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The LangaList
20-May-99
A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa About BrowserTune,
HotSpots, Columns, Tips & Tricks, and Other Activities
In This
Issue:
Too Late For Microsoft?
BT2K v b2.01
NT Help File Bug
Details on
Windows98/Second Edition
Software
Double Standard---Expanded
Puka Puka Puka &
Defragmenter Redux
Don’t Make Me Beg!
New Version of Netscape
Communicator Released
Grin #1
Grin #2
More!
Too
Late for Microsoft
To Improve Its Software Reliability?
Last week (on May 12), Microsoft released the final draft of its new Win2K client application specification. The final comments are being collected now, and later this week, Microsoft is scheduled to release the final spec.
The intent is ambitious: Any application that meets the Win2K client specification will (in Microsoft’s own words):
Provide a robust, self-repairing installation that helps minimize conflicts among shared components (i.e. "DLL Hell") to enable better co-existence of applications.
Facilitate easier software deployment and management for organizations.
Correctly maintain user preferences and computer settings to ensure a good "roaming user" experience, support for multiple users per machine, and regeneration of application settings in machine replacement scenarios.
Run in a tightly controlled network environment, to enable network administrators to secure and control corporate desktops.
Support OnNow power management for the best mobile computing experience possible.
Provide a consistent user experience and supports accessibility standards to reduce support and training costs.
Provide a smooth transition of the application for users that upgrade from a previous version of Windows to Windows 2000 Professional.
It all sounds great. But in the past, Microsoft logo programs have sometimes amounted to little more than marketing ploys: Some products that carried various logo certifications still had compatibility problems, and others that were not part of the logo program worked just fine. Few if any of Microsoft’s past logo programs have really seemed to matter much to people actually buying products.
What’s your take? Will this be different? Will a Win2K certification logo matter to you when you look for Win2K products? Do you think certified apps really will adhere to the specs? Can Microsoft actually deliver on its promises of reliability, compatibility, and manageability? Is it too late to be just now defining an apps spec for Win2K? Join in the week-long discussion now in progress at http://www.informationweek.com/langaletter
BrowserTune Version b2.01!
About a thousand people a day are running the new BT2K preview version. Fortunately, in all those tests, we’ve only turned up two minor bugs---and one was just a grammatical error. 8-)
The other was a minor JavaScript error that should not have had any impact on your test results.
They're both fixed, and a new version is running. Also, behind the scenes, I’ve relocated the test to a different server, which should help improve performance. (If you saw any sluggishness when you ran BT2K in the past, check out the new server---I think you’ll see a very positive difference!)
Check out the new location and version at http://www.browsertune/com/bt2kdemo .
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NT Help File Bug
If you run Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you need to know about the "Malformed Help File" bug: According to Microsoft, "The vulnerability could allow arbitrary code to be run on a Windows NT machine." In blunter words, a malicious application could masquerade as a help file, and trash your system.
More info is available at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q231/6/05.asp
Or you can just grab the patches at:
X86 version:
Alpha version:
Lots of detail on "Windows 98/Second Edition"
It’s starting to look like it’ll be a worthwhile upgrade. Check out http://content.techweb.com/winmag//specialreports/win99/se/default.htm .
New Version of Netscape Communicator Released
You can "SmartDownload" the new version 4.6 of Communicator over at http://home.netscape.com/download/sd_cc32e46en.html but DON’T use the built-in SmartUpdate feature in Communicator. If you’re using Communicator 4.51, SmartUpdate will tell you "Congratulations! You’re using the latest version of Communicator!" But the latest version is 4.6, not 4.51. Sigh.
Anyway, you can grab 4.6 via the link above.
Full Version of "Software Double Standard" Column
The June issue of WinMag is out, and in it is an expanded version of "The Software Double Standard" article you read in this newsletter several weeks ago. Do some good—even great—products get bashed simply because they’re from Microsoft? Check it out at http://content.techweb.com/winmag//library/1999/0601/ana0007.htm
Puka Puka Puka & Defragmenter Redux
Holy smokes, the mail flood continues. Many, many of you have tips, tricks, and suggestions on handling defragmenter problems and solving the phantom drive problem where your floppy drive makes "puka puka puka" noises as it erroneously tries to load a file that isn’t there.
I’m compiling all the best letters and will present the best suggestions and fixes in the next newsletter---stay tuned!
(And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, see:
Defrag: http://www.langa.com/newsletters/May-12-99.htm and http://www.langa.com/newsletters/May-17-99.htm
Puka: http://www.langa.com/newsletters/May-17-99.htm )
Don’t Make Me Beg! 8-)
Do you know one other person who might find this newsletter interesting or useful? Click on over to http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#2 to see just how easy it is to send them a free copy, in your name.
Thanks!
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It's more affordable than you think! See http://www.langa.com/rate_card.html
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Just For Grins: #1
I got this in the mail after least week’s takeoff on a Dr Suess poem:
Hi Fred, just wanted to let you know that the Dr. Seuss knock-off poem published on your web site is a rip-off of the original knock-off. To get the full story, and the original version of the poem, visit http://bcd.gsm.cornell.edu/gene/clocktower.html
Thanks.
Gene Ziegler
Advanced Technology Projects Officer
Cornell's Johnson School 326 Sage Hall, Ithaca NY 14853 http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/elz1
It turns out Gene is the author of the original, longer (and better!) version of the poem! It’s a fun read, as is his story of how he came to write the poem in the first place. Check out http://bcd.gsm.cornell.edu/gene/clocktower.html .
Thanks, Gene!
Just For Grins: #2
I do try to attribute jokes sent in when I can--- and although I got this from half a dozen people, I believe it originated from the JustJoking list at JustJoking-subscribe@egroups.com :
WHAT IF PEOPLE BOUGHT CARS LIKE THEY BUY COMPUTERS?
HELPLINE: 'General Motors Helpline, how can I help you?'
CUSTOMER: 'Your cars suck!'
HELPLINE: 'What's wrong?'
CUSTOMER: 'It crashed, that's what went wrong!'
HELPLINE: 'What were you doing?'
CUSTOMER: 'I wanted to go faster, so I pushed the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. It worked for a while, and then it crashed-and now it won't even start up!'
HELPLINE: 'I'm sorry, sir, but it's your responsibility if you misuse the product.'
CUSTOMER: 'Misuse it? I was just following this damned manual of yours.
It said to make the car go to put the transmission in 'D' and press the accelerator pedal. That's exactly what I did-now the damn thing's crashed.'HELPLINE: 'Did you read the entire operator's manual before operating the car sir?'
CUSTOMER: 'What? Of course I did! I told you I did EVERYTHING the manual said
and it didn't work!'HELPLINE: 'Didn't you attempt to slow down so you wouldn't cash?'
CUSTOMER: 'How do you do THAT?'
HELPLINE: 'You said you read the entire manual, sir. It's on page 14.
The pedal next to the accelerator.'CUSTOMER: 'Well, I don't have all day to sit around and read this manual you know.'
HELPLINE: 'Of course not. What do you expect us to do about it?'
CUSTOMER: 'I want you to send me one of the latest versions that goes fast and
won't crash anymore!'
See you next issue!
Best,
Fred
( fred@langa.com )
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