Timeline: 802.11n Development Milestones

John Cox, Network World

Sep 12, 2009 3:00 am

Today the IEEE is approved the 802.11n high-throughput wireless LAN standard, capping seven years of work. Here's a snapshot of how efforts to create a 100+Mbps wireless LAN standard got started.

September 2002: IEEE's High-Throughput Study group kicks off to explore feasibility of boosting wireless LAN performance.

September 2003: IEEE creates 802.11n Task Group, charged with creating a 100+Mbps wireless LAN standard.

October 2004: Belkin launches a "pre-11n" access point, based on the first commercial MIMO chipset from Airgo Networks (later acquired by Qualcomm).

July 2005: Draft 1 wins approval, amid acrimonious debate and politicking among now-forgotten proponents of competing technologies.

July 2006: Dell announces draft-11n internal Wi-Fi adapter, based on Broadcom silicon, for some of its newest laptop models.

August 2006: W-Fi Alliance reverses its long-standing policy of not testing WLAN gear until a standard, in this case 11n, is finally and formally certified.

March 2007: Draft 2 wins approval.

May 2007: At Interop, Colubris, Trapeze, and Ruckus Wireless announce enterprise 11n network gear, to be eventually certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

June 2007: Wi-Fi Alliance launches its 11n interoperability testing and certification program.

September 2007: Burton Group Analyst Paul Debeasi, in a controversial report, asks whether 802.11n means the "end of Ethernet" for network access. Cisco unveils its first 11n access point.

November 2007: First large-scale 11n deployment, at Morrisville State Collge with Meru WLAN products, is operational.

January 2008: Marvell unveils 3x3 MIMO 11n chipset, dubbed TopDog 11n-450, promising a 450Mbps data rate.

August 2008: BT North America survey finds one-third of 226 companies in the study are migrating to 11n over the next 12 months, and another 20% in the following 12 months.

September 2008: IEEE launches two gigabit-wireless task groups, one in the under-6GHz band, the other in the 60GHz band.

September 11, 2009: IEEE Standards Board is expected to approve 802.11n as a formal standard.

Sources: Cisco, Wi-Fi Alliance, Network World

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How To Buy a Wireless Router: The Short Version

Tim Higgins

August 25, 2009

Introduction

Like the good engineer that I am, I sometimes tend to overexplain things. I'm also big on having shoppers understand their requirements so that they can buy a product that best suits their needs. So it's probably not a surprise that my How To Choose the Right Wireless LAN for You may have been a bit much for some readers, especially folks whose first interest is not home networking.

So this time, I'm taking a different approach. I'm going to skip the why and how and get right to the who and what of wireless router buying. If you don't want (or care) to get into the details behind what makes a wireless router tick and just want a short list of candidates to consider, then this article is for you.

The Four Types of Wireless Routers

There are four basic types of wireless routers.

• Single-band "G"
• Single-band "N"
• Dual-band, single-radio "N"
• Dual-band, two-radio "N"

The main variation within each type is whether the WAN and LAN ports are Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) or just 10/100 Mbps. Unless you have an Internet connection capable of > 100 Mbps up and/or download speed, you don't need a Gigabit WAN port.

Gigabit LAN ports are good to have, if you have devices with Gigabit Ethernet ports. But you can always buy a router with 10/100 ports and pick up a 5 port Gigabit Ethernet switch later (~ $35) if you upgrade your wired network.

Note that If you have a wireless device that uses the old 802.11b standard, you can rest assured that all the four types above can get it connected.

End of the Draft

It's been a long time coming. But by the end of 2009, the 802.11n standard will be finalized. So, in the interest of keeping things simple, I'm dropping the use of "draft" when talking about "N" routers.

The key technical features of 802.11n were decided years ago and the finalization of the standard primarily resolves long-standing arguments among warring camps. So there is no need to hold off buying "N" type routers until after year end.

The list above is in approximate order of cost from cheapest to most expensive. Specials, coupons, close-outs, etc. can greatly affect what you'll pay. But if we're talking list, non-sale price from most brick-and-mortal retailers, the cheapest routers will be the single-band "G"s and the most expensive, the dual-band, two-radio "N"s.

At the risk of being out of date the second I publish this, here are approximate ranges for the four types:

Router Type	Price Range
Single-band "G"	$30 - $60
Single-band "N"	$70 - $100
Dual-band, single-radio "N"	$100 - $130
Dual-band, two-radio "N"	$130 - $250

Table 1: Wireless Router Types and Prices

You will find exceptions to every one of these price ranges, particularly if you're ok with buying refurbished and discontinued close-out products.

Note: I am not including the emerging class of "N150" routers in the primary router types. I can't think of a situation where they are a good choice. Read Buyers Beware! Single Stream Draft 802.11n Products Bring Back Spec Spin for my reasons why.

Frequency Bands

G and single band N routers operate in the 2.4 GHz radio band. This is the same frequency band that many other wireless devices operate in, including some cordless phones, intercoms, baby monitors and microwave ovens. It's also where most wireless networks operate, at least in the U.S..

The more of these devices that are in range of your wireless network, the lower and less consistent your speed will be. In really crowded areas, you may find your laptop or other wireless device constantly dropping connection to your router, or speeds wildly swinging from fast to snail-slow.

The 2.4 GHz band has 11 channels (in the U.S.), but only three of them (Channels 1, 6 and 11) don't overlap, as shown in Figure 1. Channel overlap is bad, because it's another form of interference, which reduces your wireless LAN's speed and reliability.

Although there is nothing stopping you from tuning your router to any of the other channels, for best performance, use only channels 1, 6 or 11. Contrary to what you might think, using the other channels doesn't improve performance. That's because your signal looks like interference to networks on 1, 6 and 11 and vice versa.

Figure 1: 2.4 GHz band channels
From Wi-Fi Hotspots: Setting Up Public Wireless Internet Access
(Cisco Press, 2006) by Eric Geier , used by permission

Dual-band routers operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Single-radio models make you choose one band or the other. Two-radio models (also called "simultaneous") allow you to support devices that connect in both bands at the same time.

The primary benefit of using the 5 GHz band is lower interference, which can improve your wireless network's speed and connection reliability. But the downside is that the 5 GHz signal is reduced more than the 2.4 GHz signal when passing through walls and other obstacles. So a router operating the the 5 GHz band may not be able to provide a usable connection in the same location that it can when switched to the 2.4 GHz band.

The 5 GHz band also has more non-overlapping channels than 2.4 GHz. So where the 2.4 GHz band has only three usable channels out of 11, routers that support the 5 GHz band usually support eight channels, which are all usable. So this increases your chances of finding a channel that doesn't interfere with neighboring networks.

Speed

Wireless speed is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of wireless networks. Most consumer wireless manufacturers have moved away from prominently featuring speed and range numbers in their product descriptions and advertising and sometimes even in their specifications. Instead you'll see relative terms like "Good, Better, Best" and "1X, 2x, 4X" used to describe both speed and range.

Part of the reason is the effect of some quiet, but effective past lawsuits challenging manufacturers' wireless performance claims. But manufacturers have also decided to pass on educating consumers about what wireless "speed" numbers really mean and their relation to actual performance.

The main thing you need to know is how to match up a number that you might see on a box or spec sheet with the type of wireless technology it indicates. So Table 2 contains a little decoder you can use.

Maximum "Speed"	Marketing Terms	Type
11 Mbps	B, Wireless-B	B (802.11b)
54 Mbps	G, Wireless-G	G (802.11g)
300 Mbps	(draft) N, Wireless-N	N (802.11n)
150 Mbps	N150	Not Standard

Table 2: Wireless Speed vs. Wireless Type

The relationship between this number and your actual wireless throughput is explained here.

Choosing Your Type

This is primarily a cost vs. flexibility decision. So if price is no object and you're the type who likes to keep his or her options open, by all means go for a dual-band, dual radio model. As I write this, the most expensive dual-band, dual-radio N router is around $250, with others hovering around $150.

On the other end of the scale, if you already have a wireless LAN with all G devices and you're happy with its performance, there is no reason to change to "N". "Upgrading" to an N router won't increase your range or speed up your G devices. On the contrary, it could end up causing problems with very old gear. So if your G router has given up the ghost and you need to get a new wireless router, I'd shop for another G router vs. messing around with N.

The toughest choice is for folks in the middle, with mostly G devices and perhaps a new notebook or two that came with an N adapter. First, there is no reason to rush out to buy an "N" router if you're happy with the speeds and range that you get with your G router. Your new N notebook will work just fine at G speeds. You only need an N router if you want to try for higher speeds.

However, whenever there are G and N devices connected to the same N type router, they both will operate at slower speed, but only when both are active. So if you do a lot of long wireless downloads, file transfers or backups or watch a lot of online video via wireless connections, you will want to segregate G and N clients onto separate networks, for optimum performance of both types.

If you don't plan on using the N notebook much, most of your wireless traffic is web browsing, email, or other traffic that consists of short data transmissions, or you won't often use the N and G devices at the same time, then you can leave the devices mixed.

The easiest way to separate the client types, especially if you already have a G type router, is to add an N type router. See Add, Don't Replace When Upgrading to 802.11n for more details.

Another way to separate the client types is to use a dual-band, dual-radio N router. You would connect your G devices to the 2.4 GHz radio and your dual-band N devices to the 5 GHz radio. But this has the downside of shorter range for the 5 GHz band devices.

The two-band method is also an option only if the new N devices are dual-band. To tell, look for "agn" or "802.11a/b/g/Draft-N" in the notebook or device's wireless spec. The "a" indicates 802.11a, which is the earlier wireless spec for the 5 GHz band. The use of "N" by itself does not tell you if both bands are supported!

You may have to dig deep into the spec to determine 5 GHz band support. I just did a quick check over at Dell to see how they were spec'ing notebook wireless adapters. I found an Inspiron 15 listed with Wireless Networking Cards: Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11 Wireless-N Mini Card. But nowhere could I find a reference to the fact that the Intel WiFi Link 5100 does, in fact, support 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N. I had to check Intel's description to find out.

So when would a single-radio, dual-band N router be a good choice? Actually, not that often. One case would be if you just want to experiment with 5 GHz and want to limit your expense. The other would be if you are just looking to add 5 GHz support to your existing WLAN, by configuring the router as an access point.

Example Products

So for those of you who just skipped to the end, hoping to find a list a "recommended" products, I'm sorry to disappoint you. The products listed below are not intended to be a "best product" list. If you want "best", then you need to go through the whole process.

However, these products are representative of the four product types and are reasonable choices that general consumers with typical wireless networking needs should be happy with. I have also tested most of the products and have linked to their reviews for your reference.

I've stuck with the "big three" vendors because they are what you're most likely to find on store shelves. So please, no whining because you don't see other vendors listed here.

Single-band G: Cisco / Linksys WRT54G2, NETGEAR WGR614, D-Link WBR-2310
Comment: G technology is pretty mature and any of these products should serve you well. All have 10/100 Ethernet WAN and LAN ports

Single-band N: Cisco / Linksys WRT160N, NETGEAR WNR2000, D-Link DIR-655
Comment: These aren't the cheapest choices. But they represent the mainstay products from these manufacturers in this segment. The DIR-655 is the only one having Gigabit WAN and LAN ports

Dual-band, single-radio "N": Cisco / Linksys WRT320N, NETGEAR (none) , D-Link DIR-628
Comment: NETGEAR has not had a decent dual-band offering that I would feel comfortable listing. The WRT320N has Gigabit ports; the DIR-628 has 10/100.

Dual-band, dual-radio "N": Cisco / Linksys WRT400N, NETGEAR WNDR3700, D-Link DIR-825
Comment: I debated adding the WNDR3700 since it's just hitting the market as I write this. Proceed at your own risk and I'll update this once I test it. The D-Link and NETGEAR have Gigabit ports; the WRT400N has 10/100.

Do Not Buy

I'd be remiss if I didn't include a list of the "N150" routers that I warned against earlier. These are the "single stream N technology" routers that are being marketed as "N150" products.

As I have said before, these are a marketing experiment aimed at luring unsuspecting shoppers who think they are buying something that will make their G devices work faster and / or go farther (they will do neither). They are pitched as cheaper alternatives to real N routers, but, in the end they aren't a good deal.

So listed below are products that you should stay away from:

Single-stream N technology / N150: Cisco / Linksys WRT120N, Cisco Linksys WRT110, NETGEAR WNR1000, D-Link DIR-600, Belkin N150
Comment: The Cisco / Linksys WRT120N is particularly bad, since it is named "Wireless-N Home Router" with no mention in its marketing material of its 150 Mbps maximum "speed". I also included the Belkin N150 because I reviewed it.

That's about it. Happy Shopping!

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Buying a Wireless Router — Simplified

Confused by Single-band G, Single-band N, Dual-band-single-radio N and Dual-band-dual-radio N? Read this before you buy.

Michael Horowitz, Computerworld

When I need to know something about routers, my first stop is typically smallnetbuilder.com run by Tim Higgins. It's a site for techies rather than the general public and, at times, it's very techie.

But last week, Higgins took a step down, and published an introductory article called How To Buy a Wireless Router: The Short Version. Highly recommended.

Most of the article covers the differences between the four major types of routers: Single-band G, Single-band N, Dual-band-single-radio N and Dual-band-dual-radio N. He also warns readers away from a fifth category, N150 routers.

Some interesting observations from the article follow.

No doubt many people think that Wi-Fi N is better than G and they should always opt for N. But Higgins says:

"...if you already have a wireless LAN with all G devices and you're happy with its performance, there is no reason to change to "N". "Upgrading" to an N router won't increase your range or speed up your G devices. On the contrary, it could end up causing problems with very old gear."

It came as news to me that a new N router may be a problem for old G hardware.

Higgins offers another reason you might opt for a cheaper G router as opposed to a more expensive N model:

"...whenever there are G and N devices connected to the same N type router, they both will operate at slower speed, but only when both are active."

Just like the old days, when B clients slowed down a G router.

Finally, he warns that all Wi-Fi N adapters are not the same; some support the 5 GHz band and some don't. He cited Dell, specifically, for not providing this information anywhere in the specs for a particular Inspiron laptop. In this case, the N adapter did support the 5 GHz band, but you would have to check Intel's website to find out.

A very worthwhile read.

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For more enterprise computing news, visit Computerworld. Story copyright © 2007 Computerworld Inc. All rights reserved.

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Intel's New Core i7 and Core i5 Processors Explained

David Murphy, PC World

Sep 8, 2009 12:01 pm

Intel's two new Core i7 CPUs (860 and 870) are mid-range counterparts to its top-of-the-line Core i7 900-series chips, and initial tests (using Intel's new DP55KG motherboard) indicate their performance follows suit. Our early tests also show the new entry-level Core i5 750 is the one to watch when it comes to best bang for your buck.

Intel's full processor breakdown--including the axing of its Core i7 940 processor--includes some potentially confusing differences between the chips. So here's what you need to know.

The existing Core i7 900-series processor lineup, codenamed Bloomfield, now features three separate products: 3.33-GHz Core i7 975, 3.06-GHz Core i7 950, and 2.66-GHz Core i7-920 processors. Between the Core i7-950 and Core i7-920 processors sit the new "Lynnfield" 2.93-GHz Core i7 870 and 2.8-GHz Core i7 860 processors. The brand-new, 2.66-GHz Core i5 750 CPU is a Lynnfield chip as well, but we'll get to that odd duckling further below.

Technology Differences

Intel took a big leap forward in the design department when it launched Core i7 900-series processors last November. Just a few of these included a new triple-channel memory controller integrated into the chip, a new QuickPath Interconnect system to replace (and improve upon) the front-side bus architecture of old, and the return of hyperthreading that split the chip's four physical cores into eight virtual cores for increased system performance. As the Core i7 900-series chips were based on a new Intel X58 chipset and LGA1366 socket, aspiring upgraders had to invest in new motherboards to reap the benefits of the Core i7 900-series platform.

That part still rings true for the new Core i7 800-series and Core i5 CPUs--all three run on Intel's latest P55 chipset and LGA1156 socket, which necessitates a new motherboard purchase for use. What's changed, however, is that the Core i7 800-series and Core i5 CPUs each adopt different permutations of the fanciest of the Core i7 900-series' features.

All three chips have dropped down from a QuickPath Interconnect and triple-channel memory controller to a Direct Media Interface and dual-channel memory controller. But don't freak out; This is more a loss of future-proofing than anything else given the minute performance differences between current dual- and triple-channel memory configurations.

An integrated PCI Express graphics controller on the Lynnfield CPUs can either deliver 16 lanes of bandwidth to a single PCI Express 2.0 videocard or split this connection into two x8 lanes for an SLI or CrossFire setup. Although it's a cut from the full 32 lanes (for a dual 16x or quad-8x configuration) provided by Core i7's X58 chipset, the bandwidth reduction should only affect those crazy enough to SLI or CrossFire dual-GPU videocards on a Lynnfield setup.

Turbo Boost: Automatic Overclocking

The new Core i7 800-series CPUs and the Core i5 750 still support the same automatic overclocking functionality, or Turbo Boost, as the Core i7 900-series processors. However, this feature has been jacked up on the newer chips. Core i7 900-series CPUs will only increase their multipliers to a maximum of two additional steps according to system demands (effectively taking a 3.33-GHz processor to 3.6-GHz depending on how many cores are in use). The new Lynnfield processors are able to jump up five multiplier steps for the 800-series chips (taking a 2.93-GHz processor to 3.6-GHz) and four for the Core i5 750 (2.66-GHz to a maximum 3.2-GHz).

Performance

Both Core i7 800-series processors support hyperthreading the same as their Core i7 900-series brethren. The Core i5 750 does not-its four physical cores are all that will appear in your operating system's task manager. Even so, the CPU's noteworthy performance makes it an excellent value for its roughly $200 price. We only saw a performance difference of 5 percent between the Core i5 750 and the roughly $555 Core i7 870 (based on WorldBench 6 testing of the two CPUs on identical system builds). In fact, the Core i5 750's score of 127 falls right around the scores set by competing Value and Power PCs that use Core i7 920 processors.

Test Bed: Intel DP55KG Motherboard, 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4890 graphics, 2x Seagate ST3750630AS hard disks (Raid 0), Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit Service Pack 2

So where does that leave the Core i7 870? Given that its price is almost identical to that of the high-end 3.06-GHz Core i7 950 CPU, a processor that natively runs faster than the 2.93-GHz Core i7 870, it's difficult to see the compelling reason to pick up this chip. The Turbo Boost feature of the Core i7 870 does ultimately beat the speeds of the Core i7-950's, but for the enthusiast market, the increased memory support and bandwidth for multi-GPU setups might not be worth giving up. The Core i7 860 is more reasonably priced at $285, provided you can make sufficient use of its hyperthreading functionality.

It remains to be seen just how far the Core i7 800-series CPUs will overclock compared to the Core i7 900-series chips-the lower power draws of the 800-series processors could make quite a difference in this area. As for the Core i5 750, this chip looks to be a solid winner for those looking to dip their toes into the Nehalem platform without breaking the bank-given Intel's dramatic price points, that's always a strong possibility.

"Intel's New Core i7 and Core i5 Processors Explained" Comments

MrMojo says:

Tue Sep 08 06:44:36 PDT 2009

Please ALSO speak in laymen's terms:

What is the difference between the Intel Core i5 and Core i7?

Sure, some engineering design differences so i5 is somewhat "slower" than i7 but performs well so i5 is a better value!

I guess this is what you really meant for those of us who do NOT care about the engineering specifics but the ACTUAL testing/performance of the chip!

Really, many of the PC World reviews could be written for those of us NOT in the engineering field!

Reply to this comment

DannyA says:

Tue Sep 08 06:58:28 PDT 2009

MrMojo said

Please ALSO speak in laymen's terms:

What is the difference between the Intel Core i5 and Core i7?

I guess this is what you really meant for those of us who do NOT care about the engineering specifics but the ACTUAL testing/performance of the chip!

Really, many of the PC World reviews could be written for those of us NOT in the engineering field!

--

Err...

quote]

Our early tests also show the new entry-level Core i5 750 is the one to watch when it comes to best bang for your buck...

We only saw a performance difference of 5 percent between the Core i5 750 and the roughly $555 Core i7 870 (based on WorldBench 6 testing of the two CPUs on identical system builds). In fact, the Core i7 750's score of 127 falls right around the scores set by competing Value and Power PCs that use Core i7 920 processors.

--

Reply to this comment

TechieXP says:

Tue Sep 08 07:23:57 PDT 2009

It appears the biggest downside to both chips is the fact that both use 2 totally different sockets than the 2 common used right now. LGA775 and LGA1366 are teh 2 common sizes. Why couldn't Intel make either of these newbies use one of the 2? If the chips offer so significant difference from the 1366...why create a whole new socket? What a waste. So now they want motherboard manufacturers to basically make a backwards designed board for them? Sounds just like when Intel create Slot-1 which provided no benefit over socket 370 which they got sued for.

I personally only just moved over to LGA775 in 2006 when I moved to Vista, bec my already 10+ year old system was finally showing its age...which had dual slot-1 (server board)

I'll just use LGA 775 until Intel doesn't make CPU's for it anymore. My present board supports...all single, dual and quad cores based on this socket all the way up to just over 3Ghz...I am using the Q6600 so I have plenty of room to upgrade and the board supports ddr2/ddr3 ram...so I will get 10+ years out of it as long as the board holds up.

I will see what follows x58

Note to Intel...the i5 could have fitted into the 775 socket and given us and option to get some of i7 benefits without getting a new board, and teh new i7 could have just been made for 1366.

Reply to this comment

cmaurand says:

Tue Sep 08 11:46:23 PDT 2009

Hyperthreading is a gimmick.

i5 is to i7 as celeron is to pentium and the i5 will so not be worth it for most applications. I'll still buy an AMD over an Intel any day of the week. For that $200.00 that could spend on the i5 I can get an AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition and get a lot more bang for the buck and have $10.00 left over for a little additional RAM.

Reply to this comment

waldojim says:

Tue Sep 08 12:48:20 PDT 2009

ok guys - the i5 could not "fit" into the 775 socket - something about a wider bus, integrated memory controller, and 1156 pins. However, they are some seriously greedy bastards to remove triple channel support, and not use the 1366 that the (real) i7 sits on!

They did this specifically to kill any upgrade path a person might have.

EG: I go out, and buy an inexpensive i5 mobo, some ram, etc... and a year from now, when prices drop, decide to bump up to the i7... well now I get to buy another mobo, new ram again (to get the 3 matched pieces) etc. It is designed just to rip you off.

Then comes the big question, if you buy a gateway with an i7 - which i7 is it? the 1366 or the 1156? Don't even think gateway will make a point of telling you.

For the sake of mentioning it - this is also why I am sticking with AMD for new machines. I already built one on the Phenom X2 platform, at it is just amazing! Quad core, extreme OC ability, all the fixins for under $400! And AMD isn't playing the socket changing game!

Reply to this comment

oldschoolh4ck3r says:

Tue Sep 08 13:55:30 PDT 2009

@waldojim:

I couldn't agree more. Which is why I went with the AMD Phenom II X4 955 chip which, for $200, didn't break the bank and offers excellent performance. Intel is going in the wrong direction right now; they should be furthering the performance of their i7 processors and reducing the prices of existing ones, rather than making a WHOLE NEW SOCKET and lesser performance processors which just confuse the consumer and halt future upgrade plans.

AMD was king when Intel had the Pentium 4.

Intel was king when they had the Core2.

AMD is king again with their overhauled Phenom II design.

Reply to this comment

TheBigOldDog says:

Tue Sep 08 16:03:12 PDT 2009

All Intel has done over the last 10 years or so is confuse consumers to the point where the processor version is completely meaningless to all but a select few with the time and inclination to sort it all out. Years ago people knew they wanted a 386, then a 486 then a P1, P2, P3, P4 after that, forget it. What a major marketing mistake. They let people walk right off the upgrade treadmill. I wonder what Marketing genius let that happen?

Reply to this comment

DOUGLAS666 says:

Tue Sep 08 18:52:04 PDT 2009

Several times you referred to the i7-750 processor, when in fact you meant the i5-750. I would greatly appreciate you being more careful in the future when it comes to referencing the processor model numbers. When someone is trying to learn the differences between the models and you keep confusing them, it really makes it much harder to learn or a more difficult read. Thanks for your time.

I copied and pasted the sections from the Porformance paragraphes to show what I'm referring too shown below in parenthesis.

(In fact, the Core i7 750's score of 127 falls right around the scores set by competing Value and Power PCs that use Core i7 920 processors.)

(As for the Core i7 750, this chip looks to be a solid winner for those looking to dip their toes into the Nehalem platform without breaking the bank-given Intel's dramatic price points, that's always a strong possibility.)

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12 Words You Can Never Say in the Office

by Carolyn Duffy Marsan
Tuesday, August 25, 2009

provided by

If you're old enough to understand the reference in this headline -- George Carlin, anyone? -- then you're old enough to need a refresher course when it comes to talking about technology.

We've put together a list of outdated tech terms, phrases that you shouldn't be using at work anymore because they will make you seem old. This is especially true if you're looking for a new job. For example, on an interview, you should be talking about "cloud computing," not "ASPs" even though they are basically the same thing.

This list is useful for 20-somethings, too. Now when the senior person in the office uses one of these terms, you'll know what he's talking about.

1. Intranet

Popular in the mid-90s, the term "intranet" referred to a private network running the Internet Protocol and other Internet standards such as the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). It was also used to describe an internal Web site that was hosted behind a firewall and was accessible only to employees. Today, every private network runs IP. So you can just use the term virtual private network or VPN to describe a private IP-based network.

2. Extranet

An "extranet" referred to private network connections based on Internet standards such as IP and HTTP that extended outside an organization, such as between business partners. Extranets often replaced point-to-point electronic data interchange (EDI) connections that used standards such as X12. Today, companies provide suppliers, resellers and other members of their supply chain with access to their VPNs.

3. Web Surfing

When is the last time you heard someone talk about surfing the Web? You know the term is out of date when your kids don't know what it means. To teens and tweens, the Internet and the World Wide Web are one and the same thing. So it's better to use the term "browsing" the Web if you want to be understood.

4. Push Technology

The debate over the merits of "push" versus "pull" technology came to a head in 1996 with the release of the PointCast Network, a Web service that sent a steady stream of news to subscribers. However, PointCast and other push technology services required too much network bandwidth. Eventually, push technology evolved into RSS feeds, which remain the preferred method for publishing information to subscribers of the Internet. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.

5. Application Service Provider (ASP)

During this decade, the term "Application Service Provider" evolved into "Software-as-a-Service." Both terms refer to a vendor hosting a software application and providing access to it over the Web. Customers buy the software on a subscription basis, rather than having to own and operate it themselves. ASP was a hot term prior to the dot-com bust. Then it was replaced by "SaaS." Now it's cool to talk about "cloud computing."

6. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

Coined by former Apple CEO John Sculley back in 1992 when he unveiled the Apple Newton, the term "personal digital assistant" referred to a handheld computer. PDA was still in use in 1996, when the Palm Pilot was the hottest handheld in corporate America. Today, the preferred generic term for a handheld like a Blackberry or an iPhone is a "smartphone".

7. Internet Telephony

You need to purge the term "Internet telephony" from your vocabulary and switch to VoIP, for Voice over IP. Even the term VoIP is getting old-fashioned because pretty soon all telephone calls will be routed over the Internet rather than the Public Switched Telephone Network. It's probably time to stop referring to the PSTN, too, because it is headed for the history books as all voice, data and video traffic is carried on the Internet.

8. Weblog

A blog is a shortened version of "Weblog," a term that emerged in the late 1990s to describe commentary that an individual publishes online. It spawned many words still in use such as "blogger" and "blogosphere." Nowadays, few people have time to blog so they are "microblogging," which is another word that's heading out the door as people turn Twitter into a generic term for blasting out 140-character observations or opinions.

9. Thin Client

You have to give Larry Ellison credit for seeing many of the flaws in the client/server computing architecture and for popularizing the term "thin client" to refer to Oracle's alternative terminal-like approach. In 1993, Ellison was touting thin clients as a way for large organizations to improve network security and manageability. Although thin clients never replaced PCs, the concept is similar to "virtual desktops" that are gaining popularity today as a way of supporting mobile workers.

10. Rboc

In 1984, the U.S. government forced AT&T to split up into seven Regional Bell Operating Companies [RBOCs] also known as Baby Bells. Customers bought local service from RBOCs and long-distance service from carriers such as AT&T. Telecom industry mergers over the last 15 years have formed integrated local- and long-distance carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and Qwest. This makes not only the term RBOC obsolete, but also the terms ILEC for Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier [i.e., GTE] and CLEC for Competitive Local Exchange Carrier [i.e., MFS].

11. Long-Distance Call

Thanks to flat-rate calling plans available from carriers for at least five years, nobody needs to distinguish between local and long-distance calls anymore. Similarly, you don't need to distinguish between terrestrial and wireless calls because so many people use only wireless services. Like pay phones, long-distance calls -- and their premium prices -- are relics of a past without national and unlimited calling plans.

12. World Wide Web

Nobody talks about the "World Wide Web" anymore, or the "Information Superhighway," for that matter. It's just the Internet. It's a distinction that Steve Czaban, the popular Fox Sports Radio talk show host, likes to mock when he refers to the "Worldwide Interweb." Nothing dates you more than pulling out one of those old-fashioned ways of referring to the Internet such as "infobahn" or "electronic highway."

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APCN2 cable cut cripples connections

By Victoria Ho, ZDNet Asia
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 04:50 PM

update A cut in the Asia-Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN2) undersea submarine cable crippled connection speeds for users in the Asia-Pacific region on Wednesday, particularly in Singapore and the Philippines.

Users were sending updates to local forums and Twitter, complaining of slow connection speeds to sites hosted outside of the region.

According to a notice sent by Malaysian telco, TM Net, the cable fault was traced to segment 7 of the APCN2, which stretches between Shantou, China and Tanshui, Taiwan. TM Net traced the outage to Typhoon Morakot, which hit the region over the weekend.

Additionally, segment 1 of the APCN2 is also currently under repair. Repairs on segment 7 are expected to commence after work on segment 1 is completed.

TM Net said the repairs are expected to be completed by late evening Aug. 13.

Singapore operator, SingTel, confirmed the cable fault in an e-mail to ZDNet Asia, saying the APCN2's consortium members have started restoration works and are diverting Internet traffic to other cable systems. It said the situation is expected to return to "acceptable levels" within the next 24 hours.

A status update posted on InternetTrafficReport.com showed SingTel's Singapore gateway registered a score of only 34 points, compared to the global average "health" of network connections, which was 86 points as at 3pm Singapore time on Wednesday.

The site first started registering slower response times and packet loss in Singapore at 8pm Tuesday evening.

Cable & Wireless sent ZDNet Asia a status update at 6pm, Singapore time, noting multiple cable breaks have been also detected along the EAC (East Asia Crossing) and SMW 3 (South-East-Asia, Middle-East, Western-Europe) subsea cable networks, in addition to the APCN2.

These breaks have been concentrated specifically near Taiwan, with network traffic "adversely affected in and out of the region as a result," said the operator.

Back in 2006, the APCN2 was taken out by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan. Internet access was reportedly badly disrupted and halted in some parts of Asia after the quake.

See also: Twitter, SingTel, Philippines, cable network, Asia-Pacific, Singapore, Cable, network, Taiwan

source: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,39044192,62056838,00.htm

40 Fantastic Time-Wasting Web Sites

Sure, you should probably be working. But why bother when you can vaporize hours by checking out these engaging Web sites?

JR Raphael, PC World

Jul 28, 2009 12:21 pm

Warning: Reading this story may be hazardous to your productivity. The Web sites within may divert you from the dull tasks in need of your attention and may cause you to goof off for hours instead.

Oh, who are we kidding? You weren't going to get any work done today, anyway. So you might as well waste time in style--and these sites will help you do it. Figuring that you're already familiar with the Facebooks and YouTubes and Onions of the Net, we decided that any further serious undermining of your motivation to labor entailed digging up some obscure nuggets to commingle with the more familiar destinations. Our only criterion: Every site should be entertaining and habit-forming. And we found 'em--40 of 'em. Now just put up your privacy screen, kick back, and start clicking. Caveat: If you get caught, it won't do you any good to tell your boss that we're the ones who suggested it. And let me say for the record that I didn't waste any time on the organization of this list!

1. Stripgenerator

Hey, get your mind out of the gutter--Stripgenerator is about comic creation, not clothing removal--though we wouldn't claim that the two paths have never crossed. The site lets you build your very own customized comic strip in a matter of minutes. Choose from an array of characters and objects, and then bring your strip to life, one square at a time. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, sign up to start your own "strip blog" and have your content featured on the site's home page.

2. FMyLife

FMyLife (the site isn't entirely clear about what the "F" stands for, but "Flee" wouldn't be inappropriate) encourages people to send in anonymous real-life stories of worst-case scenarios that came horrifyingly true--things you'll just have to read to believe. The stories aren't always G-rated, so visit at your own discretion.

3. LivePlasma

A must-try for any music or film fanatic, LivePlasma helps you find new movies and music by building interactive maps around your current favorites. It's like six degrees of separation, customized to your cultural interests.

4. Cracked

The onetime competitor to Mad Magazine has reinvented itself as a Web site for all things funny. Cracked has an array of amusing lists, stories, and videos that'll keep you laughing for days.

5. BeFunky.com

Add some pizzazz to your profile pic with BeFunky.com. The site's Web-based application lets you easily morph any photo into a cartoony character or Warhol-like painting.

6. Funny Typos

Grammar geeks will delight in Funny Typos, a site devoted to ridiculing the language-challenged among us. Why people cant menage to reed there writhing batter is simpy a misery to me.

7. Safety Graphic Fun

Do park visitors generally need to be told "Please do not sit on crocodile"? Must employees at a company parking lot be reminded "Do Not Sleep Below the Vehicle"? Silly as these things sound, they're actual warnings posted on public safety signs. Safety Graphic Fun works to compile the most ridiculous placards, outlandish announcements, and attorney-inspired posterior papering from around the world, some of which are astonishingly absurd. My favorite: "Touching wires causes instant death. $200 fine."

8. Virtual NES

Go old-school and play dozens of original Nintendo games online. Once you get accustomed to the keyboard-based commands, even the most determined Koopa Troopas won't be able to pull you away.

9. Pogo

Find a wider selection of time-wasting games at Pogo. See if you can spell success in Scrabble, dominate at Dominoes, or ride the Reading Railroad to a sweet Monopoly victory.

10. Omegle

Interact with total strangers in the strange new world of Omegle. This simple site pops you into a one-on-one chat room with a random person, and there's no telling where the conversation may take you.

11. Lifehacker

Losing track of time is all too easy at Lifehacker. The blog teaches you tricks for navigating the complexity of life with fewer bumps, serving up advice on topics ranging from cooling a scorching car to clearing up circles under your eyes.

12. Answerbag

Answerbag is all about interesting and instant information. Post a query about almost anything and get answers within minutes, or browse through other people's Q&A to be enlightened, disgusted, and entertained.

13. FailBlog

"Fail" is the blogger-adored modern stamp of disapproval for anything that falls below whatever arbitrary standard a critic feels like imposing. The proprietors of FailBlog.org open the "fail" doors to the world, encouraging readers to submit images of people, places, or things that in one way or another didn't work out right, and then inviting all visitors to vote on how many thumbs down the depicted blunder deserves. Whether the specimen under the FailBlog microscope is a poorly designed building or a curious case of inconsistent pricing, the site's findings are sure to generate some laughter wins.

14. Slashdot

Slashdot is the granddaddy of all tech time-wasters. Pursuing its mission of delivering "news for nerds," Slashdot posts a cornucopia of geeky information, complete with snarky comments and community discussion.

15. Fark

When you want a tantalizing tale with a sensational twist, turn your browser toward Fark. The site collects the Web's hottest and strangest stories, pointing you to standout content as well as to obscure local items that you might otherwise have missed.

16. Popurls

Popurls makes it easy for you to keep up with all of the Web's headlines. The jam-packed aggregator presents the most popular content from social media sites, news sites, and even video sites in a simple-to-use single page.

17. Fuzzwich

Step into the director's chair with Fuzzwich, a fun site that lets you build your own video animations. You pick the setting and the characters, and then customize them with faces cropped from your personal photos. Then, you use the site's editing program to move the characters around and have them interact. Once you get tot he stage of adding music and text bubbles, you'll be hooked. Fuzzwich even offers embed codes so you can show off your creation all over the Web.

18. My Parents Joined Facebook

Parents and social media don't always mix. See sidesplitting screenshots of what happens when generations collide at My Parents Joined Facebook, a blog about uncomfortable family encounters in the virtual world. Remember, you can choose your friends but you can't choose your relatives.

19. Passive-Aggressive Notes

Oh-no-she-didn't. Indulge your inner Springer with a visit to Passive-Aggressive Notes, where you can take a long, leisurely inside look at other people's petty, infantile squabbles, all laced with not-so-subtle passive-aggressive undertones and innuendo.

20. Break.com

Videos that are just itching to go viral await you at Break.com. You'll find more funny, sexy, and scandalous clips here than you would in Paris Hilton's entire home-video collection--and that's saying something.

21. Twitterfall

Yeah, yeah--everyone spends too much time on Twitter. But Twitterfall offers a new way to connect with your fellow tweeters and discover interesting conversations. Just type in the term of your choice or select an option from the list of current hot trends, and Twitterfall will start dropping in related updates, one by one. You can control how quickly the tweets fall, and you can stipulate any number of combined terms that the tweets must include.

22. Tweeting Too Hard

For all of Twitter's strengths, it seems to attract an inordinate number of tools whose tweets make you cringe. At Tweeting Too Hard, you can browse through Twitter's most "self-important tweets," voting up the worst offenders with sarcastic "back pats" as you go.

23. Lunchtimers

Cast a spell on your productivity with this virtual magnetic message board. Join other people in shifting big bright plastic-looking letters around, like the ones on your parents' refrigerator when you were a kid, or draw on a collective scratchpad to see what comes out.

24. GraphJam

GraphJam gives humor a statistical edge by inviting users to create funny graphs or charts that illustrate various aspects of life. One recent submission attempted to break down the content of Yahoo Answers (65 percent material for FailBlog; 25 percent spam; 10 percent legitimate questions). GraphJam makes it a cinch to build your own satirical analyses; and with in-site voting and embed codes a-plenty, you'll have no shortage of time-wasting toys.

25. Songza

Search for songs across the Web and play them to your heart's content at Songza. The site finds both audio and video files from multiple sources, and then allows you to create playlists and share them via Facebook or Twitter.

26. iMeem

Video isn't its specialty, but iMeem excels at tracking down the music tracks you want. Find and stream your favorite tunes and save them to custom playlists. A quick caution: You do have to create a free account to gain access to the site's full functionality.

27. Patently Silly

Hello, sir or madam, may I interest you in a retractable table top for your toilet today? That's just one of many wacky inventions featured on Patently Silly, which displays some of America's most unusual patents.

28. AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

Family photos are always awkward, but some go beyond the typical intergenerational tension and tiptoe into disquieting new territory. AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com pursues the mission of finding and flaunting the most unbearably awkward images from real photo albums submitted by real users.

So what constitutes awkward? Oh, I don't know...maybe having a medium-size marsupial on your arm, hovering near the back of a child's head and eying his tousled hair as potential nesting material? Yeah. And you thought your sister's braces were bad.

29. Texts From Last Night

If only you could find out what all those college girls were constantly texting about. Oh, wait--you can. Texts From Last Night collects the most insane (and allegedly real) late-night texts from users, shame included. You can imagine the kind of language and subject matter involved, so click through at your own risk.

30. Truu Confessions

For slightly less succinct (and usually less salacious) confessions, surf over to Truu Confessions. There, people of all ages anonymously submit their deepest secrets and await your reactions.

31. PostSecret

With a decidedly less high-tech but far more innovative approach, PostSecret publishes actual postcards mailed in by people looking to share their deepest secrets. The site's creators call it an "ongoing community art project." (For more on PostSecret and other sites like it, read "Online Confessions: The Web Bares Its Soul.")

32. Timothy McSweeney's Internet Tendency

The name may not be memorable, but the content at McSweeney's Lists site is tough to forget. The site features page after page of random and often hilarious lists--"Rarely Used Parenthetical Statements," for example, or "A Picnic Date Ending in an Awkward Sexual Encounter, Told Chronologically Through Board-Game Titles."

33. Totally Looks Like

I'll bet you never noticed how much Perez Hilton looks like the Grinch, or how similar Daisy De La Hoya is to 80s singer Pete Burns. The user-driven community of Totally Looks Like did, though. Intrigued?

34. Monoface

Who needs look-alikes when you can build your own face? Monoface, the brainchild of a Minneapolis-based ad agency, lets you play Mr. Potato Head with real people. Click to combine different eyes, noses, and mouths until you find a suitably funny combination. With nearly 760,000 possibilities, it'll take you a while to run out of steam.

35. The Genuine Haiku Generator

what fun, this quaint site

creates haikus on demand

english teachers frown

36. FreeRice

Play trivia and make a difference with FreeRice. Every time you get an answer right, the site donates 10 grains of rice to global hunger programs. FreeRice is run by the United Nations World Food Program and uses revenue from in-site ads to pay for the food.

37. Archive.org

A world of data awaits you at Archive.org. The site is home to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, where you can look up versions of Web pages dating back to 1996. It also hosts the Live Music Archive, an impressive collection of free live concerts.

38. Pets in Clothes

The Hot or Not craze of the early 2000s gets an aww-inducing update with Pets in Clothes, a site dedicated to cute animals wearing cute duds. From cats in sunglasses to dogs in nurse outfits, the cuddly images just keep on coming. Taking a cue from the Hot or Not model, Pets in Clothes progresses through photos by having you rate each image on a scale of 1 to 10. And of course, you can submit your own pet pics for inclusion.

39. There, I Fixed It

Think your handiwork is bad? See some of the worst excuses for quick fixes at There, I Fixed It, an ever-expanding gallery of the most pitiful repair jobs performed all over the globe.

40. Homestar Runner

Cult favorite Homestar Runner is still going strong. Start with the latest Strongbad E-Mail missives and gain a whole new appreciation for the all-powerful Lappy 486 and, of course, scroll buttons and random. Keep on scrollin' on, friends.

Got a favorite time-wasting Web site we didn't mention? Add it in the comments section below. Just make sure it's worth our time.

When not wasting time on Twitter, Contributing Editor JR Raphael fine-tunes the scroll buttons on his new geek-humor site, eSarcasm.

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Windows 7 Activation Already Hacked

Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Saturday, August 01, 2009 1:05 PM PDT

Pirates have cracked Windows 7's product activation just a week after the operating system made RTM and a week before it's slated to reach users, Microsoft confirmed today.

The product key posted on the Web purportedly comes from Lenovo, one of Microsoft's major OEM partners, and allows users to activate downloaded copies of Windows 7 Ultimate RTM (release to manufacturing), which leaked to the Internet last week, shortly after Microsoft announced it had finished the operating system.

According to Windows enthusiast site Neowin, one of the first to report the crack, a Lenovo disk image of Windows 7 leaked to a Chinese Web site, then moved to English-language domains. Pirates proceeded to retrieve the master OEM key and the OEM activation certificate from the .iso file. Microsoft lets major computer makers like Lenovo, Dell and Hewlett-Packard pre-activate new PCs at the factory to save customers the hassle, and provides OEM master keys for that purpose.

Windows 7 uses an updated activation scheme, dubbed OEM Activation 2.1, which is an updated version of the activation software that first appeared in Windows Vista. The technology, ironically, has been the focus of a Microsoft lawsuit filed last January against a former employee charged with stealing company documents related to the anti-piracy software that computer makers use to lock Windows to their PCs.

The crack is not for the faint of heart, as it also requires a hack of the PC's BIOS; Activation 2.1 demands a BIOS that supports the new technology. In fact, forums on sites such as My Digital Life were full of questions from users unfamiliar with hacking a BIOS.

But scores of users on My Digital Life's forum have reported that the leaked key -- and the process that others laid out to use it -- activated their pirated copies of Windows 7 Ultimate. "Activated 3 computers with SLIC 2.1 (DELL) modified BIOS + DELL certificate for Vista + this key," said a user identified only as "thavmym."

This isn't the first time that Microsoft's copy protection technology has been cracked. Vista's activation has been hacked several times, and in volume sufficient to prompt Microsoft to issue updates that busted the most popular cracks. When it delivered Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), for example, it cracked down on a pair of cracks that pirates had been using to activate downloaded copies of the OS.

Microsoft acknowledged the crack today, but its reaction was in line with past takes on the topic. "We are aware of reports of activation exploits that attempt to circumvent activation and validation in Windows 7," said a company spokeswoman in an e-mail. "[But] Microsoft strongly advises customers not to download Windows 7 from unauthorized sources," she added, then reminded users that "peer-to-peer Web sites exposes users to increased risks, such as viruses, Trojans, and other malware and malicious code."

In May, a leaked copy of Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) posted on file-sharing sites turned out to be infected with a Trojan horse.

Windows 7 is slated for public release Oct. 22, but subscribers to the for-pay TechNet and MSDN services will be able to download the final code, along with legitimate product activation keys, starting next Thursday.

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Google OS May Force Microsoft to Reinvent Windows

Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 4:50 PM PDT

Google's Chrome OS won't be an immediate threat to Windows, but it may force Microsoft to reinvent its operating system more quickly into a product that takes full advantage of the Web and can move more nimbly across devices and form factors, analysts said.

Microsoft is unlikely to have been surprised by Google's announcement late Tuesday that it is working on a new OS for people who "spend most of their time on the Web," as Google described it. From what has been revealed about the Google Chrome OS -- which won't be available until the second half of next year -- it aims to bring the ease of use that Google has brought to Web-based applications, such as search and chat, to netbooks and eventually to full-size PCs.
A Google OS is "something Microsoft has been worried about for a long time," said Matt Rosoff, analyst with Directions on Microsoft. He called it "the first significant threat to Windows in a very long time," although he said the threat may not become fully evident for another 10 years.
Still, Google's plan to exploit the popularity of low-footprint, low-cost netbooks could accelerate the need for Microsoft to reinvent the bulky, PC-centric version of Windows for consumers and businesses, as more people begin using applications that live on the Web rather than on their local hard drive.
It could also eventually force the company to develop one core version of Windows that can be used on any device -- be it a smartphone, netbook or PC -- similar to the way Apple moved downstream by adapting its Mac OS X software for use on the enormously successful iPhone, analysts said.
New Incentives
Microsoft has not been immune to the problem of marrying the increasingly Web-centric world with the desktop world, in which applications run on a thick client with a resource-heavy OS, but until now the company hasn't had to worry too much about it.
With Windows the de facto standard on PCs, people have been for the most part content to wait for Microsoft to deliver new versions of the OS, and connect to the Web and their favorite applications from there. And many business customers are tied to Windows by long-term contracts and application dependencies, which has kept them loyal to Windows for better or worse.
For its part, Microsoft has been working to hone its Web-based services and applications, and even removed some software from the forthcoming Windows 7 -- such as e-mail and photo-editing software -- in favor of Web-based versions that are more lightweight. Windows 7 will be available on PCs later this year.
Microsoft also has a research project called Midori that envisions a next-generation Windows in which the OS becomes more Internet-centric and eliminates dependencies between local applications and the hardware on which they run, although the company has not said how this might fit into Windows' commercial future.
The emergence of netbooks, however, changed everything, taking not only Microsoft but also the rest of the hardware and software industries by surprise, and providing a vehicle for Google to make its move into the OS market.
"Netbooks showed up and startled everybody," said Forrester analyst Frank Gillett.

Sea Change in OS Market

But while netbooks provide a way for Google to get a foot in the door of the personal computer market, the company certainly has aspirations to challenge Microsoft on more traditional PC form factors as well, he said.
Google's challenge and its implications usher in a new phase for the OS market in which both the hardware that the OS runs on, and the OS itself, become less important, and a device's ability to keep people connected to the Internet and their applications and data that live there becomes paramount.
"Google Chrome OS is the death knell for a PC-centric OS," Gillett said. "The next versions of Windows need to be much more Internet-centric."
Microsoft has been moving in this direction for some time but has yet to clarify its direction for how Windows, running across multiple devices, will take full advantage of the Web; the company so far has revealed the strategy only in bits and pieces.
Technologies like its Windows Live applications and services -- including the compelling but poorly understood Mesh technology, which keeps files on various devices updated by tying them to a "mesh" via the Internet -- are part of a larger Microsoft vision for connecting people to the Web through software. But the company has yet to connect the dots between those services and Windows, analysts said.
"I think they have the strategy in place, but they haven't executed on it particularly well yet," said Michael Silver, a Gartner vice president and distinguished analyst.
Jump-Starting the Giant
The company may now have to scramble to fill in the blanks. Microsoft has never been a company that likes to move quickly, and until now the PC-centric world of its user base hasn't forced it to, he said.
But things move faster on the Web. When Microsoft rested on its laurels with Internet Explorer -- the de facto Web browser for many years -- Mozilla disrupted the market with innovations in its Firefox Web browser. It was only when Firefox started to threaten IE's market share that Microsoft began again to seriously update IE.
The fast pace of the Web is also why Google was able to rise so fast as the dominant search player and make so much money -- cash that's now allowing it to challenge Microsoft in its own backyard.
"Microsoft knows things are moving more toward the Web and fighting to stay relevant and make .NET work on multiple platforms," Silver said, speaking of its Web development platform. "But certainly today their cash cows are Windows and Office, and the slower any sort of move goes, the better for them."
Google's OS challenge will certainly accelerate the move to a world where applications are no longer dependent on an operating system -- and thus hasten whatever plans Microsoft has to modify Windows for this world -- but "it's going to take a while before we really get there," Silver said.
Microsoft declined to comment Wednesday on Google's announcement, and it remains to be seen how it will respond. But analysts said Microsoft has a few options to maintain its dominant position in the short term while also positioning itself for the longer battle.
Right now it can shore up its relationships with hardware makers and business customers to keep people in contracts to use Windows as long as possible, analysts said.
It can also continue to develop device-centric OSes and try to make them as robust as possible, to continue its dominance in the PC arena and make deeper inroads on mobile devices -- although its position in the smartphone market has been undermined by the iPhone and it is unclear how Microsoft can respond, Rosoff said. "Apple is dominating the market -- Microsoft is not even considered a competitor," he said.
To tackle the longer-term threat from Google's Chrome OS, Microsoft could start with a clean slate and create the version of Windows envisioned by its Midori project, Gillett said. This might be difficult for traditional Windows users to swallow -- particularly entrenched business customers who use Windows-dependent applications -- but not impossible, he said.
Gillett cited Apple and its drastic "jump off the cliff" transition to Mac OS X in 2001 as a precedent for migrating users successfully from a desktop OS with which they're comfortable to something game-changing. "Apple has been very, very good at making technology migrations and forcing users against barriers," he said.
However, Microsoft faces "a much bigger challenge because of the size and the nature of the ecosystem and the fact that they don't control the hardware," Gillett said.

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