Las Vegas - This time, it was Microsoft Corp. Senior Vice President Jim Allchin's turn to get bugged at a major demo.
Unlike Bill Gates, who got a "blue screen of death" while trying to demonstrate Windows 98 at Comdex two weeks ago, Allchin was able to complete his task.
But the error message that popped up while he was trying to demonstrate a new feature of the next version of Windows NT 5.0 during a keynote at NetWorld + Interop provoked laughter across the room.
A Microsoft employee sharing the stage with Allchin had just started up a remote-access feature that lets end users download and run a version of Word remotely, when the error message popped up. Allchin went back to his podium and speech, and the technician quickly got the system running.
Other demos went on without a hitch.
Also today, Allchin outlined the company's product release timeline.
Although Windows NT 5.0's second beta is due early summer, Allchin said "we are focusing on quality." In Microsoft-speak, this could mean delays.
Also on tap from the company are:
- Windows 98 - June 25
- Windows Terminal Server - next quarter
- NetShow 3.0 beta - available now for download from Microsoft's site
- SQL Server 7.0 - this year
- Systems Management Server - this year
- Commercial Internet System 2.0 beta - now available
- Windows NT Services for Unix beta - this summer
