Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 02:11:47 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
Subject: Tidbit - The New WinHEC Spec

Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better

This tidbit is from: 

Jon L. Gardner, Network Administrator

In case anyone was wondering, Wintel PCs don't work right. Bill Gates 
says so. Network World ran an article in the March 30 issue about 
Microsoft's announcement at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference 
98 (WinHEC 98). From the article: 

- --- 

"Microsoft Corp. last week told 3,000 hardware engineers how to build PCs 
the Microsoft way, a plan that could make just about all the desktop 
machines in your shop obsolete. If the engineers accept the PC design 
guidelines handed out by Microsoft here at the [WinHEC 98], PCs will be 
dramatically different in a few years."

- --- 

Hardware designers must adhere to the new Microsoft guidelines in order 
to be able to affix the coveted Microsoft logo decal to their systems. 
What will this bring to your Wintel desktop? See if anything in this list 
sounds familiar:

* DVD support
* Swappable device bay
* Universal Serial Bus
* 64Mb RAM (!)
* TV cable
* Full stereo sound
* Multiple monitors
* Integrated network card

It seems that Gates & Co. are tired of having to deal with the inherent 
limitations of standard PC hardware. The new standard will eliminate the 
ISA bus and MS-DOS (but I thought Windows 95 did that already...). 
Microsoft is also going to converge their operating systems...after 
Windows 98, everything will be Windows NT, and they suggest that everyone 
should upgrade to a minimum of 64Mb of RAM, and preferably 128Mb. For a 
standard, no-frills system, mind you.

Wintel may dominate the market share, but this new WinHEC spec, produced 
by none other than Microsoft, is yet another clear proof that Apple and 
its technologies are the dominant driving force in the PC industry. I 
seem to recall someone having said, "To see tomorrow's PC, look at 
today's Macintosh."