Windows
95 Y2K fix kept from users, Computerworld,
5/3 "For almost a year, Microsoft Corp. withheld from its 125
million corporate users of Windows 95 the information
that a software patch was in the works to make the
desktop operating system fully year
2000-compliant...."
I'm sure you've heard the doom and gloom about the
millennium bug: computers, ATMs, and a host of other
technological marvels (including your VCR?) won't know what
to do on 1/1/2000 - or maybe haven't a clue that 29
February 2000 is a real date.
Amazing then to find some schools still investing in
computers running Windows 3.1 and Windows NT 4, two
operating systems that are not fully year 2000
compliant. Maybe they don't realize that the bug strikes
in 17 months.
Every Macintosh ever made is year 2000 compliant. The
most ancient can handle dates for another 20 years, by which
time they'll pretty well be obsolete. Power Macs can handle
dates 28 centuries into the future.
Yet some schools want to move out the Macs, replacing
them with Windows machines running versions of Windows that
are not ready for 1/1/2000.
Windows 3.1 has been obsolete for three years, ever
since Windows 95 shipped. Windows 95 is mostly Y2K
compliant - and Windows 98 is 100% Year 2000 compliant,
yet some schools are buying antiquated Windows 3.1.
Windows NT 4.0 is partially, but not fully, Year 2000
compliant. Microsoft, which has a history of late
software releases, promises that version 5.0 will be
available before 1/1/2000.
Curiously, these school intend to keep buying such
systems for the next five or six years, as long as it takes
to replace all their old Apple hardware.
You'd think they'd choose a year 2000 compliant
solution in 1998, but it seems someone was not thinking
clearly in electing to move from compliant Macs to less than
fully compliant versions of Windows.
Apple
failing to exploit Y2K advantage?, MacSoldiers, 8/13.
"There is also an advantage to targeting an advertising
campaign to computer owners whose computers have actually
stopped working."
Macs vs. Y2K,
Low End Mac, 8/3. "We switched off the 26 NT machines and
fired up our Macintosh equipment."
The
real Y2K problem, Ottawa Computes, 7/99
[MacNN].
"Macs are so Y2K compatible that Revenue Canada
specifically excludes them from its special accelerated
depreciation tax rules for Y2K replacement."
One
more Windows 98, Jerry Pournelle, Byte.com, 5/10 "You will recall a few years ago, Microsoft announced Win
2000 would take the place of both Win NT for offices and
servers, and of Win 98 for consumers."
Major
PC makers plan Y2K alliance, ZDNet, 5/7 "Analyst's aren't convinced that the effort will have a
significant impact on Y2K understanding or
readiness."
Windows
98 SE (second edition) released to PC makers, c|net,
5/5 "Microsoft has been criticized in some circles for
charging users for what is essentially an OS update,
especially as it is a departure from past
practices."
Windows
95 Y2K fix kept from users, Computerworld, 5/3 "For almost a year, Microsoft Corp. withheld from its 125
million corporate users of Windows 95 the information
that a software patch was in the works to make the
desktop operating system fully year
2000-compliant...."
Apple
and the Year 2000 "While many other computer applications and operating
systems cannot correctly process dates after Dec. 31,
1999, the Mac OS and most Mac applications will handle
the year 2000 (and the next 27,940 years), no
problem."
Y2K: Mac Owners
Beware by Dan Knight, 6/15/98 "Sure, even the first Macintosh can handle dates to
06.28:15 A.M. on Feb. 6, 2040."
Bears
and Bugs, the Mac's got them beat by Garry Barker,
6/16/98 "Finally, after the loyal soldiers in the trenches have
been bleating for years about the Mac's immunity, Apple
itself has emerged across the now shell-torn
no-man's-land of Year 2000-compliance to explain in
detail that the Macintosh doesn't have a problem with
times or dates and never has."
Advice presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work
for all. Computers are like that. Please report errors to
Dan Knight
.
Letters sent to Low End Mac may or may not be published at the
editor's discretion. Email addresses will not be published unless the
sender specifically requests it. If you prefer that your message not
be published on Low End Mac, clearly mark your message "not for
publication." Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match
house
style.
LINK
POLICY: This site allows and encourages
links to any public page, so long as the linked page does not appear
within a frame that prevents bookmarking the linked page.
PRIVACY
POLICY: In brief, we don't collect any
personal information unless you subscribe to one of our email lists,
in which case you have to give us your email address.
Low End
Mac is an independent publication and has
not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple
Computer, Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iMac, and iBook are
registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and
product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the
individual companies and are hereby acknowledged.
