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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: XiaoYao who wrote (10877)	9/21/1998 4:26:00 PM
From: XiaoYao	Respond to of 74651

Networking Microsoft Posts Big Gains In Networking OS John Longwell ÿ 09/21/98 Computer Reseller News Page I38 Copyright 1998 CMP Publications Inc. ÿ Microsoft Corp. is rapidly eating away at Novell Inc.'s installed base of network operating systems, according to the results of the latest CRN Inside Spending brand-preference poll. For the first time in the poll, Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., has overtaken Novell, Orem, Utah, in the number of U.S. businesses that report using its networking operating systems. Among all sizes of businesses, Microsoft gained percentages of the network operating system installed base almost equal to what Novell lost, the poll found. In the large-company space, Microsoft jumped 13 percentage points, to 62 percent from last year's 49 percent, while Novell fell 10 percentage points, to 42 percent from 52 percent. The trend was even more dramatic in midsize accounts. There, poll results showed that Microsoft penetrated 59 percent of the midsize businesses this year, up from 39 percent last year, while Novell's response rate dropped to 45 percent this year, from 62 percent in the previous year's survey. Meanwhile, small businesses, which are less likely to be using more than one network operating system, also appeared to be shifting toward NT, although at a slower pace. Microsoft was named by 43 percent of small-business respondents, while Novell was named by 29 percent. These responses reflected a year-to-year gain of 8 percentage points for Microsoft and an equal loss for Novell. While Microsoft has previously held claim to being the fastest-growing vendor of network operating system software, Novell, until now, had held onto its status in the poll as having more companies reporting that they use its networking operating system than any other vendor. "What we're seeing over time is a change in what customers are doing with their network operating systems, and the change favors Windows NT server," said Jeff Price, lead product manager for Windows NT server. The change includes a move away from simple file and printer sharing to the deployment of more messaging, database, accounting and vertical-market applications on the server, Price said. "There are a lot of NetWare 3 customers [who], when they're making the move, are going to NT instead of NetWare 4," he said. The annual survey, which asks MIS managers at large, midsize and small businesses to identify the brand names of the network operating systems they use, provided a window into both brand awareness and account penetration. Respondents could name more than one vendor and, according to the results, many large enterprises were clearly using both Windows NT and Novell products. However, poll results strongly suggest that many businesses are replacing their Novell networks with NT systems. September 21, 1998

To: XiaoYao who wrote (10877)	9/21/1998 4:29:00 PM
From: XiaoYao	Respond to of 74651

Microsoft Retains E-Mail Lead Michele Pepe ÿ 09/21/98 Computer Reseller News Page I39 Copyright 1998 CMP Publications Inc. ÿ Microsoft Corp. proved most popular among businesses of all sizes in the E-mail category of the most recent CRN Inside Spending brand-preference poll. Among large companies, the Redmond, Wash.-based behemoth was cited by 44 percent of respondents. Lotus Development Corp., a subsidiary of IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., came in second with 37 percent. In the midsize-business space, 46 percent of respondents said they use E-mail from Microsoft, while 20 percent said they use Lotus software. Microsoft earned a share of 38 percent among small companies, vs. 9 percent for Lotus. Novell Inc., Orem, Utah, came in a distant third, named by 7 percent of large companies, 8 percent of midsize firms and 1 percent of small businesses. Officials of both Microsoft and Lotus said the poll results can be attributed in part to the different approaches the companies have taken to marketing their respective E-mail products. While Microsoft replaced MS Mail with the Exchange messaging and collaboration package, Lotus continued to market two separate products: Notes for groupware and cc:Mail for messaging. "Lotus orphaned its cc:Mail product, in a sense. Most cc:Mail users are moving to . . . Exchange, which offers more of what cc:Mail users are used to and is a more scalable product," said Dave Malcolm, Microsoft's group product manager for Exchange Server. "We don't sell MS Mail much anymore. Exchange was our upgrade for MS Mail, in essence, and we made the migration path seamless." When it comes to messaging software, Microsoft leads first and foremost in interoperability, Malcolm said, adding that the company offers excellent migration tools for MS Mail and cc:Mail users looking to make the switch to Exchange. "Exchange is architected to be an enterprise-ready messaging solution," Malcolm said. "We've had significant success with Exchange in the messaging space because we [deliver] from the standpoint of interoperability, scalability, reliability and manageability." Ken Bisconti, director of Notes product marketing at Lotus, Cambridge, Mass., conceded that the market for pure messaging products is shrinking, but he maintained that cc:Mail continues to be a popular package, especially among midsize companies. "In the enterprise, Notes is stronger than cc:Mail," Bisconti said. "Simple mail programs such as cc:Mail and MS Mail make up a market segment of their own that is declining because users are upgrading to groupware environments that offer richer, more scalable E-mail, plus calendaring and other collaboration applications." That integrated market is growing about 35 percent each year as accounts migrate to groupware, he said. September 21, 1998

To: XiaoYao who wrote (10877)	9/21/1998 4:32:00 PM
From: XiaoYao	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Microsoft OSes grow up: WinCE raises profile Ephraim Schwartz and Bob Trott ÿ 09/21/98 InfoWorld Copyright (c) InfoWorld 1998 ÿ Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates will formally introduce the next version of Windows CE on Oct. 12 at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference in Denver. The operating system will run primarily on mininotebook-size devices, all code-named Jupiter. Supporting Microsoft's software efforts, attendees will also get a look at Jupiter-class systems from Compaq, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, LG Electronics, NEC, Philips, and Sharp. Despite the full tilt system assault, IS managers familiar with Jupiter products are already debating whether the pluses -- a weight of about 2 pounds and eight-hour battery life -- outweigh the minuses -- poor remote access and e-mail synchronization capabilities. Jupiter units will be priced at just less than $1,000, according to Phil Holden, Microsoft group product manager for WinCE. However, one IS manager believes the entry price is irrelevant. "It still won't be a bargain if users become frustrated and can't do their job remotely," said an IS manager at a Fortune 500 company. "Unless it has enough [remote] functionality, it's the total cost of computing question all over again." Microsoft's Holden agreed. "When you roll out something new, you need to think about support costs; nothing is free," Holden said. But it appears Microsoft will not offer an immediate solution to WinCE's inability to easily access even its own Exchange Server, which uses IMAP for remote access, while WinCE supports POP3. One of the OS's more unique, but not necessarily winning, features will be a choice of mouse input or touch screen that vendors will need to choose between. IBM will opt for mouse-type input using its trackpoint device, said sources briefed by IBM. IBM's Jupiter will weigh just under 3 pounds, will measure 1-inch thick, and will include a keyboard with full travel and an 8-inch active-matrix screen. However, unlike other vendors, IBM will market the unit as part of its e-business solution, with applications for vertical markets, rather than as a stand-alone product, the source said. NEC will also introduce a 2-pound Jupiter version of its Mobile Pro, with a touch screen rather than a pointing device, according to a source. The unit will use a NEC embedded processor, have about an 8-inch thin-film transistor screen, and offer eight to 10 hours of battery life. HP's system will be priced at $1,000 and will have a more conservative five hours of battery life, a source said. The HP unit is expected to ship in November. Sharp will have a unique feature on its Jupiter-class system, with a flip screen for use as a tablet or with the keyboard. According to one mobile analyst, WinCE is still not quite ready for prime time. "Microsoft needs to figure out how to get the right mix between the core OS, the user interface, and built-in applications," said Gerry Purdy, president of Mobile Insights, in Mountain View, Calif. Microsoft Corp., in Redmond, Wash., can be reached at microsoft.com. The shape of things to come The Fujitsu FMV-Biblo NCV120 device is typical of what Jupiter-class systems will look like. Processor: Intel 200-MHz MMX Pentium Weight: 1.1 pounds RAM: 32MB Display: 8.4 inches, active matrix Size: 9 inches wide by 6.69 inches long by 1.3 inches high Form factor: Clamshell design Ports: One PC Card Type 3 slot; two USB; two PS/2, two serial, and one parallel