[Am-info] IBM goes slow on XP update

[Fred Miller]

Microsoft says that the code for its update to the Windows XP operating
system is finally ready. But IBM's internal technology department disagrees.



Microsoft on Friday released Service Pack 2 (SP2) to
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5300317.html?tag=nl> PC manufacturers
after a number of delays
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5297645.html?tag=nl> . That means it will
be available to customers before the end of the month.

But IBM last week told employees to hold off installing SP2 until Big Blue
can fully test and customize it. IBM's technology department said the delay
is "due to known application problems and incompatibility with IBM
workstation applications."

Along with various bug fixes, SP2 adds a new "security center" that is
intended to provide a beefed-up firewall as well as easy ways to tell
whether a PC is updated and protected against viruses. In addition, SP2 adds
a pop-up blocker in the Internet Explorer and updated support for Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth wireless technologies.

In the memo to employees, seen by CNET News.com, IBM's internal technology
department stated that Windows XP SP2 will "change the behavior of (Web
browser) Internet Explorer and cause some application incompatibilities."
The memo also noted that some "high-profile, business-critical applications
are also known to conflict with SP2."

IBM's Global Services consulting arm, which works with many companies to
design and build information systems, has not yet issued any recommendations
to its customers.

One IBM employee in the company's internal technology department
characterized the decision as routine. The person said that IBM will need to
test and customize the new version of Windows before installing it
throughout the company.

IBM's internal technology department maintains about 380,000 desktop PCs.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has described SP2 as the most extensive free
update to Windows ever, and executives have acknowledged that work on the
update has delayed other projects, including Longhorn, the next major
version of Windows.

The update should be distributed to approximately 100 million PCs through
automatic updates during the next two months, Microsoft said. Customers who
choose to download manually will be able to do so by the end of August.

While some businesses, such as IBM, are deciding to test the update
throroughly before installing it, consumers buying new PCs are likely to get
SP2 soon. Microsoft said it is working with computer manufacturers to get
them to start using SP2 as soon as possible.

The company had planned internally to release the software earlier last week
but pushed it out <http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5297645.html?tag=nl>  to
fix some unspecified quality issues.

Last week, Microsoft warned that customers
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5296679.html?tag=nl>  using Microsoft
Business Solutions CRM Sales for Outlook 1.2 will encounter problems with
the software if they install SP2. Microsoft posted a patch
<http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fdownloads%
2Fdetails.aspx%3FFamilyID%3D95ed89d0-8b99-4458-b798-90ad5400923e%26DisplayLa
ng%3Den&siteId=2&oId=2102-1104_2-5302346&ontId=11&lop=nl_ex>  to its Web
site that it says fixes the problem.

-- 
"Running Windows on a Pentium is like getting a Porsche but only being
able to drive it in reverse with the handbrake on."