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Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June
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Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso
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1991-10-04
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[***][5/15/84][***]
HEWLETT PACKARD'S NEW PORTABLE:
Unveiled May 10 at the company's Palo Alto headquarters, the Hewlett-Packard
portable computer is easily one of the most sophisticated portable computers
ever made and stacks up as one of the best. The computer has more memory
(272K), a longer-lived battery (16 hours, employing the CMOS technology) and
provides more sophisticated applications than all the competitors. The five
built-in programs, including Lotus 1-2-3, would cost $900 retail but are
integrated into the computer's hard-disk memory technology. Hewlett Packard
expects to sell up to 50,000 of these machines during the summer. The
company will spend $10 million to advertise it, targeting the ads at the more
than 12 million people who must do work "away from their desk." Analysts
say the company has a "winner" which will compete directly with IBM's own
portable. The HP Portable is IBM-compatible and the basic model carries a
price tag of $2995. ( SEE SPECIAL REPORT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS ON THE
HP PORTABLE.)
----
CONTACT: ROY VERLEY
HEWLETT-PACKARD
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
415-857-1501
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
ATARI STAR WARS:
Lucasfilm and Atari joined "Forces" for the unveiling of two new home video
games (May 8) that are designed to bring about a renaissance in the video
game business. "Rescue on Fractalus" and "Ballblazer" are more demanding
than most games but offer superior color graphics and sound effects. They
will be available for Atari systems by the Fall and for Apple, Commodore
and IBM computers by early Winter. The games have been in the making for
two years; Lucasfilm's eight game programmers did most of the designing
for the two games. The video games will retail for $35 each. "Rescue"
requires the player to "pilot" a spacecraft in pursuit of aliens in a
3-D-like environment. It features realistic-sounding cockpit and jetfighter
launching effects. "Ballblazer" features a checkerboard, split-screen
field, accompanied by an improvisational jazz soundtrack, which
requires the player to control a "rotofoil" ball in a game much
like hockey. Analysts say the games are innovative and should sell well.
----
CONTACT: DAVID FOX, LEAD DESIGNER
LUCASFILM
SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA
415-457-5282
----
BRUCE ENTIN
ATARI
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA
408-745-4142
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
XEROX FAILS TO COPY:
Xerox has become another casualty of the computer industry. Its battery-
powered 1810 portable computer has been discontinued following the demise
of its maker, Sunrise Systems, which entered bankruptcy proceedings
recently. The 1810 was introduced seven months ago and never sold well;
software gliches and problems with batteries are blamed. The 1810 sold
for $2,195, a price which was never competitive with Tandy. Tandy sold
a similar but better-equipped model for $1,000. The Wall Street Journal
reports Xerox is now reorganizing its sales and marketing forces in a move
called "Team Xerox". The team will concentrate on large accounts in
which its high-technology products can be integrated.
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CONTACT: WILLIAM GLAVIN, EX. V.P.
XEROX
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
716-427-5400
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
MAC-SHORTAGE:
Evelyn Richards of the San Jose Mercury News reports that Apple Computer
is experiencing a shortage of "Imagewriter" printers, the only printer
which operates with the MacIntosh computer. She says approximately 40%
of MacIntosh owners don't have printer and want them. Apple supposedly
will have the problem resolved in a few months and says a shortage of
chips is to blame.
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
BURROUGHS?
Yes, Burroughs, the bastion of mainframe-ism is entering the arena with
a desktop computer called the "B 25". Not to be left behind by competitors,
Burroughs' Clint Bull, VP for marketing, says the company is looking for
a "different niche" in the micro industry. That's obvious by the fact
that Burroughs' new computer is not IBM-compatible. "We never wanted
IBM compatibility," he says. The "B 25" can run several hundred of the
programs written for the IBM but can't run the rest of them without internal
programming changes. Several companies including Lotus are working on
programs for the Burroughs computer. Few analysts expect the "B 25", which
sports 256K, a CRT screen, two drives and a full keyboard, to succeed.
The company is projecting sales of 50,000 this year.
----
CONTACT: BURROUGHS CORPORATION
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
212-883-8000
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
IBM GOES HALFWAY:
Only part of the long-awaited networking system for the IBM PC was
announced last week by IBM. Announced was a cabling system that should be
installed in lieu of the actual specifications for LANs which are still
2-3 years away. Analysts expected the entire LAN system to be announced;
it wasn't. Even the cabling diagrams and technology won't be revealed
until October. What's the delay? Speculation has it there are still
problems with the Texas Instruments microchips that will be employed in
the system. Many are accusing IBM of preannouncing the networking links
and are angry. Said one, "I'm underwhelmed."
----
CONTACT: IBM
NEW YORK NEW YORK
212-407-6942
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
IN THE REAGAN KITCHEN:
The Washington Post reports President Reagan's administration wants to
expand its electronic surveillance programs. The theft of potentially
sensitive data through the phone lines is of increasing concern to federal
officials. Right now the feds' major concern is the law. The Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires spies to get court approval
before engaging in surveillance, was designed to intercept voice
communication. As a Justice Department official reportedly told the W.P.,
"We don't believe the Act constitutes a statutory prohibition against
all warrantless surveillance involving nonaural acquisition of
communications." Translated, does that mean, "We're doing it and go
ahead and sue us!"?
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL IDEA:
Federal officials are also getting read for "Project Rampart", a program
which insiders say will involve implantation of electronic "bugs" in
high technology packages in order to trace their movements. Customs
officials at airports and shipping centers would be able to use
special sensors to locate equipment on a Commerce Department list of "controllet
of the "bug" and the project is ready for operation.
----
CONTACT: DENNIS MURPHY, SPOKESMAN
CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
202-566-8159
----
[***][5/15/84][***]
FBI TRACKS SERIAL KILLERS:
This summer, the FBI will have a nationwide computer network set up that
will analyze and collate all information on murders in order to trace
"serial killers" much like Christopher Wilder. The system will operate
from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia and has been designed by the
Violent Crime Apprehension Program. The system cost $5 million to
design over the last 18 months. Officials won't say what hardware and
software are running the system but imply that all FBI offices will be
tied into it. If you want more information, call the consultant to the
project, listed below.
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CONTACT: STEVE EGGER
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS
409-294-1111
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[***][5/15/84][***]
IN BRIEF--
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR and TEXAS INSTRUMENTS will share National's Series
32000, 32-bit microprocessor technology. The announcement means the two
companies will develop hardware and software products.
--FRANKLIN COMPUTER loses another executive. R. Barry Borden, President
and Chairman, resigned amid speculation the company is taking a
dramatic new approach to the marketing and research for computers.
FRANKLIN is due to come out with some new products next week.
--COLECO's directors Handel and Hillman are named in lawsuits
by shareholders. They're charged with selling off their $9
million in stock while in possession of inside information regarding
problems with the Adam home computer.
--TRILOGY delayed its supposedly faster-than-IBM mainframe again.
Mid-1987 is the new date. This is the fourth delay in
this financially-troubled company's history.
--TANDY CORPORATION reports sales only rose 1% last quarter, the lowest
rise since 1978 and an indicator that Radio Shack's computer division isn't
enjoying sales as brisk as they used to be.
--AT&T'S "Xtra" computer appears on retails shelves this week.
AT&T will spend $15 million advertising it this summer. The "Xtra"
was introduced at Comdex last November and will cost $3,500.
----