Microsoft Partnering 101


Microsoft Ships CRM 3.0 on Schedule

Microsoft is shipping the second of its “Project Green” – now renamed Microsoft Dynamics – products on schedule, this one its CRM package.

IBM Reinforces Commitment to OpenDoc

While IBM has previously endorsed the OpenDocument standard, this week it decided to put its money where its public relations message resides and announced that the next version of its Workplace Managed Client will support the format.

Virtual Server R2 Enterprise Edition Price Cut

To encourage new virtualization scenarios in Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition, Microsoft will sell the new OS with a half-price version of its server virtualization tool.

Windows Server 2003 R2 Draws Near

Time is running out on Microsoft's self-imposed goal of releasing Windows Server 2003 R2 this year. When it does ship, the update to Microsoft's flagship server operating system will offer users improvements in branch office server solutions; identity and access management; and storage setup and management.

Critics Cry Foul Over Ecma Flap

Microsoft’s announcement last week that it is submitting its Office 12 Open XML formats to a standards body may have assuaged bureaucrats in the Massachusetts governor’s office, but if anything it has escalated the “open” versus “proprietary” debate.

Spies in Every Corner

These tools help eliminate spyware, keep your systems clean and running efficiently and—most importantly—protect vital information.

Spyware Meets Its Match -- Almost

Microsoft's anti-spyware tool works well enough, but some readers question its categorization and detection capabilities.

Next Windows Vista CTP Coming in December

After just two releases, Microsoft is trading in its monthly schedule of Windows Vista community technology previews (CTPs) for a new, less predictable schedule of milestone-based CTPs.

Getting the Most out of SMS

Tips and tricks from an SMS veteran to help you recoup your investment in Microsoft's System Management Server.

SQL 2005: The Integrated Stack Is Back

Is all this integration among Microsoft components good for customers?

Microsoft and Partners Unwrap Axapta Solutions

Microsoft’s Business Solutions group, along with several ISV partners, announced delivery of a set of Axapta-based, industry-specific ERP solutions.

New Utility Keeps Window Registry Tidy

European utility developer 1-abc.net is shipping version 1.0 of another new tool for end users, this one designed to help clean up out of date Windows Registry entries.

VMware Ships Workstation 5.5

Virtualization software publisher VMware is shipping version 5.5 of its Workstation product, which adds new support for 64-bit memory addressing on AMD and Intel systems.

IDC: Server Shipments Strong but Unix Declines

Sales of servers continued at top acceleration in the third quarter, partly driven by customers' increasing deployments of virtualization technologies, while Linux and Windows servers further eroded Unix's high-end turf, according to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Server Tracker.

Microsoft Snags Leading Supercomputer Scientist

Supercomputer stalwart Cray Inc. disclosed this week that Chief Scientist Burton Smith, a specialist in large-scale, parallel computing architectures, is heading to Microsoft.