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MICROSOFT Corp chairperson Bill Gatescalls it "a phenomenon". On August 24,the us software giant unleashed the latest in its arsenal of operating systems all over the world. Preceded by a us $200million -promotional blitzkrieg, themuch awaited Windows 95 (Win95) -expected to revolutionise PC desktopswith the help of Microsoft Network, thecompany's new online service - came into being.
Win95 is the first major upgrade toWindows, the operating system for 8out of 10 PCs, since 1990. The key features of the new operating system arepre-emptive multi-tasking (runningmore than one program at a time),Multi-threading, scalable performance,support for 32-bit applications as well asthe existing 16-bit ones, increased reliability, faster printing, better multimedia support, more memory for MS-DOS-based applications, support for mobilecomputing and a "plug-and-play" concept which makes adding a modem,printer or network card as easy as it is on Mac.
The us Justice Department's investigations into Microsoft's contracts withPC makers has not put much drag on thecompany's onward thrust. Fuelling analready booming PC market, Microsoftis aiming to rake in about us $1 billionon Win95 upgrades in its first year (notincluding the applications programs).
While computer users worldwideplan to upgrade theirhardware to run the newsystem, software compa-nies and makers of chips,memory, graphics equip-ment and modems areawaiting the inevitablesurge in demand. "Wedo expect Win95 to bethe one key element forcustomers buying Pcs,"said Jacques Clay, generalmanager of Hewlett-Packard's worldwidedesktop PC business. TheInternational Data Corporation has predicted that by1996 end, nearly 70 millionPCs worldwide will be running Win95; at us $50 to$100 a copy, it translates intobig bucks.
In India, Microsoft plansto sell about 100,000 copiesin the first year. MicrosoftIndia manager Rajiv Nairsays the new software wouldreduce support costs andincrease desktop controland end-user productivity.However, the cost of upgradation - which works out toRs 22,800 for a steepmachine - might prove adampener for many anenthusiast.
Like any other money-spinning innovation, Win95too has been plagued bypiracy. Counterfeit copies ofthe program have been reportedly onsale in Hong Kong and China since lastbctober, when the first trial versionsbecame available for users to test. In theNetherlands and Belgium, 50,000 copiesof the system are circulating illegally.
Microsoft's gain is loss for some.International Business Machines (IBM),which is countering the Win95 mediahype with reminders to computer usersabout its own existing os/2 system,could very well be one ofthe losers. The os/2 occupies only 10 per cent of themarket; with Win95matching many of its features, its vulnerability hasincreased. To competewith Microsoft, a group of50 Japanese, us andEuropean companies havecome together to set thestandards for the nextgeneration of a key operating system.