Microsoft introduces Windows 2000

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Feb 18, 2000

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Microsoft introduced its new Windows 2000 operating system Thursday, backed by cheering fans, celebrities and a giant mock-laptop computer.

Despite the hooplah, the company said it is marketing the software to businesses and operators of sophisticated networks -- not consumers -- and warned that home users may find it doesn't work with some games and other software.

"Today we unveil the future of computing," said Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, clasping his hands and smiling to his audience at a conference staged by the company to introduce the software upgrade.

"We're so excited that this will become the standard on the business desktops."

Windows 2000 is Microsoft's latest effort to maintain its dominance in the worldwide software market.

However, despite its name, Windows 2000 is not a successor to Windows 98, which runs the vast majority of the world's personal computers.

Rather it is supposed to replace the corporate system Windows NT 4.0.

The new operating system is designed to run powerful business PCs called workstations and servers that run computer networks and Web sites. It is considered more stable and reliable than Windows NT and has new features that help technology managers run large systems.

The debut of Windows 2000 came nearly a year later than expected, but it has received praise from industry analysts and selected companies that have been running it for months on a test basis. With more than 35 million lines of computer code, it's one of the most complex software programs ever made.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer cautioned this week that Windows 2000 won't run certain games or work with some joysticks and other home add-ons. Microsoft has set up a Web site where home users can test whether the software programs on their computer are going to work with Windows 2000.

Despite the cautionary notes, Thursday's lavish rollout was anything but techie.

Actor Patrick Stewart, the former Star Trek star, dashed on and off stage with a series of jokes. "Bill, Bill, I don't mean to steal your thunder but you did mention `enterprise' several times," said Stewart, alluding to a common term for business software -- and the name of the starship.

Corporate cheerleaders -- hundreds of Microsoft developers decked out in matching blue shirts -- jumped from their seats and burst into applause at regular intervals.

A massive laptop computer -- with keys the size of stepping stones -- opened dramatically to display a running demonstration of Windows 2000 on a stage with flashing colored lights and Carlos Santana rocking to his hit song Smooth.

At the finale, Stewart was dancing, hundreds of computer screens around the room were blinking and refrigerator sized-servers chugged in the background beneath Windows 2000 banners.

All the while, Gates stood perfectly still, barely smiling, hands clasped, making it clear that this wasn't just for fun.

"We are definitely marketing this product to business users. That's who this product is for," said Deborah Willingham, Microsoft's vice president of marketing. "I think there will also be some enthusiasts who will be interested in this product at home, but hopefully the event that you saw today was an entertaining event in addition to passing on the information about why Windows 2000 would be a great platform to business."

For consumers looking to upgrade, Microsoft recommends they wait until later this year for the introduction of Windows Millennium Edition, the successor to the sometimes-unreliable Windows 98.

Jeff Clarke, an engineer with Plano, Texas-based Electronic Data Systems, said Thursday's glitz was probably aimed at less-technical senior managers who make software purchasing decisions but generally don't actually run the systems.

"I got a kick out of it but it didn't give me additional information," he said.