New operating system yields flurry of product upgrades
By James Niccolai IDG News Service, 02/17/00
Whenever Microsoft releases a new operating system, the rest of the IT industry uses the occasion to grab some publicity and in some cases release new or upgraded products. So this week at the Windows 2000 Conference and Expo Microsoft will officially launch the new operating system.
More than 200 companies are showing their wares at the conference, and one in four of those vendors planned to introduce a new or upgraded product related to Windows 2000, according to show organizers. Following are a few of the companies that rode Microsoft's coattails at the show. Details about pricing and availability are included where provided by the company.
Hardware
Xerox announced that all of its network office products, including its laser printers, would support new features in Windows 2000. They include enhanced printer services such as Internet Printing Protocol, designed to let users print documents over the Internet; and Active Directory, which aims to make it easier for users to find and print a document to any printer on their company's network. Xerox is in Rochester, N.Y., and can be reached online at www.xerox.com/.
Gateway 2000 said it was offering Windows 2000 installed on its E-series desktops, Solo notebooks and ALR series servers, all of which are aimed at smaller businesses, governments and the education market. Customers can order systems directly from the company at www.gateway.com. Gateway is in North Sioux City, S.D.
Cabletron showed new wireless LAN products that would let business and home users access applications running on Microsoft's Windows 2000 platform. The products extend Cabletron's RoamAbout product family, which includes radio cards, access points and antennae for 11M-bit/sec wireless LANs. The products were demonstrated in conjunction with servers and notebooks from NEC and are available from Cabletron today. Cabletron, in Rochester, N.H., can be reached online at www.cabletron.com/.
Toshiba America Information Systems launched three Satellite Pro 4200 series notebook PCs, which come equipped with Windows 2000 Professional Edition, Pentium III processors and displays as large as 15 inches. The systems also include a DVD-ROM drive and 64M bytes of SDRAM as standard, and will be available this month. Pricing is between $2,299 and $2,799. Toshiba, in Irvine, Calif., and can be reached at http://www.computers.toshiba.com/.
Software
Accounting software firm Sage Software announced Windows 2000-compatible versions of its MAS 90 accounting, distribution and manufacturing system and Acuity applications. With offices in Irvine, Calif., Sage is at www.us.sage.com/.
Discus Data Solutions LLC said its flagship product, Exchange Management System (ExMS), Version 2.1, is available for Windows 2000. ExMS is a utility that lets enterprises automate the management and administration of Exchange, reducing Exchange's cost of ownership, according to Discus. The product is available today from the company. License fees for an installation with 1,000 Exchange accounts begin at $7,500. In New York, N.Y., Discus is at www.discusdata.com/.
NCR said it would support Windows 2000 across all of its products, including its Teradata database and retail products. In addition, NCR will offer a suite of consulting and support services to help businesses migrate to the Windows 2000 environment. NCR, in Dayton, Ohio, can be reached at www.ncr.com/.
Computer Associates announced the availability of ARCserveIT for Windows 2000, which is available as a free upgrade to customers using its ARCserve 6.5 and ARCserveIT 6.6x data storage systems. Users can download the upgrade, order it on CA's Web site, call CA or obtain it from their local reseller. In Islandia, N.Y., CA is at www.cai.com/.
Network Computing Devices said it has extended its ThinPath software platform to support Windows 2000. The software works with Windows 2000 Terminal Services and lets users access hosted Windows applications from thin-client computers. In Mountain View, Calif., the company is at www.ncd.com/.
GemPlus SCA announced a version of GemSafe Enterprise, a smart card-based security system, for Windows 2000. The product includes server and client software and lets workers use a smart card for secure access to e-mail and other applications over corporate networks. GemSafe Enterprise on Windows 2000 will be available in March; licensing begins at $49 per user. Cards and card readers are priced separately. GemPlus, in Redwood City, Calif., is at www.gemplus.com/.
RSA Security announced that RSA SecurID, its user authentication system for protecting networks, operating systems and other IT infrastructure from intruders, is available for Windows 2000. An RSA ACE/Agent for Windows 2000 will ship with the U.S. English Windows 2000 CD and is also available from RSA's Web site, the company said. RSA, in Bedford, Mass., is at www.rsasecurity.com/.
Giganet announced that its cLan family of products, which are used to link computers together in server farms, are now available for Windows 2000 systems. Giganet, in Concord, Mass., is at www.giganet.com/.
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