Microsoft Delays Release of Windows Vista
by Alex Woodie

Quality concerns with Windows Vista and logistical concerns in bringing the new OS to market led Microsoft to announce Tuesday that the release of Windows Vista will be delayed. The company plans to release Windows Vista to the corporate market in November, and to the consumer market in January. The new OS had previously been expected in October, although the company only would commit publicly to a second-half delivery, which the company now will not make. READ MORE >

Microsoft Security Patches Include Hidden Surprises
by Alex Woodie

As a Windows user, you've become accustomed to the drill: When Patch Tuesday rolls around, you'd best get those security updates applied quickly, before the hackers start targeting the new vulnerabilities that the patches fix. But did you know that Microsoft's patches may change parts of the system other than what is disclosed in the advisories that accompany the patches? While it's generally a good idea to trust your vendor's patches, sometimes what you don't know about them can hurt you. READ MORE >

Microsoft Positions its Products as People Friendly
by Alex Woodie

Without a doubt, one of the main reasons businesses adopt technology is to become more efficient, and historically, this has meant eliminating jobs. Walk into any major American grocery store, and you will see customers using barcode scanners to check out their own groceries--an example of how rapid advances in technology has reduced the need for expensive labor-intensive positions. This is why the new "People-Ready" marketing campaign by Microsoft, which sells technology that helps businesses run more efficiently and sometimes eliminate jobs, is such a curiosity. READ MORE >

HP Announces High-End 'Arches' Chipset for Integrities
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

There is no doubt that Hewlett-Packard was hoping to make a big splash with its third generation "Arches" sx2000 chipset for Itanium servers and launch the Integrity servers based on the dual-core "Montecito" Itanium processors as a single package. But with the Montecitos running late, and HP needing to keep competitive, the company yesterday launched the Arches chipset and two relatively large Intergity servers and high-end Superdomes based on it without the Montecito chips. READ MORE >