Dear Windows-Help.NET Subscriber,
The long-awaited public release of Windows 2000 will be on Feb. 17, 2000, Microsoft executives said late Tuesday. After years of development, Windows 2000 Professional, Server, and Advanced Server are on schedule to be Released To Manufacturing (RTM) in calendar year 1999 and released to general retail, channel, and computer makers in mid-February, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant announced.
"Microsoft is committed to delivering the best business operating system for the next generation of PC computing, and we are thrilled that customers and partners can build their plans around the general availability of Windows 2000," said Deborah Willingham, vice president of the Business Enterprise Division at Microsoft.
Microsoft's news release also left room for the company to change its mind - if needed - on when it lets the product ship: "While we are working closely with the industry to prepare solutions for retail availability in mid-February, we stand firm on our commitment to release Windows 2000 only when our early-adopter customers agree it's ready."
I'd just like to say: "told you so a long time ago!"
You can find more information on Windows 2000 on the Windows-Help.NET Web site.
Updated Windows 98 Shutdown Supplement
Microsoft quietly updated the Windows 98 Shutdown Supplement. It was found that, for some people, the original Shutdown Supplement was not working.
The update is only to the install & uninstall .INF file, apparently a file was not copied during install which affected a small number of users.
If you installed the Windows 98 Shutdown Supplement, and it's working for you, there is no reason to install this new one. But if you are having problems with the original Shutdown Supplement patch installed, we recommend that you try this new version.
You can identify the new version by it's size. The original Windows 98 Shutdown Supplement is 491KB, while the updated one is 489KB. The updated .INF files have a time stamp of 27/09/99, but according to sources, the update was only posted this week.
More...
Processor Launch Bonanza
Last Monday, Intel introduced 15 Pentium III (Coppermine) chips for desktops, notebooks, workstations and servers, including nine desktop Pentium III chips. Pricing on those chips ranges from $239 for the 500MHz Pentium III (designated with an E to distinguish it from the existing 500MHz Pentium III) to $776 for the 733MHz Pentium III.
These Pentium IIIs, code-named Coppermine, are based on a 0.18 micron manufacturing process. To make way for those chips, Intel cut prices on existing Pentium IIIs, which are based on a .25 micron manufacturing process, by 14 to 24 percent.
AMD wasted no time in responding to Intel's chip launch and corresponding price reductions, cutting prices on its flagship Athlon processor by as much as 18 percent.
By way of comparison, the 700MHz Athlon's new $699 price makes it $55 cheaper than Intel's 700MHz Pentium III, which is priced at $754.
30 Oct. 1999, Vol 2 No. 43
