Emerging battlefronts in software strategy wars; strong I.B.M. entry against Microsoft

Article Abstract:

IBM is set to compete head-on with Microsoft in the operating system for work group computing market with its introduction of OS/2 2.1 on May 18, 1993. Microsoft's competing product, Windows NT, will debut on May 24. Both OS/2 2.1 and Windows NT are pioneers in operating software systems, which are master programs that define users' interactions with computers' central brains. Analysts see IBM's efforts as an opportunity for the company to regain credibility in the market; however, some are skeptical about IBM's competitor potential because of its past product flops, such as the original OS/2. OS/2 2.1 improves on version 2.0 and offers strong multitasking capabilities. While IBM's product may be technologically superior, Microsoft's stable market base is a formidable factor.

Electronic computers, International Business Machines Corp., Business planning, Workgroup computing, Competition, Work Group Computing, OS/2 2.1 (Operating system)

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Microsoft soft-peddling its latest

Article Abstract:

Microsoft Corp officials are taking pains to emphasize that its much-awaited operating system, Windows NT, is not intended for a mass audience. The move is indicative of official concerns that the publicity that attended the product has raised too-high expectations among users. Furthermore, company insiders are worried that the NT's powerful new networking features found normally in bigger corporate computers and its price that starts at $500 will alienate the microcomputer industry. Windows NT is targeted at corporate users and supports large enterprisewide networks, such as airline reservation systems and insurance claims systems. It will use Windows, not MS-DOS, as an overlay and requires massive memory, a fast processor chip and a big hard drive.

Marketing Strategy

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