Careers: Interviews
Windows XP
This week, Stephen Ibaraki, ISP, has
an exclusive interview with a lead Manager for
Microsoft’s Windows Platform Group. Erik Moll. Erik
is responsible for the Windows 2000 platform, as
well as developing strategic initiatives for
Microsoft's network operating systems, including the
development and execution of the Windows XP.
Erik brings more than 13 years of experience in the
information technology industry to his current
position: five years at Hewlett-Packard, first as a
Technical Specialist, then as the company’s HP
NetServer Marketing Manager; four years at Compaq
Canada as a Systems Engineer; and four years at NORR
Partnership Limited, an architectural and
engineering company, as the company’s Manager of
Information Systems.
Erik has a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from
McMaster University and a Bachelor of Applied
Science in Civil Engineering from the University of
Waterloo.
1. Can you provide a product summary: consumer,
business, enterprise?
The Windows XP, 64-bit Edition will provide a
scalable, high performance platform enabling an
entirely new generation of powerful Windows-based
applications. Its architecture provides more
efficient processing of extremely large amounts of
data, supporting up to 16 terabytes of virtual
memory. With Windows XP, 64-bit Edition,
applications can pre-load substantially more data
into virtual memory to enable rapid access by the
Itanium processor. This reduces the time for loading
data into virtual memory or seeking, reading, and
writing to data storage devices, thus making
applications run faster and more efficiently.
The Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition
provides early adopter customers with a
fully-supported release and the opportunity to get
started with evaluations and limited deployments. In
addition, customers who receive Windows Advanced
Server, Limited Edition through an OEM will be
entitled to a free upgrade to the final release.
64-bit Windows will perform better than Windows 2000
in certain environments, especially those that
require large amounts of memory (>4GB). For example,
large database environments that require >4GB of
memory and e-commerce Web sites that utilize SSL
encryption, and technical workstation applications
that require >4GB of memory.
In addition to the benefits of Windows on x86-based
hardware, 64-bit Windows offers customers access to
much more memory resulting in better performance and
scalability in certain environments such as
e-commerce, data mining, memory-intensive high-end
graphics, complex mathematics and high-performance
multimedia applications.
2. What will be the cost projections for the a total
system?
It is too early for specifics, but pricing will
depend on specific vendor and system requirements.
3. What will be the marketing model -- like
Datacenter server?
Although this hardware platform is new to the
public, Microsoft has been working very closely with
Intel and OEMs since the 64-bit processor’s
inception. Microsoft has created a program called
the Windows XP 64-Bit Edition - Early Deployment
Program to provide a solution for customers at
Itanium availability. This program allows OEMs to
ship pre-release Windows XP with their systems and
provides customer support direct from Microsoft.
4. What are the existing systems that the new
offerings will replace?
This is an entirely new hardware platform. 64-bit
architectures are designed to meet the needs of
customers with high-end server and workstation
applications that require very large amounts of
memory (>4GB). Most beneficial scenarios include
customers running large databases, high volume
e-commerce or .com sites, heterogeneous workloads,
and technical workstation applications.
Customers should decide for each specific computing
environment whether 64-bit architectures can
increase performance and capacity over current
32-bit solutions.
The Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit and 64-bit products
will be developed in tandem, giving customers a full
range of computing environments to choose from.
5. What are the time projections for evaluations and
final release?
Microsoft will offer 64-bit Windows for the server
and workstation through OEM partners during summer
2001. Windows Advanced Server Limited Edition will
be available to coincide with general commercial
availability of OEM Itanium-based systems. Windows
XP 64-Bit Edition will be available through the
Early Deployment Program at Itanium availability.
This program allows OEMs to ship pre release Windows
XP with their systems and provides customer support
direct from Microsoft.
Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition will be
available from OEMs only.
For more information about 64-bit technology, visit
the following websites:
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