WinInsider

The semiconductor industry is in the midst of a massive technological change, converting to mass-producing chips with copper, rather than aluminum, wires. The weird part: Almost no one seems to be having major problems. Copper, which conducts electricity better than aluminum, gives designers an avenue to break through looming physical barriers that could prevent further boosts in chip performance. The first copper Pentium 4's will come out in the fourth quarter of this year at 2.2GHz, for instance, and hit 3.5GHz next year.

Excite@Home, the leading provider of broadband Internet access, said Friday that it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and sell its high-speed network to AT&T for $307 million in cash. With the filing, Excite@Home becomes the latest Net highflier to seek bankruptcy court protection while it reorganizes its business. Just this week, Exodus Communications, a provider of Web-hosting services to thousands of companies, also filed for bankruptcy.

I am burning my notebook pc as you read this...

If you want the full power of a notebook PC but need the added convenience of a handheld for using vertical apps, the Fujitsu Stylistic LT P-600 Pen Tablet ($3,699 list with Windows 2000) is a fine albeit costly candidate. Primarily intended for special-purpose applications, such as those used by sales forces, healthcare workers, and insurance agents, the LT P-600 is designed for and marketed to professionals who want a compact, lightweight system based on the latest and most powerful notebook technologies.

Microsoft's new wireless IntelliMouse Explorer hit store shelves earlier this week, providing users with a new wireless design and more accurate optical technology than the wired IntelliMouse that shipped a few years back. The new mouse offers a new ergonomic shape, five customizable buttons, but it requires. batteries. Boo.

From WinInfo Short Takes: Week of October 1

The new judge overseeing the remainder of the Microsoft antitrust case on Friday ordered the government and the company to enter into intensive settlement talks ahead of hearings on possible sanctions against the software giant. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said during a status hearing with the parties that the settlement talks should proceed "24 hours a day, seven days a week" until a deadline Nov. 2. She said it was an "optimal time" to settle the case out of court and that a deal should be possible "if everybody is reasonable and acting in good faith."

Bill Gates is still a multibillionaire, but not quite as wealthy as he was a year ago. The co-founder and chairman of Microsoft Corp. remained the richest person in the world as of Aug. 27, according to the annual survey by Forbes Magazine of the 400 wealthiest Americans. The slowing economy was reflected in the declining worth in the rankings, which were released by Forbes on its Web site Thursday night. Super investor Warren Buffett moved into second place, followed by the other Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison dropped from second to fourth.

Microsoft has set Nov. 28 as the release date for Windows XP Embedded, the next version of the company's software designed for devices such as slot machines, cash registers and set-top boxes. The company will release the product at its Windows Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas, said Kelly Meagher, a product manager for Microsoft's Embedded Platform Group. The software is one of a host of "embedded" operating systems for use in special-purpose devices, with three for sale now and another three in development. But Microsoft says there's a plan to this profusion.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and Chairman Bill Gates both received salary increases and bonuses this fiscal year, as the company weathered a challenging environment and its stock price outperformed the Nasdaq. Ballmer received a salary boost to $494,076 this year, a 15 percent increase over last year. But his cash bonus fell to $171,444, down from $200,000 last year. His total cash compensation reached $665,520 for the year. Gates, meanwhile, saw his salary increase to $494,992, up 13 percent from last year. But his cash bonus, as well, fell--to $171,762 this year from $200,000 last year.

The new MSN.com beta site is *expected* to launch later today. Visitors will be able to visit the beta site by clicking on links on MSN.com which will send users to http://beta.msn.com. Not all of the features will be available, such as My MSN, which will be open in early October. The new MSN.com, MSN 7, along with new sites & services throughout the network will launch October 25th in New York City.

Microsoft to Launch Windows XP Embedded at Developers Conference. Second Annual Windows Embedded Developers Conference Will Provide Detailed Technical Information on Upcoming Windows Embedded Operating Systems.

Microsoft Corp. today announced it will launch Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, the componentized version of the Windows XP operating system used for building reliable and full-featured connected client devices, at the second annual Windows Embedded Developers Conference on Nov. 28, 2001, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Delivering on the commitment to deliver Windows XP Embedded within 90 days of the release of the desktop version ensures that embedded developers have access to the latest Windows-based technologies.