Windows & .NET Magazine UPDATE--September 30, 2003

1. Commentary
- Today's Desktop Replacements
- Laptop of the Month: Compaq Presario X1012

2. Hot Off the Press
- California Cracks Down Hard on Spammers

3. Keeping Up with Win2K and NT
- Improved Password Complexity Message
- Account and Expired Password Bug Fix
- Windows 2000 Lsass Memory Leak
- Windows Server 2003 Lsass Failure
- Windows Server 2003 Streaming-Media Problem
- Windows Server 2003 Redirector Bug Fix

4. Announcements
- Check Out Our 2 New Web Seminars!
- Active Directory eBook Chapter 4 Published!

5. Instant Poll
- Results of Previous Poll: IT-Related Problems
- New Instant Poll: Laptop Solutions

6. Resources
- Featured Thread: Making Bulk Changes to Users
- Tip: What's the Google Toolbar 2.0?

7. Event
- The Mobile & Wireless Road Show Is Coming to Tampa and Atlanta! 8. New and Improved
- Automatically Run Reports
- Discover and Monitor Your Network
- Tell Us About a Hot Product and Get a T-Shirt!

9. Contact Us
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.

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==== 1. Commentary ====
by Paul Thurrott, News Editor, [email protected]

Today's Desktop Replacements

A dramatic change has occurred in what promises to be one of the more lucrative notebook computer markets in the years ahead--desktop replacements--those systems that are designed to offer the power and performance of a desktop PC but in a portable form factor. Historically, desktop replacements have used desktop processors, such as the Pentium 4, that aren't designed for mobile use and thus often run hot and offer poor battery life when used in portable devices. To combat this problem, Intel developed its Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor - M family of microprocessors, which offers performance similar to the desktop chips but with slightly better battery life.

Some users will always demand the best possible performance, and for these users, Intel's desktop Pentium 4 chip will continue to be a viable system going forward. Such systems are large, heavy, and designed for intraoffice travel only. For example, a developer might use a Pentium 4-based desktop replacement in his office and bring the machine to meetings when he needs to continue working. But for a growing number of users, compromising portability for performance is no longer acceptable.

Sensing the market opportunity, Intel has, for the first time, developed a portable microprocessor from the ground up, rather than retrofitting existing desktop processors for mobile use as the company had done in the past with the Pentium 4 Processor - M and the Pentium III Processor - M. To fulfill this strategy change, Intel developed a new supporting chipset and a wireless chipset to work in tandem with the new CPU. The resulting solution is now marketed as Intel Centrino, and you've probably seen the advertising, which appears worldwide. The new CPU, confusingly, is called the Pentium M processor. Like its Pentium 4 cousins, it's a 32-bit CPU that's backward-compatible with previous x86-based chips. Also confusing, the Pentium M processor measures clock speed differently from the Pentium 4 family.

The Pentium M processor is available in a variety of speeds, each of which suits a particular purpose. The ultra low voltage processors run at 1GHz and 900MHz and are used in the smallest and lightest notebook computers available, especially in Far East countries. A low voltage chip is available in 1.2GHz and 1.1GHz speeds; this chip is used in the small and light systems often called ultra-mobile notebook computers. Examples include Dell's Inspiron 300m and IBM's ThinkPad X31. The standard Pentium M processor is used in mid-sized and desktop-replacement notebooks and is available in speeds of 1.7GHz, 1.6GHz, 1.5GHz, 1.4GHz, and 1.3GHz.

These speeds might not seem impressive compared with a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 desktop chip, but remember the clock speed difference. In my tests earlier this year with a 1.6GHz ThinkPad T41, the machine regularly outperformed a 2.66GHz Pentium 4 desktop machine. So a Pentium M processor notebook can offer tremendous performance; the difference, of course, is portability. And Pentium M processor-based portable computers can offer tremendous battery life. Thus, today, you can get a machine that offers the best of both worlds.

Laptop of the Month: Compaq Presario X1012
HP's Compaq Presario X1012 is a machine that offers both performance and portability. The Presario X1012 is HP's retail version and comes preconfigured. HP also offers similar machines, such as the Presario x1002us and Presario X1015us, online, and the HP Pavillion ZT3000, which the company is launching today. All are basically the same machine, although some offer higher screen resolutions, and they symbolize the ways in which desktop replacements are evolving. The Presario X1000 series features a wonderful 15.4" wide-screen 1280 x 800 resolution display driven by a 32MB ATI Technologies' ATI MOBLITY RADEON 9200 video card, which is fairly high-end these days.

The system's core sounds somewhat pedestrian, but don't be misled. The Presario X1012 is powered by a 1.3GHz Pentium M processor chip and offers the full Centrino solution, meaning the device offers the Intel 855 chipset and the Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 network adapter, which offers 802.11b wireless compatibility. The rest of the system is also impressive: 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard disk, a DVD/CD-ROM combination drive, modem, Ethernet, and three USB 2.0 ports. The system weighs a bit more than 6.5 pounds--afterall, it's a desktop replacement--but is only 1.3" thick and regularly delivers more than 4.5 hours of battery life with one battery, which is excellent for a system this size.

Nice touches abound on the Presario X1012. Between the trackpad and the keyboard bottom is a small wide button that toggles the trackpad so that you can turn off the trackpad when typing (why this feature isn't on all notebooks is beyond me). You can also toggle the speakers on and off with an easily accessible mute button, handily located next to the decent JBL speakers. The unit also includes an integrated Secure Digital (SD) card slot, perfect for use with the memory card type that many digital cameras, PDAs, and other portable devices use.

From a software standpoint, the Presario X1012 is pure retail-oriented, shipping almost exclusively with Windows XP Home Edition. But you can configure HP's Web-only versions of this machine to include better screens, faster processors, and other features and get Microsoft Office bundles and XP Professional Edition if need be. But the retail version comes with one huge advantage--price. At just $1300, the Presario X1012 is a steal. Other versions of this system cost anywhere from $1300 to $2200, depending on options. All in all, the Presario X1000 series is well designed, well built, and priced right. Recommended.

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==== 2. Hot Off the Press ====
by Mark Joseph Edwards, [email protected]

California Cracks Down Hard on Spammers
California Governor Gray Davis signed legislation that prohibits advertisers from sending unsolicited email and said the law contains no loopholes that can be used to thwart it. According to reports at eWeek and internet.com, the law targets the companies that send unsolicited advertisements as well as the companies whose products are advertised in such email. Violators would include those entities who send mail from California, to California, or through servers in California.
Users who break the new civil law face fines of up to $1000 per email message and $1 million per incident. Users would have to opt in to any mailings unless the receiver had engaged in business transactions with an advertising company in the past. In the latter case, the company would need to provide a means for the recipient to opt out of future mailings.

==== 3. Keeping Up with Win2K and NT ====
by Paula Sharick, [email protected]

Editor's Note: Because of several inaccuracies in last week's column, "How Good Is the Windows Server 2003 Basic Firewall?" we removed the article from the Web site. Although Small Business Server (SBS) isn't initially set up for firewall logging, it does include logging functionality, called Remote Access Logging. In addition, further testing with the tools cited in the article showed that a scan of three SBS machines over the Internet yielded no more than five open TCP ports, which indicates that the original testing methodology might not have been accurate. We're continuing to run more tests and will report the findings in a future article.

Improved Password Complexity Message
Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Server let an administrator enforce complex passwords. When a user changes his or her password and the complexity option is enabled, passwords must include a combination of uppercase or lowercase letters, digits, and nonalphabetic characters, usually punctuation. If the user selects a new password that doesn't meet the complexity rules, the system responds with a message stating that the password isn't acceptable but doesn't clearly state why the password is invalid. If your users complain that they don't understand why the system gives them an error message when they attempt to change their passwords, you can install a patch that clearly explains the complexity rules. Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) has a patch available for Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Win2K platforms—a new version of msgina.dll with a file release date between May 27 and June 2, depending on the platform. When you call PSS, cite the Microsoft article "Users Receive a Password Complexity Requirements Message That Does Not Specify Character Group Requirements for a Password" ( http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=821425 ) as a reference.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES: The following items are posted on the Windows & .NET Magazine Web site. For the complete story, use the following link and scroll to the appropriate article.
http://www.winnetmag.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=40392

- Account and Expired Password Bug Fix
- Windows Lsass Memory Leak
- Windows Server 2003 Lsass Failure
- Windows Server 2003 Streaming-Media Problem
- Windows Server 2003 Redirector Bug Fix

==== 4. Announcements ====
(from Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

Check Out Our 2 New Web Seminars!
"Plan, Migrate, Manage: Shifting Seamlessly from NT4 to Windows 2003" will help you discover tips and tricks to maximize planning, administration, and performance. "The Secret Costs of Spam…What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You" will show you how to quantify costs and find antispam solutions. Register today!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars

Active Directory eBook Chapter 4 Published!
The fourth chapter of Windows & .NET Magazine's popular eBook "Windows 2003: Active Directory Administration Essentials" is now available at no charge! Chapter 4 looks at what's inside Windows Server 2003 forests and DNS. Download it now!
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/ebooks/administeringad/index.cfm?pc=adupd

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==== 5. Instant Poll ====

Results of Previous Poll: IT-Related Problems
The voting has closed in Windows & .NET Magazine's nonscientific Instant Poll for the question, "What has been your company's most challenging IT-related problem this year?" Here are the results from the 124 votes:
- 27% Lack of funding for hardware/software upgrades
- 25% Lack of funding for hiring/training IT help
- 39% Network security (viruses, intruders)
- 9% Other

New Instant Poll: Laptop Solutions
The next Instant Poll question is, "What's the most important consideration when choosing a laptop solution for your enterprise?" Go to the Windows & .NET Magazine home page and submit your vote for a) Size and portability, b) Performance, c) Battery life, or d) Cost
http://www.winnetmag.com/magazine

==== 6. Resources ====

Featured Thread: Making Bulk Changes to Users
User marrone wants to know how to automatically make changes to several user profiles at the same time, rather than having to go into each profile individually. To join in the discussion or offer advice, visit the following URL:
http://www.winnetmag.com/forums/rd.cfm?cid=37&tid=63615

Tip: What's the Google Toolbar 2.0?
by John Savill, http://www.windows2000faq.com

Google has released an add-on for Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) that provides fast access for performing Google searches and enhances your browser functionality. Some of the toolbar's features include - blocking pop-up advertising - automatically completing Web forms according to information you provide - performing searches within a specified site - highlighting search terms on matching pages

The toolbar is free and is available at http://toolbar.google.com . The pop-up suppression alone is well worth the download.

==== 7. Event ====
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine)

The Mobile & Wireless Road Show Is Coming to Tampa and Atlanta!
Learn more about the wireless and mobility solutions that are available today, plus discover how going wireless can offer low risk, proven performance, and compatibility with existing and emerging industry standards. Register now for this free, 12-city event!
http://www.winnetmag.com/roadshows/wireless

==== 8. New and Improved ====
by Carolyn Mader, [email protected]

Automatically Run Reports
ChristianSteven Software released Crystal Reports Distributor 4.0, software that helps you schedule and run Crystal Decisions' Crystal Reports automatically or send the reports to print, fax, disk, and email in several standard formats. You set up a schedule stating how often you want each report to run, in what output format you want the report, and who you want to receive the report. Crystal Reports Distributor runs on Windows XP/2000/NT/Me/9x and starts at $695 for a bronze edition license. Contact ChristianSteven Software at [email protected].
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Discover and Monitor Your Network
SolarWinds.Net released Orion Network Performance Monitor 6.4, software that lets you discover your network and create network maps to monitor and alert you about network availability and bandwidth usage. Other monitoring and alerting capabilities include CPU load, disk space, memory usage, network latency, packet loss, and errors. Pricing starts at $1975. Contact SolarWinds.Net at 918-307-8100.
http://www.solarwinds.net

Tell Us About a Hot Product and Get a T-Shirt!
Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving you time or easing your daily burden? Tell us about the product, and we'll send you a Windows & .NET Magazine T-shirt if we write about the product in a future Windows & .NET Magazine What's Hot column. Send your product suggestions with information about how the product has helped you to [email protected].

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==== 9. Contact Us ====

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