Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ToySoldier who wrote (21744)	4/21/1998 12:54:00 PM
From: RdS	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42771

FYI all. (not a reply TS, just had to attach to something) Australian Bank Set to Abandon NT Computing The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), a key Windows NT user site, has sacked the manager responsible for NT's introduction because of implementation failures and spiraling costs. The bank's management was unimpressed by the failure to realize projected productivity savings, which reduced the bank's profit growth compared with its competitors. CBA trumpeted its migration from OS/2 to NT in July 1993. But, scalability problems have dogged its implementation. Said one consultant, "the problem seems to be NT scalability and systems management in large organizations. SMS software falls apart once it goes past about 500 workstations." Steve Walker, software strategist at IBM UK, said: "It's a situation you would expect from a vendor who says 'one size fits all'. It's the problem of turning a demo into a working system." Banking Crisis as NT Gamblers Lose Computing Banks in two hemispheres are this week counting the cost of making Windows NT their platform for strategic systems projects. The National Westminster Bank is in the process of setting up forward for its troubled Retail Banking Platform (RBP) project. A senior NatWest official said a mix of poor project management and continuing technical problems with its Windows NT platform have produced delays and additional costs to RBP's budget. Senior bank officials could no longer justify "wasting" the bank's money on internal IT, said the source. The bank declined to confirm that the eventual rollout of RBP to 650 branches would not now be on the NT platform. NatWest is not alone. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has faced similar failures and extra costs while trying to implement its Windows NT platform.(See previous story.) Craig Conway,president and CEO of Web software specialist TGV, said, "It is amazing that banks would be fast followers of NT. As far as networking and scalability are concerned, Microsoft carries enormous risk." Novell Coup as Bank Opts for NetWare 4.1 Excerpted from Network News, NATWEST BANK FAVORS NETWARE OVER NT FOR LONDON HQ IMPLEMENTATION "National Westminster Bank is implementing NetWare 4.1 in its London-based group headquarters according to sources, in a move which is likely to prove an embarrassment to Microsoft and a major coup for Novell. "Although it is unclear whether the change will extend beyond head office, the move casts doubts on one of Microsoft's biggest NT customers and one which has been seen as a flagship site in its assault on Novell dominance in the NOS market. . . . "NatWest began thinking about revising its implementation plans for head office about three months ago, deciding instead to opt for the rollout of NetWare 4.1, sources said." NatWest's R-BP project, managed by Tony Warren, comes under the ultimate control of NatWest's group IT director, Stewart Legg. The system was due to be built using a Sybase database and PowerBuilder, but after intervention from Bill Gates it was decided to switch to Microsoft's Windows NT... NatWest brought in Mike Angus, its own IT troubleshooter, to bring R13P back on track. According to one insider: 'Mike could not put it right, no one could. It was too far gone.

To: ToySoldier who wrote (21744)	4/21/1998 3:23:00 PM
From: Don Earl	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 42771

Hi Toy Soldier, It was on the local news. I live in the Northwest, so we probably see more "interesting" Microsoft news. It was a quick shot of Billy and his side kick, in front of a crowd, "showing off" Windows 98. The camera focused in on the computer screen and poof, blue screen of death. The camera then zoomed back in on Billy and the look on his face was just about the funniest thing I ever saw. I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy Windows 98. I have enough problems keeping Windows 95 going. Regards, Don