Operating Systems

With the ability to move documents and text files so easily from one system to another, you would think that some common format could be devised for information. Unfortunately, moving a Word document or a spreadsheet from a Windows environment to a Unix environment leaves you with a document or spreadsheet that cannot be read or used by any application in the Unix world. There are exceptions -- but very few.

many simple commands that can cause havoc.

automounted bliss from true nirvana.

Microsoft Corp. to change the advertising slogan for the Windows XP operating system from "Prepare to Fly" to "Yes You Can" because of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Based on some excellent suggestions from a few readers, I am making a change in the format of the listings and listing explanations in these articles. One reader suggested that listings would be easier to cut and paste if they did not include line numbers. Another pointed out that a long explanation of a long listing causes the reader to have to flip up and down the screen to refer to the text of the explanation and then the text of the listing. To accommodate both of these very good suggestions, I have changed the listing/explanation format to start with a description of what the program or listing does, followed by a complete copy of the listing without line numbers. If the program requires a further explanation broken down line by line, the unnumbered full listing will be followed by a detailed explanation composed of alternating explanations and line numbered listing fragments in the text. This should handle both problems, and, I believe, will improve the usefulness and readability of these articles. Let me know what you think.

something like this:

Microsoft Corp. is expected to announce some new changes in store for its Windows Messenger applications, including one that enables users of the forthcoming Windows XP operating system to make phone calls from a PC to a telephone.

to another value.