If you've installed Service Pack 2 for Windows NT and your Internet
Service Provider (ISP) doesn't support multilink, you may not be able to connect
to the Internet. Microsoft's technical support is aware of the problem and
provides the following workaround:
1. Run regedit.exe.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RasMan\PPP.
3. Right-click in the right side of the window, and choose New and DWORD
Value.
4. Name the new value DisableMultilink.
5. Right click the new value, click Modify, and set the value to 1.
6. Exit and reboot the system.
—Greg McNichol and Valda Hilley
Netscape Redefines Its Vision and Direction
Netscape expects to derive a growing portion of its revenue from
server sales in the coming months. Netscape will focus more on the corporate
market (which company executives say is more lucrative than the declining retail
browser market thanks to competition from Microsoft's free Internet Explorer)
and Web server sales rather than Web browser sales. Despite its fundamental
shift toward the corporate client, Netscape isn't giving up the browser market.
Netscape is touting its new seven-component Communicator (Netscape Navigator 4.0
browser software, Netscape Composer HTML authoring software, Netscape Messenger
email, Netscape Collabra group discussion software, Netscape Conference realtime
collaboration software, Netscape Calendar scheduling software, and Netscape
AutoAdmin) and Constellation technology as the next-generation Internet client
tool.
To support its new efforts, Netscape signed an agreement with IBM whereby
Netscape licensed IBM's Java-based Web-to-host IBM Host On-Demand Software and
IBM licensed Netscape's Communicator Professional Edition. IBM Host On-Demand is
a high-performance cross-platform TelNet 3270 solution for intranet and Internet
users who need occasional access to computer applications or databases in their
company's central computers.
Netscape also inked a deal with Oracle to make Oracle the preferred
database vendor for Netscape's high-end commercial applications (the Merchant
System, Publishing System, and Commerce System), which start at about $40,000.
(The Informix Workgroup Server still ships with Netscape's LiveWire Pro.)
Finally, Netscape continues to promote its message of openness, especially
vis-à-vis Microsoft, and continues to make its products generally
available on more platforms than Microsoft. Netscape recognizes the importance
of universally accessible directories and has successfully promoted its
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP--even Microsoft promises to support
it). Netscape's JavaScript also has more universal appeal than
Microsoft's Visual Basic (VB) Script thanks to Netscape's multiplatform
philosophy.
One worrisome note about Netscape's redirection is that the company risks
focusing on corporate and government developers to the exclusion of small,
independent developers who are in a position to influence scores of browser and
server adoptions. To find out more about Netscape's plans, you can view the
proceedings from the Netscape Developer's Conference held last October in New
York at http://developer.netscape.com/library/archivedconf/index.html.
—Karen Watterson
Microsoft Targets Consumers with Windows CE
Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows CE (short for Consumer
Electronics), is appearing on new handhelds from Casio (Cassiopeia), HP
(OmniGo), Philips (Velo 1), and others. These products compete with the Sharp
Zaurus and Psion 3a as carry-around, note-jotting communications devices, with a
familiar clamshell shape. Windows CE machines come standard with Pocket versions
of Word, Excel, and Calendar, and other applications are on the way. The new
handhelds aren't meant to replace your existing PC, but will complement it as
add-on devices.
Microsoft has big plans for Windows CE, which is the first of a series of
embedded operating systems the company plans for everything from toasters to
houses. Windows CE is a limited, stripped-down version of standard Win32 calls,
and the limits go deep--even the screen size is limited to a 480 * 240 dot LCD.
But Microsoft's partners in this deal have enough market presence to make
Microsoft's third attempt at an embedded operating system standard stick.
Windows CE will affect NT users in three ways. First, because Windows CE
runs on low-power non-Intel CPUs, development for the operating system must be
cross-platform, and many will choose to use NT as the development platform of
choice. Second, NT users will want to synchronize their Windows CE handhelds
with their desktop PCs. Third, Windows CE devices will emerge as an emergency
email and Web browser for users who need to call in and fix something from the
field. At $300 to $400, this last reason alone may make the new handhelds
worthwhile.
—Alex Pournelle