"Looking through the introductory manual theysent me, I'm a little unimpressed, because beingin a beta [testing] situation, I'd like to have alittle more technical information," Osterbergsaid.

Osterberg added, however, that he will be eagerto see how Windows 95 fits into already-existingsoftware.

"As director of the HCS's network group, it'sinteresting to me how Windows 95 will be workinginto the worldwide network-slash-internetcommunity," Osterberg said. "Their motto--'Wheredo you want to go today?'--implies that it's goingto be network-friendly."

Microsoft first contacted the computer sciencedepartment about testing the software on campus.

But because of possible commercial ties and thecompany's nondisclosure rules, the departmentreferred the corporation to HCS, Stafford said.

"When [Microsoft] contacted us directly, Inaturally jumped on the offer, because Idefinitely want all of Harvard's students to gettheir hands on the latest software out there,"Stafford said. "The only thing it cost us wasreally our time."

Harvard is not the only college test site.According to Stafford, the company is alsodistributing the beta final-release versionthrough the University of Washington and StanfordUniversity, as well as through large corporations,small corporations and small businesses or homeoffices.

It is the non-academic dimension of the testingthat interests him most, Stafford said.

"Normally, when people get excited aboutcomputers, they complain that fast is down or thatthe network doesn't work," Stafford said. "It'snice to see that people have an interest incomputers just for fun, because that's what thisis."

"I plan to have a blast [with Windows 95] thisweekend after I get some work out of the way,"Stafford added