http://news.com.com/Microsoft+extends+lifeline+for+older+PCs/2100-1012_3-609 3274.html?tag=nefd.top
Microsoft extends lifeline for older PCs Software is designed as stopgap measure for firms with lots of older Windows PCs they aren't ready to replace. By Ina Fried Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: July 12, 2006, 10:47 AM PDT Microsoft said on Wednesday that it's ready with software that allows older PCs to be turned into more modern and secure systems, but in the process also makes them less than full-fledged PCs. The software, known as Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, is designed as a stopgap measure for companies with a significant number of older Windows PCs that they aren't ready to replace and that can't be easily upgraded to Windows XP. Formerly known by its Eiger code name, Windows Fundamentals allows those PCs some of the security benefits of XP, but essentially turns the machines into thin clients, able to run only a few programs locally, with most software needing to run remotely from a server. As Microsoft announced in September, Windows Fundamentals is being made available as part of Microsoft's Software Assurance licensing program. It's one of several changes the company is making to the Software Assurance program. The company also announced that it is making Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 available free to customers, and that volume licensing customers that adopt Windows Vista will be able to install up to four copies of the operating system in each machine, provided they are all for use by a single user. The company has been working hard to sway customers away from the notion that the program is primarily a way to buy its products on a subscription basis. Under Software Assurance, customers pay an additional fee when they license a program and get the rights to any updates issued during a specific time period, usually three years. In some cases, though, Microsoft has taken longer than three years to ready an update--the recent release of SQL Server took five years, while Windows Vista is expected to debut early next year more than five years after Windows XP. Also on the virtualization front, Microsoft said that effective Oct. 1, businesses using Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition will be able to run any number of virtualized Windows Server instances. By licensing the Datacenter version, customers will be able to run an unlimited number of virtual versions of the standard, enterprise or Datacenter editions of the OS. Meanwhile, VMWare, whose virtualization software competes with Virtual PC, said Wednesday that it is ready with the free version of its GSX Server, for which it once charged up to $2,800. VMware, which is a subsidiary of storage giant EMC, said in February that it would make the software available for free. Microsoft also announced on Wednesday a new "buy now/pay later" financing promotion, under which business customers can get Windows Vista, Office 2007 and other products by paying $50 a month for six months and then spreading the rest of the cost over 36 equal payments. The announcements came as Microsoft continues its annual partner conference in Boston. Gregory S. Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
