Y2K on CD-ROM. Microsoft Corp. has compiled all its fixes and information about year 2000 readiness of its software products for Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0 in the free Year 2000 Resource CD, available by calling 888-673-8925. You don't even have to pay shipping and handling.
Y2K on CD-ROM. Microsoft Corp. has compiled all its fixes and information about year 2000 readiness of its software products for Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0 in the free Year 2000 Resource CD, available by calling 888-673-8925. You don't even have to pay shipping and handling.
''The CD bundles everything posted on Microsoft's year 2000 Web site at www.microsoft.com/y2k: a system diagnostic tool, a status list for product compliance, plus updates for Office and Works suites and the Internet Explorer browser. Microsoft plans to issue more such CDs this year and at least one next year.
''Speaking of 2000, you might want to hold off loading Beta 3 of Windows 2000. The NT successor beta is being sold as is, meaning users should not expect patches if any 2000 readiness issues crop up.
''The rumor mill now says Windows 2000 will come out in late October or early November.
''Five-cent stamps for e-mail? Chalk this one up as another hoax. Congressional staff members have been busy deleting a deluge of messages urging lawmakers to vote down legislation that would let the Postal Service charge a nickel per e-mail message.
''According to the e-mail hoax, a bill called S 602p allegedly was proposed by a Rep. Tony Schnell. But he is not a congressman and, even if he were, could not sponsor a bill in the Senate.
''Hoax messages and warnings about
e-mail viruses and worms and a series of get-rich-on-the-Web schemes, are keeping me busy with the Delete button, too.
''If you feel confused by the influx of alarms, don't hit forward yet. Go to www.kumite.com/myths/ and www.nonprofit.net/hoax/ to find details about hoaxes and myths.
''Visit www.symantec.com for virus information along with some hoax notes.
''Much of the hoax spam deals with revenge on, say, Neiman-Marcus for charging $2,000 for a recipe for a cookie eaten while on vacation with Bill Gates and Walt Disney Jr.'but only if you forward the message to 20 of your closest friends before noon yesterday.
''CE Java run. 3Com Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. have joined forces to write a version of Java that runs on 3Com's popular Palm Pilot handheld devices. The code, known as Java 2 Micro Edition, supposedly will give the palm devices an edge against handhelds running the Microsoft Windows CE operating system.
''The news got us wondering about 3Com's numbering convention. The company sells the Palm III, V and VII. Whatever happened to the IV and VI? For that matter, what about I and II?
By Michael Cheek
Internet: mcheek@gcnlab.com
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