“Microsoft Corp. Wednesday wrapped up a $1 billion,
three-year-plus project to create a professional operating system
it hopes will win a big following in back shops of “dotcom”
Internet companies, one software market Microsoft does not already
dominate….”
“Microsoft is also counting on Windows 2000 to deepen its
hold on the office desktop market, even as new competitors aim to
win a share of that market with rival operating systems such as
Linux.“
“Asked how much Microsoft spent developing Windows 2000, Jim
Allchin, Microsoft’s group vice president for platforms, said,
“It’s a huge number..We are probably into a billion dollars.”