WinInfo Daily UPDATE—brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine, the leading publication for IT professionals deploying Windows and related technologies.
http://www.winnetmag.com
THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY
SPONSOR: MICROSOFT MOBILITY TOUR
THE MICROSOFT MOBILITY TOUR IS COMING SOON TO A CITY NEAR YOU!
Brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine, this outstanding seven-city event will help support your growing mobile workforce! Industry guru Paul Thurrott discusses the coolest mobility hardware solutions around, demonstrates how to increase the productivity of your "road warriors" with the unique features of Windows XP and Office XP, and much more. There is no charge for these live events, but space is limited so register today!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/mobility
December 18, 2002—In this issue:
1. NEWS AND VIEWS
- Massachusetts, West Virginia Want Slice of the Microsoft Payment Pie
- Xbox Sales Surge
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Planning on Getting Certified? Make Sure to Pick Up Our New eBook!
- Get the New Windows & .NET Magazine Network Super CD/VIP!
3. CONTACT US
See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
1. NEWS AND VIEWS
(contributed by Paul Thurrott, [email protected])
The two US states that are still appealing the sentencing decision in the Microsoft antitrust trial have asked Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to order the software giant to pay their legal expenses. Microsoft previously contacted the nonsettling states and informed them that it would pay legal expenses for any states that chose not to appeal the sentencing. However, Massachusetts and West Virginia did appeal, and now they want to be reimbursed for more than $2 million in legal expenses. The states approached the judge after Microsoft told them that it wasn't interested in covering those expenses.
"This is money these two states would have received had they not decided to pursue an appeal," Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler said yesterday. "Maybe we'll see whether this is an issue the court needs to resolve." Maybe we will. But Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly has also asked Judge Kollar-Kotelly not to make a decision until after the appeal is finished because the outcome of that appeal could significantly increase the states' fees and expenses.
Ultimately, whether Microsoft is required to pay the states' legal fees is up to Judge Kollar-Kotelly. Massachusetts says it has paid more than $2.05 million in fees; West Virginia has paid about $271,000.
Microsoft said yesterday that sales of its Xbox video-game console have surged in the past 30 days, an indication that the system might be gaining ground on competitors such as the Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube. In a letter to analysts, the company said that it sold 468,000 Xbox units in November—nearly double the number sold the previous month. The company also reported sales of 2.4 million Xbox software titles, with five titles topping the 100,000 units sold mark. Finally, Microsoft reported sales of more than 136,000 Xbox Live Starter Kits; the kit lets Xbox users play games online with people around the country.
Nevertheless, market leader Sony posted numbers that, predictably, leave Xbox in the dust. The company reported sales of more than 1 million PlayStation 2 units "in the first couple of holiday shopping weeks" alone and said that it will sell more than 400,000 units of its network adapter, which is required for online games, by the end of the year. Sony says that US retail sales of all video games have exceeded $6 billion so far this year, with another $4 billion expected by year's end. That $10 billion figure represents an almost unbelievable 25 percent increase over last year's record figure of $9.4 billion.
Incidentally, the third major player in the video game market, Nintendo, has yet to report any holiday sales figures. However, analysts expect the company to meet or beat Microsoft's figures.
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
"The Insider's Guide to IT Certification" eBook is hot off the presses and contains everything you need to know to help you save time and money while preparing for certification exams from Microsoft, Cisco Systems, and CompTIA and have a successful career in IT. Get your copy of the Insider's Guide today!
http://winnet.bookaisle.com/ebookcover.asp?ebookid=13475
Everyone can appreciate a bargain in today's economy. That's why we've introduced the Windows & .NET Magazine Super CD/VIP Web site. You get exclusive subscriber-only access to all our publications through our new VIP Web site. Plus, you get Super CDs delivered twice a year, and we'll even throw in a 1-year print subscription to the magazine! The Super CD/VIP is a $545 value for just $279. Subscribe today!
http://www.winnetmag.com/rd.cfm?code=wvei272lup
3. CONTACT US
Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:
- ABOUT NEWS AND VIEWS — [email protected]
- ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL — [email protected]
(please mention the newsletter name in the subject line) - TECHNICAL QUESTIONS — http://www.winnetmag.net/forums
- PRODUCT NEWS — [email protected]
- QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WinInfo Daily UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION?
Customer Support — [email protected] - WANT TO SPONSOR WinInfo Daily UPDATE?
[email protected]
