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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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1984
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1991-10-04
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[***][8/28/84][***]
ATARI SUES AMIGA:
As one Commodore source said last week concerning Jack Tramiel's expected
reaction to Commodore's purchase of Amiga, "He's going to have a fit." The
fit took the form of a $100 million lawsuit last week--not against
Commodore but against Amiga Corp. Tramiel's Atari charges that Amiga
broke a contract with Atari to develop three new semiconductors, chips which
"represent a significant technological advance for use in computers" according
to court papers filed in Santa Clara, Ca. Atari supposedly paid half a million
to Amiga in March to develop the chips. Amiga refunded the money to Atari just
days before Amiga was sold to Commodore. The 3 chips in question are believed
to be the heart of the new Amiga computer, a machine with excellent
graphics capabilities. The suit will probably throw a monkeywrench into
Commodore's plan to market the Amiga. And that is probably just what Tramiel
wants.
[***][8/28/84][***]
UNITE AND CONQUER:
It seems if you can't beat 'em, join together. North Star Computers and
Fortune Systems are in serious talks designed to bring about a merger between
the two companies. As one large company, they might have a better chance
to succeed against AT&T and IBM. Discussions between North Star of San
Leandro, Ca. and Fortune Systems of Redwood City, Ca. will go on for the next
four weeks with a final decision due in the middle of September.
[***][8/28/84][***]
COMPUTER SALES SURVEY:
InfoCorp, a market research firm, says two-thirds of the computers purchased
during the first quarter of this year went not to businesses--but to homes.
And as of April, nearly 12 percent of American homes had computers in them
or a household member used a computer at work. The fourth quarter is
considered the goldmine period. That's when more than 60 percent of
computers are sold (Christmas, of course.) InfoCorp says the most frequently
purchased home computer is a Commodore. The best-selling business computer
is still IBM's PC. Overall, Commodore racked up 23% of all computer sales,
followed by IBM's 18 percent and Apple's 16 percent.
----
CONTACT: INFOCORP
CUPERTINO, CA.
408-973-1010
[***][8/28/84][***]
SUMMER SOFTWARE LULL:
It's no secret that many software companies are falling on their swords. Sales
of software are poor for nearly every company with a few exceptions.
Creative Strategies has slashed its projection of a 50% industry growth rate
to 40% this year. Only the best-advertised integrated software packages
seem to have any turnover. Ashton-Tate's Framework and Lotus' 1-2-3 are
among the few success stories. Too many continue to compete for a market
that hasn't been moving as fast as expected.
[***][8/28/84][***]
DISKETTE DOLDRUMS:
Yet another segment of the industry is having trouble making ends meet. The
floppy disk manufacturers are staggering under a burden of red ink. Most
recently, Dysan of Santa Clara, Ca. reported a $15.2 million loss during
its third quarter ending August 4. Slowing computer sales in general and
a move by many consumers to hard drives are contributing to the industry
shakeout. Add to that Dysan's determination earlier this year to make a
3 1/4" diskette the industry standard. Those making the 3 1/2" diskette
won that round. Magnetic Media Information Services, a trade group, says
the shakeout will affect nearly 50% of the floppy drive companies by 1990.
John McLaughlin says 70 companies are making floppy drive media. "That's
three times too many."
[***][8/28/84][***]
COLECO GOES TO COLLEGE:
It's an unique sales pitch designed to get a few more reluctant souls to buy
an Adam computer. Coleco is offering a $500 scholarship to any person who
buys an Adam, is younger than 18 on September 1, 1985, and is enrolled in
a college or university four-year degree program by the age of 19. Whew!
Got that straight? The scholarship idea comes in light of a major advertising
campaign for Adam's rebirth. The complete Adam package--a computer, disk
drive and printer--sells for $700.
[***][8/28/84][***]
STEPPING ON THE GAS:
Japanese scientists report they've come up with a way to make better gallium
arsenide chips. Gallium arsenide is a crystal that operates cooler and faster
than silicon. The Research Development Corporation of Japan claims it's
working with the substance at the molecular level. The outcome of the
research could prove significant. American firms have been researching
gallium arsenide as a conductor for the last 20 years but few have achieved
success at a cost-effective level. A spokesman for the group contends the
gallium arsenide chip could be up to 100 times faster than a silicon chip.
[***][8/28/84][***]
BRIEFS--
GEORGE TATE, co-founder of ASHTON-TATE is dead at the age of 40. His
apparent heart attack on August 10 has left people in shock. Tate had
no prior history of heart ailments; he was found slumped over his desk
at his Culver City office.
SOFTALK is gone. The Apple-users magazine ceased publication (8/20)
following cash flow problems. Along with SOFTALK, SOFTALK PUBLISHING'S
IBM and MacIntosh magazines have also folded. Ad revenue has been
drying up for some time as advertisers either don't buy ads or don't pay
their bills....An Apple Computer spokeswoman commented on the demise of
SOFTALK.."We've still got InCider, A+ and Apple Orchard!"
MCGRAW-HILL is having a good time playing monopoly. In just one week two
more acquisitions were recorded. CYMA Corp. of Mesa, Arizona, maker
of vertical application software for health, construction and
financial companies, was purchased. Monchik-Weber, which supplies
information-management services for financial service companies, was also
purchased. Selling price was $55.3 million. A spokesman for McGraw-Hill
says look for another imminent purchase of a computer hardware company.
TANDEM COMPUTER impressed a few people by slashing the price of two of
its mainframe computers by 24 - 38%. The agressive pricing brings the
cost of the NonStop II to $129,500, for instance.
COLUMBIA DATA PRODUCTS might be advised to join North Star and Fortune.
The losses keep piling up as Columbia tries to keep up with IBM. Losses
for the third quarter were revised from $2.47 to $3.53 million because
one of Columbia's customers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. No name
was named.
MOBIL OIL COMPANY is testing its new "debit cards" later this month in San
Diego and Santa Clara, Ca. The cards will draw money directly from a
customer's bank account for payment of service station items. Mobil
plans to expand to 2100 outlets in seven states by the middle of 1986 if
the test meets customer satisfaction.
MR. T of "A-Team" television fame has been slapped with a $500,000 lawsuit
by Data Age Inc. of Campbell, Ca. The software company says the TV star
renegged on an agreement to pose in a TV ad for a new video game. Data
Age says it paid Mr. T $25,000 as an advance.