Windows name game causes brain pain

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
08/24/05
Today's focus: Windows name game causes brain pain

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Sorting out the names and codenames of Microsoft's Windows
  variants
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Ciena
NetworkWorld Special Report - The Adaptive WAN: The factors
driving WAN evolution

A combination of business and technology trends are changing the
demands on the enterprise WAN. This NetworkWorld Special Report
explores some of the key business and technology trends that are
driving and enabling the evolution of the enterprise WAN and how
the enterprise WAN can become adaptive to support these trends.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110899
_______________________________________________________________
THE ROI OF VOIP

When it comes to VoIP, most network managers are satisfied that
the technology works. But there are questions: What will the new
technology cost to roll out and support, and what benefits can
companies expect to reap? Check out NW's step-by-step guide on
how to determine the true cost and benefits of VoIP. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110703
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Windows name game causes brain pain

By Dave Kearns

I've been reading a lot about "Longhorn" and "Vista" recently,
and I was getting more confused then ever. After announcing that
"Vista" would be the official name of what had been codenamed
"Longhorn" and would be the follow-on to Windows XP, I thought
the "Longhorn" name had been dropped. But it kept cropping up.
That's because "Longhorn" is the codename for the next Windows
server, the follow-on to Windows Server 2003.

Now I'd thought that after Windows 2000 Microsoft had announced
that desktop and server operating system development would be
split, and that the successor to Windows Server 2003 would be
the operating system codenamed "Blackcomb." I know I read that
somewhere. Oh yes, I read it here:
The saga of Blackcomb and Longhorn continues
<http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/2003/0512nt2.html>

Follow along please.

In the beginning was Windows 3.1. It was for desktops, and it
was good.

Then followed Windows 3.11. It was for workgroups. And it was
good.

Then came Windows NT 3.5. It was for both desktops and servers.
It wasn't good, but was soon succeeded by Windows NT 3.51, and
it was quite good - some of you are still running it.

Next was Windows NT 4 for both servers and desktops.

About this time came forth Windows 95. It was for desktops but
primarily home user desktops. Power users were supposed to use
Windows NT 4 Professional.

Have you got that straight? If not, go back and review because
it's going to get murky really fast.

In quick succession (well, "quick" as Redmond views it) Windows
98 and Windows ME came out. Both were desktop systems and both
were best for home users. Business desktops were still supposed
to be Windows NT 4.

So here's the evolution for each user type:

Home desktop:
Windows 3.1
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows XP

Business desktop:
Windows NT 3.5
Windows NT 3.51
Windows NT 4
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Workgroup:
Windows 3.11
Windows NT 3.51
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Server:
Windows NT 3.5
Windows NT 3.51
Windows NT 4
Windows 2000
Windows Server 2003

Now Windows 2000 was supposed to be succeeded by Windows XP on
both the desktop and the server. But that didn't happen. XP was
the desktop but Windows Server 2003 was the server. Microsoft
also announced that the release of desktops and servers would be
staggered to insure there would be little confusion.

Well, that didn't take long to unravel, did it?

Here's the bottom line. You'll still be hearing about "Longhorn"
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080805-longhorn-beta.html>
even as the press is filled with stories about the Windows
Vista beta. But the "Longhorn" that we're talking about now is
the next server operating system, not the desktop. At least most
of the time. Except, of course, for those of us who are still
confused.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco preparing management play
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5733>

2. IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5304>

3. Questions surround smartphone security
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5734>

4. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5302>

5. CLECs play a new tune
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5735>

Today's most-forwarded story:

IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5736>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Ciena
NetworkWorld Special Report - The Adaptive WAN: The factors
driving WAN evolution

A combination of business and technology trends are changing the
demands on the enterprise WAN. This NetworkWorld Special Report
explores some of the key business and technology trends that are
driving and enabling the evolution of the enterprise WAN and how
the enterprise WAN can become adaptive to support these trends.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110898
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated
daily: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html

Operating Systems Research Center:
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/operating-systems.html

Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
IT STAFF SHORTAGE LOOMING

Outsourcing. Automation. Downsizing. The industry has been awash
in unemployed IT pros. But experts are now predicting an IT
staffing crunch is just around the corner, and the implications
for U.S. technology innovation are sobering. What might be
causing the shortage and what might need to be done to prevent
it? Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5737>
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