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WinMan back in!
Getting back in the groove here after winding down on two major projects.
It was interesting to read your USB hub stories bootz, glad everything went well. I really like hubs and find them useful, lately we have been getting USB -> SERIAL cables, USB -> Parallel (for older printers) and even recently ordered a USB Sound card (quite interesting)
USB works quite well, the only annoying thing I have noticed with USB is if you plug your printer out of one USB port on your PC and plug it into another....the printer install wizard starts up.
Now, when you realize what is happening..this makes sense!
If you have a USB printer, go check the properties and then the ports and you will see either USB001 or USB002 assigned to the printer.
SO...if you switch to another port it naturally thinks one of the other ports is being used!
Still annoying though!
Great find Ace!
I think that will be a great program...
Regarding the EC...
What is interesting, is that the European commission selected Microsoft as one of the top 10 employers!
http://www.itweb.co.za/office/microsoft/0303310741.htm
Now, what is fascinating about the EU case, is that SUN keeps popping up...
http://www.wininformant.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=27179
The European case against Microsoft began when Sun complained to regulators there that Microsoft's server software made it difficult to integrate third-party services, such as those made by Sun. The EU found that Microsoft engaged in discriminatory licensing of its technology, refusing to supply competitors such as Sun with the technical information they (Sun) needed. This case could be Microsoft's biggest concern, as the EU could theoretically fine the software giant up to 10 percent of its global sales.
Once again, Scott McSqueely is trying to compete by using the courts. Again, when the case was brought up in the states on behalf of the consumers...it was MSFT's competitors that filed the suit. At the EC, SUN filed suit...
The End Of Free Linux
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2914344,00.html
Even though I am for MSFT, and do enjoy seeing its competition stumble....this lawsuit stinks! But then again, who is at the helm but David Boies!
IMO: SCO is simply trying to ride the bandwagon and make money through the courts, much like Microsofts competitors did when they filed a lawsuit "for the consumer".
Darl McBrid - The CEO of SCO, claims they have the patent:
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/filters/specialreport/0,14622,6025107,00.html
"Rogue" Linux installations on the rise....
http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,83406,00.html?nas=OS-83406
Interesting writeup, they are fighting a Linux worm/virus
(Gee, I thought they did not exist!) and found that there were a LOT of unauthorized linux installations which compromised their security.
At my place of employment, we also found a few Linux installations that were quickly taken away. Even though the workstations W2000 installs were secure, the users simply booted off of a Linux CD and Linux happily installed itself alongside of the W2K.
The new policy is now to configure the PC to NOT be able to boot off a CD and lock down the bios so it can't be changed...
HP Tops server report...
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,1205184,00.asp
The recent release of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Server 2003 operating system and new processors from Intel Corp. could help fuel a space where businesses are expected to begin replacing older systems, the report said.
Yep! Looks like Microsoft has another winner!
Microsoft Transforms Everyday Photos Into the Extraordinary
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030729/sftu014_1.html
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) today launched Microsoft® Digital Image Suite 9, the first digital imaging software package on the market to combine all the tools consumers want and need
Apple says Panther is 32Bit...
http://www.theregister.com/content/39/31995.html
Apple has confirmed a Register report that Panther, aka Mac OS X 10.3, will not be a fully 64-bit operating system.
Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of hardware product marketing, this week admitted that Panther will be a 32-bit operating system tweaked to support 64-bit addressing.
....Joswiak himself says: "The important thing for us [is] we didn't want to create a separate OS that is 64 bits. What is essential is that this OS and this hardware will run 32-bit applications with no recompiling - it will just run them."
Hmm, BSD Time:
BSD: Joswiak himself said "Man! I didn't realize how hard it was to make a 64 bit OS! So, we just decided to keep it at 32 bits and tell everyone it is essential the OS will run all 32 bit applications. I mean, what the hey!? They don't need a 64 bit OS to download music!
__________________
This is good and bad for MSFT. Good in that they still have the first 64 Bit Desktop OS. I wish Apple would have released it quicker in order to get MSFT to promote it more....
QntmMech...
A good piece that summarizes what I have said in the past, even to the point of using the "Taurus" analogy.
Apples pricing and style targets a select group, and it is due to this, plus the fact they only sell its OS on its own computers that it will not allow to be cloned... They will always have a single digit marketshare.
If Apple opens itself to be cloned or markets its OS towards the PC, they will be a very serious contender indeed...
The one thing Apple really needs to look out for is Linux, The Linux OS marketshare can easily overtake Apples...
Obviously Z2003....
Less than 2% of computer users go there....
Wow Beezle!
This one was the best...
Apple Takes Down Switch Ads
Apple, in its own quiet way, has apparently given in to the notion that its Switch ad campaign is a failure, with the company losing market share since it started the high profile campaign last summer: The company removed its collection of Switch ads from its Web site, though you can still access the letters purportedly written to the company by the people who starred in them. The ads removal follows an April decision to remove the "Switch" tab on the company's home page. I think I speak for most of geekdom when I say we need more Janie Porche ("she saved Christmas") and less Steve Jobs ("he saved Apple").
Frankly Scarlett...
We don't give a darn...
qntech...
My Windows XP never crashs, my GrandKids (yep - GrandKids) home machine used to Run Win98 which crashed a bit. I eventually upgraded to WinME - which albeit more stable was still crashprone and then to Win2K and WinXP. WinXP on that machine has NEVER crashed and it runs a plethora of kid games....
Re: 5% Users crashing per day...
From your link:
Microsoft claims some 600 million customers. Apple has claimed some 25 million Mac users for the past several years.
Now based on this link:
http://www.internetnews.com/stats/article.php/2205811
We see that Windows 98 has 24.93% dominance and Windows XP 34.73%.
(Hmm 600 Million * 34.73% = over 208 Million users! Wow! Jobs would love to have "Only 34% installed base" if it were almost 10 times the TOTAL MAC USERS)
Now,
What that CRASH statistic does NOT break down, is what was the OS that needed rebooting so often? IMO, with Windows 9X (Thats 95 and 95) EASILY making up over half of the OS's installed. I would say that is where the majority of the 5% comes from.
Windows 9X is quite prone to crashing, but regardless of its stability, it is still the largest user base and with the %24.93 dominance listed above for Win98 and 600 Million users, we get a figure of
over 149 million users on Windows 98..alone.
Windows XP Marketshare.
A few posters on other boards seem to find delight that Windows XP is "only" on 37% of Microsofts installed base.
Before that ridiculous post makes it here, let me post a few facts.
37% of the 100's of millions of PC's in the world is still an outstanding figure considering XP is not quite two years old. If the PC marketshare was as small as some of the other OS-X's ... I mean OS's, then that would indeed be a small number.
Plus, those users of OLDER versions of Windows will sooner or later upgrade to a new computer, more than likely, that new computer will have Windows XP or Longhorn...
Now, I took the liberty of looking up some figures of the Apples OSX http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2002/sep/10macosx.html
Jobs claimed, last year that Apple expected only 20 percent of the Mac user base to be running OS X by the end of 2002. It could be quite a long time before that number gets to 50%.
Lets use a nice round figure of 26 Million Apple computers (Laptops and all) with 50% of them running OS X. That means 13 million computers running OSX.
Wow, that's less than the total number of PCs running Windows sold IN A YEAR.
Now, lets take another look at that XP marketshare.
http://www.internetnews.com/stats/article.php/2205811
According to WEBSIDESTORYS statistics
Windows XP has attained operating system dominance, according to WebSideStory's StatMarket, capturing nearly 35 percent of the worldwide Internet user population.
And look...
Further underscoring Windows' dominance are findings from OneStat.com. The company reported in September 2002 that Windows accounts for 97.46 percent of the global operating system market. The second most popular operating system, Apple's Macintosh, trails dismally at 1.43 percent, followed by Linux with 0.26 percent.
Looks like that XP marketshare isn't so bad after all!
Yep, I saw that! I am sure that they were not authorized by Bill...
Who knows how they got there...either they were put up for testing, put up by a 'loose cannon' or ?.
Regardless, I am sure that situation will be rectified....
Which is buggier? Linux or MSFT...
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/21583.html
No clear answer...
SCO In The courts - Good for MSFT...
www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6353837.htm
So far, the SCO Group says it wants corporate technology customers who use version 2.4 of the Linux operating system kernel or above to voluntarily buy a license that may range from $700 to $10,000, depending on the number of users involved.
Since companies have deployed more than 2.5 million Linux servers in the past couple of years, the license fees could add up to billions of dollars if SCO actually collects.
The company's stock price surged $1.37 a share to $13.32 after the announcement
So much for Linux being cheaper....
See ya Scarlett...
Come back anytime, we didn't mean to make you feel bleu....
Scarlett,
It would appear you have a trading background and do your own research. IMO, in this day and age it is foolhardy to make descisions about investing based on information gathered from an investing board but to do research garnered from publications such as morning star.
I remember reading an article where a bunch of 3rd graders were pitted against a professional investor. The 3rd graders invested in things they liked and knew about such as Crayola, a company that made a candy they liked, and Hasbro. They wound up beating the professional by a wide margin.
So, with MSFT, if you like them...invest in it!
So, what type of computer do you use? IBM, Dell, ?
Beeze - Linux Good For MSFT
While I don't think Linux marketshare will ever take a considerable bite out of MSFT's lunch. The threat is there and IMO is good for MSFT and customers
#1: It keeps MSFT from getting fat and lazy by making them work to make Windows even better.
#2: MSFT has lowered prices in markets where Linux is seen as a threat. Watch for more incentives in the future.
WindowsMan...
PS: Didya see the PC Mag poll on readers satisfaction? Very interesting! Apple and Dell both got an A+ but out of 17,756 respondents, 309 were Apple users and 5,344 were Dell users!
This means 309 Apple computer owners out of 17756 = 1.7%....
Rem: IT IS HAPPENING...
Whino...and don't forget...
Sheer volume. Worldwide, there are thousands of PC companies building PC's of all types, as well as cloners making their own.
And the Apple cultists* think that Apple can compete with this? On a MFG scale it is Ridiculous! One company could not possibly produce machines fast enough to win a sizeable marketshare vs thousands of manufacturers!
* - For any Apple user reading this, I do not hate Apple nor think the Mac is a bad machine. My argument is with the EXTREME Mac cultists who simply come to this board to bash the PC user.
26 Percent Increase In Profit..Incredible!
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/030717/earns_microsoft_3.html
Microsoft Reports 26 Percent Increase in Quarterly Profit, but No Dividend
SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. reported a 26 percent increase in its fourth-quarter profit and raised its outlook for the coming year Thursday, but doused shareholders' hopes for a dividend payout from its growing cash hoard anytime soon.
For the April-June quarter, the Redmond, Wash.-based software titan earned $1.92 billion, or 18 cents a share, compared to $1.53 billion, or 14 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.
Microsoft reported revenue of $8.07 billion, up 11 percent from $7.25 billion for the same period a year ago.
Excluding a one-time charge from the company's $750 million legal settlement with AOL Time Warner Inc., Microsoft reported a profit of 23 cents a share, bettering a comparable gain of 21 cents per share last year.
On that basis, Microsoft's profit fell a penny short of the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call. Microsoft exceeded the analysts' revenue projection of $7.88 billion.
The earnings report came out after Microsoft shares fell 83 cents, or 3 percent, to close at $26.69 a share on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In extended trading, shares rose 7 cents.
The company now has cash reserves of $49 billion, and many investors have called for Microsoft to issue another dividend. It paid its first dividend, of 8 cents a share, earlier this year.
Microsoft does "hear the angst that many shareholders" have, said the chief financial officer, John Connors. But although the company settled the AOL Time Warner lawsuit in May, it still faces other legal issues, including an inquiry by the European Union and a lawsuit from Sun Microsystems Inc.
"We really have to get through a couple of very significant legal issues both in terms of what the financial impact could be and the business model impact could be," he said. "We don't feel it would be prudent to commit to a long-term program" until the situation is clearer.
Microsoft can well afford another dividend and is expected to deliver, considering that it termed the 8-cent payout as a "starter dividend," said Alan Davis, vice president of McAdams Wright Ragen. "The cash hoard still builds."
Microsoft blamed its falling short of Wall Street forecasts on higher than expected expenses, particularly for sales and marketing.
But Connors noted several strong points, including healthy sales of server software. Microsoft said it sold more than 5.5 million Xbox consoles for the year, with 500,000 people signing up for its Xbox Live online video game service.
Microsoft MSN Internet service lots subscribers for the second quarter in a row, ending the period at 8.6 million customers. Connors attributed the loss to subscribers whose promotional period had expired and the increasing popularity of replacing dial-up access with broadband service. MSN revenue improved, however, because of advertising and sales of listings on its search engine.
The company slightly raised its outlook for the coming year, due to favorable foreign currency exchange rates as well as some strengthening of the stock market, which should bolster the value of its investments, Connors said.
Microsoft, which last week announced it would stop offering stock options in favor of direct stock grants that it would count as an expense, also gave its projections for the charges it will incur in adopting the change.
For the first fiscal quarter, Microsoft expects revenue between $7.9 billion and $8.1 billion, with a profit of 23 cents a share including a 6-cents-a-share charge for the stock compensation.
For the full year, Microsoft expects revenue between $34.2 billion and $34.9 billion, with a profit of 85 cents to 87 cents a share, including a 24-cents-a-share charge for expensing the stock-based compensation. That figure is within range of what some analysts had projected.
For its entire fiscal year, Microsoft reported a profit of $10 billion, or 92 cents a share, compared with $7.8 billion, or 70 cents a share for the previous year. The company posted revenue of $32.2 billion, up from $28.4 billion in 2002.
In total agreement Whino...
Linux code is getting cleaner and cleaner. If the Linux crowd concentrates on the server market or embedded OS...they could really gain marketshare quicker than trying to take over MSFT's stranglehold on the desktop OS...
MSFT Earnings Preview
Microsoft Earnings Preview (MSFT) 26.70 -0.82: -- Update -- Microsoft reports Q4 results after the close tonight, with Reuters Research ests standing at $0.24 in EPS on $7.87 bln in sales. Goldman Sachs believes that results are likely to be slightly above their ests of $0.23 and $7.85 bln given that PC demand has likely been a bit stronger than expectations set by mgmt and that currency translation may also provide some upside; they also expect deferred revs to be up about $130 mln sequentially. Firm also says that the co's cash position is likely to have reached close to $50 bln by the end of June, and thinks that mgmt may discuss their plans for their cash hoard on the call (firm believes the co has a strong preference to repurchase stock). Bernstein expects MSFT to report above-consensus EPS of $0.26 on $7.95 bln in sales; firm says the co should post YoY margin improvement, and given difficult comps they expect negative growth in Q1, which may incorrectly provide fodder for the more bearish voices on the Street; also, option expense will lower reported figures and guidance, which is a non-operating event that is likely to cause some confusion and perhaps a sell-off in the stock due to the appearance of a reduction in expectations.
Hmm, seems someone mentioned this before, hmm, now who was that? Hmmmmm
Apple Spin
Apple Posts Lower 3rd-Quarter Net Income
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/030716/tech_apple_earns_5.html
Sales of iMacs fell by about a quarter, however, and sales of PowerMac G4 computers were "very soft," due partially to poor biz conditions for creative professionals.
Did you get that? Sales were down because of POOR BUSINESSS CONDITIONS FOR CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS
That's who is buying the Mac Zanny! And when business suffers from them they either hold onto their older Mac or buy a CHEAPER PC!
"Apple said it shipped 771,000 Macintosh-DOWN from 808,000 Mac computers in the year-ago quarter."
That's fewer computers than the same quarter than last year. Remember, the rest of the computer manufactures increased the the number of computers.
Less market share, clean and simple.
sgolds...
True, that wasn't taken into consideration.
You want to know what I really think about Linux? I think for a file/print sharing server OS it would be a good choice.
For the desktop, I would be hardpressed to recommend it unless you had a small office that ONLY did Word Processing, or number crunching in a spreadsheet.
Linux has lost the desktop battle, even Torvalds has stated this in interviews.
One interesting thing, Linux will probably surpass Apple on the desktop...
http://slate.msn.com/id/2084727/
Don't get me wrong, I think Linux has been great for MSFT! It has kept them from getting fat and lazy......
Linux Sites Switch to WS2003...
http://news.netcraft.com/
Comparing the sites which are now hosted on Windows 2003 with their operating system in December 2002 shows over 42% of these to be new sites, 43% (68K) to be upgrades from other Windows platforms (mainly Windows 2000), 5% (8K) to be migrations from Linux and 1% from other operating systems.
Gee, I thought Linux was kicking our butt?
But Zanny
Shame on you! What you didn't point out, which I did on another board, is that TOMS did not use WindowsXP 64.
Thus, the 32Bit version of Windows could not take full advantage of the Opterons design.
In fact, MSFT has STATED that they would optimize Windows XP for Opteron..
http://www.cpu-planet.com/knowledge/tech/article.php/1559081
The specifics of the agreement are confidential; however, in general terms, the agreement specifies that AMD is collaborating with Microsoft to incorporate 64-bit support for the Athlon 64 and Opteron processors into the Windows operating system.
Oh! Here is another tidbit
Q: Will Microsoft's 64-bit operating system run 32-bit applications, or will a separate operating system be required to run 32-bit apps?
A: The AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron processors are designed to allow Microsoft's operating system to use the capabilities and full performance of 32-bit applications.
Now if I can help you again Zanny, please let me know!
Hugs!
MSFT Wins $90M Homeland contract
http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030715/1742001412_2.html
For everyone lost...several are won!
sgolds...
I am all for a 'lively debate' when it gets somewhere and do not think that such a debate wastes spaces.
However, some posters choose not to debate but simply posts messages putting there side of the argument in a good light and ignoring all other opinions....
Duke...
I am in total agreement with you...
Sorry Zanny...
You must be talking about Panther, the Kitty 32 bit OS...
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/64bit/evaluation/overview.asp
BTW: Most Windows-compatible 32-bit applications will run “as is” in a subsystem of Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.
BTW: I will not be posting about this anymore. You know you are wrong, and you are simply trying to monopolize this board by making posts like this last one without providing a link to substantiate your allegation...
Look again Zanny....
That's a WORKSTATION, Windows XP 64 is a desktop OS...
But you knew that, you are just trying to spread FUD around..
I am not interested that much is what Apple is offering since it is 32 bit...
Well that Box...
Will be a MSFT Windows Machine
the fastest box will be running the best OS with the best backwards compatibility.
OH! So THAT explains why so many Mac users went back to OS9!
Windows XP has a compatibility mode which works quite well with most software. I do know of a few kids games which don't work but it does work for most.
On those fronts a Panther running G4 laptop or G5 desktop will rule the hill. I think you have a typo there, you must mean shill
By the time that 64 bit OS form MSFT can run ANYTHING you are running today
You just can't stand it can you? We SHOWED you that you can get a 64 Bit from MSFT TODAY but you refuse to acknowledge it because it shows that once again, we are right and you are wrong!
http://www.smb.compaq.com/ctoBases.asp?ProductLineId=433&FamilyId=1427
Take a look, on their web page you find:
Now shipping with Windows® XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
Now, if you want to know how to install it, here is a JSI type...
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBI/tip4100/rh4149.htm
Note the 2001 copyright date. Hmm, gee that preceeds anything Apple even thought of doesn't it?
Here's how Linux gets to the desktop...
As a disclaimer, WindowsMan has installed and tested many different versions of Linux.
The last versions I tested were Lycoris Desktop/LX and Xandros (which LINDOWS is based upon).
All versions had a quirk in the installation routine except for Lycoris. Lycoris and Xandros both came
with their own verions of an Office application. Xandros came with Open Office which had no
problems opening MS Office files smaller than 15 megs. Office files with sizes beyond that
(which do exist at my place of employment) caused the machine to lock up.
IMO: If you have a small office Linux is a good choice...if you decide you really want to get away from MSFT.
But if you are doing it from simply the angle of saving money, I don't see it.
The majority of the PC's out there are STILL running Windows 98, and if this is setup properly Win98 is quite stable.
A FREE version of OpenOffice can be had for the Windows platform so that negates the need to switch
to Linux in order to run OpenOffice. And you can purchase MS Office for $100 for 'educational purposes' which
msft defines as having anyone in your home in the school.
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2914241,00.html
OpenOffice, for example, still lacks the polish necessary to convert the mass of Office users, despite the cost advantages. Kapor said the OSAF is funding extensive testing for Microsoft Excel compatibility to help on that front.
Ah Zanny,
As we have pointed out many times already. MSFT already HAS a 64 bit OS...but you refuse to acknowledge it.
This is why you get ignored....
Zanny...
I really don't want to monopolize this board with Apple chatter.
But, I suppose you should really talk to Steve Jobs since he it the one who stated Panther would initially be a 2 Bit (oops! I mean 32 Bit) operating system.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/21737.html
...As Apple admits on page eight of the same brochure, maximizing the utility of 64-bit computing will require further enhancements to Panther and any OS X apps. So, for the time being, this really isn't a 64-bit desktop computer.
Z,Z,Z
Panther will RUN on anything made since the B&W G3.
I understand that now, of course it will since it is a 32 Bit OS...
http://www.macnn.com/news/20051
The Register writes: "Mac OS X 10.3, aka Panther, will not be a 64-bit operating system...
Anyway, I don't want to take the discussion away from MSFT.
Here's some more good news for MSFT!
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030714/dcm010_1.html
SteelCloud Inc. (Nasdaq: SCLD - News), a leader in the development of network security appliances, today announced they have entered into an OEM Agreement with Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT - News). Under the terms of the contract, SteelCloud's new line of branded security appliances developed around the proprietary SteelCloud Secure Console (SC2) software, will utilize a special embedded version of Microsoft's Windows Server.
How to buy XP 64 Bit...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/howtobuy/default.asp
At this point, if you must have XP 64 bit, you have to buy a station preconfigured with it.
Here is another good link that also compares XP to OS-X, very informative. The board moderator might want to list this...
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp.asp
Now, some Apple users might makew light of the fact you have to buy a new itanium to get Windows XP 64. But I pose this question, WHEN Panther gets the rest of its claws,
A. Will it run on a G4 or will you have to get a new G5?
B. Will it be a FREE upgrade to those who purchase Panther 32bit or will you have to pay for it?
Inquiring minds would like to know...