enhanced reliability and manageability of the platform.

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• Windows 2000, the Next Generation of PC Computing, Available Worldwide Today
  Time: 10:07 EST/20:07 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of the Windows^® 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating systems. Beginning today, Microsoft^® Windows 2000 is broadly available in over 60 countries and 16 languages, including English, German, Japanese (two versions), French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese. The Windows 2000 family of operating systems is designed to enable a new generation of PC computing, delivering superior levels of reliability and manageability to help increase system uptime and lower the total cost of ownership. Windows 2000 is the ideal platform for doing business on the Internet and takes advantage of state-of-the-art hardware, from the smallest mobile devices to the largest e-commerce servers.

  

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• Gates Ushers in Next Generation of PC Computing With Launch of Windows 2000
  Time: 10:07 EST/20:07 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates officially announced today the worldwide availability of the Windows^® 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating systems, addressing a worldwide audience that spanned more than 100 cities. Declaring Windows 2000 the first in the greatest generation of products ever released by Microsoft, Gates predicted that customers of Windows 2000 will receive significant reliability, scalability, performance and cost-effectiveness advantages over alternative platforms.

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• Windows 2000 Launch Events Link Customers, Partners Around the World
  Time: 10:14 EST/15:14 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  In spirit if not in person, customers and partners from around the world are planning to join Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates and thousands of information technology (IT) professionals today at the launch of Windows 2000, Microsoft’s next-generation operating system for businesses.

  Microsoft will link at least 18 countries plus 57 cities in the US and Canada via satellite to the IDG Windows 2000 Conference and Expo in San Francisco, where Gates will celebrate the commercial launch of Windows 2000. In his keynote speech, Gates plans to highlight Windows 2000 customers and demonstrate powerful new Windows 2000 applications. (The speech will also be available via Windows Media at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/launch/keynote.asp.)

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• Investors consider Windows 2000 impact
  Time: 10:11 EST/15:11 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  This week's release of Windows 2000 could be considered the tech industry's equivalent of trickle-down economics as many segments will reap the rewards.

  When the new operating system reaches store shelves this week, Microsoft will not be the only company to enjoy a boost in revenues. A large cross-section of tech companies--computer makers, memory sellers, software creators and others--also are hoping to ride Microsoft's coattails to the bank.

  The long-awaited, much delayed new operating system for businesses finally gets its official launch today. Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates will culminate three days of keynotes with his own speech in San Francisco.

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• IomegaWare™ 2.2.1 for Windows® 2000/NT & Windows 9*
  Time: 06:44 EST/11:44 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  IomegaWare™ 2.2.1 for Windows® 2000 is here. This easy-to-use software suite provides integrated features that help you find, format, protect, and manage your stuff on Iomega® Zip®, Jaz®, and Clik!™ PC Card drives and disks. Desktop icons provide direct access to your Iomega drives, and "right-click" enabling lets you use even more IomegaWare features. IomegaWare 2.2.1 includes our most popular software programs, including Iomega QuikSync; IomegaWare Commander; and Backup 4.0, the enhanced combination of Iomega's 1-Step™ Backup and Backup97 applications. IomegaWare 2.2.1 is also compatible with Windows 95, 98, and Windows NT® 4.0. A Macintosh® version is planned soon. Note: IomegaWare 2.2.1 is compatible with all Iomega Zip and Jaz drives, except Clik! Parallel Port and ZipCD™ drives. IomegaWare 2.2.1 is not compatible with RecordIt™ software, and will uninstall RecordIt if it was previously installed on your system.

  Download IomegaWare™ 2.2.1 for Windows® 2000/NT & Win 9* now

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• ActiveWin2k: Microsoft Windows® 2000 Professional operating system: Review
  Time: 06:13 EST/11:13 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have posted our 18 page review of Windows 2000 Professional Edition. Here is a snippet from the review:

  During the past few months Activewin has been a leader in presenting our readers with the most up to date features and improvements that Windows 2000 has to offer. We are proud to present you all with our full and complete review on the just released Windows 2000 Professional Operating System.

  Some may believe Windows 2000 is the successor of Windows 98SE. The fact is that Windows 2000 is the replacement for Microsoft's Windows NT business and network platform. Windows 2000 is a full operating system based on a full NT 32 bit engine that allows high end multi tasking, high security levels, and advanced networking features while still supporting DirectX and all the latest hardware.

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• GDC date for X-Box unveiling
  Time: 05:09 EST/10:09 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is set to finally unveil its much-speculated X-Box console at next month's Game Developers Conference in San Jose. Bill Gates is set to take the stage alongside Lionhead's Peter Molyneux to demonstrate the eagerly awaited Black and White on the Microsoft machine.

  According to one source: "If it all comes off it will be an incredibly cocky presentation. It will simply blow people away." While we have been given dates for an official presentation launch before, this one seems more realistic after the "secret meeting" between developers and Microsoft earlier this month.

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• Windows 2000 Conference & Expo Events Timeline
  Time: 03:38 EST/08:38 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Alex Harris

  Here is a listing of what is going to be happening at the Windows 2000 Conference & Expo 2000:

  - Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates Will Deliver the Launch Keynote Thursday morning from 9:30--10:30 a.m. in the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The keynote will be followed by a Q&A session for the media beginning at 11 a.. with additional events as follows.

  - Keynote by Michael S. Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Computer Corp., "Building Competitive Advantage on the Internet," Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 9--10 a.m.

  - Keynote by Michael D. Capellas, president and CEO of Compaq Computer Corp., Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 6:30--7:30 p.m.

  - Compaq reception, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m., City Hall. After Michael Capellas' keynote, join Compaq for an evening of entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, beverages and entertainment.

  - Interactive exhibit floor, Tuesday, Feb. 15 through Thursday, Feb.17, Moscone Center. Nearly 200 Windows 2000 launch supporters will showcase their applications and hardware that will provide customers with real-world Windows 2000-based solutions. In addition, a fully equipped test and demonstration area will provide an opportunity for a hands-on experience with Windows 2000-based programs and compatible hardware products.

  - Nine tutorials, (five full-day, four half-day), Tuesday, Feb. 15, Moscone Center. Topics include "How to Build a Highly Available, High Performance and Scalable Commerce Solution," "Active Directory," "Securing Windows 2000 Server" and "Deploying Windows 2000 Professional in the Enterprise." Please visit http://www.windows2000expo.com/frmConf.htm for more information.

  - Four technical tracks:"Data Management," "Upgrading to Windows 2000," "Security" and "Enterprise Networking," Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Thursday, Feb. 17, six to 11 sessions per track (75 minutes each) including "Storage Management," "Performance Troubleshooting," "Windows 2000 Domain Migration Tools and Techniques," "Active Directory Concepts and Essentials" and "Automated Setup and Deployment of Windows 2000."

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• Antitrust Case Could Shadow Win2000 Release
  Time: 03:36 EST/08:36 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft takes center stage in two very high-profile events in a matter of days: its long-awaited Windows 2000 rollout Thursday, and final arguments before a federal judge in its landmark antitrust trial next Tuesday.

  Microsoft's reputation, product quality, and business practices are on the line in both its Windows 2000 release and the final courtroom step in the Justice Department's lawsuit.

  The Redmond, Wash., software giant has spent $1 billion and more than three years to market its latest operating system, which will target the lucrative large corporate and server markets.

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• Microsoft Calls Breakup 'Death Sentence'
  Time: 03:34 EST/08:34 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft e-mailed lawmakers indicating it is willing to accept "common sense" conditions to settle the federal antitrust lawsuit, published reports said Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal said Microsoft wrote to members of Congress saying it is seriously trying to settle the case brought by the Department of Justice, but called a breakup "extreme and unwarranted...a regulatory death sentence." Final arguments before a federal judge are set for Feb. 22, while settlement talks continue in Chicago.

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• Microsoft Announces Datacenter Program for Windows 2000
  Time: 03:32 EST/08:32 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. today announced its Windows^® Datacenter Program that will complement the Microsoft^® Windows 2000 Datacenter Server operating system. This program will provide customers with an integrated hardware and software support offer, which will be jointly marketed, sold and delivered by Microsoft and qualified server vendors. This new program is specifically designed to address the demanding requirements of enterprise customers and will include a joint support team with server vendors for single-point-of-contact support, rigorous system testing and qualification focused on the entire system vs. individual components, coordinated maintenance and change control for hardware and software updates, and new Microsoft Certified Support Center (MCSC) for Datacenter requirements.

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• Performance Gains on Windows 2000, Customer Successes Build Momentum for Microsoft Site Server Commerce Edition.
  Time: 03:30 EST/08:30 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  This week’s public debut of Microsoft Windows 2000 is likely to be welcome news to the thousands of companies that have hitched their business to the Internet. Test results just released by Compaq Computer Corp. show that Windows 2000 Advanced Server offers compelling business benefits when used as the operating system platform for an e-commerce site based on Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition.

  Compaq’s findings validate Windows 2000 as an ideal platform for building e-commerce solutions around Site Server Commerce Edition, Microsoft’s comprehensive solution for engaging and transacting with customers and partners online. Compaq conducted its analysis using a script that mimics the online shopper experience. The script included a dozen operations typically performed during an e-commerce session, such as logging on, searching for products, adding and deleting items to a shopping cart and checking out. The tests were designed to measure the number of Active Server Pages (ASPs) serving up dynamic content that can be pumped through a simulated e-commerce site.

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• Valentine and His Team of 4,200 Complete the Largest Software Project in History
  Time: 03:28 EST/08:28 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  When Brian Valentine joined the Microsoft Windows Division in December 1998, development of the company's next-generation operating system had reached a critical stage. At the mid-point of the largest software development project in the company's history, the 4,200-strong Windows 2000 team faced the challenge of finishing the product, finding and fixing bugs, fine-tuning new features, testing the product extensively and getting it "out the door" and into the hands of Microsoft's customers.

  "Large projects go through a natural cycle of highs and lows," says Valentine, who serves as senior vice president of the Windows Division. "And when I joined the team, it was a very challenging time. The team was wondering if it was ever going to get done and deliver on its original goals for the project."

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• Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack available for download
  Time: 03:15 EST/08:15 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft have released the High Encryption Pack to allow you to have the highest available encryption level (128-bit). To download then click here.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-009) - Patch Available for "Image Source Redirect" Vulnerability
  Time: 03:13 EST/08:13 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in Microsoft® Internet Explorer. The vulnerability could allow a malicious web site operator to read - but not add, change or delete - certain types of files on the computer of a visiting user. For more information click here.

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• Palm IIIc to debut at CeBIT
  Time: 03:10 EST/08:10 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Just in time to make its initial public offering a little sweeter, Palm Computing Inc. plans to unveil its long-awaited color Palm next week in conjunction with the CeBIT 2000 show in Hannover, Germany, according to sources close to the company. The Palm IIIc ("c" is for color) is similar in form and function to its monochrome counterpart, but with a full color screen and a rechargeable battery.

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• Netscape: from portal to media hub?
  Time: 03:08 EST/08:08 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  America Online is mulling ways to turn Netscape's Netcenter Web portal into a showcase of Time Warner's Web sites, according to AOL president Bob Pittman.

  The company today announced  that Netcenter and AOL's ICQ instant messenger client will use CNN.com's news headlines and stories throughout their services--a step that could provide a blueprint for how the two companies will promote each other's services pending their proposed multibillion-dollar merger.

  Pittman said the Netcenter-CNN.com deal could be the tip of the iceberg in developing cross-promotions between Netcenter and Time Warner.

  Netcenter could become a "platform for all of Time Warner's products," Pittman said in a presentation to investors at the Merrill Lynch Global Investor Conference in New York.

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• Microsoft plays its trump
  Time: 18:47 EST/23:47 GMT News Source: Financial Review Posted By: Byron Hinson

  At 4am tomorrow Sydney time, the software company that has dominated the information technology industry for the past 20 years, Microsoft, is set to make its play for a starring role in the new economy.

  Windows 2000 may be a formidable engineering feat, four years in development and boasting millions of lines of code, but it is just the beginning of a mighty, $US30 billion-plus ($48 billion) effort.

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• Microsoft May Agree To Some Restrictions
  Time: 17:55 EST/22:55 GMT News Source: Wall Street Journal Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft Corp. told lawmakers that any breakup of the software concern would amount to a "regulatory death sentence," but signaled that it would accept some "common sense" restrictions on its conduct to settle the government's antitrust claims..

  Microsoft previously argued that it isn't a monopoly and shouldn't be subject to any restrictions on its conduct. But it is changing its tone as settlement talks continue in Chicago and both sides prepare to return to federal court here for closing arguments next week.

  "Microsoft is quite seriously trying to settle this case, and we believe a commonsense settlement should be possible," Microsoft wrote in an e-mail to congressional offices on Friday. It rejected any breakup as "extreme and unwarranted ... a regulatory death sentence while the high-tech economy whizzes by on Internet time."

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• Intel: Faster chips needed to run Windows 2000
  Time: 17:46 EST/22:46 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Despite assurances from Microsoft that the new business operating system will perform adequately on existing computers, chipmaker Intel maintains that the processors in many PCs will need to be upgraded.

  Pat Gelsinger, vice president and general manager of Intel's desktop products group, said Windows 2000 requires up to 250 more megahertz of chip power for performance equivalent to Windows 98 or the corporate Windows NT. That seemed to be a fairly large--and surprising--speed bump, according to analysts at the Intel Developer Forum here.

  The differing opinions represent a rare public disagreement between the two companies, whose partnership has been so close that it has been dubbed "Wintel" within the industry. For years, the companies have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, given Intel's commanding position in the chip market and Microsoft's control of roughly 95 percent of the operating system business for PCs.

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• Taking the Fun Out of Win2000
  Time: 16:21 EST/21:21 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft has jumped on the bandwagon to depersonalize software by removing all the known Easter eggs from Windows 2000. Long a tradition in software development, Easter eggs are little surprises programmers hide in the software for users to find and enjoy. Well-known examples include a picture of Silicon Valley hidden in Apple's system software and men in bathing suits buried within Maxim's SimCopter.

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• Critics find flaws in Windows 2000 Microsoft says product will perform
  Time: 16:20 EST/21:20 GMT News Source: USA Today Posted By: Byron Hinson

  On the eve of Microsoft's much-anticipated launch Thursday of Windows 2000, customers and analysts are questioning how ready the operating system is for prime time and how quickly companies will adopt the software giant's flagship product.

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• Logitech MouseWare 9 For Windows 2000
  Time: 15:40 EST/20:40 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Logitech has released MouseWare Version: 9.00 build 87 (English) for Windows 2000. This is the English release only, other languages will follow shortly.

  English 900b87en.exe

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• Windows, the next generation - Ballmer opens up on NGWS
  Time: 15:39 EST/20:39 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Steve Ballmer has been trying to rally Visual Basic enthusiasts in San Francisco, and in doing so he's opened up a little more on the project Bill Gates allegedly went off to supervise - Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS).

  As Ballmer tells it, NGWS a strange cocktail. It seems that it will consist of Windows 2000 ("the cornerstone of Windows DNA," but in its Blackcomb future rev), Visual Studio 7, which will incorporate Web Services, ASP+Web Forms, and language innovations for Visual Basic. The Web development tool will have "deep XML support" and "complete object-oriented programming capabilities", supposedly eliminating the need for using VB script, which will be mixed news to those who have wrestled with it. This doesn't seem a totally clearly thought through vision. The smoke-'n-mirrors demo didn't work properly either, but Ballmer dismissed this as "extra drama".

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• Review: CorelDraw 9 - Office Edition
  Time: 15:03 EST/20:03 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Robert Stein

  Julien has posted his review of CorelDraw 9 - Office Edition. Here is a snippet of the review:

  As all the Corel software the setup is very reliable, customisable and user-friendly. During the setup you can choose which components you want to install including: Fonts, Clipart, Digital camera support (About more than 150 recognized cameras), Text import filters & Graphic import/export filters and obviously the small productivity components such as Corel Capture. The setup will guide you efficiently and will install quickly this new software suite (be sure to have a fast CD-Rom drive: with a 24x it takes about one hour; with a 40x it’s done in 25 minutes). At the end of the setup, the Corel software registration will start and when you’ll have successfully registered your new software (with else modem, internet or printer) you’ll receive an URL to freely download some picture arts..

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• ActiveWin2k: Server Licensing Page Added
  Time: 14:50 EST/19:50 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have added a page on Server Licensing in Windows 2000: You need a server license for each server within a Windows 2000 Server-based network and a Windows 2000 Server Client Access License (CAL) for each client computer that is used by an authenticated user or that uses Windows 2000 Server Services.

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• ActiveWin2k: Windows 2000 FAQ Updated
  Time: 14:50 EST/19:50 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have updated our Windows 2000 FAQ to include some new released information on Microsoft Windows 2000 DataCenter and the Windows Media Services Component of Windows 2000 Server. Be sure to check it out!

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• Windows 2000 Offers Mission-Critical Platform For a Wide Variety of Industry Solutions
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced broad support for the Microsoft^® Windows^® 2000 platform from leading ISVs in the horizontal and vertical industries. Using the enhanced reliability and scalable features offered by the Windows 2000 platform, ISVs will be able to develop innovative, mission-critical applications in a wide range of solutions for the financial services, e-business, ERP, and manufacturing and engineering industries.

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• MSN and Gilat Satellite Networks Introduce First Consumer Two-Way Satellite High-Speed Internet Access Service
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq "GILTF") today announced plans to provide the first consumer two-way satellite broadband offering designed to improve Internet connection speed and user experience across America. This marks the first time that two companies have teamed up to offer consumers high-speed Internet access via two-way satellite, which is especially exciting for people who do not have access to any other broadband connectivity solutions. Trials of the two-way satellite service have begun, and wide availability of service is expected by the end of 2000.

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• Microsoft Pitches a Perfect Game With "Baseball 2001"
  Time: 09:49 EST/14:49 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced its latest PC sports title, "Baseball 2001." Microsoft^® "Baseball 2001" boasts a revolutionary unification of the awarding-winning Baseball Mogul simulation technology with Microsoft's tradition for eye-popping graphics and edge-of-your-seat gameplay. "Baseball 2001" features a newly added comprehensive front-office management simulation, intense graphics, ambient sounds and seamless arcade action to produce the most complete out-of-the-box PC-based baseball game.

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• Windows 2000 Web site celebrates launch with event coverage, information, special deals
  Time: 04:02 EST/09:02 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  It’s almost here. Microsoft® Windows® 2000 will be on store shelves tomorrow. In anticipation of the launch and to give customers the information they need when evaluating the new operating system, Microsoft is expanding on the resources on the Windows 2000 Web site. The new resources are designed to help customers learn about Windows 2000 features and take advantage of special offers. A new section of the site includes downloadable presentations and special deals from Windows 2000 partners. And the site will also feature Bill Gates’ keynote address tomorrow at the Windows 2000 Conference & Expo in San Francisco.

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• Buy Win 2000, Save Money?
  Time: 04:00 EST/09:00 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Gearing up for its Thursday rollout event for Windows 2000 in San Francisco, Microsoft on Monday lined up several beta users to testify to the operating system's total cost of ownership benefits.

  In a conference call, Deborah Willingham, vice president of Windows marketing at Microsoft, said early customers have experienced TCO reductions of 5% to 30% after they migrated to Windows 2000 from other platforms.

  Roger Goad, chief information officer at WFofR, a 40-employee media buying and planning company in Richmond, Virginia, said his company expects a 280% return on investment within three years of migrating to Windows 2000.

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• Dell: Win2000 is a good thing
  Time: 03:56 EST/08:56 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Dell Computer CEO Michael Dell sounded a lot more upbeat about Windows 2000's prospects on Tuesday than he did at the end of last week.

  Dell, who provided the opening keynote at this week's Windows 2000 Conference & Expo in San Francisco, attempted to distance himself from comments he made last Thursday during Dell Computer's fourth quarter earnings call. Dell reportedly said at that time that he foresaw no rush of corporate customers lining up to embrace Windows 2000.

  Tuesday, Dell countered those remarks, claiming that "there might have been an incorrect connection" between his remarks and a GartnerGroup report, also issued at the end of last week, advising customers to wait for Microsoft's first update to Windows 2000 to avoid potential application incompatibility problems.

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• Compaq looks to spread its server vision
  Time: 03:53 EST/08:53 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  By 2001, Compaq Computer will spread its Windows-based computers into every niche of computing, chief executive Michael Capellas said today.

  The end result will be "breakthrough enterprise economics" in 2001, in which big business will be able to use comparatively cheap Intel-based computers instead of the proprietary hardware and software used today to run demanding jobs such as extremely busy e-commerce databases.

  The effort will include a 32-processor Unisys server that Compaq will sell under its own name. That product line will use current Intel chips when it debuts midway through this year but will be available with Intel's new Itanium chip later this year, Capellas said at a keynote address here during the three-day conference for the unveiling of Microsoft's new Windows 2000 software.

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• CheckFree buys Microsoft-backed TransPoint for nearly $1 billion
  Time: 03:50 EST/08:50 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  CheckFree today agreed to buy Microsoft-backed TransPoint in a move aimed at prodding reluctant consumers into paying their bills online.

  Under the deal, CheckFree will acquire TransPoint for 17 million shares, worth about $1 billion based on the company's share price of $68.25 at the close of regular trading today. Both companies are leaders in the online bill-payment market.

  TransPoint partners Microsoft, First Data Corp. and Citibank together will own 23 percent of CheckFree as a result of the transaction.

  "This deal will accelerate the adoption of e-commerce and payments online," TransPoint CEO Lewis Levin said in an interview.

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• Microsoft's Ballmer courts developers at conference
  Time: 18:38 EST/23:38 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  In his first major public appearance since taking over at Microsoft, new chief executive Steve Ballmer today courted the community of software developers crucial to the success of the company's upcoming Windows 2000 operating system.

  As expected, Ballmer announced that the company is adding Web features to its popular family of software development tools in hopes of attracting e-commerce Web site builders to its Windows operating system.

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• Audited studies show Windows 2000 offers major cost savings, business value
  Time: 16:50 EST/21:50 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Common sense suggests that information technology can be a valuable business investment.

  Now, there's a way to prove it. Independently audited studies show Microsoft® Windows® 2000 offers companies such benefits as lower total cost of ownership (TCO), increased productivity and improved customer service. The studies, based on an open industry framework called Rapid Economic Justification (REJ) and the Gartner Group's TCO methodology, indicated that Marks & Spencer, Panasonic, MicronPC.com, United Defense and WFofR will significantly reduce TCO and gain other business value by deploying Windows 2000.

  "Organizations are using technology as a strategic tool for business success. Our customers require a platform that reduces overall costs and allows them to add real value to their business," said Keith White, director of Windows Marketing at Microsoft. "These studies are evidence that Windows 2000 will deliver on our customers' needs by providing a platform that meets their critical business requirements, saves money and provides a solid return on their investment."

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• WinHEC 2000 Sets the Stage for Future Technologies
  Time: 15:19 EST/20:19 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft recently distributed invitations to its upcoming Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2000 to be held in New Orleans April 25 - 27. Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect, will deliver WinHEC 2000’s keynote address underscoring this year’s theme: "Advancing the Platform, Connecting the World."

  The three-day event, with more technical content then ever before, offers Microsoft’s hardware partners a roadmap for Windows platforms. More than 3,500 key decision makers and engineers are expected to attend WinHEC 2000, including senior technical managers, hardware engineers, architects, product planners and project leads.

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• Early Windows 2000 users cite cost of ownership benefits
  Time: 15:17 EST/20:17 GMT News Source: InfoWorld Posted By: Byron Hinson

  GEARING UP for its Thursday rollout event for Windows 2000 in San Francisco, Microsoft on Monday lined up several beta users to testify to the operating system's total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits.

  In a conference call, Deborah Willingham, vice president of Windows marketing at Microsoft, said early customers have experienced TCO reductions of 5 percent to 30 percent after they migrated to Windows 2000 from other platforms.

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• Microsoft Windows Media Services in Windows 2000 Server Removes Barriers for Enterprise Streaming
  Time: 15:15 EST/20:15 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the new Windows Media™ Services feature of Microsoft^® Windows^® 2000 Server, the highest-quality, most scalable cost-effective streaming solution for enterprises today. Windows Media Services offers the only digital media platform built from the ground up for Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server. Microsoft also announced unmatched scalability in the industry for a digital media server using Windows Media Services on Windows 2000-based servers, providing up to 9,000 concurrent streams of video on a single server.

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• Microsoft Primes Millions of Developers for the Next-Generation Web
  Time: 15:14 EST/20:14 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Steve Ballmer, newly appointed president and CEO of Microsoft Corp., today spoke with over 2,000 developers for the Microsoft^® Visual Basic^® development system in his keynote address at the Visual Basic Insiders Technical Summit (VBITS), delivering on the Microsoft vision of the programmable Web and reinforcing the company's deep commitment to developers.

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• Microsoft Announces Datacenter Program for Windows 2000
  Time: 15:13 EST/20:13 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced its Windows^® Datacenter Program that will complement the Microsoft^® Windows 2000 Datacenter Server operating system. This program will provide customers with an integrated hardware and software support offer, which will be jointly marketed, sold and delivered by Microsoft and qualified server vendors. This new program is specifically designed to address the demanding requirements of enterprise customers and will include a joint support team with server vendors for single-point-of-contact support, rigorous system testing and qualification focused on the entire system vs. individual components, coordinated maintenance and change control for hardware and software updates, and new Microsoft Certified Support Center (MCSC) for Datacenter requirements.

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• Netscape doubles registered users
  Time: 14:22 EST/19:22 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Netscape Communications, a unit of Internet service provider America Online Inc. (NYSE: AOL), said on Tuesday it has more than doubled the number of registered users from a year ago to top the 25 million mark. Netscape said the increased traffic came after its Netcenter service unveiled a redesigned home page "to help professionals better manage their business and personal lives." Netscape said 105 million copies of its groundbreaking Navigator and Communicator Internet browsers were downloaded from Netcenter between January 1998 and December 1999. It said the Netscape Open Directory Project, the open-source search service, now included more than 1.5 million Web sites.

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• Microsoft builds Visual Basic for the Web
  Time: 14:20 EST/19:20 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft is sprucing up its most popular software development tool in hopes of attracting more builders of e-commerce Web sites to its Windows operating system.

  Microsoft today announced plans for a new version of Visual Basic, a visual-oriented tool that will allow software developers to build Web software as easily as writing a Windows-only application.

  Visual Basic, the industry's most popular development tool according to recent studies, revolutionized Windows development in 1991 because of its ease-of-use: Instead of writing all the software code by hand, programmers dragged and dropped pre-built software code on their computer screens. Now the giant software maker is building a version of Visual Basic for the Web.

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• Intel hits 1.5-GHz mark in chip demonstration
  Time: 14:18 EST/19:18 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  The microprocessor speed race moved forward again today as Intel demonstrated one of its upcoming Willamette processors running at 1.5 GHz.

  The demonstration, made during a keynote address by chairman Andy Grove and senior vice president Albert Yu here at the company's developers' forum, came as part of a showcase of Intel technology coming this year.

  Although consumers won't see chips running this fast on shelves for a while, Intel will release Pentium IIIs running at 1 GHz or faster by the second half of the year as well as the next-generation Willamette chips running at the same speed, Yu said.

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• Dell moves key Web site to Windows 2000
  Time: 14:16 EST/19:16 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft has described Windows 2000 as a "bet-the-ranch" software project, and Dell Computer apparently agrees, having recently moved its own Web site over to the new operating system.

  That Web site is responsible for half of the PC maker's revenue, Dell Computer chief executive Michael Dell said at a keynote address here this morning. Web site stability was a problem for the PC maker late last year.

  "Windows 2000 will be key to building the Internet," Dell said, kicking off a three-day launch event for the business-class operating system. The event culminates in the official launch of the much-anticipated OS Thursday.

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• Microsoft delays Visual Studio 7.0
  Time: 14:12 EST/19:12 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. has postponed until 2001 the delivery of the next version of its Visual Studio tool suite -- key technology for building and deploying Windows-based electronic-commerce applications.

  Delivery of Visual Studio 7.0, scheduled to ship this year, is now "at least a year away" because of development work being done to build support for Windows DNA (Distributed Internet Architecture) 2000 into the suite, said Dave Mendlen, a tools product planner at Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), in Redmond, Wash.

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• Flight Simulator 2000 SDK Kit Now Available
  Time: 09:49 EST/14:49 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today announced the release of the first section of the Flight Simulator 2000 Software Development Kit (SDK). The first in a series of downloadable sections, the Flight Simulator 2000 SDK contains all the information needed for flight sim enthusiasts to create their own adventures and lessons for Flight Simulator 2000. The Flight Simulator 2000 SDK is available for download on the Flight Simulator 2000 Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/games/fs2000/.

  The first section of the Flight Simulator 2000 Software Development Kit focuses on the Adventure Programming Language (APL), and contains documentation and all the necessary components for a sample adventure. The Flight Simulator 2000 APL SDK is intended for experienced software developers familiar with a high level programming language such as C++. (Microsoft Product Support cannot offer assistance in using the SDK or for developers creating add-on products)

  Future releases of the Flight Simulator 2000 Software Development Kit will provide information on topics such as Aircraft, Panels & Gauges, and Scenery. To learn more about the Flight Simulator 2000 APL SDK, visit the title's official site at:

  http://www.microsoft.com/games/fs2000/

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• Windows 2000 Professional to Be Highly Popular, Survey Says
  Time: 08:35 EST/13:35 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Almost half of current Windows NT users will introduce Windows 2000 Professional within a year, and a majority of them will upgrade their systems to Windows 2000 Server in three years, according to a recent survey on Windows 2000 and related products.

  The survey revealed that NT users are generally willing to introduce Windows 2000 and hold high expectations on the new functions designed for notebook PCs. Also, such users are concerned about its stability as well as compatibility issues.

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• Linux troops expected to rally for W2K launch
  Time: 08:35 EST/13:35 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is bracing itself for protesting hordes of Linux supporters at this week's Windows 2000 launch. The Great Satan of Software yesterday confirmed it was expecting direct action from members of the Linux fraternity on both sides of the Atlantic.

  The UK launch of the W2K operating system, taking place at London's well-barricaded Earl's Court, is expected to be picketed by at least one posse of protesters.

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• University Computer Used To Attack CNN
  Time: 02:14 EST/07:14 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  As the dust settled from the most brazen and serious cyber attacks launched against websites to date, attention on Friday focused on tracing the source of the attacks. The trail so far has led investigators to a computer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which was used as a platform to attack CNN's website Tuesday night, according to university officials.

  Hackers electronically broke into a desktop computer in a research lab Tuesday evening, according to campus network programmer Kevin Schmidt. Schmidt said he suspected foul play after he noticed an abnormality in the university's computer traffic as he remotely monitored the network from home near midnight on Tuesday.

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• AOL's Open Access Questioned
  Time: 02:11 EST/07:11 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Before America Online announced its plan to acquire Time Warner, it advocated open access to cable networks for Internet service providers. Now it is being reported that AOL is slipping into the shadows of the open-access debate.

  The Wall Street Journal attributes to George Vradenburg, a senior vice president at AOL, the assertion that the online giant and Time Warner may not open its newly acquired cable networks to all Internet service providers. The newspaper contrasts this with AOL's past actions, when it asked federal and local governments to push cable providers to share their networks with Internet service provider competitors.

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• Microsoft denies Novell's claim of Windows 2000 bug
  Time: 02:04 EST/07:04 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft competitor Novell today said it had uncovered a security hole in Windows 2000, a claim Microsoft denied. Days before Windows 2000's much-anticipated launch, Novell leveled charges against a component technology in the operating system, which stands to diminish sales of Novell's main product.

  Novell claims the security problem affects Active Directory, which is one of the cornerstones of Windows 2000 Server, one of three versions of the new operating software. The feature allows technology administrators to more easily manage resources on a corporate network and speed the handling of their security access. A Microsoft executive vehemently denied a security bug existed.

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• DirectX 8 @ ETC 2000
  Time: 20:33 EST/01:33 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Taking place in Sheffield last Wednesday, ETC 2000 was a conference organised by publishing giant Infogrames to give some of the thousands of game developers working for them a chance to hear about the latest technology from hardware manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD, as well as getting the low-down on DirectX from Microsoft.

  Unfortunately (for us anyway) a lot of what the hardware companies had to say was highly technical, and obviously aimed at the developers - NVIDIA's talk on how to optimise the use of vertex buffers to make the most of hardware T&L acceleration springs to mind.

  But Microsoft's various presentations during the day gave an interesting insight into the potential of DirectX 7.0, as well as some hints of what will come in the next version...

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• Did Windows 2000 miss the revolution?
  Time: 18:38 EST/23:38 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  While Windows 2000 gestated for the past five years, the world of operating systems changed. The notion of one OS that can fit all devices may be as antiquated as the idea that mainframe computers can handle all computing tasks.

  Sure, IS managers such as Bob Lee, vice president at online and offline brokerage Charles Schwab & Co. (NYSE: SCH), are expecting big things from the new business version of Windows. From San Francisco's financial district, Lee will implement Windows 2000 across 16,000 desktops and servers over the next 18 months.

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• Various FAQ's Updated
  Time: 18:38 EST/23:38 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have updated some more of our FAQ's such as Windows Me, USB, Windows 2000, X-Box and more. Check them out, we will also be adding more FAQ's for different Microsoft products such as games and hardware next week.

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• ActiveWin2k: Windows 2000 Server Licensing Requirements
  Time: 15:58 EST/20:58 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Robert Stein

  You need a server license for each server within a Windows 2000 Server-based network and a Windows 2000 Server Client Access License (CAL) for each client computer that is used by an authenticated user or that uses Windows 2000 Server Services. This page provides an overview to ease the confusion of transition to Windows 2000 Server Licensing.

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• Flink Ink: Coordinated Hacker Attacks: An Assault on Freedom
  Time: 15:58 EST/20:58 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Robert Stein

  Excerpt: "If this proposed 90% solution, protecting private addresses by blocking obvious spoofs, then ‘from’ addresses could be used by web sites to throttle bandwidth, greatly reducing the impact of ‘robot’ attacks.>How many valid searches on Yahoo can YOU issue per second? A robot can issue 10 to 100 times more per second than any human at a keyboard could handle. Throttle to 1 request per unique ‘from’ address per second, and you’ve forced the attacker to have to have 10 to 100 times more zombies before doing you harm."

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• Asus K7M (for Athlon) Review
  Time: 15:32 EST/20:32 GMT News Source: CPU Review Posted By: Alex Harris

  CPU Review have posted a review of the Asus K7M Motherboard. Here is a snippet of the review:

  In over ten hours of testing (once everything was properly installed) I have not encountered any instabilities or problems; it simply kept on running like a certain battery company's bunny.

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• Talking About Windows 2000
  Time: 15:28 EST/20:28 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Alex Harris

  The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" was the anthem for Microsoft's gala launch of Windows 95. But an apt hymn for Windows 2000, finally shipping this week, is the Beatles' "Long and Winding Road."

  Microsoft started talking up its next high-end operating system, then code-named Cairo, in the early nineties--well before it shipped Windows NT 4.0 in 1996. After the alphas, the betas, the name changes, and the strategy changes, Windows 2000 makes its debut in the year that bears its new name. Here's what some folks said about it during its epic struggle to be born.

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• MS Rebounds on Wall Street
  Time: 15:26 EST/20:26 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Alex Harris

  Shares of software giant Microsoft Corp. rose on Monday as some analysts shrugged off concerns over technical glitches in its Windows 2000 operating system, set for launch on 17 February.

  Microsoft shares were trading around 100-15/16 in early trading on Nasdaq, up $1 from Friday, when the share price dipped nearly 6 percent on the back of a study by consulting firm Gartner Group that questioned whether the new operating system would run smoothly with other software.

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• New Microsoft Official Curriculum courses help IT pros get set for Windows 2000 launch
  Time: 15:24 EST/20:24 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft® Windows® 2000 will be on store shelves this week.

  So IT professionals need to get ready to plan, deploy, support and administer the new operating system. To help, Microsoft is offering new courses based on the final release of Windows 2000. The Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) is available worldwide at Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (CTECs). And between now and March 31, IT pros can sign up for two special one-day MOC courses on Windows 2000 for just $99 each, or $49 each for the online version.

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• Linux poses increasing threat to Windows 2000
  Time: 15:22 EST/20:22 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Linux and the Internet have changed the rules of the game for Microsoft. While the Windows 2000 operating system is an improvement compared to its predecessor, its official arrival this week comes at a time when other forces pose unprecedented challenges for Microsoft.

  Although delays in the release of Windows 2000 have allowed the company to test and improve the software, the extra time has given other companies the means to change earlier visions about the direction of computing. Linux, for instance, has altered the assumption that Microsoft OSes will be the de facto choice for low-end servers while Sun Microsystems has strengthened its position as the dominant choice for servers to power corporate sites.

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• MS roadmaps Blackcomb, plans mid-year beta of next Win2k rev
  Time: 15:19 EST/20:19 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  When Microsoft let it be known that it would merge development of the Win2k-based Odyssey and Neptune projects into one single development effort, Whistler, we predicted that there would be more news on the evolution of the MS development roadmap RSN. And were we right? A few weeks later, news has started to leak of a Whistler successor for the 2002 timeframe, codenamed Blackcomb.

  The information, leaked to Mary Jo "Secret Files" Foley of Smart Reseller, seems to have been dished out to Microsoft's developers around the same time as they were told about the Odyssey-Neptune merger. That move combined development of Odyssey, the next business version of Win2k, with Neptune, the fabled consumer implementation of Win2k, the rationale being that there was no sense in running two parallel developments of the same codebase, considering the overlap.

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• Is another MS antitrust case brewing in Japan?
  Time: 15:16 EST/20:16 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  A strange article in the Asian edition of the Wall Street Journal today tries to make the case that "criticisms of Microsoft are no more warranted in Japan than in the US". The opinion piece is by Shigeki Kusunoki, currently at the School of Law at Kyoto University, but also an associate of the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Alabama, which is ardently pro-free market and a staunch supporter of Microsoft.

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• Dell pushes two-chip PC for Windows 2000
  Time: 15:16 EST/20:16 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Dell Computer is betting Windows 2000 Professional will legitimize two-processor PCs for business use. The Round Rock, Texas-based computer maker today unveiled its first dual-processor capable commercial PC, the OptiPlex GX300.

  Until now, PC makers have generally reserved two processors for workstations, which typically are used for compute-intensive applications, such as CAD, desktop publishing, video editing and 3-D modeling. Workstations also generally come with heftier hardware, such as better graphics and system memory, than do PCs.

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• Studies Conclude Business Efficiency Benefits and Cost Reductions With Windows 2000
  Time: 15:04 EST/20:04 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the results of independently audited studies that quantify the business impact of technology investments for customers adopting Microsoft® Windows® 2000. Marks & Spencer, MicronPC.com, Panasonic, United Defense and WFofR worked with Microsoft Certified Solution Providers (MCSP) such as Alpha Technologies, Entex Information Services and Halifax Corp. to measure the business value and reductions in cost experienced by deploying the Windows 2000 platform. United Defense expects a 52 percent reduction in downtime; WFofR anticipates a 280 percent return on investment over three years; MicronPC forecasts a 14 percent reduction in direct IT costs; Marks & Spencer projects saving millions of dollars in inventory efficiencies; and Panasonic expects a 22 percent decrease in desktop total cost of ownership (TCO).

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• Swiss Probe Microsoft Pricing
  Time: 11:10 EST/16:10 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Switzerland's price regulator said on Monday that he is launching an investigation into Microsoft's software prices after an initial probe backed complaints from consumer groups that they are paying too much.

  Werner Marti, known in Switzerland as "Monsieur Prix," is the state official charged with monitoring pricing. Marti's office can, in certain circumstances, veto price increases or demand reductions.

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• Beta Testing Wins Corporate Fans Of Win 2000
  Time: 11:09 EST/16:09 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft's extensive beta testing of Windows 2000 has earned it some eager converts in the corporate world. A "great majority" of corporate users are planning to move to the operating system soon, following a boost in confidence that the testing has brought, according to U.K. user groups.

  "Users familiar with the beta test program have changed their minds," said Simon Moores, chairman of the Microsoft Forums. "Originally, there was an understandable level of uncertainty. So many people have beta tested it and it has performed so well, many companies are prepared to take the leap."

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• Windows 2000 signals new era for Microsoft
  Time: 11:08 EST/16:08 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The release of Windows 2000 this week begins a new era in the world of Microsoft. The operating system marks a significant milestone for the software giant. Seen as the center of Microsoft's strategy for the new millennium, Windows 2000 will be the basis for an entire new generation of software.

  The release also will send ripples through the hardware industry, as the OS is expected to boost sales of desktops, notebooks and other systems.

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• Corporations cool to Windows 2000
  Time: 11:05 EST/16:05 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is revving its marketing machine this week to launch its long-delayed Windows 2000 operating system, but a range of customer concerns suggest the $1 billion product may not be an immediate blockbuster. Microsoft has long counseled Wall Street that the adoption of Windows 2000, which is aimed at corporate computer users and small businesses, would be slower than consumer products such as Windows 95 or 98

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• Microsoft Advances BizTalk Vision With Release of BizTalk Jumpstart Toolkit Version 2
  Time: 10:55 EST/15:55 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Microsoft^® BizTalk™ Jumpstart Toolkit Version 2. The toolkit, which enables developers to quickly and easily integrate business processes within and between companies, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/. The new toolkit is compatible with the upcoming BizTalk Server 2000, which allows applications developed with this version to be migrated easily to the BizTalk Server. In addition, this latest version includes many new features and enhancements, such as test debug and schema validation tools, as well as compatibility with the BizTalk Framework 1.0 specification.

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• New Microsoft Ad Campaign Encourages People to Experience The Everyday Web on MSN
  Time: 10:55 EST/15:55 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Embarking on its largest-ever consumer advertising campaign, Microsoft Corp. today launched a recharged MSN™ network of Internet services and sent it aloft on the wings of a butterfly.

  The more than $150 million advertising campaign for MSN uses a humorous story line to convey how people can improve their lives by using MSN to take advantage of the Web any time, anywhere and from any type of Internet access device. At the same time, Microsoft today unveiled the new MSN branded logo, a multicolored butterfly that symbolizes the uniqueness, aspiration, freedom and personal empowerment that people experience when using MSN to bring the Internet into their everyday lives. The ad campaign and the butterfly logo capture the unique integration of MSN and best-of-breed Internet services, the real reason millions of people can have fun and enjoy the benefits of using the Internet.

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• CVS.com Signs Multimillion-Dollar Advertising Pact With the Microsoft Network
  Time: 10:54 EST/15:54 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") and CVS/pharmacy (NYSE "CVS"), America's No. 1 drugstore chain, today announced the signing of a multimillion-dollar online advertising deal providing CVS.com (http://www.cvs.com/) with exclusive sponsorship elements within areas of MSN.com™ (http://www.msn.com/), one of the top three most visited Internet portal sites.

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• Microsoft to Work With FirstWorld to Provide ASP Services For Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
  Time: 10:54 EST/15:54 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced an agreement with FirstWorld, a rapidly growing provider of Internet services and data center solutions, to develop and incorporate Microsoft^® products into its application service providers (ASP) portfolio. The agreement includes a $12 million investment by Microsoft, subject to customary closing conditions, and is focused on working with FirstWorld to develop a packaged ASP solution that provides a complete IT environment for small to medium-sized businesses. The agreement complements other investments made by Microsoft in this industry by extending FirstWorld's new Microsoft-based ASP services. FirstWorld, one of the participating sponsors of the local Windows 2000 launch event in Denver on Feb. 17, offers a range of Internet, ASP and data center solutions, including the Microsoft BackOffice^® family, to more than 70,000 customers.

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• SAS Institute Selects Microsoft Windows Media for Digital Media Solution
  Time: 10:52 EST/15:52 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that SAS Institute Inc. (http://www.sas.com/), the world's largest privately held software company and the leader in data warehousing, data mining and decision support, has selected Microsoft^® Windows Media™ as the digital media solution for its corporate intranet. SAS Institute has deployed Windows Media throughout the organization, including on more than 6,600 desktops worldwide. Each employee has access to the Windows Media corporate streaming solution for real-time webcasting and on-demand viewing of other video material. Through streaming media events, key corporate messages and information can be delivered quickly and directly to every employee in the organization. SAS Institute's experience demonstrates the growing momentum among large organizations to turn to Windows Media as their scalable end-to-end digital media solution for corporate communications.

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• Piracy gets political as MS loses Kenya case
  Time: 06:29 EST/11:29 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft has lost the first software piracy case in Kenya because of an extraordinary dismissal decision by the Commercial Court in Nairobi last week, according to the newspaper The East African. Microsoft had been seeking the imprisonment of Mohamed Suleiman, managing director of local PC OEM Microskills, whom it accused of illegally loading its software. It had also asked the court to put the company into receivership

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• MS-Bandai designing Power Ranger talking toy
  Time: 06:27 EST/11:27 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft has teamed up with Bandai America to produce a talking Power Ranger toy with a download capability. Or so Japanese paper Nihon Keizai Shumbun tells us. The paper isn't particularly free with details, but although on the face of it the joint project seems relatively modest, if you think about the convergence implications you'll likely wind up in places you definitely don't want to go.

  As The Register's in-house market segment deemed Power Rangers uncool several years back we'd no idea the blessed things still existed, but apparently there's a new show out on Fox Kids Network this month, and the Microsoft-Bandai talking toy will ship in September as a tie-in.

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• ActiveWin2k Goes Live
  Time: 06:02 EST/11:02 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  For those of you who regularly visit our Windows 2000 section, you can now get it it via the new http://www.activewin2k.com URL. As the launch of Windows 2000 gets ever closer this week, we will keep adding more tips, bug reports and articles to that section.

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• Navy to Microsoft: Give us what we need or else
  Time: 06:00 EST/11:00 GMT News Source: FCW Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The Navy has reached such a state of frustration with Microsoft Corp.'s groupware tools that the service is considering using freeware products instead of Microsoft applications, according to a top Navy official.

  Jerry Hultin, undersecretary of the Navy, said he has a meeting scheduled with Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's newly appointed chief executive officer, during which he intends to tell Ballmer, "If you don't give us what we need...I then can get better groupware from freeware [providers]."

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• Frequently Asked Questions - Microsoft "X-Box" - Updated
  Time: 13:18 EST/18:18 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have updated the Microsoft "X-Box" Frequently Asked Questions page with some new news that has come into us this weekend about the console.

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• Creative SoundBlaster FAQ For Windows 2000
  Time: 13:16 EST/18:16 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Creative Labs Japan have announced some news about their sound card working on Windows 2000, these include a few basic dates for new drivers.

  Q: Which sound card does work on Windows 2000?
  A: The following sound cards does work on Windows 2000.
  Sound Blaster Live! series.
  Sound Blaster PCI series.
  Creative Vibra series.
  Creative Ensoniq audio PCI series.
  Sound Blaster 16 series.
  Sound Blaster AWE32 series.
  Sound Blaster AWE64 series.

  The drivers are included on Windows 2000 CD,
  so you don't need to install new driver to work
  your sound card.
  These drivers support only basic feature such as
  MIDI, CD and WAVE playing and recording, and
  using for mediaplayer included in Windows 2000.

  Q: Does Creative Labs support WDM (Windows driver model) driver?
  A: We scheduled WDM drivers for the following sound card.
  Sound Blaster Live! series. (End of Feb)
  Sound Blaster PCI series. (Beginning of April)
  Creative Vibra series. (End of April)
  Creative Ensoniq audio PCI series. (Beginning of April)

  Q: Present Livewave! for Win9X/NT does work on Windows 2000?
  A: We scheduled available downloading for Livewave! for Windows 2000 from
  our web. The Livewave! for Windows 2000 is equivalent Liveware! 1. (It is like as
  initial released Liveware! 1 for Windows 9X/NT)

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• Airport Inc Review
  Time: 07:22 EST/12:22 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Alex Harris

  I have posted my review of Airport Inc. Here is a snippet of it:

  The graphics in this game are not to bad, but just because it uses a 3D card don't expect to see graphics like that in Quake III or Unreal Tournament. The game runs in 640 x 480, but on saying that it doesn't look too bad. The standard device to run the game is Direct3D which runs quickly and gives a good performance.

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• Sega Rally 2 : Sega Rally Championship Review
  Time: 05:56 EST/10:56 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Alex Harris

  I have posted my review of Sega Rally 2 : Sega Rally Championship. Here is a snippet of it:

  One of the first down sides I found about this game is when I went to set up the graphics on the game. Since I have a 19” monitor and a G400 card I like to run games in quite high resolutions, but was disappointed to find that the game will only run in 800 x 600, but does give you the choice to use AGP memory. Even though the graphics only run at 800 x 600 the graphics aren’t that bad. There are people who stand on the sidelines and will run onto the road, but when they see you coming will run back to the side of the road, which I thought, was a nice touch. Even when you go through a mud puddle you get some mud splash up, but sadly doesn’t stay on the front windshield. There is also a nice effect where the rain beats against the windscreen if you are going fast and slows down when the car slows down.

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• Updated Areas: MS Hardware & Games
  Time: 14:16 EST/19:16 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Alex Harris

  We have updated the MS Hardware & Games Interactive Media section with a few more bits and pieces including, screenshots, trailers and quite a few previews that have popped up over the web.

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• Microsoft Confirms IE 5.5 Un-Install Bugs
  Time: 14:06 EST/19:06 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Some are calling it the beta from hell. Some testers of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.5 beta 1 are finding they cannot un-install the beta once they have downloaded it from the developer's website.

  To make matters worse, Microsoft recently revamped the Windows Update site so that it recognizes IE 5.5 as a separate entity from IE 5.0 and IE 5.1. However, the site denies access to IE 5.5 testers because it says Update does not support betas.

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• McCain pay-chat a Microsoft affair
  Time: 19:48 EST/00:48 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Sen. John McCain held an intimate Internet chat Thursday night with anyone who forked over $100 ... and ran Microsoft Corp.'s software.

  To access the chat, which was billed as the "first ever cyber fundraiser," non-Microsofties had to jump through a series of hoops -- that is, if they could get on at all.

  The screen advertising the chat from the McCain 2000 Web site warned that "this event is viewable only by computers running Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT and a Netscape or Microsoft browser," which may make sense given the fact that Microsoft's software runs on more than 90 percent of operating systems. It was ironic, however, that the Republican presidential candidate who won the crucial New Hampshire primary with an image as a straight-talking outsider taking on the political establishment shut out such "alternative" choices as the Mac and Be OSes, not to mention Linux.

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• Move to Windows 2000 may not be smooth for all
  Time: 19:46 EST/00:46 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  One in four corporations making the move to Microsoft's Windows 2000 will run into problems getting the operating system to work with existing software and systems, according to an industry research firm.

  The warning from Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Group comes less than a week before Microsoft's official debut of Windows 2000, and could make the operating system much harder to sell to big corporations.

  "We think that 25 percent of medium and large enterprises are going to encounter new compatibility problems with a lot of business applications, non-Windows interoperability or network infrastructure," said Gartner Group analyst Michael Gartenberg.

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• Bugfest! Win2000 has 63,000 'defects'
  Time: 18:59 EST/23:59 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Not everyone will be having fun at Microsoft Corp. next week. While the software giant and its partners celebrate the arrival of Windows 2000 on Thursday, Feb. 17, hundreds of members of the Windows development team will be busy cleaning up the mess.

  Not the launch-party mess. The code mess. According to an internal Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) memo viewed by Sm@rt Reseller, the company needs to fix tens of thousands of bugs contained in the final Win2000 release code. Fixing these bugs is the top-priority assignment for Microsoft group VP Jim Allchin's Windows team.

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• Microsoft's Newest Challenges
  Time: 18:01 EST/23:01 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  For most of this decade, companies have said yes to every Microsoft upgrade. If history is any guide, the cycle will likely continue, at least this time around. But the explosion of Internet-based computing, combined with the open-source movement, is offering new and broader choices that could threaten Microsoft's three main revenue streams: Office, last upgraded in June; Windows, which one federal judge dubs a monopoly; and Windows servers that run networks and Web sites.

  Fortunately for Microsoft, it has such a hold on two of the markets--office suites and PC desktops--that it will be hard for many firms to kick their Microsoft habit. In the server market, Microsoft is making its boldest play to date with the February 17 release of Windows 2000, the follow-on to Windows NT 4.0, which was Microsoft's first appeal to the e-business crowd.

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• AOL plans spring launch for Netscape 6.0
  Time: 17:54 EST/22:54 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Netscape Communications is preparing to unveil a new Web browser that will include integration with AOL Instant Messenger and the ability to let Web sites create custom-branded versions.

  Netscape 6.0, previewed last night by AOL president of interactive services Barry Schuler during a financial analysts' meeting in New York, is the first completely new browser software from Netscape Communications since its acquisition by AOL in November 1998. The company plans to launch the software this spring, according to AOL spokeswoman Anne Bentley.

  Netscape missed shipment of its fifth-generation Communicator browser last summer and has since seen the existing 4.7 version lose market share to Microsoft's rival Internet Explorer. Studies have shown that corporate users are increasingly migrating to IE.

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• Microsoft falls after OS report, Dell's comments
  Time: 17:51 EST/22:51 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft shares fell in heavy trading today as a study questioned whether Windows 2000 will interact smoothly with other software.

  Also raising investor concerns were comments last night from Michael Dell, chief executive of Dell Computer, that chilled some of the expectations for the release of Windows 2000, Microsoft's latest operating system, due to be formally introduced next week.

  At the 1 p.m. PST close of regular trading today, Microsoft shares were down $6 to $100, a 5.66 percent decline. Microsoft was the most active Nasdaq issue.

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• Microsoft and ITRAN Communications Join to Create a No New Wires Solution In the Home
  Time: 05:03 EST/10:03 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) today announced it has signed an agreement with ITRAN Communications Ltd., a leading developer of robust and low-cost hardware components and solutions for the growing power-line communications industry. The agreement will accelerate the uniform implementation and deployment of simple and dependable power line carrier (PLC) home networking technologies, enabling a wide variety of smart objects to be connected to each other easily.

  ``We're excited to join with ITRAN to help bring connectivity to devices using power-line-based networking,'' said Shawn Sanford, group product manager of the Windows Division at Microsoft. ``Microsoft's support of ITRAN takes us one step closer to meeting our goal of delivering simple networking across all kinds of devices and appliances.''

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• Microsoft Expands 'Links LS' Series and Optimizes Tournament Play With New 10-Course Pack
  Time: 05:03 EST/10:03 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Just in time for a new golf season, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) today announced the availability of its new ``Links(TM) 2000'' 10-Course Pack. Fans of the best-selling PC golf simulation series Microsoft® ``Links LS'' are sure to enjoy the improved graphics and true-to-life tournament play featured on the championship courses. Using the powerful game engines of ``Links LS 2000'' or ``LS 1999,'' the add-on pack includes 10 upgraded versions of the most popular courses in the ``Links'' series, all optimized for tournament play. In addition, with its estimated retail price of $19.95, the 10-course pack offers unprecedented value to fans of ``Links.''

  Through the add-on pack's 180 holes of golf designed exclusively for the ``Links LS'' series, players will be able to relive the excitement of the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and feel the serenity of Pennsylvania's Latrobe Country Club in fall foliage. The PC golfer on a tight schedule can enjoy an all-new fantasy executive course, Three Canyons, set in a challenging desert bowl. The championship courses are faithful re-creations of some of the world's best courses and are sites of major professional tournaments and other popular venues. Additional courses are Firestone Country Club in Ohio, Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado, Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia, Kapalua Plantation and Kapalua Village in Hawaii, and Entrada at Snow Canyon and Bountiful Ridge Golf Course in Utah.

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• Microsoft Unveils Digital Broadcast Manager to Power Pay-Per-View Video and Audio on the Internet
  Time: 05:02 EST/10:02 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) today announced the availability of Digital Broadcast Manager (Developer Preview), software that makes it possible for companies to sell pay-per-view and pay-per-download content via the Internet. Digital Broadcast Manager rapidly transforms any Web site with digital media content into an e-commerce solution. It offers a secure, easy-to-manage system for distributing digital audio and video content in the Microsoft® Windows Media(TM) Format and makes it easy to create digital media storefronts on the Web. This solution is the next step in the evolution of the pay-per-view industry.

  Digital Broadcast Manager was developed in cooperation with pioneering businesses such as House of Blues Entertainment Inc.'s House of Blues Digital and e-Media, Showtime Boxing's Web broadcaster, that are looking for innovative ways to embrace digital media as a viable e-commerce opportunity. HOB.com (House of Blues Digital), The Home Of Live Music On The Internet(TM), is using Digital Broadcast Manager technology as a cornerstone of its digital media business today, offering its Internet concert series line-up via pay-per-view events.

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• Microsoft Eyes Home Networking Through Power Lines
  Time: 05:00 EST/10:00 GMT News Source: Yahoo! News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Software giant Microsoft Corp. (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) said on Wednesday it would take an equity stake in Itran Communications Ltd., which makes hardware and software that allows the transmission of data through home power lines.

  The deal moves Microsoft further into the home networking market, which involves linking multiple personal computers within the home plus connecting so-called ``smart'' appliances, such as refrigerators and microwave ovens that feature Web access.

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• Processors Gallop Past The GHz Mark
  Time: 04:55 EST/09:55 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  The four heavy hitters in processor design surged past the GHz barrier with architectural modifications shown at ISSCC here, but the breakthroughs are more symbolic than significant for end-applications performance, observers said.

  Intel, IBM, Compaq and Advanced Micro Devices all showed designs or demonstrated devices that crack the magic GHz barrier; some of them are expected to be turned into commercial products this year.

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• Intel Says 64-Bit Chip Is Ready For E-biz
  Time: 04:52 EST/09:52 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  If Windows 2000 isn't enough to convince IT managers that the Wintel platform is ready for e-business, Intel is betting that its forthcoming 64-bit Itanium processor will give further credibility to the platform's added scalability.

  At least eight server vendors will give developers the latest look at systems under development that will run a version of Windows 2000 optimized for the 64-bit processor environment. But there's a catch. Many will also demonstrate systems running Unix and Linux. The systems will be showcased at the Intel Developers Forum next week.

  Due out later this year, Itanium-based systems will let e-businesses manage large databases and offer better use of directory services and improved security over the existing 32-bit Intel architecture, said Ron Curry, Intel's director of marketing.

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• Microsoft and Cap Gemini Team Up on E-Business In New Strategic Global Alliance
  Time: 04:46 EST/09:46 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. and the Cap Gemini Group today announced a global alliance to develop and deliver a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise services and custom solutions based on the Microsoft® enterprise platform. The alliance will leverage Cap Gemini's consulting and delivery excellence, and its e-business knowledge along with Microsoft's newest and future generation of technologies. This combination of services and solutions on the Microsoft Windows® 2000 platform will provide increased business benefits to large enterprise environments. This alliance will focus initially on solutions for the Windows 2000 enterprise infrastructure, retail, electronic commerce and knowledge management markets.

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• Dell chooses Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 to keep on top of its own PCs
  Time: 04:44 EST/09:44 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  As one of the world's top PC manufacturers, Dell Computer Corp. needs an efficient way to keep its own PCs in order.

  Dell expects to maintain its strong growth and top-notch reputation with help from Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2.0. Dell deployed Systems Management Server on 21,000 desktop and laptop computers to improve key IT tasks including inventory, software distribution and remote management. Eventually, Dell will deploy Systems Management Server on a total of more than 33,000 systems worldwide. The solution is expected to cut IT management costs.

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• Visor to arm-wrestle Palm in stores
  Time: 03:44 EST/08:44 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Handspring Inc.'s Visor is ready to do a front somersault into a store near you.

  The company, which burst on to the handheld scene last September, is preparing to make its Palm OS-based Visor handhelds available at a select group of retail stores by the end of the quarter.

  The move, which sources say could happen as soon as the end of this month, will give the company added reach.

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• New 'Joshua' chip targets Celeron
  Time: 03:42 EST/08:42 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Get ready for a new chip on the block.

  Via Technologies Inc. will introduce a new low-priced processor, known by the code name Joshua, at a Feb. 22 news conference in San Jose, Calif.

  Although Taiwan-based Via has yet to formally release pricing and clock speeds for the chip, sources said Joshua initially will be introduced at 433MHz and 466MHz, with 500MHz and 566MHz versions scheduled for release in the second half of this year.

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• Launch of discussion board for I.T. Certification
  Time: 03:38 EST/08:38 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  Sven De Troch has let us know that there is a new Bulletin Board about I.T. Certification. Here is a snippet of the email:

  Since certification of IT professionals, is one of the majors issues today, demanded by lots of companies, we thought to create a forum and home base for that kind of people. I hope you can give some attention to our new forum in your publications or news-section. If you need more info, please contact me or visit the forum itself.

  I'd like to let you know that today, we launched a brand new Bulletin Board for "Certification Related Discussions". Since our website is mainly in dutch (www.nt-admin.com), we thought we had to do something for our english speaking visitors also.

  The "MCSE Discussion board" is there for everybody who likes to share his experiences, share his ideas and knowledge to other fellow I.T. professionals. As a MCSE and MCT I know how difficult it is to get all the certifications you want, without having help from others. This forum has the advantage that is is completely independant of a (windows related) website, so everyone can join our forum and discuss about everything he need or want regarding I.T. certification.

  Please visit our Board at http://www.mcseforum.com and help others becoming certified.

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• IBM preps Windows 2000 notebooks
  Time: 03:35 EST/08:35 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  IBM is jumping on the Windows 2000 express, with plans to unveil notebook computers next week running the new operating system, sources said.

  Big Blue will beef up three notebooks--the ThinkPad 570, 390X and 240--to support Microsoft's delayed operating system. Windows 2000 will be formally introduced Feb. 17.

  Windows 2000 is aimed mainly at businesses, while the follow-on to Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, due to ship this spring, is targeted at the consumer market.

  Analysts have said that many corporate customers won't make the jump to Windows 2000 until after June, when Microsoft is expected to release Windows 2000 Service Pack 1, a package of bug fixes and other software patches. Many corporate purchasers are notoriously leery of version "1.0" of any software product.

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• Microsoft already fighting Windows 2000 pirates
  Time: 03:33 EST/08:33 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Windows 2000 hasn't even been officially released, but that hasn't stopped software pirates from ripping off Microsoft's newest operating system.

  The world's leading software company said today it has been busily stamping out Web sites offering illicit copies of the program, which took $1 billion and three years for Microsoft to develop.

  To combat the piracy problem, made easier by the Internet, Microsoft has assembled an arsenal of new weapons, including a virtual bloodhound to sniff out illegal copies lurking on the Web, holographic CD-ROMs and authenticity certificates that are purportedly harder to counterfeit than a $100 dollar bill.

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• 3DLabs OXYGEN VX1 Review
  Time: 03:31 EST/08:31 GMT News Source: CPU Review Posted By: Alex Harris

  CPU Review has posted a review of 3DLabs OXYGEN VX1 Graphics card. Here is a snippet of the review:

  "I was pleasantly surprised, given how 3DLabs emphasizes that the card is a "Professional" card in their literature I expected it to perform very poorly as a gaming card - but that was not the case."

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Read more of the past months news in our News Archive for December and January News.

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