From: "Swisher, Bob" <bswisher@ou.edu>
To: "'it-fyi@listserv.ou.edu'" <it-fyi@lists.ou.edu>
Subject: it-fyi: Microsoft to Upgrade Windows 98 (New York Times on the We
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 14:09:35 -0500
May 5, 1999
Microsoft to Upgrade Windows 98
The Microsoft Corporation plans to announce Windows 98 Second Edition
Wednesday, an upgrade to the company's desktop operating system for
consumers.
The company said it planned to begin manufacturing the upgrade this
week, and that it would be available from computer hardware makers and
retail stores sometime in June. It will be sold through retail
distributors for a street price of about $89.95, the company said.
However, the company said it would also begin selling the upgrade over
the World Wide Web to existing Windows 98 owners for $19.95.
The upgrade will include the company's most recent browser technology,
Internet Explorer 5.0, which is already available online free, and all
of the bug fixes that are currently available separately from
Microsoft's Web site, also free.
The program will also include new hardware and electronic commerce
support as well as a new home networking feature that enables several
computers to connect to the Internet simultaneously through a single
account with an Internet service provider.
The Redmond, Wash., company has been criticized for charging for such an
incremental upgrade, especially since Apple Computer soon plans to
introduce an incremental operating system upgrade, Mac OS 8.6, at no
charge to current users.
But for Windows 95 consumers who have been waiting to upgrade, the
Microsoft executive in charge of the company's consumer operating
systems said that the time was right.
"This represents a good opportunity," Rob Bennett, the Windows consumer
product manager, said. "All of the updates are in one package."