• Microsoft to launch X-Box next month
  Time: 16:01 EST/21:01 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft will unveil its would-be PlayStation 2 killer, X-Box, next month during the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, California.

  At least that's what UK trade title CTW is predicting. It reckons Bill Gates will play second fiddle to Lionhead co-founder (and lookalike to The Register's own Mike Magee) Peter Molyneux who will be on stage to demo his upcoming online multiplayer Black and White running on the X-Box.

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• First Win2000 Fix Out
  Time: 15:59 EST/20:59 GMT News Source: Wired News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Just one day after trumpeting Windows 2000 as the solution for business, Microsoft issued its first update to the OS that adds compatibility with 45 popular games. The compatibility update also includes one hardware fix, adding support for Iomega Zip drives connected to the parallel port.

  Company officials said the patch will help Windows 2000 work better with applications. Microsoft’s own FrontPage 98, a Web page building application, is on the list of programs that are helped by the patch. But the bulk of the list is mostly games, such as Creature 3, F22 Lightning III, and Mageslayer.

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• French accuse Microsoft of working with U.S. agents
  Time: 15:58 EST/20:58 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  According to wire news service AFP, a French intelligence report has accused U.S. secret agents of working with Microsoft to develop software allowing Washington to spy on communications around the world. The Strategic Affairs Delegation report, quoted in the newsletter Le Monde du Renseignement, claims agents from the U.S. National Security Agency helped install secret programmes on Microsoft software. According to the report there was a 'strong suspicion' of a lack of security fed by insistent rumours about the existence of spy programs on Microsoft, and by the presence of NSA personnel in Bill Gates' development teams.

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• MS thumps tub for Win2k rollout
  Time: 15:56 EST/20:56 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Fashionwise, the big Win2k launch was a sports jacket event for the Microsoft stars, but there was an uneasy balance between formality and fun at the carefully scripted event in San Francisco. Some 5.000 people were present, which just happens to be the number of Microsoft staff involved in creating the $1 billion product (or possibly the $2 billion product - strange inflationary forces seem to be at work in MS presentations).

  The biggest launch party, however, was in Philadelphia, prompting a city councilman and a senator to introduce resolutions that the day be proclaimed "Windows 2000 day", for so it was.

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• MSN's next big heave -- broadband access from space
  Time: 15:54 EST/20:54 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft's numerous attempts to build market share for the Microsoft Network have failed so far, but the company keeps coming, and the latest heave, broadband satellite access, could just turn into MSN into a 'must have' success. The new service will be available in the US initially, will only be available for MSN on Win9x operating systems, and will only be sold by Microsoft and by MSN retailers. But as MSN isn't a monopoly by a long chalk, that's OK, right?

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• Intel Still Questions Win 2000 Needs
  Time: 15:52 EST/20:52 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Intel and Microsoft's public squabble over Windows 2000's processor requirements continues. On Thursday, Microsoft rebutted the chip maker's claims that to run well, the new operating system requires significantly more processing power than most computers offer.

  On stage at the Intel Developers Forum here, just hours before Microsoft officially released Windows 2000, Microsoft spokesperson Charles Fitzgerald delicately raised the issue. He also noted that Intel performed its tests on a beta release of the operating system.

  The beta version--sent to Intel months before Microsoft completed its final work--was not "performance tuned," Fitzgerald said. The shipping version of Win 2000 actually runs faster on existing hardware, he said.

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• Microsoft Won't Open Code to Close Case
  Time: 15:50 EST/20:50 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft representatives deny a report that Bill Gates said yesterday that he would agree to open up the source code for the Windows operating system if that's all it would take to settle the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case against the software giant.

  Gates was interviewed by Bloomberg News television anchor Dylan Ratigan yesterday as the company officially launched its latest operating system, Windows 2000. But the comment in question came after the taping ended when Gates was leaving and the reporter asked whether he would be willing to open up Windows source code to third-party companies in order to settle the case.

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• New Microsoft Virtual Machine Released
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  A new version of the Microsoft^® virtual machine (Microsoft VM) is now available for download. A recommended update, this version eliminates a security vulnerability. Download your free copy of the Microsoft VM (build 3240 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, build 3193 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, or build 2445 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01) today (connection fees may apply).

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• MDAC 2.5 RTM English is available for download
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  MDAC 2.5 RTM (2.50.4403.12) is available for download. This is the same version of MDAC components that are installed by Windows® 2000. This redistributable setup is supported on Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0.

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• Site News: E-Mailing Us Questions
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We are getting a large amount of e-mails asking us to help out with technical problems based around Windows 95/98/2000, unfortunately (as we are sure you will understand) we can't answer most of these by e-mail because there are just too many being sent in now. As many of you know, we run a message board which we check through a number of times each day, we would prefer you all to use that as a means of asking us technical questions, it makes it easier on us and also means that more questions get answered and that more people see the answers. Thank you for understanding.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-010) - Patch Available for "Site Wizard Input Validation" Vulnerability
  Time: 09:00 EST/14:00 GMT News Source: Microsoft Product Security Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in web applications associated with Microsoft® Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition. These applications are provided as samples and generated by wizards, but do not follow security best practices. If deployed on a web site, they could allow inappropriate access to a database on the site

  Read more

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• Bugs found in servers, workstations using Intel chipset
  Time: 21:58 EST/02:58 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  The Santa Clara, Calif., chipmaking giant has discovered a bug that affects some server and workstation computers incorporating recently released Intel chipsets, just when it seemed like the company was digging out from a series of manufacturing snafus in 1999. Though the glitch occurs somewhat rarely, three circuit board ("motherboard") designs have been canceled in response.

  Intel is moving to correct the error and will work with computer makers to resolve any current product issues, according to spokesman Dan Francisco.

  Still, the bug is not likely to sit well with hardware manufacturers, who had to endure shortages and product delays last year. The shortcoming also could prove a boon to chipset start-up ServerWorks, which makes components that compete with the problematic Intel parts.

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• Windows 'Me' Next Up for Microsoft
  Time: 21:50 EST/02:50 GMT News Source: Yahoo! News Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Now that Microsoft Corp. has finally shipped Windows 2000, its most ambitious product yet, the software giant is turning its attention to a face-lift of its ubiquitous consumer operating system.

  Because Windows 2000, launched by Chairman Bill Gates on Thursday, targets businesses, Microsoft says average users should wait for the updated version of Windows 98, officially dubbed Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me.

  That software will not make the kind of dramatic leaps in performance and stability that Windows 2000 boasts, but it will sport a slightly newer look and built-in tools for gadgets such as digital cameras and digital music players.

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• Microsoft, government head back to court
  Time: 21:49 EST/02:49 GMT News Source: USA Today Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  The landmark antitrust case heads back to court Tuesday.

  Microsoft Corp.'s antitrust battle with the government returns to federal court next week as the two sides have failed to reach a settlement of the landmark case.

  Opposing lawyers will present closing arguments Tuesday on whether the world's leading software company violated the law, setting the stage for a later ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson. He declared the company a predatory monopoly on Nov. 5, stopping short of finding it acted illegally.

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• Gates buys stake in nuclear shipbuilder
  Time: 21:48 EST/02:48 GMT News Source: USA Today Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, the world's richest man, has placed a bet on the defense industry through the purchase of a 7.8% stake in Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., the only U.S. maker of nuclear aircraft carriers.

  Cascade Investment LLC, an investment vehicle for Gates, filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission showing he holds 2.6 million Newport News shares. The stake is worth about $68.9 million at current prices.

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• Users Look Forward To Deploying Windows 2000
  Time: 21:40 EST/02:40 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Minutes after Microsoftchairman and chief software architect BillGates formally launched Windows 2000 Thursday, a pleased-looking Joe Kriegel, a senior analyst at Principal Financial Group, said he is looking forward to "the scalability and reliability" of the long-awaited operating system.

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• Win2000 Launch Guru Talks Strategy and Linux
  Time: 21:39 EST/02:39 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  One of the main architects of the Windows 2000 launch event -- Jim Ewel, Microsoft general manager, Windows marketing -- talked with TechWeb Software editor Stuart Glascock about a number of key issues related to the worldwide roll-out. Ewel also manages the Microsoft team charged with combatting Linux, and he shed some light on Microsoft's view of the rapidly growing alternative operating system.

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• Faster USB On Track For This Year
  Time: 21:39 EST/02:39 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Version 2.0 of the Universal Serial Bus is on track for introduction by the Christmas 2000 selling season, according to Intel executives speaking at the Intel Developer Forum this week. The latest rev of the USB spec will support data-transfer rates of 480 Mbits/second for peripherals connected to a system.

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• Windows 2000 Compatibility Updated On Windows Update
  Time: 15:14 EST/20:14 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Yes, already updates for Windows 2000 are appearing...Microsoft has released a Compatibility Update for Windows 2000 on their Windows Update site. The download, which takes about a minute to get hold of, adds compatibility for a whole host of applications and games.

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• New Windows 2000 Drivers
  Time: 11:32 EST/16:32 GMT News Source: E-Mail/Various Posted By: Byron Hinson

  3dfx have finally released the new Voodoo3 2000 / 3000 drivers for Windows 2000 This first release contains an OpenGL ICD, GLide support, better 2D.

  ATi has released some new drivers for Windows2000 and their Rage 128/Pro series of video cards. Download them here.

  Creative has released some new drivers for Windows2000 and Creative Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT, 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 Ultra Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT2 Value (32Mb) 3D Blaster GeForce/3D Blaster GeForce Pro

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• Could Microsoft open source code to settle?
  Time: 11:25 EST/16:25 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft would be willing to open the source code for its Windows software to competitors if that was all it would take to settle the antitrust case filed by the Justice Department, chairman Bill Gates said.

  Microsoft is seeking a settlement with the Justice Department and 19 states that are suing the software maker and would "do our absolute best to achieve it," Gates said in an interview with Bloomberg News yesterday.

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• Microsoft and Intel Deliver Increased Developer Support for 64-Bit Windows For the Itanium Processor Platform
  Time: 11:25 EST/16:25 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. today announced updates to key tools as well as resources for software development on the 64-bit Windows^® for the ItaniumÔ processor platform. Microsoft has opened a 64-bit Windows Developer's Lab in Redmond to support the porting and tuning of key software applications. Microsoft and Intel also announced delivery of an advanced version of the IA-64 Software Development Kit (SDK) for 64-bit Windows, providing the latest operating system release, compilers, linkers and libraries to hardware and software developers who are already working on software development for 64-bit Windows. To extend the reach of these tools, Microsoft plans on releasing a beta version of 64-bit Windows and tools in the second quarter of 2000. Microsoft expects to release 64-bit Windows concurrently with production of the Itanium processor.

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• MS Games & Hardware Update
  Time: 06:31 EST/11:31 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have updated our MS Games & Hardware section with more information including, new info on Motocross Madness 2 which includes the release date and first box shot...More fan sites and more updates of the upcoming games area.

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• Office 2000 SR-1 News & Date
  Time: 06:08 EST/11:08 GMT News Source: Microsoft Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is to release a new version of Office 2000 in stores from the 20th April 2000. Meanwhile, the patch to upgrade to Office 2000 SR-1 will be released a month earlier during the week beginning 20th March and is expected to be quite a hefty download.

  WHAT'S NEW TO MICROSOFT OFFICE 2000 PREMIUM?
  Microsoft Office 2000 Premium has been updated with Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 Version 2. In addition, Office 2000 Premium has been updated to Service Release 1 (SR-1).

  WHAT'S NEW IN MICROSOFT PHOTODRAW 2000 VERSION 2?
  Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 Version 2 builds on the powerful combination of easy-to-use image editing and drawing tools brought together in the initial release of PhotoDraw. Among the significant improvements in Version 2 are a wide array of new Web graphics features, improved integration with Microsoft Office 2000, and better overall speed and performance.

  WHAT'S NEW OFFICE 2000 SR-1?
  Office 2000 SR-1 is a planned service release that provides Office 2000 customers with a convenient way to receive the latest product updates to Office 2000 and related technology like Windows Installer 1.1 and Internet Explorer 5.01. Note, Office 2000 SR-1 does NOT provide new features or functionality in Office 2000, and existing Office 2000 customers can visit the Microsoft Office Web site to download the Office 2000 SR-1 patch or order the SR-1 patch on CD.

  IS OFFICE 2000 SR-1 REQUIRED IF A CUSTOMER WANTS TO RUN OFFICE 2000 WITH MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000 PROFESSIONAL?
  Office 2000 SR-1 is NOT required for Office 2000 to run on Windows 2000. However, Windows 2000 customers who update to SR-1 will receive optimal benefits, including improved supportability, interoperability, reliability and performance.

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• Pirates Hijack Win2K Launch
  Time: 05:28 EST/10:28 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Hawkers' stalls in Moscow streets and metro stations were filled with Windows 2000 discs on Thursday, the product's world launch date. But then they have been for months, thanks to industrious pirates.

  U.S. software maker Microsoft (MSFT) says Windows 2000 is a revolutionary version of its operating system -- fit for e-business and with new anti-piracy features.

  Moscow street hawkers offering pirated test versions on CD-ROM for 80 roubles, or US$2.75, instead of hundreds of dollars for legitimate version, say customers are satisfied.

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• Gates: We'll open Windows code to settle case
  Time: 05:16 EST/10:16 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft would be willing to open the source code for its Windows software to competitors in order to settle the antitrust case filed by the U.S. Justice Department, chairman Bill Gates said.

  Microsoft is seeking a settlement with the Justice Department and 19 states that have filed an antitrust suit against the software giant and would ''do our absolute best to achieve it,'' Gates said in an interview.

  Gates said he would agree to open the source code for the company's Windows operating system as part of a settlement, a move that would allow competitors to create and sell their own modified versions of Windows.

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• Licensing fees a feature of Windows 2000, researcher says
  Time: 05:10 EST/10:10 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft's new corporate operating system could force many business to pay thousands of dollars in additional licensing fees, a research firm said.

  GartnerGroup, which has slammed Microsoft's pricing policies in the past, said that charges built into how Microsoft sells its software would affect a large percentage of companies upgrading to Windows 2000. Many of these fees are not up-front, said analyst Michael Gartenberg.

  One important hidden cost is the client access license, essentially a passport that allows a Windows 2000 desktop to connect to Windows 2000 servers and take advantage of programs like Active Directory, Gartenberg said. Client access licenses, which are required, cost $999 per computer, more than three times as much as the $319 Windows 2000 Professional Desktop software itself.

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• Companies committed to deploying Windows 2000 on nearly 2 million PCs, servers
  Time: 05:00 EST/10:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft® Windows® 2000 became available in stores yesterday, and it's already a hit with many customers.

  Companies such as General Motors, Wells Fargo Bank and Merrill Lynch have committed to installing the new operating system on nearly 2 million PCs and servers. And more than 250 corporations worldwide have already deployed the operating system in a variety of mission-critical environments. These early adopters are experiencing benefits such as better reliability, manageability and scalability and lower total cost of ownership. They also expect a return on their investment in less than one year.

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• Voodoo Drivers Soon for Windows 2000
  Time: 19:12 EST/00:12 GMT News Source: AVault Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The official Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo3 2000 and 3000 are completed and have finished certification testing. 3dfx is waiting for Microsoft to return the final certification on these drivers. Due to Microsoft WHQL restrictions, the company cannot post beta drivers for Windows 2000. 3dfx will post Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo3 2000 and 3000 as soon as Microsoft returns our WHQL certification. In the meantime, Windows 2000 users may use the imbedded drivers for the Voodoo3 that ship with Windows 2000. The company says it also plans robust support for Windows 2000 with Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 when those products ship.

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• Win2K's rivals: So what?
  Time: 19:07 EST/00:07 GMT News Source: Marketwatch Posted By: Byron Hinson

  As the business world awaits the arrival of Windows 2000 Thursday, Microsoft's rivals aren't exactly running for cover just yet from the killer operating system that analysts once thought would destroy the competition. Microsoft (MSFT: news, msgs) is widely seen as having made strides in improving its business operating system -- enough to have Windows foes taking note of the massive product launch. But executives at competitors like Sun Microsystems (SUNW: news, msgs), Novell (NOVL: news, msgs) and Red Hat (RHAT: news, msgs) say they won't need to play catch-up in the wake of Bill Gates' latest technology advances.

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• Microsoft Unveils Technology, Details Road Map For Unlimited Internet Scalability
  Time: 15:09 EST/20:09 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today revealed new scalability features in the upcoming release of Microsoft^® SQL Server™ 2000 and detailed a technology road map that together will provide customers with virtually unlimited scalability on the Windows^® 2000 platform, a key element of friction-free operations. The company also announced an array of world-record database benchmarks, including a TPC-C benchmark result, demonstrating the power of the Microsoft platform in both scale-out and scale-up scenarios. At 227,079 order transactions per minute, the TPC-C result sets the world record for any hardware, operating system or database. The result was achieved with Windows 2000 and SQL Server 2000 running on 12 Compaq ProLiant servers in a scale-out configuration.

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• Record Number of Corporations Deploying Windows 2000 Before General Availability
  Time: 15:09 EST/20:09 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. announced today at the launch of Windows^® 2000 that over 250 corporations have deployed the product successfully in a variety of mission-critical environments worldwide. Even before the general availability of the product, these businesses - large, small, brick and mortar, and Internet-based - have deployed over 150,000 copies of Microsoft^® Windows 2000 Professional on desktops or notebooks and over 9,000 systems running on Windows 2000 Server or Advanced Server in production environments. In fact, customers such as AIMCO, Phoenix Suns-Arizona Diamondbacks, Sears Homelife, Troop Law and Stride Rite Corp. have completely deployed Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server across their organizations. In addition, key customers from around the world, such as General Motors Corp., Merrill Lynch & Company Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, which have already begun their deployments, have committed to installing Windows 2000 on almost 2 million desktops, notebooks and servers. Finally, major corporations are continuing to see total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits from deploying Windows 2000, saving millions of dollars every year, thanks to the enhanced reliability and manageability of the platform.

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• Windows 2000, the Next Generation of PC Computing, Available Worldwide Today
  Time: 10:07 EST/20:07 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of the Windows^® 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating systems. Beginning today, Microsoft^® Windows 2000 is broadly available in over 60 countries and 16 languages, including English, German, Japanese (two versions), French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese. The Windows 2000 family of operating systems is designed to enable a new generation of PC computing, delivering superior levels of reliability and manageability to help increase system uptime and lower the total cost of ownership. Windows 2000 is the ideal platform for doing business on the Internet and takes advantage of state-of-the-art hardware, from the smallest mobile devices to the largest e-commerce servers.

  

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• Gates Ushers in Next Generation of PC Computing With Launch of Windows 2000
  Time: 10:07 EST/20:07 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates officially announced today the worldwide availability of the Windows^® 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating systems, addressing a worldwide audience that spanned more than 100 cities. Declaring Windows 2000 the first in the greatest generation of products ever released by Microsoft, Gates predicted that customers of Windows 2000 will receive significant reliability, scalability, performance and cost-effectiveness advantages over alternative platforms.

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• Windows 2000 Launch Events Link Customers, Partners Around the World
  Time: 10:14 EST/15:14 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  In spirit if not in person, customers and partners from around the world are planning to join Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates and thousands of information technology (IT) professionals today at the launch of Windows 2000, Microsoft’s next-generation operating system for businesses.

  Microsoft will link at least 18 countries plus 57 cities in the US and Canada via satellite to the IDG Windows 2000 Conference and Expo in San Francisco, where Gates will celebrate the commercial launch of Windows 2000. In his keynote speech, Gates plans to highlight Windows 2000 customers and demonstrate powerful new Windows 2000 applications. (The speech will also be available via Windows Media at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/launch/keynote.asp.)

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• Investors consider Windows 2000 impact
  Time: 10:11 EST/15:11 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  This week's release of Windows 2000 could be considered the tech industry's equivalent of trickle-down economics as many segments will reap the rewards.

  When the new operating system reaches store shelves this week, Microsoft will not be the only company to enjoy a boost in revenues. A large cross-section of tech companies--computer makers, memory sellers, software creators and others--also are hoping to ride Microsoft's coattails to the bank.

  The long-awaited, much delayed new operating system for businesses finally gets its official launch today. Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates will culminate three days of keynotes with his own speech in San Francisco.

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• IomegaWare™ 2.2.1 for Windows® 2000/NT & Windows 9*
  Time: 06:44 EST/11:44 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  IomegaWare™ 2.2.1 for Windows® 2000 is here. This easy-to-use software suite provides integrated features that help you find, format, protect, and manage your stuff on Iomega® Zip®, Jaz®, and Clik!™ PC Card drives and disks. Desktop icons provide direct access to your Iomega drives, and "right-click" enabling lets you use even more IomegaWare features. IomegaWare 2.2.1 includes our most popular software programs, including Iomega QuikSync; IomegaWare Commander; and Backup 4.0, the enhanced combination of Iomega's 1-Step™ Backup and Backup97 applications. IomegaWare 2.2.1 is also compatible with Windows 95, 98, and Windows NT® 4.0. A Macintosh® version is planned soon. Note: IomegaWare 2.2.1 is compatible with all Iomega Zip and Jaz drives, except Clik! Parallel Port and ZipCD™ drives. IomegaWare 2.2.1 is not compatible with RecordIt™ software, and will uninstall RecordIt if it was previously installed on your system.

  Download IomegaWare™ 2.2.1 for Windows® 2000/NT & Win 9* now

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• ActiveWin2k: Microsoft Windows® 2000 Professional operating system: Review
  Time: 06:13 EST/11:13 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have posted our 18 page review of Windows 2000 Professional Edition. Here is a snippet from the review:

  During the past few months Activewin has been a leader in presenting our readers with the most up to date features and improvements that Windows 2000 has to offer. We are proud to present you all with our full and complete review on the just released Windows 2000 Professional Operating System.

  Some may believe Windows 2000 is the successor of Windows 98SE. The fact is that Windows 2000 is the replacement for Microsoft's Windows NT business and network platform. Windows 2000 is a full operating system based on a full NT 32 bit engine that allows high end multi tasking, high security levels, and advanced networking features while still supporting DirectX and all the latest hardware.

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• GDC date for X-Box unveiling
  Time: 05:09 EST/10:09 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is set to finally unveil its much-speculated X-Box console at next month's Game Developers Conference in San Jose. Bill Gates is set to take the stage alongside Lionhead's Peter Molyneux to demonstrate the eagerly awaited Black and White on the Microsoft machine.

  According to one source: "If it all comes off it will be an incredibly cocky presentation. It will simply blow people away." While we have been given dates for an official presentation launch before, this one seems more realistic after the "secret meeting" between developers and Microsoft earlier this month.

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• Windows 2000 Conference & Expo Events Timeline
  Time: 03:38 EST/08:38 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Alex Harris

  Here is a listing of what is going to be happening at the Windows 2000 Conference & Expo 2000:

  - Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates Will Deliver the Launch Keynote Thursday morning from 9:30--10:30 a.m. in the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The keynote will be followed by a Q&A session for the media beginning at 11 a.. with additional events as follows.

  - Keynote by Michael S. Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Computer Corp., "Building Competitive Advantage on the Internet," Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 9--10 a.m.

  - Keynote by Michael D. Capellas, president and CEO of Compaq Computer Corp., Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 6:30--7:30 p.m.

  - Compaq reception, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m., City Hall. After Michael Capellas' keynote, join Compaq for an evening of entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, beverages and entertainment.

  - Interactive exhibit floor, Tuesday, Feb. 15 through Thursday, Feb.17, Moscone Center. Nearly 200 Windows 2000 launch supporters will showcase their applications and hardware that will provide customers with real-world Windows 2000-based solutions. In addition, a fully equipped test and demonstration area will provide an opportunity for a hands-on experience with Windows 2000-based programs and compatible hardware products.

  - Nine tutorials, (five full-day, four half-day), Tuesday, Feb. 15, Moscone Center. Topics include "How to Build a Highly Available, High Performance and Scalable Commerce Solution," "Active Directory," "Securing Windows 2000 Server" and "Deploying Windows 2000 Professional in the Enterprise." Please visit http://www.windows2000expo.com/frmConf.htm for more information.

  - Four technical tracks:"Data Management," "Upgrading to Windows 2000," "Security" and "Enterprise Networking," Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Thursday, Feb. 17, six to 11 sessions per track (75 minutes each) including "Storage Management," "Performance Troubleshooting," "Windows 2000 Domain Migration Tools and Techniques," "Active Directory Concepts and Essentials" and "Automated Setup and Deployment of Windows 2000."

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• Antitrust Case Could Shadow Win2000 Release
  Time: 03:36 EST/08:36 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft takes center stage in two very high-profile events in a matter of days: its long-awaited Windows 2000 rollout Thursday, and final arguments before a federal judge in its landmark antitrust trial next Tuesday.

  Microsoft's reputation, product quality, and business practices are on the line in both its Windows 2000 release and the final courtroom step in the Justice Department's lawsuit.

  The Redmond, Wash., software giant has spent $1 billion and more than three years to market its latest operating system, which will target the lucrative large corporate and server markets.

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• Microsoft Calls Breakup 'Death Sentence'
  Time: 03:34 EST/08:34 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft e-mailed lawmakers indicating it is willing to accept "common sense" conditions to settle the federal antitrust lawsuit, published reports said Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal said Microsoft wrote to members of Congress saying it is seriously trying to settle the case brought by the Department of Justice, but called a breakup "extreme and unwarranted...a regulatory death sentence." Final arguments before a federal judge are set for Feb. 22, while settlement talks continue in Chicago.

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• Microsoft Announces Datacenter Program for Windows 2000
  Time: 03:32 EST/08:32 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. today announced its Windows^® Datacenter Program that will complement the Microsoft^® Windows 2000 Datacenter Server operating system. This program will provide customers with an integrated hardware and software support offer, which will be jointly marketed, sold and delivered by Microsoft and qualified server vendors. This new program is specifically designed to address the demanding requirements of enterprise customers and will include a joint support team with server vendors for single-point-of-contact support, rigorous system testing and qualification focused on the entire system vs. individual components, coordinated maintenance and change control for hardware and software updates, and new Microsoft Certified Support Center (MCSC) for Datacenter requirements.

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• Performance Gains on Windows 2000, Customer Successes Build Momentum for Microsoft Site Server Commerce Edition.
  Time: 03:30 EST/08:30 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  This week’s public debut of Microsoft Windows 2000 is likely to be welcome news to the thousands of companies that have hitched their business to the Internet. Test results just released by Compaq Computer Corp. show that Windows 2000 Advanced Server offers compelling business benefits when used as the operating system platform for an e-commerce site based on Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition.

  Compaq’s findings validate Windows 2000 as an ideal platform for building e-commerce solutions around Site Server Commerce Edition, Microsoft’s comprehensive solution for engaging and transacting with customers and partners online. Compaq conducted its analysis using a script that mimics the online shopper experience. The script included a dozen operations typically performed during an e-commerce session, such as logging on, searching for products, adding and deleting items to a shopping cart and checking out. The tests were designed to measure the number of Active Server Pages (ASPs) serving up dynamic content that can be pumped through a simulated e-commerce site.

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• Valentine and His Team of 4,200 Complete the Largest Software Project in History
  Time: 03:28 EST/08:28 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  When Brian Valentine joined the Microsoft Windows Division in December 1998, development of the company's next-generation operating system had reached a critical stage. At the mid-point of the largest software development project in the company's history, the 4,200-strong Windows 2000 team faced the challenge of finishing the product, finding and fixing bugs, fine-tuning new features, testing the product extensively and getting it "out the door" and into the hands of Microsoft's customers.

  "Large projects go through a natural cycle of highs and lows," says Valentine, who serves as senior vice president of the Windows Division. "And when I joined the team, it was a very challenging time. The team was wondering if it was ever going to get done and deliver on its original goals for the project."

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