Windows Archive

The rush to endorse open source alternatives to Microsoft's dominant Windows software has been criticised by senior technology executives who warned that companies risked falling victim to growing hype around software such as the Linux operating system.

Microsoft spent a lot of effort tuning Active Directory in Windows Server 2003, to improve scalability and speed and to correct key deficiencies. In this sample chapter, you'll learn what's new, and how to take advantage of Active Directory's new features.

As the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) countdown clock ticks down —at this writing, we're 19 days, 14 hours and 36 minutes away from the Longhorn stampede, according to one enthusiast's Web site — it's a good time to start separating Longhorn fact from fiction.

A deal with BIOS maker Phoenix Technologies would allow the Windows operating system to directly control hardware. It also raises concerns over who controls the software in PCs, ZDNews claims. Elsewhere, a lawsuit faulting Microsoft for security defects in its products has added a new front in the software giant's battle against vulnerabilities in its software.

Conceding that its strategy of patching Windows holes as they emerge has not worked, Microsoft plans next week to outline a new security effort focused on what the company calls "securing the perimeter," a company executive told CNET News.com.

Microsoft released Windows XP MCE 2004 today. Winsupersite published a review of Microsoft's new MCE. To coincide with todays launch of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, Microsoft has also posted a few new PowerToys: "Alarm Clock" and "Playlist Editor" PowerToys.

With an upgrade to the Windows XP variant due Tuesday, the software maker aims to address critiques from its earliest customers. Dell, Sony and other PC makers are standing by. In the meantime, the Chinese government has set up a lab to study Microsoft Windows source code.

Microsoft is working to add 'rich user interaction' to its next-generation Windows client.

Windows is often the whipping boy when it comes to server platforms. But many in the industry now admit that Windows Server 2003 offers some significant breakthroughs over earlier versions of Microsoft's server software -- a change that could help Microsoft compete more effectively against Unix and Linux servers, eCommerceTimes reports.

OneStat.com today reported that Microsoft's Windows dominates the operating system market with a global usage share of more than 97 percent. The leading operating system on the web is Microsoft's Windows XP with a global usage share of 38.48 percent. Microsoft's Windows 98 has a global usage share of 22.56 percent and is the second most popular OS on the web. The global usage share of Apple's Macintosh operating system is 1.49 percent and the global usage share of Linux is 0.51% (that's double since last year's 0.26%) on the web. Google also has some stats on the same subject.

Microsoft has told firms to wait until next month for clarification of its roadmap for Windows, after the latest delays to the next release left firms unable to plan for the future.

After Microsoft shutting down the WnPE project a few months ago, the project comes back with the PE Builder v3, which helps you create your own bootable Windows XP CD. Handy if you are an admin.

With the push of a new campaign, Tools to Compete, Microsoft has effectively admitted that they see Linux as a legitimate threat. Even with the massive reduction in the cost of Windows in big deals, Microsoft has still lost customers. It almost causes one to ask - a passing trend, or the beginning of the end?

Microsoft announced that Windows Small Business Server 2003 has been released to manufacturing.