Microsoft Releases Windows NT and Advanced Server to Manufacturing 

Release Proves Microsoft's Commitment to Corporate Users; Industry Support
Is Largest-ever for High-end Operating System

REDMOND, Wash. * July 27, 1993 * Microsoft Corporation  today released both
the Microsoft* Windows NT* operating system  and Windows NT Advanced
Server to manufacturing.  Shipments of  the complete Windows NT solution
for client-server computing are  scheduled to be available from
value-added resellers, systems  integrators, computer manufacturers and
software retailers - as  well as direct from Microsoft - within  three
weeks.

The computer industry is responding to this major milestone  with a large
outpouring of third-party support.  Windows NT has  been tested for
compatibility with more than 2,600 computers,  printers and peripherals. 
More than 70,000 development kits for  Windows NT have been purchased, and
more than 2,000 new 32-bit  applications for the Microsoft Windows*
operating system are  being developed for release over the coming months. 
These new  applications will add to the base of tens of thousands of 
existing applications for the Windows and MS-DOS* operating  systems that
can be run without change on Windows NT.  More than  15,000 people at
3,000 companies have been trained under  Microsoft's Solution Providers
program to offer end users high- quality training and technical support
worldwide.

"When we introduced the Windows NT platform, we declared our  unwavering
commitment to corporate users and the corporate  market.  The shipment of
Windows NT will be an important  milestone, enabling customers to benefit
more fully from their  already large investment in the Windows-based
environment," said  Gates.  "As evaluations are completed and new
applications are  developed, Windows NT will be seen as a tool that
provides  customers with the opportunities to significantly extend the 
benefits they get from their PC desktop and server hardware,  simplify
their environments, and tap into their existing  computing equipment more
easily by using the industry-standard  networking that is integrated into
Windows NT.  

"For business-critical computing, corporate users place a  high priority on
stability and reliability," Gates added.  "So do  we - so we subjected
Windows NT to the most extensive testing  effort in our history.  The
massive industry support  infrastructure now in place for Windows NT
should make corporate  users confident that Windows NT is, as promised, an
extremely  powerful, reliable and open solution for client-server 
computing."

Users Praise Power, Stability, Open Architecture

Bank of America was an early user of Windows NT.  "To  justify the move to
a new system, we needed a business analysis  and reporting system that
could better handle massive amounts of  data and complex financial
reports, while performing at an  optimum level in Bank of America's Intel
and Windows-based  environment," said William Carpenter, vice president in
charge of  PC/MIS for Bank of America's Wholesale Banking Information 
Management.  "We needed new levels of power, flexibility and ease  of use;
we found it with Windows NT."

Arbor offers eSSbase for Windows NT, the industry's first  client-server
multidimensional analysis system.  In its Bank of  America installation,
the eSSbase software for Windows NT  consolidates data available on the
network in 50 minutes,  compared to 18 hours needed for the earlier,
mainframe-based  system.

"Windows NT allows us to build applications that combine  mission-critical
power and the familiar Windows interface, so our  users can accomplish new
tasks without special retraining," said  Kirk Cruikshank, vice president
of marketing at Arbor Software.  

NASA is taking advantage of the portability of Windows NT  with a range of
networked RISC, symmetric multiprocessor  computers and x86 uniprocessor
computers to manage its "Mission  Planet Earth" project, which analyzes
and consolidates 2  terabytes of satellite-based geographic information
per day.

"Windows NT is highly robust and stable and is truly a next  generation
operating system," said Dr. Briscoe Stephens, manager  of NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center.  "Microsoft has taken the  best parts of the
operating systems that exist today and put them  into Windows NT, while
reducing the expense of training employees  because of its ease of use." 


The robustness of  Windows NT and its compatibility with  existing hardware
and software were tested by an unprecedented  70,000-plus developers and
10,000-plus corporate end-user sites  prior to release.  Microsoft tested
Windows NT every day for more  than two years, subjecting the daily builds
to heavy stress  testing to expose problems.  Microsoft has also been
using  Windows NT internally for more than two years - both as a 
development platform and as its corporate server platform.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will use Windows NT  as a CAD
platform for workgroup use with Windows NT Advanced  Server functioning as
the domain controller.

"Stability and single network log on are the biggest issues  for my
business," said Cliff Barnett, EDP programmer and analyst,  Arizona
Department of Transportation.  "Windows NT is a much more  stable
platform; security is tighter; and log on is greatly  simplified.  We
don't have to keep track of 30 different  passwords anymore.  And using
the Windows interface with Windows  NT is a real benefit.  Our employees
have seamless access to the  operating system without having to think
about what platform they  are using."

"After studying many alternatives, Nordstrom chose Windows  NT Advanced
Server for its new enterprise management system,"  said Larry Shaw, PC
coordinator at Nordstrom.  "We made this  choice because of the clear
advantages the Windows NT platform  offers in the area of distributed
systems management, control and  security.  The Windows NT Advanced Server
makes our  administrator's job much easier by offering a single log-on 
feature plus remote administration and management capabilities.   These
features give Nordstrom the ability to administer all of  its stores from
one central location."

"We are thrilled to see the availability of Windows NT and  Windows NT
Advanced Server," said Casey Powell, CEO, president  and chairman of
Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.  "Corporate  customers are voicing high
demand for Sequent's WinServer family  of symmetric multiprocessing
systems running Windows NT.   Clearly, Windows NT is a great applications
server for business- critical solutions."

In addition, Microsoft and Digital Equipment expect to have  the Alpha AXP
version of Windows NT in customer hands within 60  days.

A Significant Achievement

"Windows NT is probably one the largest software projects  ever
undertaken," said Paul Maritz, senior vice president of the  systems
division at Microsoft.  "In a four-and-a-half-year  timeframe, the Windows
NT team has delivered a new operating  system with a new graphics and
window management system and a new  networking system (client and server)
- all sharing a common,  integrated, open and certifiably secure design -
on three  architectures that are available as both uniprocessor and 
multiprocessor.  To have done this within nine months of the  original
schedule without having to sacrifice any original design  goals, is an
incredible achievement.  I am confident that as more  people become
familiar with Windows NT, it will be seen as a  robust, well-structured
foundation that can be expanded upon for  many years to come."

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide  leader in
software for personal computers.  The company offers a  wide range of
products and services for business and personal  use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more  enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of  personal computing every day.

Microsoft Corp, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
206-882-8080,  fax: 206-93MSFAX

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