REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 14, 2000 — Microsoft recently distributed invitations to its upcoming Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2000 to be held in New Orleans April 25 – 27. Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect, will deliver WinHEC 2000’s keynote address underscoring this year’s theme:
“Advancing the Platform, Connecting the World.”
The three-day event, with more technical content then ever before, offers Microsoft’s hardware partners a roadmap for Windows platforms. More than 3,500 key decision makers and engineers are expected to attend WinHEC 2000, including senior technical managers, hardware engineers, architects, product planners and project leads.
“Over the past nine years, WinHEC has grown to encompass a vast amount of technology that reflects the evolving needs of customers. Windows today, for example, is not just about the PC; it’s about all kinds of smart devices, information appliances and PCs operating seamlessly,” said Carl Stork, Microsoft Windows Hardware General Manager. “This year’s event is the broadest and most technical WinHEC ever, with more then two times the technical content to help the hardware industry deliver compelling solutions to meet their customers’ needs.”
In response to attendee feedback, this year’s WinHEC will deliver twice as many technical sessions; new driver developer sessions; and important details for PC, server, appliance and embedded solutions. Technical sessions will focus on a variety of topics such as building easier to use PCs, improved audio and video support, and better server technology. New driver development sessions, led by Microsoft Windows developers, will help partners to better understand issues and techniques associated with the Windows driver architecture. Strategy sessions for consumer and business technologies will offer WinHEC attendees the opportunity to see the big-picture view of Microsoft’s goals and initiatives for the hardware community.
Other highlights of WinHEC include a tradeshow featuring over 100 industry partners’ products and services; general sessions by Carl Stork, Microprocessor Report analyst Michael Slater and a featured Intel executive.
WinHEC attendees will preview the technologies and initiatives that are advancing the industry and learn how to build platforms and appliances running Microsoft’s Windows Operating Systems, enabling them to deliver solutions for consumer, business and Internet strategies.