How Palm tumbled from star of tech to target of Microsoft; early unveiling of new model orphaned the old ones, and sales took a dive; watching for Merlin's tricks

Article Abstract:

Palm Inc.'s stock is down 95% from last year following a drop in sales precipitated by a six-week delay in shipping last May of its new Palm m500. Potential rival Microsoft has announced a new generation of operating software for its Pocket PC system, code-named Merlin, and will likely make a big push into the hand-held computer market. Palm has hired new executives, reorganized its software and hardware divisions into subsidiaries and has trimmed its workforce, in hopes of becoming profitable by the end of the current fiscal quarter.

Electronic computers, Computer Software, Production management, Management, Hand-held computers, Handheld computers, Handheld data devices, Computer industry, Software, Personal digital assistants, Personal digital assistant, Palm Inc., PALM, Hand-held data device, Palm m500 (Personal digital assistant), Microsoft Pocket PC (Operating system)

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Seekers of refunds for 'Windows' ware find the doors shut; Microsoft offers free drinks, no cash to irate owners of some loaded laptops

Article Abstract:

The first "Windows Refund Day" was held in various U.S. cities and in Tokyo on February 15, 1999. Organizers are computer users who don't need or want Microsoft's Windows operating system but instead want a refund for not using it as stated in the license agreement. One person has been trying for a year to get a refund and went to Microsoft's sales office in Foster City, Calif., but was offered beverages instead of a refund. Other O/S's that users can opt for are IBM's OS/2, Linux and FreeBSD, however, Microsoft has licensed many computer makers to install Windows prior to shipping.

Systems Software Pkgs (Micro), Marketing procedures, Consumer Attitudes, Business to Business, Operating systems (Software), Operating systems, Abstract

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Microsoft's Encarta has different facts for different folks; encyclopedia, in Italy, says the phone was invented by one Antonio Meucci

Article Abstract:

Microsoft Corp.'s Encarta multimedia encyclopedia on CD-ROM poses difficulties in how it is adapted to the various foreign markets where it is sold. If one looks at different editions of the product, one may find different interpretations of what one may have thought were universally accepted historical facts. For example, the U.S., British and German editions of Encarta say that the inventor of the telephone was Alexander Graham Bell. However, the Italian version credits Antonio Meucci with the invention. The Internet age poses poses problems for adapting products to local markets. Encarta has nine different versions, including one in American and another in British English.

Product information, Educational Software Pkgs (Micro), Educational software, International aspects, Product marketing strategy, Electronic dictionaries and encyclopedias, Electronic reference books, Microsoft Encarta (Electronic reference), Electronic reference

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