News


Report: Microsoft Monopoly Puts Computing at Risk

Microsoft's virtual monopoly on the desktop puts networks and computing at large, at grave risk, according to authors of a paper on security.

The 64-bit Question: Microsoft Bets on Both Camps

On April 24, 2002, Microsoft promised the world it would build a desktop version of Windows to run on 64-bit AMD processors. Nearly a year and a half later, Microsoft has delivered beta versions of both Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition designed to exploit the speedy AMD processor.

Netcraft: Windows 2003 Sites Doubled Since July

The number of active Windows Server 2003 sites more than doubled since July, according to the U.K.-based Internet services and research firm Netcraft. One in 20 of those Windows Server 2003 sites migrated from Linux, Netcraft found.

Analysis: Licensing Terms Too Light on Carrot, Too Heavy on Stick

Columnist Joe McKendrick writes that there’s nothing remarkable about Microsoft’s heavy-handedness on licensing. Many vendors are pushy with their licensing terms. IBM has a long history of locking customers into upgrade paths. Oracle’s licensing is just as heavy-handed, and even more expensive, than Microsoft's. Even in the carefree Linux world, coercion seems to be the rule.

Teamplate Updates Microsoft-centric Workflow Software

Teamplate released a new version of its workflow software for creating human-based business processes that leverage Microsoft infrastructure components.

Winternals Positions Recovery Manager as a Tool for Patching Dilemma

The recent rash of severely critical patches from Microsoft has left many IT administrators with a tough choice. Leave enterprise systems vulnerable to a dangerous Internet-based attack or rush the patch onto critical production systems without adequate testing.

Swen Mass-Mailing Worm Carries Fake Microsoft Patch

Even as the industry awaited the breakout of a new Blaster-style worm and the G version of Sobig, a variation on another familiar piece of malware began making the rounds on Thursday.

OneNote to be Distributed on Toshiba Laptops, Tablets

The new Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 will be installed on all Toshiba Corp. laptops and Tablet PCs -- a huge distribution boost for Microsoft's fledgling note taking application.

Microsoft Ships MapPoint 2004

Microsoft MapPoint 2004 entered general availability on Thursday. The updated release of Microsoft's business mapping software brings expanded demographic data, more map coverage and better support for mobile users.

AMD to Deliver Low-Power Opterons in 2004

AMD plans to offer what it calls mid- and low-power AMD Opteron processors in 2004, the company announced this week.

Appearance of Exploit Code Means Time Is Running Out to Apply Critical Windows Patch

Security firms warned that hackers have published exploit code to the Web that takes advantage of the latest critical security flaw in Windows. The publication of exploit code for a vulnerability is a common precursor to the outbreak of a worm based on the flaw.

Dell Still Noncommittal on 64-bit, Has Mixed Results on Linux

NEW YORK -- During his keynote kicking off the TECHXNY show, Dell’s president and COO Kevin Rollins was coy on plans to support new initiatives in the enterprise and consumer spaces, preferring instead to emphasize the computermaker’s changing role in a maturing industry.

Microsoft Advances Real-time Collaboration Technologies

Microsoft pushed ahead this week with two of its real-time communications initiatives under the Office umbrella.

Windows Small Business Server RTMs

Microsoft hit the key development milestone for the final piece in its six-month-long rollout of Windows Server 2003 on Tuesday with the release to manufacturing of Windows Small Business Server 2003.

Ballmer: Microsoft 'Humbled' by Recent Security Problems

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a speech Monday that the company felt "humbled" by the effects of the Blaster and Sobig.F worms.

Opinion: Dog Days of September?

It's looking like September may be a replay of August, with nearly identical threats ready to swamp IT. Hopefully this time, the painful experiences of last month will help us avoid another IT catastrophe.

Intel Introduces Less Expensive Itanium 2 Chips

Intel rolled out two new Itanium 2 processors this week that will help drive down the cost of 64-bit computing systems. Both processors are optimized for dual-processor servers and workstations, and one of the chips, previously code-named "Deerfield" has lower power requirements.

DCOM Hole That Enabled Blaster Wider Than Originally Thought

Microsoft released a critical new patch on Wednesday that fixed three new vulnerabilities in the DCOM Remote Procedure Call (RPC) on almost all supported versions of Windows.

Windows Storage Server 2003 Launches

Microsoft on Wednesday launched Windows Storage Server 2003, a version of Windows for Network Attached Storage appliances and intended for dedicated file serving.

Hardware, Software Vendors Roll Out Windows Storage Server Offerings

Hardware and software vendors jumped on the Microsoft's launch of Windows Storage Server 2003 Wednesday with a host of hardware devices shipping with the new OS and software releases that run on the Network Attached Storage solutions.