Microsoft fears network computers
Source: Computerworld
Computerworld via Individual Inc. : With Microsoft facing competition in its
core desktop market from network computers, the company has been
scrambling to address user concerns about Windows' flexibility and cost of
ownership. Microsoft Executive Vice President Steve Ballmer recently talked
with Computerworld Editor Paul Gillin about Microsoft's NetPC initiative, the
threat of network computers and the future of Windows.
CW: Are you afraid of network computers?
BALLMER: Yes. There's something in [network computers and] Java that
customers like, which is the deployment flexibility. You can move what you
want to the client and leave the rest on the server. We need to improve our
operating system to address that.
The [network computer] also brings two new operating system competitors.
Sun has Java-OS. Oracle has its own operating system. And Netscape wants
to run on top of lots of operating systems. Are we afraid of operating system
competitors? Of course we are.
The NetPC has the option to run everything on the server. [Its] Zero Admin
[Windows] makes it much more flexible to make decisions [about where code
and data reside]. You can still run Windows programs, but you don't have to
abandon all which is good about Windows.
CW: Browsers have become almost a zero-revenue market. Is the browser
market still important?
BALLMER: Absolutely. Suppose everybody used Netscape and wrote
programs that depend on it. Netscape becomes their basic user interface. So
it becomes a lot harder for us to sell upgrades. Netscape would like to do to
Windows what Windows did to DOS. Windows killed DOS.
CW: Explain clearly what will happen with Windows NT and Windows 95
convergence.
BALLMER: For the next several years, we will enhance both systems. NT
Workstation is a superset of 95 today, and there will be things added to it that
don't get added to 95. At some point, there will be no demand [for Windows
95]. At that point, we will just have NT Workstation. So they don't get
crashed together.
CW: Is there going to be a common kernel?
BALLMER: I think we'll have a version of 95 that shares the same device
drivers next year, but that doesn't mean a common kernel. [Microsoft Group
Vice President] Paul Maritz would like to do a release after that in which there
was a common kernel. But at some point, we're going to tell people to go to
NT Workstation.
CW: Will this happen in a five-year time frame? Ten years?
BALLMER: Five-ish.
CW: NT is currently behind in some key feature areas such as Plug and Play
and power management support. Will it catch up to Windows 95?
BALLMER: NT will catch up [in NT 5.0], and 95 won't get ahead again.
CW: What will you do with software licensing to accommodate the network
computer?
BALLMER: Anybody can be server-based, but we don't give you a price
break for running off the server. We don't plan to offer that.
CW: The next version of Internet Explorer will change the Windows 95 user
interface to use a browser metaphor. What about information technology
organizations that may suddenly find themselves supporting three different user
interfaces?
BALLMER: First of all, you don't have to use the browser interface if you
don't want to. There are two camps of customers: those who will manage
three interfaces and we'll help by investing in the help desk and user training.
You'll have other people who'll want to vigorously go to one interface. There'll
be a set of deployment advice and consultation that our partners will help
provide.
[11-24-96 at 15:14 EST, Copyright 1996, Computerworld]
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put a fork in the activeX java debate please....
ballmer admits the obvious here, java's open ness must be killed. |
