"PC" Means IBM-Compatible

BR>

Year 2000: Quotes and Progress

I am writing to correct an error in the article "Year 2000 Problem Widens" (WT, May 13). The article referred to comments by speakers at the Information Technology Association of America conference on May 2 and the last paragraph of the story contained an error in a quote attributed to me. Specifically, it stated "top federal managers are terrified by [the year 2000 problem.] They're planning to retire before it hits, if they can."

I did not make the statement, nor did I imply any statement of similar meaning.

You may quote me as stating the following: Solving the year 2000 problem is critical to the United States as a whole, as well as the federal government.

I can assure you that top leaders in the federal government are aware of the problem and are working diligently to solve it.

Many successes have been achieved beginning with the formation of the CIO Council Subcommittee on Year 2000, which is composed of 70 federal agencies, working in partnership to resolve the challenges involved with this large issue.

Others include the development of Recommended Contract Language and a Federal Acquisition Regulation for the acquisition of year 2000-compliant products.

A Best Practices subgroup has been actively developing information on the five phases of dealing with the year 2000 issues. The federal year 2000 community is working with state, local and international governments.

The year 2000 challenge is a large problem which is looming directly in front of us. The federal government, as well as other governments and private industry, have much to do.

The CIO Council Subcommittee on Year 2000 will continue to provide a leadership role within the federal community, as well as throughout the world. Please assure your readers that the federal government is working hard to address the problem.

Cynthia Warner
Year 2000 Program Manager
Office of Information Technology
Office of Governmentwide Policy
General Services Administration

"PC" Means IBM-Compatible

With reference to Mr. Ver Hoef's letter to the editor, "PC" could apply to Mac clones, too (WT, June 26). Only a Macintosh user would make this distinction. The many millions more who use IBM-compatible machines clearly understand that the distinction is between PCs (upper case), i.e., IBM-compatible, and Macs. The author of the initial article may have erred in not using a more generic term such as personal computer (lower case) or individual computer. But to claim "PC" is appropriate for a Mac as well is to ignore reality - one either has a PC, or one has a Mac. That's the way Apple wanted it; that's the way it is.

Wesley Teague
Alexandria, Va.
wes_teague@c-cubedcorp.com

We welcome signed letters to the editor. Letters must include name, location and e-mail address if sent electronically. For verification purposes, please also include a daytime phone number, which will not be published. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Please e-mail to technews@technews.com with "Letter to Editor" in the subject line, or mail to Letter to the Editor, Washington Technology, 8500 Leesburg Pike, Suite 7500, Vienna,Va. 22182, or fax to (703) 848-2353.