Windows NT Released to Manufacturing!!! (Finally)
I'm so confused.....
Here's an article I just received stating that NT is released to
manufacturing.
For Release 9 a.m. EDT
July 27, 1993
Microsoft Releases Windows NT and the Windows NT Advanced Server to
Manufacturing
Release Furthers Microsoft's Commitment to Corporate Users;
Industry Support Is Largest-ever for High-end Operating System
REDMOND, Wash. * July 27, 1993 * Microsoft Corporation today released
both the Microsoft* Windows NT* operating system and Windows NT* Advanced
Server to manufacturing. The Windows NT Advanced Server is being
released 30 days ahead of schedule. Shipments of both products, designed
for client-server solutions, are scheduled to be available from value-added
resellers, systems integrators, computer manufacturers and software
retailers - as well as direct from Microsoft - within three weeks.
"Windows NT is one of the largest software projects ever undertaken,"
said Paul Maritz, senior vice president of the systems division at
Microsoft. "In four-and-a-half-years of development, the Windows NT
team has delivered a new operating system with a new graphics and window
management system and a new networking system (client and server) - all
sharing a common, integrated, open and certifiably secure design - for
three different chip architectures and both uniprocessor and
multiprocessor systems. To have done this without sacrificing any of
the original design goals is an incredible achievement. I am confident
that as more people become familiar with Windows NT, it will be seen as
a robust, well-structured foundation that can be expanded upon for many
years to come."
The robustness of Windows NT and its compatibility with existing
hardware and software were tested by an unprecedented 70,000-plus
developers and 10,000-plus corporate end-user sites prior to release.
Microsoft has also been using Windows NT internally for more than two
years - both as a development platform and as its corporate server
platform. In addition, the formal test process subjected daily builds
of Windows NT to heavy stress testing to expose any potential problems.
"For business-critical computing, corporate users place a high priority
on stability and reliability," Maritz added. "We subjected Windows NT
to the most extensive testing effort in our history. The massive
industry support infrastructure now in place for Windows NT should make
corporate users confident that Windows NT is, as promised, an extremely
powerful, reliable and open solution for client-server computing."
Widespread Industry Support
The computer industry is responding to this major milestone with a
large outpouring of third-party support. Windows NT has been tested
for compatibility with more than 2,800 computers, printers and peripherals.
More than 70,000 development kits for Windows NT have been shipped, and
more than 2,000 new 32-bit applications for the Microsoft Windows* and
Windows NT operating systems are being developed for release over the
coming months. These new applications will add to the base of tens of
thousands of existing applications for the Windows and MS-DOS* operating
systems that can be run without change on Windows NT. More than 15,000
people at 3,000 companies have been trained under the Microsoft Solution
Providers program to offer end users high-quality training and technical
support worldwide.
Leading computer hardware manufacturers, such as Acer, Compaq
Computer Corporation, Dell Computer Corporation, ICL, Olivetti, SNI and
more than 25 others, will ship Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server
pre-installed on their high-end computer systems. "We are thrilled to
see the availability of Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server," said
Casey Powell, CEO, president and chairman of Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
"Corporate customers are voicing high demand for Sequent's WinServer
family of symmetric multiprocessing systems running Windows NT. Clearly,
Windows NT is a great applications server for business-critical solutions."
These initial releases support both the Intel* x86 and MIPS
R4400-based platform. In addition, Microsoft and Digital Equipment
Corporation expect to have the Alpha AXP* version of Windows NT available
within 60 days.
Users Praise Power, Stability, Open Architecture
NASA is taking advantage of the portability and reliability of
Windows NT with a range of networked RISC, symmetric multiprocessor
computers and x86 uniprocessor computers to manage its Mission Planet
Earth project, which analyzes and consolidates two terabytes of
satellite-based geographic information per day. "Windows NT is highly
robust and stable and is truly a next generation operating system," said
Dr. Briscoe Stephens, manager of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
"Microsoft has taken the best parts of the operating systems that exist
today and put them into Windows NT, while reducing the expense of
training employees because of its ease of use."
The Arizona Department of Transportation will use Windows NT and
Windows NT Advanced Server as a platform for a workgroup CAD solution.
"Stability and single network log on are the biggest issues for my
business," said Cliff Barnett, EDP programmer and analyst, Arizona
Department of Transportation. "Windows NT is a much more stable platform,
security is tighter and log on is greatly simplified. We don't have to
keep track of 30 different passwords anymore. And using the Windows
interface with Windows NT is a real benefit. Our employees have seamless
access to the operating system without having to think about what
platform they are using."
Nordstrom, a leading West Coast-based retail chain, is rolling out an
enterprise-wide inventory and sales management system based on Windows NT
technology and large NCR multiprocessing systems. "After studying many
alternatives, Nordstrom chose Windows NT Advanced Server for its new
enterprise management system," said Larry Shaw, PC coordinator at
Nordstrom. "We made this choice because of the clear advantages Windows
NT offers in the area of distributed systems management, control and
security. The Windows NT Advanced Server makes our administrator's job
much easier by offering a single log-on feature plus remote administration
and management capabilities. These features give Nordstrom the ability to
administer all of its stores from one central location."
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
#########
Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows NT and Windows
are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows NT is a trademarked
product name.
Kevin Meany
Digital Equipment Corporation
Marlboro, Ma
Email: iama.enet.dec.com
Michael Allison
>> REDMOND, Wash. * July 27, 1993 * Microsoft Corporation today released
>> both the Microsoft* Windows NT* operating system and Windows NT* Advanced
>> Server to manufacturing. The Windows NT Advanced Server is being
>> released 30 days ahead of schedule. Shipments of both products, designed
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>30 days ahead of the April 93 release date? No...
>30 days ahead of the March 93 release date? No...
>30 days ahead of the June release date? No...
>30 days ahead of the July release date? No..
>OH, 30 days ahead of the September release date!
>Well, hey, if you keep moving the release date, you're
>bound to be early for one of them.
The only Microsoft-made public release announcement that I
remember hearing was the one made in late May. It was accompanied by
lots of fanfare, and literature. It was covered in the press at that
time, and announcements were posted on Compuserve and the Internet.
I heard lots of speculation and rumours prior to that about many dates.
The announcements in May stated that NT would ship by the last week of July,
and the advanced server would follow approximately 30 days after NT's
release date (whatever it might be).
Since Microsoft is now releasing NT and the Advanced server at the same
time, I believe the announcement that the advanced server is likely
correct.