Thursday, April 29, 2004
Geeks to Go - News Archives - Microsoft feels pressure of anti-virus issue: "With viruses proliferating and many personal computers going unprotected, Microsoft Corp. feels greater pressure to include anti-virus software with Windows -- but it's also wary of the potential antitrust implications, the company's top lawyer said Friday.
'It is something we hear increasingly about,' said Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel. 'I have to say, it is a real cause of concern for us that 70 percent of consumer PCs do not have current anti-virus protection.'
But Smith acknowledged the potential impact that such a move could have on companies that market their own anti-virus software. Major players in the anti-virus field include Symantec Corp., which markets Norton products, and Network Associates Inc., the company behind the McAfee brand.
He said the company has not, 'to date,' made any decision to include anti-virus software with future Windows versions."
'It is something we hear increasingly about,' said Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel. 'I have to say, it is a real cause of concern for us that 70 percent of consumer PCs do not have current anti-virus protection.'
But Smith acknowledged the potential impact that such a move could have on companies that market their own anti-virus software. Major players in the anti-virus field include Symantec Corp., which markets Norton products, and Network Associates Inc., the company behind the McAfee brand.
He said the company has not, 'to date,' made any decision to include anti-virus software with future Windows versions."
Geeks to Go - Free, friendly, online computer help & tech support forums: "People tend to develop strong ties to a specific computer, even if it means waiting to use their favourite machine, say researchers.
A team at Pennsylvania State University in the US found that people were drawn to a PC because of their tendency to assign human attributes to machines. It also reflected people's love of consistency, they said. The researchers say their findings could have profound implications for computer manufacturers and advertisers.
The Penn State team set out to find discover just how far people were prepared to go to maintain a relationship with their favourite PC. For the study, they analysed the behaviour of university students using 800 computer terminals. They found that students tended to show loyalty to one or two computers, even when others were free.
People given the option of a range of PCs tended to have favourites, with some even prepared to wait in line to use a particular machine. 'It is well documented how we treat computers as if they have feelings, despite the fact that we know deep down that they have been pre-programmed by humans,' said Professor Shyam Sundar, co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University.
News source: BBC News "
A team at Pennsylvania State University in the US found that people were drawn to a PC because of their tendency to assign human attributes to machines. It also reflected people's love of consistency, they said. The researchers say their findings could have profound implications for computer manufacturers and advertisers.
The Penn State team set out to find discover just how far people were prepared to go to maintain a relationship with their favourite PC. For the study, they analysed the behaviour of university students using 800 computer terminals. They found that students tended to show loyalty to one or two computers, even when others were free.
People given the option of a range of PCs tended to have favourites, with some even prepared to wait in line to use a particular machine. 'It is well documented how we treat computers as if they have feelings, despite the fact that we know deep down that they have been pre-programmed by humans,' said Professor Shyam Sundar, co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University.
News source: BBC News "
Geeks to Go - Free, friendly, online computer help & tech support forums: "Microsoft has delayed the planned release date of its next update to Windows XP by about a month, CNET News.com has learned.
The software maker had originally said Windows XP Service Pack 2 would be released in its final form in the first half of this year, but a representative told CNET News.com on Wednesday that the release is now likely to come later in the summer. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is largely intended to bolster the security of Windows XP, but also will add features such as a pop-up ad blocker to Internet Explorer.
Internally, Microsoft is now targeting a July release as opposed to the June release originally intended, according to a source familiar with the company's plans. Microsoft has already released one near-final 'release candidate' version of the software but is planning on another one before it puts its stamp of approval on the software.
News source: C|Net News.com "
The software maker had originally said Windows XP Service Pack 2 would be released in its final form in the first half of this year, but a representative told CNET News.com on Wednesday that the release is now likely to come later in the summer. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is largely intended to bolster the security of Windows XP, but also will add features such as a pop-up ad blocker to Internet Explorer.
Internally, Microsoft is now targeting a July release as opposed to the June release originally intended, according to a source familiar with the company's plans. Microsoft has already released one near-final 'release candidate' version of the software but is planning on another one before it puts its stamp of approval on the software.
News source: C|Net News.com "
