19th May 2000 Archive

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MS Love Bug cure worse than the disease?

It's sandbags at dawn...

Microsoft's remedy to the ILOVEYOU virus may cause more problems than the original virus. As we reported Tuesday, Microsoft posted three patches as an answer to the Outlook email virus and its copycat cousins. "Microsoft has reported several cases of functionality failure surrounding the Outlook updates. The most significant …

Business 19 May 2000, 09:23
Justice slams MS proposals for missing the point

Analysis Rebuttal dismantles Microsoft case

Whether Microsoft's lawyers are being forced to toe Microsoft's management line or are just not very good, we shall perhaps never know, but it is clear that the DoJ and States' legal teams are substantially out-lawyering their opposite numbers, as this week's "Plaintiffs' reply memorandum in support of proposed final judgment" …

Business 19 May 2000, 09:23
Deadlier Love Bug variant spotted in wild

Massive outbreak of Outlook patch downloading to ensue...

A more dangerous and difficult to track variant of the Love Bug is on the loose. Like Love Bug it uses Microsoft Outlook to propagate, but it's more destructive, and has the ability to vary the headers on infected messages - so unlike the Love Bug, it can't be tracked simply by scanning incoming headers. According to Symantec, …

Business 19 May 2000, 09:23
Dramurai™ Warriors say Intel's Rambus plans poo

Where are those Asia-Pacific RIMMs?

Reports on US wires have told of a meeting organised in the desert by Chipzilla in which large semiconductor companies are being not-so-gently encouraged to manufacture loads of RIMMs, and to be quick about it. But the memory companies - the so-called Dramurai - are just saying no to Intel's proposals. Meanwhile, another …

Business 19 May 2000, 09:32
ILOVEYOU BUG ‘hits Linux’

Don't panic, it's a spoof

Thanks to reader Clive Payne for sending us the friendliest virus message to date. "Hello, I'm the Linux version of I Love You. GPL Licence Agreement: This code is released under the GPL Public Licence Agreement and is shipped with all source code included. Under this agreement you are free to make any changes you choose to …

Business 19 May 2000, 09:40
Fiji coup on the Web now

State of emergency

A Web site in Fiji is reporting a blow-by-blow account of the coup d'etat currently gripping the Pacific island republic. Fijilive.com has been reporting the events as they unfurl following the appointment of Fijian Association Party MP, Ratu Timoci Silatolu, as interim prime minister. Activists cut telephone lines to the …

Business 19 May 2000, 09:45
Dell, Gateway biz models to face shortage crunch

Compaq, HP, IBM to benefit

Another report from FHI Research has indicated that changes in the global market mean that direct sellers of PCs, including Dell, Gateway and Micron, are likely to suffer in the rapidly growing Asian market, while IBM, HP and Compaq will mop up in their wake. The advisory notes that while Dell, Gateway and Micron have led in …

Business 19 May 2000, 10:23
Sony hits PlayStation emulator developer with patent suit

After Connectix' win, Sony turns to Bleem! again

Sony has fired off another lawsuit against PlayStation emulator developer Bleem! just a week after the software company announced a version of its emulator - also called Bleem! - that runs on Sega's Dreamcast console. Well, we said it would happen. Sony's latest suit doesn't appear to target Bleem!-on-Dreamcast specifically - …

Business 19 May 2000, 10:23
Lawnmowers get web savvy

Plug 'n' play triple blade mulchers all the rage, apparently

Caution: non-PC attitudes ahead The next time your wife shouts at you to mow the lawn, relieve your frustration by shouting at the lawnmower - it could then automatically cut the grass and play soothing music while you put your feet up with a nice cold beer. "The RL500 robotic lawnmower features an intelligent navigational …

Business 19 May 2000, 14:02
IBM power supplies are really hot stuff

320,000 AC Adapters due for recall

IBM is recalling AC Adapters for the ThinkPad 310, ThinkPad i Series and the WorkPad z50 due to overheating problems. "Some of these adapters have exhibited signs of overheating and may pose a fire hazard," says the company. An estimated 320,000 AC Adapters are due for recall around the world, 220,000 of them in the US. …

Business 19 May 2000, 14:02
LineOne boss ‘pursues opportunities elsewhere’

Did he jump, or was he pushed?

Ajay Chowdhury - the man responsible for dragging LineOne out of the dumps and giving it a new sense of direction - has left the company. The self-confessed Jethro Tull fan packed his bags last week. It's not known whether he went of his own accord or was forced out. A spokeswoman for LineOne said the former MD was "pursuing …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
John Lewis goes for Dixons' jugular

Jealous lover fights for Packard Bell's attention

John Lewis is really not happy about the upcoming exclusive supply agreement between Packard Bell and Dixons. It's not that keen on the same agreement that the high street retailer has with Compaq, either. It threatened it would get legal and it has. Enlisting Tempo on its crusade, it has complained to the Office of Fair …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
Intel spells out the future to SBs

Claims shipments up 50 per cent

Intel increased European channel shipments by 50 per cent in March compared to the previous month, the vendor claimed yesterday. Speaking at the Integrator Forum Europe 2000 in Monte Carlo, Rob Eckelmann, Intel vice preseident of EMEA, seemed to feel the need to defend his company before launching into his presentation of Intel …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
Compel share price halves

Profit warning sends stock tumbling by half

Reseller group Compel saw its share price fall by nearly half yesterday thanks to a profit warning that looks like it will turn an expected 4 million profit into a 4 million loss. According to today's Financial Times (FT), Compel's shares were the worst performing on the London Stock Exchange yesterday, dropping by 183p to 195. …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
Microsoft Tier II OEM direct plans revealed

System builders spill the beans under the Monte Carlo sun

Microsoft plans to start selling software direct to tier II OEMs in the UK. Around 20 system builders were invited to a meeting at Microsoft HQ in Reading earlier this week where the proposals were put to them. The scheme, yet to be announced, will also allow tier IIs to buy OEM hardware products such as keyboards, cutting out …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
Disties squeal on Intel shortages

Getting only a third of chips needed

Intel has only been able to supply around a third of chips needed by UK distributors this month. Reading-based distributor Microtronica claims a run-rate of 24,000 Intel chips per month, but says it only received a shipment of 8000 for May. Distributors appear to be expected to forage for more than 60 per cent of their chip …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
Debian allowed to exhibit at UK's Linux Expo 2000

Organiser makes room for non-profit organisations

Non-profit Linux distributor Debian will be attending the UK Linux Expo 2000 show next month after all. Expo organiser IT Events last month was forced to admit that Debian could not exhibit at the show because it wouldn't give the distributor a free stand. But as a non-profit operation - like rather a lot of the key Linux …

Business 19 May 2000, 15:07
BOFH discovers Voice Recognition

Episode 11 Is it your floor that has the Gas Leak?

BOFH 2000: Chapter 11 "Look at this baby," I say to the PFY, with more than a little bit of pride, indicating a PC with an afro of wires and parts spewing from its open lid. "Yep, you've stuffed that one up alright - they won't be using THAT machine for a long time!" the PFY agrees cheerily. "What?!" "That PC - You've rooted …

BOFH 19 May 2000, 15:07
BOFH tracks down Arsonist

Episode 9 ...and saves PFY's skin

BOFH 2000: Episode 9 "I'm sorry, but I find this a little hard to believe," I say, shaking my head in a manner backing my implied convictions. "That's what they said you'd say," The Personnel Droid says, waving a piece of paper containing some evidence of the latest complaint against the PFY and my good self. "Well, I'm simply …

BOFH 19 May 2000, 15:08
BOFH plays with Maggot

Episode 10 Pick a password. Any password

BOFH 2000: Episode 10 "But my password CAN'T have expired," the user whines down the line at me "I only updated it this morning!" "If by UPDATED you mean changed it from 'maggot21' to 'maggot22', you're out of luck I'm afraid, the new password system won't permit you to do that any longer." "But I like the word Maggot!" "And I …

BOFH 19 May 2000, 15:08
BOFH 1: TWAT O

Episode 8 The Pedant's Guide to Computing Knowledge

BOFH 2000: Episode 8 And what is this supposed to achieve?" the PFY asks, dubiously looking over a project proposal the boss has handed out with no small amount of gusto and enthusiasm. "The plan is to lighten the administrative load on us and the new Helldesk types by training up the most proficient computer user in each area …

BOFH 19 May 2000, 15:08
Intel does u-turn on Willamette and synchronous DRAM

Updated So much for all that Yu stuff then

Sources close to Intel's plans have confirmed that the firm is readying a backup plan which will mean that its Willamette IA-32 processor, expected to debut the end of this year, will support synchronous memory as well as Rambus. German magazine PC Welt has now published details of the Armador chipset, which you can find at …

Business 19 May 2000, 16:38
BOFH: agony uncle and bastard

Episode 7 Revenge is a dish best eaten Vindaloo hot

BOFH 2000: Episode 7 "Hold on while I pull the answer to that question out of my ARSE!" the PFY spits down the phone to some poor, unsuspecting user... ...who, admittedly, deserves it. Nonetheless, the PFY's attitude is a little more abrasive than usual, so I feel it's best to defuse the situation by taking the "Softly Softly" …

BOFH 19 May 2000, 16:51