|
Microsoft set to unveil new software suite for Macintosh
While Macintosh users never rejoice over announcements from Microsoft, the Redmond-based software giant has given the Mac faithful something to look forward to. Microsoft recently released details on its next-generation business software suite, Microsoft Office 2001 Macintosh Edition. One thing you won't see, according to Microsoft, is a price increase for the Mac version of Microsoft Office. Office 2001 is set to debut at the same price as Office 98, and it should be on store shelves next month. Office 2001 will include Word 2001, Excel 2001, PowerPoint 2001, Internet Explorer 5 and a new, Mac-only e-mail and personal information manager called Entourage 2001. Don't look for the new product to be called "Office 2001." The Mac-only version will be dubbed officially "Office:mac." The software requires a PowerPC-based processor running at 120 MHz or faster running Apple Mac OS 8.1 or later. Microsoft also recommends 160 MB of hard-drive space. WINDOWS ME. For the millions of users of Microsoft's Windows operating system, there's yet another upgrade on your software retailer's shelves. Windows Millenium Edition (dubbed "Windows Me" for short) was released recently by the software giant as its next-generation consumer operating system. Windows Me will replace the Windows 98 Second Edition operating system released last year. The new operating system isn't a radical departure from Win98SE; like other Windows upgrades, it bridges a few gaps in the software with new options, features and drivers to improve the performance of the newest hardware. Microsoft has long been planning to merge its Win95/98 line of operating systems with its Windows NT business operating system. Windows Me will be the final operating system that is based on Microsoft's old DOS programming technology. DOS was the first Microsoft operating system that helped spark the personal computer revolution some 20 years ago. The company licensed -- but did not sell -- the operating system to IBM. As the momentum built for computers that would be compatible with the standard that was set by IBM, Microsoft licensed versions of DOS to other computer manufacturers. The rest is computing history. Windows Me features some new multimedia players and video editing tools. It also has a new "system restore" feature that improves a computer's ability to recover from a crash. The upgrade's street price should be about $59, according to a press release. Even if existing customers don't upgrade, the new Windows Me will be the operating system of choice for computer makers. A company spokesman estimated that as many as 100 million copies could be sold over the next year. EUDORABLE. The long-running stand-alone e-mail program Eudora released a new and significantly upgrade version recently. Qualcomm's Eudora 5.0 adds some new features that aren't available in other e-mail clients. These include: • Eudora Sharing Protocol. Users can create folders on their computer hard drives designated for file sharing with other users. The user creates a list of the e-mail addresses of people allowed to access the files in the shared folder. The files in the folder are automatically updated when anyone in the group changes them. • a utility called MoodWatch that scans messages for offensive words and phrases and warns the user. The warning symbols are a rating scale of one to three chili peppers. Like its previous version, Eudora 5.0 is available in three versions. The first is fully paid, which costs $39.95 after a $10 rebate; the second is advertising sponsored, and features all the features of the paid version but includes small ads. The final version is the "Light" version -- free and without advertising, but minus some of the software's neatest features. To download your copy, visit www.qualcomm.com. TOYS AREN'T US. Toy retailers Toys R Us has closed its Web site in favor of a new partnership with Amazon.com. The new Web site was launched recently, and can be entered through the same Toys R Us Web address, www.toysrus.com. The partnership, announced a month ago, gives the toy retailer the order fulfillment and on-time shipping expertise that Amazon.com has developed. ToysRUs.com customers will be required to register first as Amazon.com customers. The most significant difference with the new Web site will be the return policy. Online buyers formerly could return merchandise to their nearest Toys R Us bricks-and-mortar retail location. With the new partnership, returned merchandise must now be shipped back to Amazon.com. The deal is aimed at improving the company's overall online sales operation, which hasn't performed as well as hoped over the last couple of years. For more details, visit www.ToysRUs.com. Comments and questions about this column may be sent to jbrooks@myoldkentuckyhome.com, or visit www.myoldkentuckyhome.com on the World Wide Web. | HOME | |