MSFT/WNDR/TAVA observation
The MSFT / SUNW clash is important in understanding the importance of Wonderware being the preferred Windows NT solution provider for MSFT.
This article is an example of this clash. No longer is Netscape 'the biggest enemy' for MSFT (the have won that war); today it is SUNW.
MSFT will do everything to win that war.
John
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Automation Technologies Forum
February 9-10, 1998 ú Orlando, FL
Overview
Speakers
Photos
Strategies & Technologies
for Success in Manufacturing
Forum Draws Record Number of Attendees
ARC's Automation Technologies Forum in Orlando drew a record
number of attendees to the two-day event. The forum brought
together top automation professionals to discuss and debate
current and emerging technologies and their potential impact on
manufacturing. Presentations and panel discussions covered the
use of Internet, Java, Windows NT, Ethernet, and other
commercial technologies, as well as the impact of Year 2000
(Y2K) on automation installations.
Much discussion was made on commercial information
technology's migration to the factory floor. Among the attendees
was a large and vocal user contingent that expressed concerns
regarding ongoing support of installed IT-based control system
technology versus "the latest and greatest," as well as supplier
handling of Y2K-related problems in installed equipment.
Intensifying competition between Microsoft and Sun was evident
in both their formal presentations as well as the point-counterpoint
nature of the panel discussion. Microsoft emphasized their role as
a platform provider, while solutions and services are to be
provided by their industrial automation partners. Windows CE
was revealed as the target platform for deterministic applications,
largely for the embedded market, and partners will continue to
provide deterministic performance for NT. Real-time partners
VenturCom and Nemasoft participated in the session, while OPC
(OLE for Process Control) Foundation President Dave Rehbein
provided an update on their progress and recent performance
statistics.
Sun Microsystems emphasized the viability of its Java technology
through statistics detailing its 70 million enabled seats, >400k
developers, and other benchmarks. Using the analogy of a water
faucet where the user has no knowledge of the water's source, the
company emphasized its vision of a network computing
architecture that is network independent. Java hardware, Personal
Java, and Embedded Java were also highlighted. Sun, Microsoft,
and other software technology session participants fielded
questions from users concerned with version management and
support for installed systems when the latest version of the
operating system or other software components is introduced.
<snip>
Coverage of the Y2K issue was a big draw for user attendees.
Y2K project managers from DuPont and Allied Signal gave
updates on their companies' Y2K project status, while Honeywell,
Rockwell Automation, and system integrators TAVA
Technologies and Walsh Automation reported on their progress in
support of their customers.
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