Free competition

At Edinburgh University Bob McGonigle sportingly welcomed Microsoft's launch of its software for Web sites, the Internet Information Server, even though this is likely to damp down demand for Edinburgh's own product, the EMWAC server. While there was no alternative, Microsoft gave away the EMWAC server free to users of its Windows NT operating system. Now it is distributing its own Web server software, also free.

"It is going to benefit the academic community greatly because a manufacturer is giving away a good quality product with their operating system," said Mr McGonigle, adding that he will soon be launching the Toolchest, an even bigger bundle of Windows NT Internet software - including a Web server, WAIS search engine, email and news servers - which, once again, will not cost academics a penny.