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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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[***][12/11/84][***]
TROUBLE IN TEXAS:
It was going to happen sooner or later. It did. Texas Instruments has been
hit by the industry-wide slowdown in chip demand, prompting the company to
lay off 2,000 workers just after Christmas. Most of the layoffs will take
place in Texas where the firm manufactures semiconductors. Analysts suggest
that T.I. and others fell victim to inflated projections for computers last
spring, therefore enlarged its staff. Another reason may be T.I.'s recent
snafoo with the Defense Department, which cancelled orders for chips and
prompted a slowdown in manufacturing. There's no word on cutbacks in computer
manufacturing, as the back inventory of chips for inclusion in T.I. computers
remains large. Read on:
[***][12/11/84][***]
ANOTHER CASUALTY:
T.I.'s announcement followed on the heels of Synertek Inc.'s bugle call of
layoffs. Synertek, which supplied most of the chips used in Atari game and
coin-op arcades, announced (12/3) that it will lay off 1,500 workers
in California and Singapore. Honeywell owns Synertek and is hinting that sale
of the division is imminent. Only 200 people will be left at the Santa Clara
and Santa Cruz plants in January. The company's future is uncertain to say the
least. Interestingly enough, Synertek also supplies certain chips for
Apple's IIe and is obviously not doing well, despite demand for the IIe
at retail stores. Perhaps Apple already has enough chips?
[***][12/11/84][***]
BLACK CHRISTMAS PREDICTION:
InfoCorp has gone out on a limb, being the only predicate to say that the
slowdown in the computer industry is real and dangerous. InfoCorp dismisses
the "seasonality" argument (that it's just a tough quarter), saying that
the slowdown in sales of computers, which has been evident through the second
half of 1984, means a dangerously high quotient of "market penetration"
has been achieved and that the only hope for further penetration is "a
transition to maturity" among computer manufacturers. That means (if I can
read between the lines) that new products and services have not met the
expectations of the buying public. Meanwhile, overseas manufacturers are
getting the cutting edge, according to InfoCorp, causing retail
dissatisfaction, falling profits, and an inability on the part of the public
to dismiss errors on the part of companies.
CONTACT: WILLIAM FRANK, HOWARD FURER
INFOCORP
CUPERTINO, CA.
408-973-1010
[***][12/11/84][***]
THE TRUTH, FINALLY:
Thanks to an enterprising Los Angeles Times reporter, WE NOW KNOW that Jack
Tramiel of Atari DID get an infusion of cash from Atari's former parent
company Warner. Jack got $18.1 million during the October-December time
period to pay back debts the old Atari owed. Meanwhile the SEC documents
also reveal that Jack gets another $12.5 million at 13-percent interest
until 1988 if he wants it. And speaking of Atari, Borland International
has just signed an agreement with the company to provide "Turbo-Pascal"
as the official language of the new Atari 32-bit computer. Sounds strange,
eh? Well, that's what an insider tip says...
[***][12/11/84][***]
BARGAINS GALORE:
Gavilan Computer (remember them?) auctioned off everything but the kitchen
sink (that belongs to Zilog, along with the rest of the building.) The
Campbell, California portable computer-maker went bankrupt in September and
is just this week liquidating its assets. Everyone will be gone from the
company on December 14. When the bids opened for the 500-700 computers
still in the warehouse, the first bid was "$5-dollars!" That set the stage
for a rather heated discussion on the part of the auctioneer, who told them
he wouldn't sell anything for less that it was worth. He ended up compromising
for bids of $150 before the day was done--this for computers which were
originally priced at $3995. Gavilan, as history will show, provided the
first and ONLY machine which was a light-weight portable that included
internal disk drives, modem, printer, a battery-operated 7-hour running
life, and a brief case size. Too bad it failed, but the reason was bad
timing. Gavilan entered the market too early, before portables were viable
fare. Also it was caught in the transition from independent DOS to PC-DOS
and even more interesting was its problem with 3-inch vs. 3 1'2" disk
drives. The dilemma was its death toll.
[***][12/11/84][***]
HACKERS STRIKE AGAIN:
Newsweek reporter Richard Sandza spent several months investigating hackers
and published his findings in Newsweek in the November 12 issue. But the
story doesn't end there. Sandza has become the victim of around-the-clock
telephone calls from hackers who say he is being tried in "teletrials" in
which "juries" are deciding how to reprimand the undercover agent. The
San Francisco journalist reported how easy it is for the hackers to get
credit card, long distance dialing and access numbers. His code-name
was "Montana Wildhack" and he, himself, got into these networks with the
help of hackers. Now, he's paying the price. He got his own credit card
posted on several electronic BBS's when one hacker accessed his name
through the TRW network (the major credit card service in the nation).
Stay tuned for more fun...
[***][12/11/84][***]
MORE PISCES ASTROLOGY:
The Wall Street Journal says that Pisces is a powerful, lightweight computer
aimed at the scientific and engineering markets. The less-than-25-pound
machine should cost $5,000 and run Unix software on a 32-bit microprocessor.
Sources told the WSJ that "50 highly specialized software programs currently
are available for the Pisces." As reported here by Newsbytes two weeks ago,
the Pisces will be marketed with an on-board ink-jet "Think-jet" printer.
Further, the unit will have 512K of RAM.
[***][12/11/84][***]
NEW BOOK ON PCJR:
This will be brief for those of you who don't own a PCjr. But if you do,
there's a great new book available called "Cracking the Peanut" by
Hank Mishkoff. He's given you everything you need to know about the new
technology, including the improved keyboard, software and other enhanced
features. He talks about what works/what doesn't, telecommunications
possibilities, programming and lots more. Write Hank on The Source as
TI2555 or via Workman Publishing, Piano, Texas 75074. The book has sure
helped me! I just bought one of the things.
[***][12/11/84][***]
IN BRIEF--
COMMODORE is paying $25 million to acquire AMIGA, which is developing its
first Macintosh-like computer. This comes from Commodore's annual
report. Commodore continues to say the "less than $1,000" computer will
have great graphics and will be available commercially in early '85.
CENTRAM SYSTEMS WEST of Berkeley, Ca. is developing a networking system
called "Transcendental Networking" (TM for short) that links IBM PCs,
Apple Macintoshes, Unix micros and CPM/80 systems. The PCs get cards, the
rest get external-network-units, according the the manufacturer. No price
was named. Call 415-644-8244.
IBM will market Horizon Software Systems Inc.'s IBM WORD/MATH, an integrated
word processsing and spreadsheet program in January. Horizon, of San
Francisco, says the $600 program is available for the PC and PC Interactive
Executive called the PC/IX.
KAYPRO'S 'Where's the circus tent inventory' isn't resolved, but Kaypro says
its inventory and various sales/profits figures will "break even" for its
year ending August 31. Auditors are taking an awfully long time trying to
figure out if the multi-million dollar inventory disappeared or was never
there in the first place...
TANDON CORPORATION, maker of the new "Dynamite" micro, has filed a complaint
with the International Trade Commission concerning three Japanese
manufacturers. Tandon claims the three (Mitsubishi, TEAC and Sony) be
investigated for patent infringement regarding its floppy disk drives.
The issue surrounds the Japanese companies' penetration into the US market
with similar, more reasonably priced drives.
CARMELO SANTORO, former acting chairman of ASTON-TATE has resigned. No
reason given. Meanwhile, EDWARD ESBER, Ex. VP and CEO of Ashton-Tate
has been named President, replacing David Cole who left for Ziff-Davis
early in December. Esber was a teenage "whiz kid" and a consultant to Ashton-Ts
been named CEO yet.
In publishing news, APPLIED SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY, a name which may be familiar
to you users of "VersaForm" is offering a free publication called "How to
Use a Database in Business and Software Accounting." Just call 408-
378-2662 or write: Joseph Landau/AST/170 Knowles Dr./Los Gatos, Ca. 95030.
GIFFORD COMPUTER SYSTEMS is also offering a free subscription to 'Gifford
Observer". The price is right for these features. Contact: Circulation
Manager Colette Bolton, PO Box 1917, San Leandro, Ca. 94577 or call 415-
895-0798.
AT THE JANUARY COMDEX in Las Vegas look for a SEQUENTIAL music synthesizer
for the Commodore 64. The synthesizers which have proven successful among
rock bands will now have a version for the Commodore, one of which will
cost $99.00 and be capable of three voices. For more info on the new
announcements contact : PAUL PEASE (415-322-2072) or STEVE SALYER (408-
322-2072).