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MICROSOFT AND PC MAKERS BACK NEW POWER MANAGEMENT
INITIATIVE
The Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WINHEC 1996)
in San Jose, Calif. on April 1 was the venue Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft
Corp. and major computer PC companies chose to launch a major initiative.
Called OnNow, the industry initiative aims to create PCs and peripherals
that are instantly ready to operate at all times.
OnNow PCs will turn on instantly without rebooting just as VCRs or TVs.
These PCs will respond automatically to incoming faxes, voice mail and
e-mail even when they appear to be turned off. OnNow will be supported
in future releases of the Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT operating
systems.
The OnNow initiative is a result of PC manufacturers requests for a
system wide approach to power management. The OnNow architecture was
shaped by the hardware industry at an open design preview held at Microsoft
in December.
OnNow improves upon current PC power management systems by enabling
the operating system to play a central role. Software applications and
every hardware device can participate in power management, and OnNow
delivers a standard way to implement power management across all PC
platforms.
Current power management is intended for notebook PCs.Thus, applications
developers have been slow to use the features in mainstream applications.
With OnNow, developers can write one application for both notebooks
and desktop PCs and exploit the power management features provided.
Consumers will also benefit by having a common application feature set
for both notebook and desktop PCs.
Major companies supporting OnNow include Compaq Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard
Co., Intel Corp., Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Toshiba America Information
Systems Inc.
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