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News In Review

March 15, 1999

Microsoft Admits Catch In Win2000 Compatibility

Professional version may not provide full backward compatibility with many apps

By Stuart J. Johnston

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  • We Want Windows
    • And from our sister publications:
  • Windows Magazine Windows 2000
    • As Microsoft prepares to deliver the third and final beta of Windows 2000 next month, potential deployment difficulties are surfacing. Microsoft officials confirmed last week that the system may not be fully compatible with some business applications.

    At the heart of the problem are the myriad development practices that third-party and business programmers have used in writing Windows apps. "We're being much more disciplined about what we allow applications to write or not write--and in doing that, we will be breaking compatibility with a lot of applications," says Yusuf Mehdi, director of marketing in Microsoft's applications and Internet client group.

    The difficulty exists mainly with the desktop version, Windows 2000 Professional, officials say. "We've said we're going to maximize reliability and then, as much as possible, get compatibility," Mehdi says. He admits the strategy may require companies to reinstall or revise applications, but he says it's "the right decision to make." Microsoft is expected to announce this week how it will inform and work with developers and customers to resolve the problems.

    Still, the trade-off may lead to headaches for IT staffers as they deploy Windows 2000, since Microsoft isn't positive it can provide complete compatibility with all existing apps even when Windows 2000 finally ships. That could increase users' upgrade time and costs. "This isn't the sort of thing that contributes to an accelerated operating system adoption," says Chris Le Tocq, director of software consulting at Dataquest.

    Howard Jones, CIO at Snapper Inc., a manufacturer of power mowers in McDonough, Ga., was ready to go to Windows 2000 as soon as it ships. Now, he says, he may have to delay those plans. Says Jones, "If we have to send a person to each desktop, it will triple our cost and take at least twice as long."


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