Re: WinNews Vol. 2 No. 12, August 7, 1995
Microsoft(R) WinNews Electronic Newsletter
Vol. 2, #12, August 7, 1995
***********************************************************
Most of you know Windows 95 will be available in many
countries on August 24, and there is a lot of news
surrounding the launch. Since this is the first issue of
WinNews in three weeks, there is a lot of information
to update you on.
For those of you with World Wide Web access, the
Windows 95 Home Page has been updated and modified.
You can find it at: http://www.windows.microsoft.com or
through Microsoft's Home Page at http://www.microsoft.com.
Our ftp site has also been updated. For more details,
please see the article below.
Please also note that the website and all the Windows 95
online forums and postings (listed below) now contain the
Windows 95 Hardware Compatibility File and Software
Compatibility File, so you can see the thousands of
products that can be used with Windows 95.
Included in this issue:
1. "HINTS AND TIPS" - Our regular feature offering some
helpful ways to use Windows 95.
2. "MICROSOFT READIES RESELLERS TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS WITH
MIGRATION TO WINDOWS 95 AND OFFICE FOR WINDOWS 95" -
Information on our Enterprise Migration Program, and
support that will be available from third parties.
3. "WINDOWS-TO-MACINTOSH CONNECTIVITY NOW AVAILABLE
FOR WINDOWS 95" Here's news on a new product from
Miramar that allows Microsoft to offer a true
open-systems solution for companies.
4. "MICROSOFT RELEASES BETA II OF WINDOWS 95 GAME
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS KIT" - As we head towards our
planned September release of the SDK, here is
an announcement on our next SDK beta which includes
information on new device drivers from
hardware vendors.
5. "MICROSOFT, DIGITAL FORM ALLIANCE MAKING WINDOWS-BASED
SOLUTIONS THE NEXT WAVE OF ENTERPRISE COMPUTING" -
Many of you may have already heard about this
agreement. Here are some details on the deal
that combines key strengths from Microsoft and Digital.
6. "MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES WINDOWS 95 SUPPORT FOR NETWARE
DIRECTORY SERVICES" - This an article on a Microsoft
beta test for an enhanced Windows(R) 95 operating
system client software that incorporates support
for Novell(R) NetWare Directory Services (NDS).
7. "NEW LOOK FOR WINDOWS WORLD WIDE WEB HOME PAGE" - As
mentioned above, here are details on the new Windows
World Wide Web home page.
8. "WINDOWS 95 ONLINE POSTINGS AND FORUMS" - our regular
listing of articles on our forums, website and
ftp site.
QUICK NOTES
As mentioned above there is a lot of information to report
this month, so we will be sending out an extra issue of
WinNews. In addition to this week's issue, we will send
out issues on August 14 and the week of the August 21.
Jay Goldstein
WinNews Editor
***********************************************************
SUBSCRIPTIONS
If you know someone who might be interested in WinNews,
please instruct them to:
1. Send Internet e-mail to: ENEWS99@MICROSOFT.NWNET.COM
2. Send the message from the account that you wish
to subscribe (some people use more than one
e-mail account).
3. Subject line should be blank.
4. Body of message should ONLY have in the
text: SUBSCRIBE WINNEWS
You may also feel free to forward this document, provided
you forward it in it's entirety, as per the copyright
notice below. If you wish to stop receiving WinNews,
send mail to enews@microsoft.nwnet.com with a blank
subject line and the body of the message should only
have in the text: UNSUBSCRIBE WINNEWS.
WinNews is published twice a month, on the first and
third Monday of each month. Special editions of WinNews
may also be sent out occasionally.
***********************************************************
1. HINTS AND TIPS
The following are a few useful hints and tips that will
result in a more productive work environment. These are
some of the most powerful features in Windows 95.
A. Customize the Start button
Click and drag any object from the desktop and drop it on
the Start button to add it to the Start Menu.
B. Display Properties
Right click anywhere on the desktop and choose properties.
The Display Properties dialog box appears, and allows you
to adjust the color scheme, fonts, font and window sizes,
screen saver, monitor resolution, and monitor type for
your computer.
(For global font changes: Change the icon font on the
Appearance page of the Display Properties dialog).
C. Sending Objects with "Send To"
Right-click a document or folder icon, select "Send To",
then select a destination item from the drop down menu.
(Note: You can add or delete Send To destinations by
entering "send to" in the Run command line. The active
"Send To" folder will be opened. Drag the desired
shortcut icon(s) - printer, fax, drive, Windows
application - to the "Send To" folder and it will
appear in the "Send To" menu.)
***********************************************************
2. MICROSOFT READIES RESELLERS TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS WITH
MIGRATION TO WINDOWS 95 AND OFFICE FOR WINDOWS 95
Qualifying Resellers Receive Marketing, Sales,
Training, Deployment Support
REDMOND, Wash. - Aug. 7, 1995 - Microsoft Corp. today
announced that major resellers received intensive training and
tools for migration to the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95
operating system and are currently assisting customers to
migrate to Windows 95 and the Office for Windows 95
product suite. Participants in the program include
AmeriData Inc., AT&T Global Information Solutions
Technologies Inc., CompuCom Systems Inc., Dataflex
Corp., Digital Equipment Corp., EDS, Egghead Corp.,
Entex Information Services Inc., Inacom Corp., Random
Access Inc., Software Spectrum Inc., Stream International
Inc., The Future Now Inc. and VanStar Corp.
The program provides resellers with in-depth technical
training and experience in migrating corporate customers
to the Windows 95 environment and also allows the
resellers to build their Windows 95 migration services.
Additionally, these resellers have assigned a significant
number of migration specialists to work with customers
to help ensure a smooth migration. These specialists
must enroll in the Windows 95 training session and must
pass the Windows 95 qualification and Microsoft
Certified Professional exams.
"A productive and cost-efficient transition is the goal
of all of Stream's corporate customers interested in
migrating to Windows 95 and Office for Windows 95,"
said Judith Salerno, senior vice president of worldwide
service operations for Stream. "Microsoft's Enterprise
Migration Program has given us the in-depth training
and tools we need to help key accounts develop and
implement a successful migration strategy in advance
of the actual product launch."
"Organizations look to Windows 95 to help reduce
support costs, increase control of the desktop, and
improve end-user productivity," said Bob McDowell,
vice president of the enterprise customer unit at
Microsoft. "The Enterprise Migration Program helps
ensure that the channels will have the best tools and
opportunities to deliver these benefits to their corporate
customers. The overwhelming reseller response to this
program is one more indication of the tremendous
industry support for Windows 95."
The Enterprise Migration Program provides the resellers
with the opportunity to create a deployment plan for
migrating desktops immediately while enabling them
to address key migration issues by rolling out pilot tests
for Windows 95 with prerelease versions of the product.
Resellers plan to use Microsoft Systems Management
Server as their software-distribution tool to roll out
Windows 95 and the Office for Windows 95 suite
when they become available.
"AmeriData is developing a comprehensive suite of
Windows 95 migration services to ensure that our
customers have a smooth transition to Windows 95,"
said Lee Stagni, vice president of corporate marketing
at AmeriData. "These services, combined with the
knowledge of our Windows 95 migration team, will
maximize our customers' computing investments."
Tools available to resellers include the Windows 95
Migration Planning Kit and an end-user training
module that will enable resellers to develop a
Just-in-Time/Just Enough training session to get end
users up to speed quickly on Windows 95. Resellers
will also be able to use the training materials they
receive to create more in-depth training sessions for
support professionals. In addition to the training
material, resellers receive videotapes of their migration
training class, a set of videotapes of the Windows 95
TrainCast series, the Office for Windows 95 Resource
Kit, and the Office for Windows 95 Migration Video.
***********************************************************
3. WINDOWS-TO-MACINTOSH CONNECTIVITY NOW AVAILABLE
FOR WINDOWS 95
Personal MACLAN Available From Miramar
REDMOND, Wash. - Aug. 8, 1995 - Microsoft Corp. today
announced that Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95-to-Macintosh(R)
network connectivity is available for organizations using
both Windows 95 operating system-based personal computers
and Apple Computer Corp.=92s Macintosh computers. Personal
MACLAN Connect 5.5, from Miramar Systems Inc., will be the
first third-party product to allow Windows 95-based
computers to link to Macintosh computers on a network,
fulfilling Microsoft=92s promise to offer a true open-systems
solution for companies running multiple platforms.
Personal MACLAN Connect 5.5 is scheduled to operate in the
Windows 95 environment by September.
Building on the open architecture of Windows 95, Microsoft
previously announced third-party software connectivity
products that will enable Windows 95 to support Banyan(R)
VINES(R) and Banyan Enterprise Networking Services (ENS)
servers, PATHWORKS(TM) from Digital Equipment Corp., and
client software for UNIX(R)-based Network Files System (NFS)
servers from FTP Software Inc. Windows 95 also offers
built-in support for the Windows NT(TM) operating system
and Novell(R) NetWare(R) servers.
"One of our goals with Windows 95 was to offer full
networking support for customers who work in a
heterogeneous environment," said Brad Chase, general
manager in the personal systems division at Microsoft.
"With Miramar=92s product, Macintosh and Windows 95-based PC
users can share networked printers and files with ease."
Personal MACLAN Connect is the only cross-platform
networking software product that permits users of Windows-
based PCs and Macintoshes to share files bi-directionally
with a single product. It also provides full peer-to-peer
file and printer sharing on both platforms.
"We have a long list of customers who are planning to
switch to Windows 95 and who have been asking whether
MACLAN will be able to help them," said Neal Rabin,
president of Miramar. "Our new version will meet that
need and offer an unprecedented opportunity for businesses
to maximize their computing resources."
By eliminating incompatibility problems for organizations
running on multiple platforms, the integrated networking in
Windows 95 will help reduce support costs and make it
possible to use all the resources on the network more
effectively. These benefits are realized through faster
network performance, greater system reliability and
built-in systems management features.
A version of Personal MACLAN, which will feature full
integration with Windows 95, including support for long
file names and integration with the control panel, is
expected to be completed by early next year.
***********************************************************
4. MICROSOFT RELEASES BETA II OF WINDOWS 95 GAME
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS KIT
Hot New Windows 95 Game Technology Now Broadly Supported
by Hardware Vendors
REDMOND, Wash. - July 27, 1995 - Building on the momentum
already generated within the game-developer community for
the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 operating system as a game
platform, Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate
availability of the beta II release of the Windows 95 Game
Software Developers Kit (SDK), which includes new device
drivers from eight major third-party hardware vendors.
With release of beta II, Microsoft plans to deliver a
final release of the Windows 95 Game SDK in September,
helping to increase the number of hot new games using
Windows 95-based game technology scheduled to be available
to consumers for the holidays. More than 1,200 game
developers received the initial version of the Game SDK
in April.
"The release of beta II is an important milestone in our
broad effort to make Windows 95 a premier game platform,"
said Paul Osborne, director of multimedia technology at
Microsoft. "The inclusion of device drivers from these
hardware vendors is yet another indication of the
enthusiastic support we've seen across the board from the
gaming community for Windows 95-based game technology."
The Windows 95 Game SDK contains tools, sample code,
documentation and a subsystem with new game application
programming interfaces (APIs) that make for exciting,
high-performance game play under Windows 95, including the
following:
- DirectDraw, for hardware-accelerated display graphics
- DirectSound, for high-fidelity, low-latency sound effects
- DirectPlay, for multiplayer connectivity
- DirectInput, for digital joystick control
With today's announcement of the beta II SDK, eight
hardware vendors announced their support of Windows 95 game
technology, including Aztech Labs Inc., Chips and
Technologies Inc., Cirrus Logic, ESS Technology,
MediaVision, S3 Inc., Tseng Labs, and Western Digital
Corp.'s Multimedia Products Unit. They join
ATI Technologies Inc. and Creative Labs Inc. as companies
with device support in the Windows 95 beta II Game SDK.
Device support in the SDK now spans all display and audio
devices supported in the retail package for Windows 95.
Game software developers using the SDK will see their
games accelerated by significant performance increases
(such as a doubling of frame rates) on a broad range of
display, audio and input devices. Furthermore, these
developers will now be able to develop and test on a broad
range of PC configurations.
The Windows 95 Game SDK makes developing high-performance
games for Windows 95 easier and faster than it was for the
MS-DOS(R) operating system by providing game developers a
standard set of system services that previously they would
have needed to implement and maintain themselves. Using
the Game SDK, game developers can now write to a standard
set of APIs, delivering high-performance game play to their
customers across a broad range of accelerated and
unaccelerated PC-hardware configurations. In addition,
releasing Windows 95-based games will result in lower
support costs because Windows 95 will make installing and
configuring games and game peripherals dramatically easier.
***********************************************************
5. MICROSOFT, DIGITAL FORM ALLIANCE MAKING WINDOWS-BASED
SOLUTIONS THE NEXT WAVE OF ENTERPRISE COMPUTING
SAN FRANCISCO Aug. 2, 1995 - Digital Equipment Corp.
and Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic alliance
to meet customer demand for Microsoft-based solutions and
support in enterprise-wide computing. The alliance
combines Microsoft client-server products with Digital's
leadership in enterprise systems, service, support and
systems integration, enabling customers to deploy business
solutions on the Microsoft Windows and Windows NT
operating systems with assurance of integration into the
most complex business environments.
Highlights of the alliance include substantial funding
by Microsoft in Digital's support and systems integration
business focused on Microsoft-based solutions; Digital's
commitment to train at least 1,500 new certified
professionals for that business; commitment by Microsoft
for products on Alpha AXP-based systems; engineering
cooperation; cross-licensing of patent portfolios;
Microsoft's licensing of Digital clustering technology for
inclusion in future Microsoft clustering solutions for
Windows NT; and joint marketing and field engagement.
"Customers want the volume applications, cost model,
and flexibility of PC-style client-server solutions, as
well as the service, support, systems integration and
extremely high availability and scalability of enterprise
solutions," said Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft.
"This alliance gives customers the best of both worlds.
The complementary corporate technologies, services and
business strengths of Microsoft and Digital will provide
a safe, practical way to make Windows-based solutions the
next wave of enterprise computing."
=
"Digital's goal is to provide customers unsurpassed
expertise in open computing solutions," said
Robert B. Palmer, chairman and CEO at Digital. "Our
strengths in systems, service, networking connectivity and
systems integration will extend the reach of Microsoft's
client-server software throughout the world's enterprises
and deliver a competitive advantage for customers."
Microsoft also has selected Digital for the Launch
Support Team of Windows 95 in the United States, and for
the Enterprise Migration Program, which assists resellers
in successfully migrating corporate customers to
Windows 95 and Microsoft Office for Windows 95.
Digital and Microsoft reconfirmed their commitment
to Windows NT on Alpha-based systems. Digital soon will
introduce a family of Intel(R)- and Alpha-based systems
optimized for Windows NT. Microsoft will release the
Microsoft BackOffice family and other server software
simultaneously on Alpha- and Intel-based platforms.
Microsoft also will release Microsoft Office and other
client software simultaneously on Alpha-based and other
RISC-based systems. This is in addition to a recent
agreement that allows Digital to offer Microsoft
BackOffice products on Digital AlphaServer systems and
Intel-based Digital Prioris PC servers.
Digital and Microsoft will work together to evangelize
the alliance to independent software vendors (ISVs). The
companies will jointly target ports to Windows NT on Alpha
systems. They will encourage OpenVMS ISVs to write to
Win32, OLE object technology and other Windows Open
Services Architecture (WOSA) APIs, which are available on
Windows NT Server today from Microsoft and which Digital
will provide for OpenVMS. For certain high-end
applications, the companies will encourage ISVs to write
to Win32, OLE and other WOSA APIs on OpenVMS to obtain
24x365 support, disaster tolerance and the greatest
cluster scalability. Digital plans to provide developer
kits for three-tier client-server applications.
***********************************************************
6. MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES WINDOWS 95 SUPPORT FOR NETWARE
DIRECTORY SERVICES
Enhanced Windows 95 Client for NetWare Enters Beta Testing
REDMOND, Wash. - July 25, 1995 - Microsoft Corp. today
announced it is beta testing an enhanced Windows(R) 95
operating system client software for NetWare(R) that
incorporates support for Novell(R) NetWare Directory
Services (NDS). The Microsoft(R) Client for NetWare
Directory Services, a superset of the rich network
support already built into Windows 95, provides users
with login and browsing support for NDS. Both the
existing Windows 95-based client software for NetWare
networks and the enhanced client software provide support
for customers to login, browse and connect to resources on
NetWare 2.x, 3.x and 4.x servers using bindery services.
Final software is scheduled to be available within
60 to 90 days after the August release of Windows 95.
Windows 95 offers well-integrated, robust, high-
performance networking that provides support for NetWare
and the Windows NT(TM) operating system out of the box.
Because of the open, extensible architecture, third
parties such as Banyan Systems Inc., Digital Equipment
Corp., Novell Inc. and Sun Microsystems Inc. can implement
Windows 95 client software for their server platforms with
the same integration and performance capabilities as
Microsoft-supplied client software.
"We believe that the NDS client software and Windows 95
will provide end users with seamless integration to the
LAN environment," said Paul Turino, Windows 95 project
director at Chase Manhattan Bank Corporate Technology and
Information Systems. "Additionally, NDS support provides
smoother connectivity to heterogeneous environments."
"Our commitment to customers is to make Windows 95 the
best connected network client software available,"
said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the
personal systems division at Microsoft. "The Microsoft
Client for NetWare Directory Services is just another
example of this focus."
Key Benefits
The Microsoft Client for NDS is implemented as a
Windows 95 32-bit network client and provides customers
with the following key benefits:
- Ease of use: Graphical NDS tree browsing support
is integrated into the Network Neighborhood, making it
easy for users to browse and connect to network
resources in the NDS or on NetWare 3.x and 2.x servers.
The client also supports key user interface features of
Windows 95 including long file names, drag-and-drop
file manipulation, and point and print support.
- Ease of management: The Network Control Panel integrates
full control of the Microsoft Client for NDS, allowing for
simple installation and configuration. Login scripts for
NetWare 3.x and 4.x are included for compatibility with
existing NetWare environments. The client software also
supports Plug and Play, which was designed to streamline
hardware and software setup, reducing end-user support
costs. Finally, the client software provides network
managers with support for NetWare utilities, such as
Netadmin and NLIST.
- High performance: When measured using standard network
client-software performance benchmarks, both the Client
for NetWare networks and the Client for NetWare Directory
Services are 50 to 300 percent faster than existing
downlevel real-mode NetWare client software.
- Integrated password management: Integrated graphical
single-login support software enables users to employ a
single login name and password to access all network
resources and password-enabled Windows 95-based
applications.
Availability
The enhanced client software will be available for
download online from The Microsoft Network, the Microsoft
FTP server and CompuServe(R).
***********************************************************
7. NEW LOOK FOR WINDOWS WORLD WIDE WEB HOME PAGE
The Windows Home Page on the World Wide Web has been
renovated and updated. The revised page can be found at:
http://www.windows.microsoft.com.
The new site is much easier to navigate, and it will
contain the most recent and important information
on Windows 95. Of course, it still has key files that
have been posted over the last year, such as the
Migration Planning Kit and Resource Kit Help File. Other
on-line services will continue to post information, and
many of these will use the new format that has been
developed for the website.
The Windows ftp site has also been updated. It can
still be found at:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/peropsys/win_news
The new format has the content separated into 5 areas.
New listings will be provided in each WinNews electronic
newsletter by these new groupings. Here are the areas
with a listing of some of the current information there:
1. "Information" provides:
- A look at the Windows 95 Autodemo
- Datasheets
- Product comparisons to Windows 3.1,
Windows NT and competitive operating systems
2. "Technical Information and Support" includes:
- Product overviews with information specifically
for IS Professionals or Solution Providers.
- Migration Planning Kit
- White papers
- Traincast Air Dates
3. "Free Software" gives access to:
- Power Toys!
- The Complete Windows 95 Resource Kit Help File
- Resource Kit Utilities
- The Windows 95 Demo
4. "Third Party Product Information"
- Hardware Compatibility List
- Software Compatibility List
5. "News and Events"
- Past issues of the WinNews Electronic
Newsletter
- Press Releases
- Clarifications to statements made in the press
or otherwise
***********************************************************
8. WINDOWS 95 ONLINE POSTINGS AND FORUMS
New files posted since the last issue of WinNews:
Technical Information and Support
---------------------------------
"Software Compatibility List" - File Name:
Support/swcompat.txt
A listing of thousands of programs which run with
Windows 95. This has also been added on-line to the
Third Party Product Information and the Migration
Planning Kit.
"Hardware Compatibility List" - File Name: Support/hcl.exe
A listing of products which run with Windows 95.
This has also been added on-line to the Third Party
Product Information and the Migration Planning Kit.
This has also been added on-line to Third Party
Product Information and the Migration Planning Kit.
"Support Assistant" - File Name: Support/suppast.exe
News and Events
---------------------------------
File Name: Cringley.doc - Microsoft speaking points
on a recent column by Robert Cringley.
File Name: Regwiz.doc - which addresses some of
the concerns on the Windows 95 Registration Wizard.
YOU CAN FIND WINDOWS 95 INFORMATION AT:
On the World Wide Web http://www.windows.microsoft.com
On the Internet -
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/PerOpSys/Win_News
=
On The Microsoft Network: From Main Menu:
Categories\Computers and Software\Software\
Microsoft\Windows 95\WinNews
On CompuServe: GO WINNEWS.
On Prodigy: JUMP WINNEWS.
On America OnLine: Use keyword WINNEWS
On GEnie: MOVE TO PAGE 95
***********************************************************
This document is provided for informational purposes
only. The information contained in this document
represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation
on the issues discussed as of the date of publication.
Because Microsoft must respond to change in market
conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a
commitment on the part of Microsoft and Microsoft
cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information
presented after the date of publication.
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED
"AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM
INFRINGEMENT.
The user assumes the entire risk as to the
accuracy and the use of this document. This
document may be copied and distributed subject to
the following conditions: 1) All text must be
copied without modification and all pages must
be included; 2) All copies must contain Microsoft's
copyright notice and any other notices provided
therein; and 3) This document may not be
distributed for profit.
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.