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Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bosquedog who wrote (16288)	2/14/2001 9:42:37 AM
From: SIer formerly known as Joe B.	Respond to of 110652

Smoke, mirrors and Windows XP By Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet News Wednesday February 14 02:12 AM EST dailynews.yahoo.com Microsoft gave a sneak peek Tuesday of the next version of its desktop operating system, touted as the "most important" release since Windows 95, and showed off a new interface called Luna for home and business computers. But a lack of details raised as many questions as the company answered. At an unveiling held at the Experience Music Project museum in Seattle, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates put a beta of Windows XP through its paces. But while Microsoft top brass aimed to prove that Windows XP will be a centerpiece to its much-touted .Net software-as-a-service initiative, executives offered few specifics about new Web services that would emerge with .Net. Instead, Microsoft focused on how the task-centered Luna interface will help people engage in activities such as online shopping, publishing photos to the Web and sharing applications over the Internet. Luna is one of two interfaces Microsoft will deliver as part of Windows XP; the company also plans to allow customers to choose the existing Windows interface. Streamlined look Luna will offer customers a more streamlined Windows look. It retains the Windows Start button but makes Internet connectivity, e-mail access and interaction with system settings via the Control Panel more intuitive. Microsoft said Beta 2 will go out to testers during the first quarter, and it held fast to commitments to commercially ship two versions of Windows XP in the second half of 2001. The consumer version will be called Windows XP Home Edition, while the business version will be dubbed Windows XP Professional. Microsoft declined to comment on pricing other than to say it would be in line with existing Windows prices. Microsoft executives said Windows XP will have hardware and memory requirements similar to those of Windows 2000, but didn't offer further details. Silence on Whistler Company executives did not talk about the various server versions of the successor to Windows 2000, code-named Whistler, at the Tuesday event. Server versions of Whistler, which will not be branded "XP," are expected to follow the desktop versions by several months. Gates told attendees at the event that Microsoft expects to spend in excess of $1 billion on Windows XP development, testing and marketing. He reiterated Microsoft's claim that Windows XP will be a "major Windows release" and "the most important Windows release since Windows 95." But testers who have been dabbling with Whistler alphas and betas have said that, at least so far, they do not see many significant advances in Windows XP beyond what Microsoft already ships in its latest Windows Millennium Edition for consumers and Windows 2000 Professional for businesses. Microsoft Group Vice President Jim Allchin demonstrated a variety of scenarios during the hour-long Windows XP preview. In particular, he highlighted Windows XP's ease of use, music and video management, and remote-user assistance capabilities. "Windows XP is the system I've always wanted to build," said Windows veteran Allchin. "It's not just a Windows upgrade. It's almost a lifestyle upgrade." Microsoft acknowledged last week that it plans to brand desktop versions of Whistler as Windows XP. Ever since the Redmond, Wash.-based company moved to a product-naming convention based on dates, such as Windows 95, Windows 2000 and Office 2000, the company has struggled with product naming among the various versions. At least one developer who viewed Tuesday's presentation was not impressed. "This is so sad. They're just lamely trying to copy Steve Jobs' Apple presentation--right down to the guy having a black shirt and black pants," said one Whistler tester who watched the Seattle event via Webcast and requested anonymity. "It's almost like Windows ME 2. Or as Apple might call it, Windows Me Too."

To: bosquedog who wrote (16288)	2/14/2001 12:04:16 PM
From: thecow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110652

I couldn't imagine anyone using such a small window for internet surfing. I helped a couple of friends that had MSN access preinstalled on their new Dell machines so I am aware of what you're talking about. My suggestion to them was to launch a new browser after signing on and use it as the homepage and store favorites and etc. there. It reminded me of AOL's policy of trying to keep all of the beginners surfing on there own sites. JMHO, but I found MSN's interface less than acceptable. tc :-)