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Discusses the US Department of Justice antitrust dispute involving Microsoft Corp. as of February 1998. The suggestion that there is too much pressure on government to do something about Microsoft; The actual effect of the US Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) regulation; Assumptions made by the author.

Opinion. Comments on Microsoft plans to dominate computer software industry with its release of Access and Windows for Workgroups application packages. Microsoft and competition; Problem due to keyboard controller chip; Software choices including EDOS and Darklands game; Fotoman digital camera from Logitech Inc.; NCR 3170 computer from Safari Systems; Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) and ZS 900 surge protector from Zero Surge, Incorporated.

Presents an update on issues related to the computer industry in the U.S. as of June 2005. Threat posed by drive-by spyware; Information on a software released by Microsoft Corp.; Release of the computer game Pirates!.

Presents an article about the Microsoft Professional Developer Conference held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California in February 2004. Topics discussed; Philosophy behind the business of Microsoft; Discussion on the computer program language, C.

The article reports on the rumors that Microsoft Corp. is going to buy Claria Corp. and that the latest revision of Microsoft AntiSpyware ignores Claria attempts to install adware on the machine, so one can no longer rely on Microsoft AntiSpyware to protect from unwanted pop-up programs. AntiSpyware continues to detect Claria's products. Claria can't creep in on systems running Microsoft AntiSpyware unless one lets it. The change in the AntiSpyware recommendation came about early in June and wasn't noticed until after the rumors about Microsoft acquisition of Claria were flying about.

Presents news briefs related to the telecommunication industry in the U.S. as of February 2005. Information on the Web and Desktop search program introduced by Microsoft; Introduction of the Bluetooth 2.0 technology; Wireless fidelity products introduced by Belkin.

The article presents the author's opinion on computer-related matters. By now one will have heard that GoDaddy, the domain registration service that I use and recommended, had an advertisement during the 2005 Super Bowl. And no, I am not touting porn: There was more skin shown by the cheerleaders than one will see in these hilarious spoof advertisements. Meanwhile, the Bit Torrent file sharing phenomenon is growing. We have been using the Microsoft AntiSpyware program for over a month now, and we like it. It runs nicely in background checking for spyware as stuff comes in and it scans the whole system every night. It blocks popups but tells the user what it has done and offers the chance to let the popup through. Microsoft Word was born when there were many word processors and the Applications Group at Microsoft was not all that important. There was no monopoly and the competition was pretty fierce. The Mac introduced a word processor that really did show fonts and proportional spacing on the screen and then printed it to look much like that, but to get that one had to go over to the Mac way of life. Of course, Word has a spelling checker and more already built in. I particularly like its on-the-fly AutoCorrect features, changing teh to the as I type and generally fixing common problems before I notice that I have them, when I am trying to write with a fewer-featured text editor on a slower machine I become quite aware of what I am missing.

This article deals with the testing of a custom-built computer system that uses the Windows XP operating system from Microsoft Corp. This system passed the first test. It also booted from the Windows XP CDROM, but Windows could not find the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive. The developers reset the system and went to the BIOS and sure enough, the drive was uninstalled. Pournelle's Law held: The problem was the data cable, which seemed to be seated properly, but was not. Reseating the cables solved that problem: The BIOS now saw the disk. More than a year ago Microsoft Corp. sent the developers a large box of Windows XP Professional disks, each with its own registration number. Naturally they were all the early version of Windows XP, and over time became increasingly obsolete, but they have a good cable modem connection. Adelphia Cable has worked wonderfully well in the past few months. What they did was ignore the extra disk space, and told Windows XP to format what it could see. Note that Windows XP offers both quick and regular formatting. Bob Thompson, one of the developers, points out that Quick Format simply lays the formatting structure on the disk; it does not do any media surface testing, merely assuming that the disk is good. That is why it takes about a minute, as opposed to an hour or more for full format. Thompson always uses full format on all new disks, reserving Quick Format for disks that have previously been tested through full format.

The author outlines developments in the computer industry in 2004 and make predictions for 2005. The big event in 2004 was that Intel Corp. stumbled, and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) did not. When the year began, most analysts predicted that AMD would not survive the year. It is still Intel on top in sales, but in performance and price/performance AMD has become a real competitor with enough financial stability to stay the course; all that in a single year. The newest game machines are cool, and just about all of them are based on the AMD Athlon 64, which wins the Chaos Manor User's Choice Award for best processor in 2004. It is safe to bet that Microsoft will have a 64-bit Office suite, if not this year, 2005, then next. AMD is also developing the dual-core central processing unit, and it may be a close race with Intel. The hardware wars were immediately significant in 2004. The real barrier to Apple Computer Inc. becoming a major competitor to Microsoft Corp. is the same as the problem for Linux: the number of application developers. While I agree that Xandros and other easy to install, easy to use, Linux systems running OpenOffice or Star Office suites will continue to pick up more of the desktop market in the next year, I do not foresee any mass exodus from Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office in the near future.

This article discusses issues related to the competition between Microsoft Corp. and Google as of November 15, 2004. In a recent column John Dvorak said that Microsoft will see the Google browser as its biggest threat and find ways to thwart Google. Part of the Internet Explorer security mess came about because in the early days of the Internet Bill Gates did not realize its importance. Netscape caught Microsoft unawares. If that weren't bad enough, Netscape executives foolishly began boasting they'd use their browser to develop a full fledged Net-based operating system, and put Microsoft out of business. Gates always runs scared, and took that threat seriously. Shortly after, Internet Explorer came out, and as Gates put it at the launch, it is priced to sell, meaning it was free. The major feature of Internet Explorer is ActiveX controls, which is a Microsoft monopoly, but most people hate ActiveX controls, and for security reasons leave them disabled, only turning them on when we have to. There is money in good search engines, and Google has found a way to extract some profits from it, which may or may not get it into Microsoft's sights; but it has a huge head start. For one thing it already has the infrastructure: a server farm reportedly of over 100,000 Intel boxes running Linux. The company is adding boxes so fast that if one dies, it is just abandoned in place, with no attempt to fix or even remove it. If Microsoft is serious about getting into the search game, it will need comparable facilities.

This article focuses on virtual computing. Information on setting up a Windows extreme performance (XP) virtual machine and a Windows 2000 system, was given. It was learned that the terminology "Guest OS" = VPC speak for an installation of an operating system (OS) inside of Virtual PC (VPC). According to the author, if ever there was an excuse for needing the latest cutting-edge mondo PC hardware, it's emulation. Details of how to turn on an extended memory support was provided. Add-in enhancements which come with VPC are very convenient. Integration with XP was described. Virtual Server will be cornerstone for Microsoft becoming a mainframe OS company. Microsoft has done VPC very well. One use for VPC would be for setting up a virtual machine for web browsing. Chaos Manor networks about six essential machines and twenty others that are used. Imperator, an original server, was a fast machine. In setting up the server, its hardware has to be upgraded. Information on the utilities Norton Windows Commander and Golden Bow Vopt.

This article examines the issues involving the Microsoft Internet Explorer. The VX2 spyware scare was one problem. Another was Download.Ject, a.k.a. Scob, and called by some The Russian Hack. This exploited vulnerabilities in the Microsoft IIS servers to broadcast malware that exploited in turn Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. That was significant because it caused some journalists to advise users to abandon Internet Explorer entirely. Others did not go that far, but did say that one ought not use Microsoft Internet Explorer as one's default Internet browser. Perhaps the most extreme statement was that the U.S. government's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) is warning Web surfers to stop using Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser. For those unfamiliar with it, US-CERT is a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the public and private sectors. Established to protect the nation's Internet infrastructure, US-CERT coordinates defense against and responses to cyber attacks across the nation, so a warning from US-CERT is pretty serious, and if they are advising you to stop using Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser, it may be time to do just that. All of which prompted a call to Microsoft's public relations people, who arranged a telephone interview with two senior program managers on Microsoft's Security team.

This article evaluate the Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Release Candidate 1 (RC1) from Microsoft Corp. Installing SP2 RC1 is pretty automatic, very much like installing any other very large Service Pack, except that this version is not cumulative as the final will probably be. The RC1 installation was very slow on Lisabetta, but only took about 15 minutes on Sable. After a reboot, the system showed a please-wait screen, then completed the installation. The first sign that this is a different operating system is a screen that asks if you want to turn on Automatic Updates. After that you will see a small yellow Microsoft shield in the system tray. The first time you see it, the system will set about downloading another nine updates and ask for a reboot. Then there is another update and reboot. The Automatic Update features in SP2 are much improved. Updates come from the Windows Update Service (WUS) Web site, which has quite a different look from the old Windowsupdate.Microsoft.com site, which all conscientious sysadmins should know by heart. WUS also offers updates for Microsoft Office, plus SQL Server and Exchange. Some database and mail-server administrators might wish they had not made the last two available to the average system administrator, since installing patches on servers is more ticklish.

Focuses on the growing trend of using faster bit Windows operating system from Microsoft in personal computers. Expectations of using 64-bit programs for Windows; Product demonstrated by Hewlett-Packard at the 2003 WinHEC convention in New Orleans, Louisiana; Replacement program for XP and other concepts introduced by Microsoft at the 2003 Microsoft Professional Developer's Conference.

Evaluates several computer operating systems. Information on the status of Microsoft's Longhorn, the next revision to Windows; Functions of the Mac OS X 10.3.2; Compatibility of the Microsoft Office Suite with the Mac.

Deals with issues concerning the computer industry. Electronic equipment which can be given as Christmas gifts; Court ruling on the case between Santa Cruz Operation and IBM; Licensing fees sought by Microsoft Corp. for the FAT disk file system.

Presents updates on the computer industry as of November 17, 2003. Information on the 2003 Microsoft Professional Developer Conference in Los Angeles, California; Features of the Longhorn software; Importance of reports about computer crashes and glitches for the development of software at Microsoft; Use of Denial of Service attacks on anti-spammer Web sites.

Discusses two issues on computers. Key features of the Microsoft 2000 PhotoDraw photograph editing software; Problems in using cable modems.

Evaluates the Windows Media Player 9 Series launched by Microsoft Corp. and the TravelMate C100 Tablet PC from Acer. Advantages of the using the products; Tablet PC specification; Features of the Tablet PC.

Talks about several computer-related issues in the U.S. as of August 19, 2002. Information on the antitrust case of Microsoft Corp.; Function of the Spy++ tool in Microsoft Visual Studio; Suggestions for selecting Internet domain names.

Presents an article on the installation of Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Office 2000 from Microsoft Corp. Steps in installing the program; Comments on the StarOffice suite from Sun Microsystems; Features of the Crossover Plugin and Crossover Office from Codeweavers Inc.

Focuses on the use of Windows XP Home computer program by Microsoft Corp. Reasons for not using Windows XP Home; Features of XP Home; Information on Windows XP Professional.

Presents updates on the computer industry as of June 3, 2002. Enhancements in the peripheral component interconnect local bus; Windows feature introduced by Microsoft; Review of the Dungeon Siege computer game.

Comments on the discussions and results of the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference. Details on the tracks that comprise the conference; Discussion on the rights management language developed by Microsoft in the extensible markup language; Specifications of the serial ATA.

Discusses some issues related to computers. Suggestions on how to prevent spam; Evaluation of the U.S. Digital Millennium Communications Act; Compatibility of ClearType software with the Windows XP computer operating system from Microsoft company.

Comments on some issues related to computers. Comparison of the performance of Hercules Prophet GeForce 3 and ATI Radeon 8500 All In Wonder motherboards; Move of Microsoft company to stop the sale of Microsoft products at eBay auction site; Evaluation of the Plus Data Projector V-807.

Presents an overview of the events in 2001 that have affected the computer industry. Information on the failure of some Internet companies; Impact of the antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. on capitalism; Technological trends in 2002.

Comments on several software systems and applications from Microsoft Corp. Features of superfloppy disk; Comparison between FAT and NTFS; Installation, activation and registration of the system; How to keep a Windows XP up to date; Trust in Microsoft Corp.

Comments on software maker Microsoft Corporation. Role of Microsoft in the computer revolution; Criticisms on several Microsoft products; Proposals for the settlement of the lawsuit of the United States government against Microsoft.

Focuses on the computer operating system Microsoft Windows XP Professional from Microsoft Corp. Problem with the installation of the operating system; Features of Windows XP; Comparison with Windows XP Home Edition; Information on the first failure of the operating system; Discussion on security problems.

Deals with several issues related to computer industry in the United States (U.S.) as of September 24, 2001. Dismissal by the U.S. Department of Justice of the case of Microsoft Corp.; Problems faced by the industry; Features of Regina, a Compaq SP750 Professional Work Station.

Presents an article which described the use of the Windows XP and .NET operating system of Microsoft Corp. Comparison of the Windows XP Professional with the Windows 2000 Professional; Discussion on the software policy problem facing Microsoft; Features of the Word XP and its similarities with Word 2000.

Presents an update on computer-related products and other news as of May 14, 2001. Critique on the beta-2 versions of Microsoft's Windows XP Home and Professional operating systems; Features of the Cybex AutoView Commander product; Movie and book of the month.

Offers information and comments on computer-related news. Details on installing a system around an Intel D815 motherboard using the ATA cables; Prediction on small computer systems interface's prospects in desktop personal computers; Consensus on the ALI chip sets from ACER; Flavors of the Windows XP operating system from Microsoft; Goals of the Windows XP; Outlook on the prospects of Microsoft's .NET registration system.

Deals with various issues related to the computer industry as of March 19, 2001. Impact of the provocative statement made by Microsoft Corporation's Windows operating-system chief Jim Allchin regarding the Linux operating system; Comparison of motherboards from Intel and Advance Micro Devices; Evaluation of the Microsoft Office 2000 suite.

Focuses on computer hacking. Features of the QAZ Notepad Trojan computer virus; Effect of the virus to the computer systems of Microsoft.

Discusses the licensing and operating system disk policies of Microsoft Corp. in the United States as of October 2000. Views on the policies; Use of the policies for its customers.

Presents tips for upgrading Microsoft Corporation's Windows 2000 computer operating systems. Importance of memory in upgrading; Information on the Fergie computer.

Comments on the decision of Judge Penfield Jackson on the antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. Criticism on the knowledge of Judge Jackson about the computer industry; Flaws on the decision of Jackson; Advantages of Microsoft software and computer resources over its competitors; Alleged suppression of innovation by Microsoft.

Presents the author's view on the Windows Vista from Microsoft Corp. Limitations of the Windows Vista; Information on the operating system reformat; Example of an unfinished user interface.

The article explores issues surrounding the 2005 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference sponsored by Microsoft Corp. In the conference, the company will release the Longhorn Developer Preview Discs and the 64-bit edition of Windows 2003 Server. The Longhorn operating system was announced in 2001 but key hardware requirements locked down in 2005, product ships for Holiday 2006 for Longhorn Client and the Longhorn Server will be delivered in 2007. One of the Longhorn demonstrations was central control of resources both server and clients in a network from a central administrator. Desktop machines could be shut down, restarted, updated, debugged and have worms and viruses removed, all without any action on the part of the user physically present at the machine. This kind of administrative control will be a key feature in Longhorn Server. Longhorn is supposed to end a lot of security worries. Among other features, it will have ways to segregate instructions that can be executed from data areas that cannot contain executable instructions. This feature is already present in XP Service Pack 2, known alternately as Data Execution Prevention or No Execute and it only works on 64-bit ready systems.

This article relates the author's views on digital rights management (DRM). It also cites the author's games and books of the month. Cory Doctorow writes about DRM all the time. The summary of his position is that: DRM systems do not work; DRM systems are bad for society; DRM systems are bad for business; DRM systems are bad for artists; and, DRM is a bad business move for Microsoft. The points that concern me, as a writer and author, are his second and fourth points. And on those issues, I think he has not proved his point at all. I for one, see a real need for some of kind of DRM for both performed and printed works. The question is, can that be done and, if so, what are the costs. There are also issues to consider here. First, people are not interested in criminalizing intellectual property theft. Second, it is an exercise in futility to regulate what can go into our machines. Third, Microsoft is not part of the conspiracy to criminalize everything. I agree with Peter Glaskowsky when he says that DRM is possible. Moving on, the author's choice for games of the month are Doom III and Nemesis of the Roman Empire. The two books of the month are Jane Jacob's Dark Age Ahead and Susan Snedaker's Best Damn Windows Windows 2003 Server Book Period.