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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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(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00001)
COMPUTER BEST-SELLERS ANNOUNCED
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 18 (NB) -- What's the best-
selling Macintosh book in the U. S.? The best-selling desktop-
published book ever published? The best selling self-published
computer book? According to publishers Goldstein & Blair, all three
answers are its Macintosh Bible. Already on a third printing, less
than five months after publication, the second edition's 95,000
copies brings the book's total [first and second editions combined]
to 180,000.
The 759-page second edition contains over 500 pages of new material
and free updates will be provided to buyers who send in their name
and address. Updates are scheduled for summer 1989 and early 1990
with the third edition due in the fall of 1990. A companion disk is
also available. [But does it run on the PC?]
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 415-524-4000)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00002)
DETAILS ABOUT THE NEW MICROSOFT WORD
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30(NB) -- The next version
of Microsoft's Word software for the Macintosh, version 4.0, will
include DocuComp. According to developer Advanced Software, DocuComp
uses pattern-recognition technology to compare two versions of a
document. The program will compare any text including program source
code. A special mode even shows changes made to source-code
listings.
Four reporting methods are available: a two-paned comparison window
can simultaneously show corresponding sections of a document; a
printed composite showing inserted, deleted, replaced and moved
text; a file of the composite; or a comparison summary listing
revisions by page and line number. With the two-paned comparison
window, the user can have both documents scrolling in
synchronization or the user can automatically jump to the next
change. Appearance of composite documents can be customized with
several options.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 408-733-0745)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00003)
UTILITIES UPDATE SHIPS FOR MACINTOSH
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- Symantec
Corporation is shipping version 1.1 of Symantec Utilities for
Macintosh (SUM). The product is based on the Mac Zap data-recovery
program from Micro Analyst, Inc. The new version of SUM includes
hot-key updating, an easy-to-use installation program, thirty new
application signatures, and improved error-message handling with no
increase in the product's $99.95 price. Increased functionality has
also been added to the product's data-protection program Guardian.
Guardian recovers data after some hard-disk failures. Upgrades are
available free to recent purchasers or for $15 to those who
purchased the product before December 16, 1988. A $35 conversion is
available to Mac Zap owners.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 408-252-3570)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00004)
SIMWARE RELEASES NEW VERSION OF MAC3270
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- A new version of
Simware Inc.'s Mac3270 software provides two-way file transfer
between Macintoshes and IBM mainframes across multiple
communications paths. Mac3270 2.0 also gives Mac users
consistent, full-screen access to mainframe applications,
according to Simware. The new version supports dial-up
communications, IBM's Systems Network Architecture [SNA], X.25
networks and coaxial connections. It also supports all popular
methods of emulating IBM's 3270 terminal line.
Simware, a seven-year-old company, also sells SIMPC, a micro-
mainframe link package for IBM and compatible personal computers.
The company sells its products directly and through distributors
in Canada, the United States, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Single-
copy price for the master version of Mac3270 is C$440.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Alison Overtveld, Simware Inc.,
613-727-1779)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00005)
UPPERCASE BRINGS ADOBE STREAMLINE TO CANADIAN MARKET
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Adobe Streamline, a
tracing program for art production from Adobe Systems, Inc. of
Mountain View, Calif., is now available in Canada. Uppercase
Technology Inc., Adobe's exclusive manufacturer's representative
here, is now selling the software for C$525. The program converts
bit-mapped files into Adobe Illustrator or encapsulated
PostScript format.
(Grant Buckler/19890216/Contact: Uppercase Technology Inc., 416-
470-6111)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00001)
744 ACRES FOR COMPAQ EXPANSION
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Compaq Computer
Corporation has announced the purchase of 744 acres of land,
including a 36-acre lake, across from its main facilities in
northwest Houston. The acquisition is slated for future
manufacturing and administrative expansion. Purchase brings the
firm's total acreage to slightly over 1,000. Houston's Economic
Development Council provided the company with tax-abatement,
utility-service, human-resource and transportation incentives to
encourage expansion within the city: Compaq now employs over 4,500
workers in Houston.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 713-370-0670)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00002)
BUYER SOUGHT FOR DATAPRODUCTS
WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 10 (NB) -- Printer
manufacturer Dataproducts, Corp. has instructed its investment
banker, Goldman, Sachs & Co., to contact prospective buyers for the
company. According to an announcement, the board of directors is
seeking a "significant premium" over the company's current market
price according and a final decision to sell the company would be
contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory offer.
The decision to obtain a premium price from a strategic buyer was
made as the board's best solution for maximizing shareholder value.
Dataproducts presently has more than $345 million in annual
computer-printer sales. Product lines includes band, line matrix,
dot matrix, laser, solid ink jet, thermal transfer and TEMPEST
printers, plus printer supplies, data communications and avionics
equipment. Documents can even be compared in files from different
word processors. WordPerfect and ASCII files are now also supported
with MacWrite, WriteNow and FullWrite in development.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00003)
TANDY "REALIGNMENT" ANNOUNCED
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- In what Chairman John V.
Roach termed a "realignment of marketing resources," that will,
"sharpen the focus of each organization and will eliminate channel
conflicts within," Tandy Corporation announced that its GRiD Systems
Corp. subsidiary will now operate 61 of its sales, showroom, support
and service centers in 53 markets nationwide. Radio Shack will
continue to operate 300 Computer Centers. The announcement followed
speculation a week earlier that Tandy would shift many struggling
outlets to its recently acquired subsidiary in order to enhance its
sales to large corporations and government units.
Samuel J. Wiegand, GRiD president and CEO, said that the
establishment of GRiD System Centers indicates a substantially
increased commitment to major corporate accounts and federal and
state governments. "We will build our base of field automation
systems customers, provide an expanded product line and expanded
service and support capability to those customers and the business
market in general," said Wiegand. "The 61 new GRiD Systems Centers
will provide forums for product sale and demonstration, as well as
applications consulting and customer training. Our product offering
will be increased to provide desktop work stations and servers, plus
field support equipment such as cellular telephones and facsimile
machines." Other benefits cited by Wiegand include additional
support for laptop customers and significantly increased sales into
"large corporations and major governmental agencies."
Comments made by Radio Shack President Bernard S. Appel at a press
conference indicated that Radio Shack would be abandoning its
efforts to sell into major national accounts in favor of smaller
businesses and home offices. Parroting the words of Chairman Roach,
Appel also used the term "sharpening the focus" to describe the
pullback of Radio Shack efforts. With Radio Shack to concentrate on
general business, home-office, professional and education markets,
the two Tandy organizations expect channel conflicts to be
eliminated.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00004)
ICA CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION TURNS 42
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- The 42nd Annual Conference
and Exposition of the International Communications Association [ICA]
has been scheduled here for April 30 through May 5. Meetings,
including nearly 80 technical sessions, will be held in the Loews
Anatole Hotel while over 300 exhibits will be on parade at the
Dallas Convention Center. Opening ceremonies will include an address
by Robert L. Crandall, president and CEO of AMR Corporation and
American Airlines, Inc. In addition, Southwestern Bell Telephone
will co-sponsor the largest ever display of ISDN [Integrated
Services Digital Network] applications.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00005)
PRINTER REBATES OFFERED
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 9 (NB) -- Epson America
has announced a consumer cash rebate program for selected LQ-series
printers. Rebates of $25, $50, $75, and $100 apply to all LQ-500,
LQ-850, LQ-950, and LQ1050 model printers respectively. The units
must be purchased between February 10 and April 30, 1989 from
participating Authorized Epson Resellers. The program will coincide
with an intensive consumer advertising campaign and a bonus plan for
participating dealers.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 800-922-8911)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00006)
LEADING EDGE FACES FURTHER WOES; POSSIBLE BANKRUPTCY
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- The well-
publicized problems of Leading Edge Hardware Products continue as
the company faces yet another lawsuit surrounding the proposed
sale of assets. A number of Leading Edge dealers have asked that
the company be placed in involuntary bankruptcy, under Chapter 11
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Last week a former programmer sued
the company for royalties he said were due him from Leading Edge.
The action seems to make it increasingly difficult for Michael
Shane, the Leading Edge founder and chairman, to complete the
sale of assets to PC Systems of Riviera Beach, Fla. Though a
spokesman for PC Systems said that the petition won't affect
their ability to sell computers from Daewoo, the Korean firm that
manufactures the Leading Edge brand PC, the situation was still
unclear at press time. The dealers are claiming that millions in
funds are due, in part because Leading Edge makes dealers pay for
product one month prior to delivery.
The only thing that does seem clear for now, is that the last
chapter in this stick situation is far from being written.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: David Rottenberg, Leading Edge,
617-828-8150)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00007)
LOTUS CREATES PASSPORT CLUB; NEW RESELLER INCENTIVE PROGRAM
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Lotus
Development has created a new twist to try and increase reseller
incentive: the Passport Club. The program is designed like an
airline frequent flyer program, permitting resellers to earn
points for each Lotus product they sell. Points are redeemable
for both merchandise and travel packages.
The company claims that the Lotus Passport Club is the first
program of its kind, and will have approximately 8,000
participants among Lotus resellers. While Lotus is still strong,
the regular delays in the release of their long-awaited upgrade
to Lotus 1-2-3 has caused concern among both stock analysts and
corporate buyers.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Andrea Durham, Lotus, 617-577-8500)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00008)
VISUAL TECHNOLOGY AND SEQUENT ANNOUNCE AGREEMENTS
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- Visual
Technology and Sequent Computer Systems have announced agreements
that could mean more than $1 million in business to Visual in the
next nine months.
Sequent is buying Visuals 640 X Display Stations [640 XDS] for
internal use, training, and sales and marketing support. Sequent
will also be recommending the 640 XDS workstations to customers,
making them the first X Window display stations Sequent will
endorse. The two companies have also jointly installed systems,
consisting of the 640 XDS display stations and a Sequent Symmetry
parallel-processing computer at Purdue University.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Larry Lunetta, 508-459-4903)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00009)
MAI CLAIMS PRIME FIGHTING TAKEOVER
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- MAI Basic Four is
claiming that Prime Computer's announced debt buyback is a scheme
to make the company less appealing to MAI, which has a $970
million hostile takeover offer on the table.
Prime announced plans to buy back 8% debentures of its
Computervision unit, but MAI is contending that the cheap debt
will be replaced by more expensive debt to deter the takeover. A
Prime spokesman indicated the company is not buying back the debt
as a takeover defense.
(Jon Pepper/19890217)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00010)
PRIME POSTS LARGE ORDER FROM CARRIER
NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Prime Computer
announced they have received an order from Carrier for more than
$2.5 million in CAD/CAM systems. The Prime products will be used
for product simulation and modeling, computer-aided process
planning, shop floor applications, tool inventory control,
costing and administration.
The order includes Prime 50 Series superminicomputers, WS3600
workstations, PXCL 5500 workstations, and software including
MEDUSA 2D and 3D, and PrimeDESIGN 3-D packages.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Paul LaBelle, Prime, 508-655-8000)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00011)
SUN ADDS VICE PRESIDENT TO HEAD EAST COAST OPERATION
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Sun
Microsystems has added William Avery to head their East Cost
division operations. Avery, who is now vice president and general
manager of the East Cost division, comes from Encore Computer,
where he was senior vice president of product development.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Kim Miller, Sun, 415-336-7583)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00012)
NYNEX BUYS MCDONNELL DOUGLAS INTERFACE SOFTWARE
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- NYNEX has bought
a software interface from McDonnell Douglas that allows it to
integrate workstation-based expert systems with its mainframe
operations.
The product, called GLIB, for Generic LISP to IMS Bridge, is
currently the only product that lets a SUN workstation running
LISP access hierarchical data from an IMS mainframe environment.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Rosalia Bacarella, NYNEX, 914-644-
7253)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00013)
UNISYS AND PACIFIC BELL IN JOINT MARKETING ACCORD
BLUE BELL, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A, 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Unisys and
Pacific Bell announced an agreement to market a software system
that will automate the testing of customer billing data as
recorded by central office switches.
The product, SentryR Message Data Verification System, uses
MAPPER, a 4th generation product developed by Unisys to automate
the process of testing and validating data recorded on phone
calls that have been placed.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Charlotte J. LeGates, Unisys, 215-
542-4213)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00014)
BUSINESSLAND CANADA OPENS FOR BUSINESS
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- Businessland Canada
has officially opened its doors here, and plans to spread
across the country within a couple of years. Robert Henderson,
vice-president and general manager of the Canadian operation,
said there will eventually be nine to 12 locations across Canada.
At present, Businessland has about 20 employees in Markham,
Ontario, just north of Toronto. Unlike its parent company,
Businessland Inc. of San Jose, Calif., Businessland Canada will
not operate computer stores. The company will rely on a sales
force who will call on customers, Henderson said. "We will never
have a retail location." He said the American company is
evolving in that direction as well.
(Grant Buckler/19890216/Contact: Robert Henderson, Businessland
Canada Ltd., 416-470-7077)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00015)
RIVALS THREATEN SEMI-TECH BID FOR SSMC
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- International Semi-
Tech Microelectronics Ltd.'s bid to put the Singer name on its
personal computers remains doubtful. Two other suitors have
expressed interest in acquiring SSMC Inc., the Singer Co. spinoff
that makes Singer sewing machines. One group is led by Singer Co.
chairman Paul Bilzerian, the other is made up of Malaysian
investors. The Financial Post, published in Toronto, reported
today that Singer Co. has offered to swap Semi-Tech the Singer
trademark for control of SSMC's furniture business in the United
States. SSMC has already signed a merger agreement with Semi-
Tech's Hong Kong subsidiary, Semi-Tech Microelectronics [Far
East] Ltd. But the deal, which would get the fast-growing Semi-
Tech a strong distribution presence in the United States and
possibly a well-known trademark for some of its products, does
not appear to be certain yet.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Semi-Tech Microelectronics Ltd.,
416-475-2670)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00016)
MEMOTEC BUYING CONCORD DATA SYSTEMS
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Memotec Data Inc.
has agreed in principle to buy all outstanding shares of Concord
Data System Inc. The Canadian telecommunications vendor will pay
C$21 million for the Massachusetts modem and network management
systems vendor, subject to approval from Concord shareholders,
Memotec's board of directors and regulators in the United States.
The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of March.
(Grant Buckler/19890216/Contact: Memotec Data Inc., 514-738-4781)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00017)
PARALLEL IMPORTED PRINTERS DESCRIBED IN 'GLOWING' TERMS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Star Printers in Australia has
won an injunction against Micron Computers, which has been
parallel importing Star printers into Australia. The injunction
[against sales, advertising and supplying the printers] is based
not on the expected argument of illegal import, but on the
voltage of the machines.
Mains voltage in Australia and most of the South Pacific is 240V
50Hz, unlike the 110V of North America and 220V of much of
Europe. Since the Star printers in question are 220V and can
possibly overheat and catastrophically fail when used on 240V
mains, Star has claimed that only its purpose-designed models can
safely be sold in Australia.
(Paul Zucker/19890217)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00018)
US SOFTWARE HOUSE AIMS TO BE BIGGEST IN AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- Oracle Systems is aiming to
become the largest US-based software house in Australia by
November. The database specialist hopes that its recently
launched Oracle Financials will make up at least half of the new
business. Staff is expected to exceed 200 by the target date with
revenue of around $20 million. The five year target is $200
million. Oracle's US parent recently reported sales of $123.7
million for six months.
(Paul Zucker/19890217)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00019)
RACAL WINS MAJOR FRENCH DEFENCE COMMUNICATIONS CONTRACT
BRACKNELL, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Racal Communications has
landed a UKP one million contract to supply High Frequency [HF]
communications receivers to the French Ministry of Defence.
The contract, placed by the Direction Des Constructions Navales,
calls for Racal to supply MF/HF ground station receivers for use
by the French Navy in point to point, ship to ship and ship to
shore communications. The receivers can be configured for use
with analogue voice or digital computer links.
(Steve Gold/19890217/Racal Communications - Tel: 0734-782158)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00001)
CASE AUTOMATES INFO SYSTEM'S LIFE CYCLE
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 18 (NB) -- According to a recent
background paper distributed by the company, Texas Instruments is
investing $400 million a year in a CASE [computer aided software
engineering] system. The Information Engineering Facility [IEF]
automates the entire information-systems life cycle and includes
facilities for planning, analysis, design, database generation and
code generation. It is intended for large computing environments
with continuing requirements for system development and maintenance
and replaces hand-drawn system specifications and line-by-line
coding.
The IEF system is designed to reduce development time by a factor of
five while enhancing quality. A central repository of system
information and development rules [the Central Encyclopedia] links
and coordinates the entire process. Because it is an integrated
system, it also eliminates the transformation requirements between
CASE tools which support individual phases of development. The
introduction of errors during the transformation process is
eliminated as a result.
Systems development using IEF begins with the use of diagramming
tools to create models of business and system information.
Consistency checks are provided between diagrams. Descriptions of
business activities produced in the planning phase of development
provide the basis for capturing business requirements during the
analysis phase. Databases and code are generated from the resulting
models. Maintenance or enhancement requires regenerating modified
specifications and regenerating affected code modules.
IEF Planning, Analysis, and Design toolsets operate on desktop
workstations such as the Texas Instruments Business-Pro, IBM PS/2
and PC AT, or compatibles. The system's Central Encyclopedia, Public
Interface, Code Generation Toolset, and Database Generation Toolset
require an IBM mainframe environment.
Texas Instruments plans to continue its investment in CASE research
and development. Key technologies being studied for IEF include
expert systems, object-oriented databases, and natural language
interfaces.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 805-495-3451)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00002)
HILL AND KNOWLTON OPEN PR OFFICE IN NEW ENGLAND
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- Hill and
Knowlton, a major force in high technology public relations, has
announced the opening of a biotechnology practice office in New
England. The move is in response to the rapid growth of new
accounts, according to the company.
According to John F. Hussey, senior vice president and worldwide
director of the Biotechnology Group, "New England's biotech
companies want the capabilities and reach of a national agency,
but also need local public relations professionals who are not
only knowledgeable about their technology but the regional issues
they face as well." New England has the second highest
concentration of biotech firms in the world, according to Hill
and Knowlton.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Joe Grillo, Hill and Knowlton, 617-
642-5954)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00003)
IBM TAKES ROLE IN ADULT LITERACY AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- IBM will be involved
in a new program to help fight adult illiteracy and keep students
in high school. Initially, the company will assist various
community-based organizations, including loaning PS/2 computers
and educational software.
In addition, the 76 IBM-supported job training centers involved
in the program will be using an IBM software product called
Principle of the Alphabet Literacy System, [PALS], developed by
the noted educator, Dr. John Henry Martin. The value of IBM's
participation in equipment and software to each center is
approximately $133,000.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Diana L. Lee, IBM, 914-697-6578)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00004)
PORTABLE COMPUTER SHOW ANNOUNCED FOR MAY
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A 1989 FEB 16 (NB) --
Portable Computing '89, the only show focused on portable and
laptop computers, will be held May 31-June 1 at the Santa Clara
Marriott, according to the IDG Conference Management Group.
The show will be sponsored by Portable Computer Review, Traveling
Software Inc., and Hajar Associates. An additional East Coast show is
scheduled for September 27-28 at the New York Marriott Marquis.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Kathleen Duris, IDG, 508-879-6700)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00005)
REALWORLD CANADA HOSTS DEALER EVENT
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- RealWorld Canada
Inc., of Dieppe, New Brunswick, invited existing and prospective
dealers from across Canada to a software showcase February 15-17.
The newly established master value added distributor for
RealWorld Corp. recently obtained exclusive rights to distribute
and license RealWorld's 4-In-1 Basic Accounting for MS-DOS and a
line of high-end accounting packages for MS-DOS, Unix, Xenix and
Digital Equipment Corp.'s VAX systems.
(Grant Buckler/19890215/Contact: RealWorld Canada Inc., 506-857-
0908)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00006)
ELECTROHOME LAUNCHES GRAPHICS PROJECTOR
KITCHENER, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Electrohome Ltd.
has introduced a three-lens color data graphics and video
projection system. Designed for applications ranging from low-end
video to high-end CAD, the ECP 4000, works with almost any
personal computer or workstation. It is the fifth in the
company's line of projection systems.
The system delivers high-brightness images to flat, curved or
rear screens with images of 5 to 25 feet in diagonal.
Microprocessors direct and monitor all functions, and the system
can store setup information for 28 input sources. On-screen icons
and help menus controlled by the system's infrared remote keypad
contributes to its ease of use, especially in ceiling-mounted
applications, Electrohome said.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Robert P. Lovell, Electrohome
Ltd., 519-744-7111)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00007)
UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO DEMYSTIFY EXPERT SYSTEMS
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Concordia
University says its one-day briefing on artificial intelligence
will explain in no-nonsense terms what expert systems can do.
Entitled Building an Expert System in a Commercial Environment,
the seminar will be held March 20 in Montreal, and March 22 in
Toronto, Ontario. The briefing leader is Jessica Keyes, managing
director of technology and product development for the New York
Stock Exchange. The seminar costs C$875 per person.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Linda Lowden, Concordia
University Executive Development Programs, 514-848-3960)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00008)
ADVANCED SYSTEMS INSTITUTE ELECTS TWO FELLOWS
VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 FEB 10 (NB) -- Two
faculty members at the University of Victoria have been elected
senior fellows of the British Columbia Advanced Systems
Institute. Dr. Yuri Stepanenko, a robotics specialist, and
computer-aided design and manufacturing specialist Dr. Geoffrey
Vickers became the institute's 13th and 14th fellows. The senior
fellowships, worth $70,000 per year, are intended to let the
scientists devote more time to research.
(Grant Buckler/19890215/Contact: David Rodger, British Columbia
Advanced Systems Institute, 604-986-0836)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00009)
INDUSTRY REPS TO HEAR ABOUT UNIVERSITY'S VLSI RESEARCH
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- The University of
Waterloo's very-large-scale integration research group will
discuss their work with industry representatives May 1 and 2.
Representatives of Canadian high-technology companies will hear
about research in microchip design and manufacture. The VLSI
group is part of the university's Institute for Computer
Research. The institute holds regular research briefings for
companies which support its activities.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Joan Pache, University of
Waterloo, 519-888-4084)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00010)
BUYERS ACCUSED OF SOFTWARE CRINGE
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Philip Rhoades, general manager
of Pricom in Australia has slammed Australian software buyers who
ignore locally written products. He told Newsbytes about the "it
comes from America so it must be better" syndrome which hits all
local developers, not only in Australia. He said that his
company's word processor OK4 was the equal of the best overseas
products yet it had recently been passed over by a number of
government departments in favor of the US bestseller WordPerfect.
Rhoades claimed that his companies WP package was without peer in
handling foreign language and symbol character sets.
(Paul Zucker/19890217/Contact: Pricom, Australia, 61-2-3313422)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00011)
NEWS SHORTS FROM AUSTRALIA THIS WEEK
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) --
-Debt-ridden Townsville city council has ended a 22 year
relationship with ICL and moved to Wang and Datamation in a $4
million deal aimed at making the council more efficient.
-Despite the recent dropping of the 20% sales tax on software,
Australian federal police are investigating companies accused of
still collecting the tax and pocketing it.
-Australian international and domestic airlines have failed to
agree on a common reservation system which means that travel
agents will be forced to use both Fantasia and Galileo terminals
when the existing TIAS system is phased out in 1990.
-US software developer Progress Software has raided it's
Australian distributor Datacraft to obtain staff for its own,
new local office.
-Largest supplier to Australian Defence Department in third
quarter 1988 was Hewlett Packard, with around 50% share.
-The Australian Audit office has a computer it can't use. The
building has been condemned but the IBM 4381 mainframe can't be
moved for safety reasons. 200 PCs however, have been evacuated
safely. The event may be the excuse needed to move to
distributed AS/400s.
-Prime has closed its Australian R&D centre in Canberra -
reportedly to save money for its US takeover fight against MAI
Basic Four.
-AST will distribute directly in Australia after terminating its
agreement with giant local distributor Imagineering.
-Queensland [the sunshine state] has started a program to supply
more than 1000 extra PCs to schools. These will join the 4000
already in place.
-Still in Queensland, Metway bank has ordered more than 600 P/2
machines for its 114 branches.
(Paul Zucker/19890217)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00012)
DATABASE RELEASES ATARI ST VERSION OF MINI OFFICE PROFESSIONAL
MACCLESFIELD, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 18 (NB) --Database Software has
launched its Mini Office series of business software on the Atari
ST. The product launch follows the success of the package on
several other machines, notably the BBC micro and PC.
To accommodate all its facilities, Mini Office has been split
into five separate modules, all of which will retail for UKP 24-
95. Two of the modules - Spreadsheet and Communications - were
launched last week, with Document Processor, Database and
Presentation Graphics modules following on shortly.
The Communications package looks interesting, since it supports
viewdata and scrolling ASCII formats, although it is restricted
to ASCII, X-Modem and Kermit file transfers, as well as CET
telesoftware download on viewdata systems. For the money,
however, the Communications module looks to offer good value for
money.
(Steve Gold/19890218/Database Software - Tel: 0625-878888)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00013)
FRONTIER CUTS PRICE OF 30MB ATARI ST SUPRADRIVE
HARROGATE, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Frontier Software has cut
the price of its most popular Atari ST hard disk, the Supradrive
30Mb unit, from UKP 595-95 to UKP 495-95 including 15 per cent
value added tax [VAT]. The drive was released in October last
year to replace Supra's existing 20Mb unit.
Why the price cut? According to Martin Walsh, Frontier's
marketing manager, the company has been able to renegotiate its
contracts with Supra Corporation in the US. Since Frontier has
the exclusive UK distribution rights, the company has been able
to purchase in volume.
"We're happy to be able to pass on the benefits of our
renegotiation in pricing with Supra. I'm sure that the new retail
price of UKP 499-95 will make the 30Mb drives accessible to even
more Atari ST users," he said.
(Steve Gold/19890217/Frontier Software - Tel: 0423-67140
Email: Dialcom 72:MAG40240
Compuserve 72007,163
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00014)
NEW EUROPE 1992 TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Sala
Communications, the specialist Dutch computer and technical
publisher, will launch a new newsletter to clarify the European
Community's [EC's] 1992 Internal Market plan and its impact upon
worldwide technology producers.
The newsletter, titled EUR/1992, and which is designed to make
the EC's related publications readable, is designed to be a
medium for those that need to understand the EC's plans for 1992.
It outlines recent anti-dumping cases and, with the help of
sources placed well within the organisation, offers information
on forthcoming events that could affect businesses on a worldwide
basis.
EUR/1992 is edited in Brussels and Amsterdam and is published on
a monthly basis. Subscriptions to the newsletter cost $495 a
year, including airmail postage to any worldwide destination.
(Peter Vekinis/19890217/Contact: Luc Sala, Sala Communications,
103-105 Weesberstraat,
1018 VN Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
Tel: 020/273198
Fax: 020/253280)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00005)
CRIME BEAT: MAJOR ATM THEFT RING FOILED, ZINN GETS 9 MONTHS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Treasury
Department officers in Los Angeles have cracked a scheme to steal
$14 million from automated teller machines [ATMs], increasing
concerns about the systems' safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney
Carolyn Kubota told reporters Mark Allan Koenig, a former
contract employee for GTE Information Services, created a plan to
make 7,400 counterfeit ATM cards, using codes he got from work.
Before this, a $350,000 robber from Security Pacific using a
specially-designed card was the record-holder for the biggest ATM
robbery.
Elsewhere on the computer crime beat, a Chicago judge sentenced
Herbert Zinn to nine months in prison, a $10,000 fine and 2 1/2
years probation for cracking AT&T and NATO computers under the
name Shadow Hawk. Zinn was 17 when he was caught bragging of his
deeds on a hacker board monitored by AT&T security.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19890217)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00013)
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR WAR GAME SIMULATOR
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Crisis
Simulations Ltd. has received a C$500,000 contract to develop a
computerized war games simulator for the Canadian Armed Forces,
the Halifax Chronicle-Herald reports. The simulator uses advanced
computer and network technology and links commanders with a
series of maps. A Canadian brigade in West Germany is already
using an earlier and smaller version. The 10-employee Halifax
company, led by former army officers, hopes international sales
might follow.
(Grant Buckler/19890217)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00014)
NATIONAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS EXECUTIVES CHARGED
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Five former
executives of National Business Systems Inc. have been charged
with fraud and theft over the company's financial statements. The
Toronto daily newspaper The Globe and Mail reports that former
chairman Clive Raymond has been charged along with four others
who were senior NBS executives, and a sixth man said to be a
friend of Raymond. The company's profits are alleged to have been
inflated by a total of C$10 million in its 1986 and 1987 annual
reports. National Business Systems makes credit-card verification
and electronic point-of-sale hardware.
(Grant Buckler/19890217)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(BRU)(00006)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION FINALISES DEFINITION OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- The European Commission
[EC] has finalised its definition of the origin of integrated
circuits [ICs], an issue that has been bothering the European
Computer business for some time.
A definition of an IC is needed by the EC, so that officials can
determine its origins and thus establish an appropriate rate of
tax and import levies on the product when it is imported into EC
territory.
Currently in Europe, most ICs are made outside the borders of the
Community with the US and Japan sharing the yearly ECU 1,500
million market take [about $1,800 million].
(Peter Vekinis/19890217)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00001)
SCSI CONVERTER SUPPORTS DISTANT PERIPHERALS
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Rancho
Technology has introduced its new SCSI [small computer system
interface] Converter Module which allows users to convert their SCSI
single-ended peripherals to differential-ended peripherals. The RT-
SDA-M extends the single-ended SCSI bus from six meters to the
differential-ended length of twenty-five meters. The unit also uses
RS485 transceivers which provide improved noise immunity. Quantity
pricing of $180 each includes cables for connecting to the
peripheral and a power supply.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 714-987-3966)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00002)
EPSON INTROS PS/2 MODEL 30 LOOK-ALIKE
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 8(NB) -- Epson America, Inc.
has introduced the small-footprint Equity Ie to compete with IBM's
PS/2 model 30. The 10 MHz. system offers 25 percent faster performance than
the 8 MHz. model 30. It is twice as fast as an original IBM PC.
Although featuring a smaller footprint, it offers four expansion
slots compared to the model 30's three. Floppy-disk based models of
the Equity Ie begin at $1,149 with a 20-MB hard-disk model costing
$1,749.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 800-922-8911)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00003)
HAND-HELD REMOTE KEYBOARD AVAILABLE FOR PC
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 18 (NB) -- Similar to a
television remote control, the Remote Keyboard has been introduced
by Forte Communications. The device is intended to provide remote
interaction during presentations before large audiences allowing a
speaker to directly control an IBM-compatible personal computer.
Control passes via infra-red signals to a receiver attached to the
computer's serial port [RS232 interface]. Software for the unit
includes support for a built-in pointer. The $395 apparatus weighs,
approximately, a hefty ten ounces including batteries.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 408-733-5100)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00004)
386-MOTHERBOARD UPGRADE FOR EARLY COMPAQS
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- Seattle Telecom &
Data (STD) has designed a new 386-motherboard specifically for
80386-based Compaq Deskpros. The STD-368CP is a direct replacement
motherboard which is compatible with MS DOS, OS/2, Unix, XENIX,
PC/MOS and Concurrent DOS. A 16 MHz. version of the board lists for
$1,645, a 20 MHz. version for $2,095. Mounting hardware, including
cables and connectors, is available in a $29.95 kit.
A standard AT complement of eight expansion slots is provided and
the system will support all of the old Deskpro's peripherals
including the original keyboard. The board's standard math-
coprocessor socket will accept an 8 MHz. 80287 chip but provision
has also been made for an optional 80387 processor that matches the
speed of the motherboard. Prices include one megabyte of standard
memory but the board accommodates up to sixteen megabytes of RAM
[random-access memory].
STD also introduced the $1,995 STD-386, an 80386-based accelerator
board for the IBM PC, PC AT, and compatibles. The board can support
one to sixteen megabytes of 32-bit static-column ram with provision
for operating video BIOS [basic input/output system] from shadow
RAM. Installation requires simply plugging the board into a slot;
there are no switches to set.
A $995 80286-based accelerator board which provides speed increases
for the IBM 3270 PC was also announced.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 206-883-8440)
(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(LAX)(00005)
FORTH "ABOMINATION" VIES FOR ACCEPTANCE
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- In an effort to
encourage developers to adopt the Forth language, the Silicon Valley
Chapter of the Forth Interest Group has recently placed the F-PC
2.25 version of the language into the public domain. Among its
features, it includes a command-line interpreter, a multitasker, a
text-search function, a high-level compiler/decompiler, an
application generator, an 8086/87 assembler and disassembler, a
high-level compiler/decompiler, a single-step debugger, a core-image
dump facility, source-code listing and indexing facilities, and a
meta compiler for system generation.
In an exclusive Newsbytes interview, Will Baden, a principle member
of the ANSI [American National Standards Institute] X3J14 technical
committee studying Forth, described F-PC 2.25 as "an abomination"
saying that it has far too many atomic words--the most primitive
Forth functions. The F-PC 2.25 version of the Forth language has
approximately 2200 atomic Forth words. Forth programmers use atomic
words to define higher levels of words upon which successively
higher levels can be built. Baden, a computer consultant for
Paleotaurus, is the author of both the command-line interpreter and
the decompiler for Forth F83, the predecessor upon which F2.25 is
based.
The ANSI Forth standard's committee is proposing a much smaller
language which should ultimately have under 300 atomic words. At
present, approximately 132 words are in the ANSI standard which is
still being developed. This makes the language more suitable for the
embedded applications for which it was originally designed according
to Baden.
ANSI language standards are often adopted as minimum requirements by
the computer industry, as they have been for many COBOL and FORTRAN
compilers. Programmers writing within the standard can then transfer
their programs to any computer with one of the ANSI-compatible
compilers. When a draft of an ANSI standard is completed, it is
distributed for balloting. Balloting allows interested persons to
respond to the committee with comments or suggestions before the
standard is approved. The ANSI Forth standard has been scheduled to
be distributed for balloting this November but may be delayed until
1990.
Although placing the program into the public domain allows it to be
freely copied and distributed, the developer of the system, Offete
Enterprises, distributes it for profit. The MS DOS-based software,
archived on four 360K-byte disks, sells for $25. The user's and
technical-reference manuals are $20 and $30 respectively.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: Offete Enterprises, 415-574-8250)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00006)
IBM TO REALLOCATE 1,000 EMPLOYEES
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- In a move designed
to streamline operations, IBM announced they will reallocated and
reassign over 1,000 employees. The company said that it will form
two new operations, and enlarge two others, with an eye toward
devising new applications and better serving certain industries.
According to reports, the company has been concerned they were
spending too much time on technical issues, and not enough on
assessing customer needs.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Scott Brooks, IBM, 201-930-5231)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00007)
IBM REVISES AIX/370 DELIVERY PROGRAM
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- IBM has
revised their delivery program for the Advanced Interactive
Executive/370 (AIX/370) operating system, which is designed to
turn on their top of the line processors in the open systems
environment. The operating system is IBM's own version of Unix.
Delivery is now scheduled to be phased in during 1989 in order to
allow continued testing of the product. The company also
announced that the Personal System/2 operating system for PS/2
computers will ship as scheduled in March. The announcement will
not affect the AIX/RT operating system. The moves will eventually
give the company a consistent operating system across their
entire range of products.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: G.R. Carpenter, IBM, 914-642-4634)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00008)
IBM ANNOUNCES TRAINING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- IBM has awarded
Catonsville Community College a grant of $250,000 in computer
equipment as part of an education partnership agreement. The
grant is to establish a regional computer integrated
manufacturing [CIM] training program.
The grant will go towards the purchase of various IBM software
and hardware for CIM education and hands-on training. Products
include IBM 4381 mainframes, Application System/400, and IBM
5080-sires computers.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Andrew Russell, IBM, 914-642-5463)
(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00009)
HANDYCALC PROVIDES SPECIALIZED CALCULATORS UNDER WINDOWS
DORION, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 FEB 10 (NB) -- Dexotek Canada Corp.
has announced HandyCalc, a set of specialized calculators to run
under Microsoft Windows. The C$249.99 package also includes a
calculator editor, so users can design their own specialized
calculators. The supplied calculators are designed for
scientific, engineering, business and financial uses, among
others. Each has a printable audit trail and up to 1,000 memory
locations. Some permit multiple conversions from one unit of
measure to another. The software requires 80K bytes of free
memory, works with Windows Version 2.0 or higher, and is
scheduled to ship in April.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Dexotec Canada Corp., 514-455-
0731)
(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00010)
MICRO-EXPERTISE ANNOUNCES SERVICE BY SUBSCRIPTION
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- Micro-expertise,
with offices in Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec, is
selling computer service by subscription. The company advertises
itself as a "backup support group" to supplement in-house staff.
Micro-expertise supports any software that runs under DOS or
OS/2. Support for UNIX software is available by special
arrangement.
Service is sold in blocks of 12, 24 or 48 hours of pre-paid
service, at a cost of $1.10, $1.05 or $1.00 per minute
respectively. Toll-free support, bilingual and on-premises
support is available, as are training and custom software
development.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Micro-expertise, (416) 596-0947)
(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00011)
ORACLE CANADA HAS EARLY DISCOUNT ON QUICKSILVER
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Oracle Corporation
Canada is offering existing customers a 20-percent discount
on its Structured Query Language [SQL] compiler for dBase III
Plus. Those who order before May 31 can get the package for
C$840. Full retail price will be C$1,050. Quicksilver lets dBase
and Oracle share data, and turns dBase III Plus programs into
programs that can read Oracle as well as dBase data. It also
allows Oracle SQL statements to be added to dBase applications.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: Oracle Canada, 800-387-4407)
(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00012)
SUPERCALC 5 SHIPPING IN CANADA
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1989 FEB 6 (NB) -- Computer
Associates Canada Ltd. is now shipping SuperCalc 5, the latest
release of its spreadsheet for MS-DOS. The Canadian retail price
is C$599. Upgrades from earlier versions cost C$120, except for
registered owners who bought SuperCalc 4 after May 23, 1988 --
they will pay only C$25.
(Grant Buckler/19890217/Contact: John Schoutsen, Computer
Associates Canada, 604-737-3322)
(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00013)
AUSTRALIAN VERTICAL SOFTWARE KNOCKS OUT MARKET NICHE
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- The developer of
Auto-Quote warns of a cold, ruthless US marketplace. The product,
developed in Australia, is a PC-based quotation and business
management system for the automotive smash repair industry. "My
advice is to go to England first." Terry Flannagan told
Newsbytes. "They're more down-to-earth and not as cut-throat as
the Americans."
Auto-Quote has already sold into more than 800 sites world-wide.
The company, which developed the software for its own use, will
only use smash repairers to sell the package. "I don't trust
computer people" said Flannagan. "That's why we developed it
ourself."
(Paul Zucker/19890217/Contact: Terry Flannagan, Australia,
61-2-5701355)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00014)
ARTRONIC RELEASES FIRST MASTER SERIES PACKAGE
HARROGATE, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Artronic Systems has
released Quote Master, the first in a new range of business
packages, for the IBM PC and close compatibles. The package
retails for UKP 49-95.
Quote Master is claimed to be a unique product. It's aimed at the
business person who needs to produce quotes and tenders for work
in a short space of time. The package allows multiple prices and
complete product range prices to be entered for selective
retrieval when required.
Interestingly, the package allows tag-on comments and
calculations for profit margins and discount levels to be entered
on each quotation entry. Price lists and quotes for customers can
thus easily be printed out.
(Steve Gold/19890217/Artronic - Tel: 0423-525325)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00015)
KT TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHES IN THE UK
STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- KT Technology, the
Singapore-based PC company, will launch its Amteq range of PCs in
the UK at the Which Computer? Show this week in Birmingham. The
range includes a 20MHz 80286-based PC-AT with 20Mb hard disk for
UKP 1,820. OEM models of Amteq machines will also be available to
third-party companies.
KT Technology is one of the world's leading original equipment
manufacturer [OEM] companies in the PC business. Its PCs are
retailed under their the Amteq label in Australia, Canada and the
Far East. During 1988, the company manufactured more than 250,000
PCs and in excess of 500,000 PC add-in boards.
As a sweetener to lure dealers and end users. KT technology is
offering a backup service with a repair or replace option within
eight hours, during its first year warranty period.
(Steve Gold/19890217/KT Technology - Tel: 0782-415511)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00016)
OS/2 PRESENTATION MANAGER VERSION OF WORDPERFECT SCHEDULED
MUNICH, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation
has announced it is working on an OS/2 Presentation Manager
version of Word Perfect 5.0, its best-selling word processing
program.
Costing DM 1,800 (about $1,000), the program will support System
Application Architecture [SAA] menuing and facilities, as well as
complete mouse support.
The package, which is scheduled for release next month, is
currently under the final stages of development at Wordperfect
Corporation's US headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.
(Peter Vekinis/19890217)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00017)
DELL OPENS WEST GERMAN SUBSIDIARY
LANGEN, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Dell Computers, the
successful clone maker founded and run by Michael Dell, the so
called "smart PC operator," has opened a wholly-owned subsidiary
in West Germany. Selling the entire range of Dell systems, it
aims to orient itself towards the quality buyer.
Dell Computer GMBH sells the 286-12, 286-20 and 386-20 with
pricing starting at DM 3995 [about $2,800]. All systems carry
a 1 year guarantee [European law forces companies to offer 6
months guarantee], 12 months free repair work with a maximum
delay of one day and 30 day return, no questions asked.
(Peter Vekinis/19890217/Contact: Dell Computers GMBH,
Siemensstrasse 32, 6070 Langen,
Tel: 06103-701100)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00018)
IBM INTRODUCES NEW GRAPHICS PROCESSOR
STUTTGART, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- IBM will unveil the
5086 Model 001 this week in West Germany. The machine centres
around a CAD/CAM-specific graphics processor that uses VLSI chips
with 2MB of system memory.
In addition, a Model 002A will shortly be offered with 8Mb of
system Ram. The Model 001 will retail for DM 25,000 [$18,000].
Pricing on the Model 002A has yet to be decided.
(Peter Vekinis/19890217)
(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00019)
IBM RELEASES NEW HIGH-END SYSTEM
STUTTGART, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- IBM has augmented
its high end line with the introduction of a new model in the
ES/3090S series and another new model in the 4381 series range.
The IBM 3090 series, which includes machines costing from DM 1.5
million to DM 26.2 million [$1 million to $15 million] now
includes 12 models. The new model, the 100S, offers 16 I/O
channels and 32Mbytes of main memory as standard.
Although not as powerful as the 120S, the 100S still offers 80
per cent of the 100S's performance at a significantly lower cost
- DM 1.5 million. IT will ship from April, 1989, onwards.
In parallel with the 100S's launch, IBM has also announced the
ES/4381 90E. The machine is the smallest ESA/370 system of type
and offers 80 per cent of the performance of the next system in
the line, the 4381 91E.
The ES/4381 90E will ship from the third quarter of 1989 onwards
with a provisional price tag of DM 900,000.
(Peter Vekinis/19890217/IBM GMBH, Heike Munzert - Tel: 0711/785-3538)
(REVIEW)(IBM)(LAX)(00001)
Review of: Up Your Cash Flow
Runs on: PC or PS/2 and compatibles with 512K and a hard disk
From: Granville Publications, 10960 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 826,
Los Angeles, CA 90024, 213-477-3924
Price: $129.95
PUMA Rating: 2 [on a scale of 1 to 4]
Reviewed by: Wayne A. Yacco, 3/11/89
Summary: This managerial-accounting program produces three pro forma
financial statements: a profit-and-loss forecast, a cash-flow
forecast, and a projected-balance sheet.
REVIEW
--------
Successful managers rely on cash-flow and other forecasts to avoid
nasty surprises -- for example, liquidity crises caused when
companies tie up resources in receivables and inventories and then
find they can't pay their suppliers. Before incompetent management
knows what happened, those suppliers are dividing up the receivables
and inventories in court and the company is out of business.
Up Your Cash Flow's reports present the type of information that is
usually lacking when companies are in trouble or about to get into
it. It produces its three forecasts on a monthly basis with
quarterly and annual summaries and the output is printed in an easy-
to-read format. Written by a managing partner in a certified public
accountant and management-consulting firm, it is technically well
designed.
The manager who understands accounting, or has an accountant to help
in preparing data for the program, will find the program easy to
understand. Most required figures can be entered as estimates or
extrapolated automatically from the figures of previous accounting
periods. The use of historical data is a powerful tool that can
simplify data entry while it strengthens the validity of the
estimates. While Up Your Cash Flow is limited to three predefined
reports, it is far more efficient than creating those reports from
scratch with a spreadsheet.
The one critical weakness of the Up Your program isn't its name.
It's in the old fashioned, out-of-date screens used for data entry.
There are too many levels of menus and some must be repeatedly re-
entered. Expense entry, for example, can be frustrating and very
time consuming. The screen used to select each category takes
several seconds to display on a turbo [8 MHz] PC XT. It is obvious
that the author mistook the program's very straight-forward approach
for ease of use. Other slow functions are more tolerable because
they aren't used as often.
This program has one other potential flaw. It comes without a
manual. So, there isn't any discussion of the assumptions that
should underly the data you enter or how its output should be used.
It seems to have overlooked users lacking in accounting acumen
because there isn't much of a help facility either. As a result,
there isn't any aid to determine how accounts from the company's
books should be allocated to the accounts of the included
statements. It's unlikely that they will always coincide. If you
know accounting well, it isn't a problem but some small businessmen
will have to pay their bookkeepers to do this for them. On the
other hand, those same managers may have to hire someone to
interpret the statements for them anyway. The managers who need Up
Your Cash Flow most may be those least equipped to use it
successfully.
Up Your Cash Flow produces the statements that every business needs
to properly manage its financial resources. But Up makes every task
a downer. It's tedious and I recommend its actual use be left to
clerical help you wouldn't mind losing.
PUMA RATINGS
---------------
PERFORMANCE: 1
USEFULNESS: 4
MANUAL: 0
AVAILABILITY: 3
(Wayne Yacco/19890311)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BOS)(00008)
AT&T WILL BE PARTNERS WITH ITALTEL IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- AT&T has been
selected by Italtel as its prospective partner for the
development and marketing of telecommunications equipment in
Italy, Europe, the U.S. and other markets. Italtel is Italy's
leading telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and is part of
the state-owned STET group.
The two companies are in the process of finalizing the agreement,
which is expected to be a long term commitment involving AT&T,
SAT&T Bell Laboratories, and Italtel.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Burt Wolder, AT&T, 201-631-6625)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00003)
USA TODAY PUT SPORTS ONLINE IN A BIG WAY
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- The USA Today
Sports Center promises to be just the first of many consumer
online services it will be hosting over the next year. The paper
already distributes its Decisionlines as a database on bulletin
board systems, but the Sports Center product is far more ambitious.
First, USA Today will host it itself, selling the $40 sign-up package --
$25 for graphics software and a $15 sign-up fee -- directly to
consumers. Past that, revenues come only to $5/hour through Telenet
and Tymnet in the evenings, or $15 per hour during the day.
Besides offering the usual boilerplate -- scores, transactions,
conferencing -- the USA Today Sports Center also features
Rotisserie League Fantasy Baseball, hosted by author Glen
Waggoner. This is a game in which a group of players "buy"
major-league players at the beginning of the year, then compute how
those players would do together from their statistics as the year
progresses. There's also chess, checkers, and a service for
baseball card collectors. This is a service which deserves to be
watched closely, not only for itself but for what it might do to
the prospects of Prodigy.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19890217/Contact: Susan Bokern at 703-276-
3400)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00004)
PRODIGY OPENS IN BOSTON
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 16 (NB) -- Prodigy has
added Boston to its list of served markets, telling the city it's
added experts from such WGBH-TV shows as This Old House, Last
Chance Garage,Victory Garden, and Nova to its list of
offerings. But "They've been with us since the start," spokesman
Brian Ek told Newsbytes "We only put those in there because it
was of local interest." Prodigy now serves Northern California,
Southeastern Michigan, Northern Georgia and most of New England.
It plans to be available nationwide in the next two years.
Also, the Bank of New England agreed to sell home banking
services through Prodigy later this spring. Bill payment, funds
transfers, and loan applications will all be offered. This will
set up an interesting competition with banks which have
previously signed up with Prodigy, like C&S in Atlanta, Georgia.
"I know C&S has some California customers. The boundaries with
something like electronic banking are quite gray," Ek said.
"The only strictly local applications are grocery applications,"
Ek continued. "You can look at the San Francisco grocer anytime,
but they'd check your zip code. If you were to type Kroger,
anywhere, you'd get Kroger," which only delivers to certain
parts of Atlanta. "It checks to see if you're in the delivery area, and
it gives you a map first." The same screen and software which denies
delivery to a southside Atlanta resident keeps out San Francisco
shoppers.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19890217/Contact: Brian Ek at 914-993-8843)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00006)
NYNEX LOSES, PACIFIC TELESIS WINS IN BID FOR FIBER CABLE DEALS
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- Bell Operating
Companies may own 10 percent of international cables, but not 50 percent,
according to Federal Judge Harold Greene. Greene oversees the
1984 break-up of AT&T's Bell System, and made his ruling as part
of overseeing that agreement. NYNEX had sought to own half an
Atlantic cable, with Great Britain's Cable & Wireless, while
Pacific Telesis sought only 10 percent of a Pacific cable deal lead by
Japanese interests. While the difference might be seen as one
between an investor and a partner, Greene put the issue in terms
of accepting some bending of the divestiture rules in the name of
furthering American interests in international competition. The
wording of the judgment will become a major issue as the case is
appealed.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19890217/Contact: NYNEX at 212-370-7400)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00007)
COMPUSERVE RE-SELLING ENCRYPTION PRODUCTS FOR ITS NETWORK
CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 10 (NB) -- CompuServe
will re-sell encryption equipment from Cryptall L.P., with the
hope the CompuServe Network can siphon off some of the bank
transactions business. Instead of letting customers with big
accounts check into their money through leased lines, encryption
would let CompuServe charge packet network prices for the
service.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19890217)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00006)
VIETNAM TELECOMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE WITH AUSTRALIAN HELP
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 14 (NB) -- Following the recent
success of Australia's Overseas Telecommunications Commission
[OTC], Amalgamated Wireless Australia [AWA] is helping Vietnam to
modernize its communications systems, AWA communications is to
supply more than $20 million in microwave equipment and OTC will
supply earth stations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. The
increased traffic is due in part to the large Vietnamese refugee
migration to Australia in the past few years. The AWA equipment
will be used for internal Vietnamese communications as well as
providing links with local countries such as Kampuchea, Burma and
Laos.
(Paul Zucker/19890217)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00003)
TELEPHONE COMPUTER NEWS SERVICE LAUNCHED THIS WEEK
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Process Communications, the
publishers of .EXE Magazine and Software Management magazine,
will launch two audiotex services this week at the Which
Computer? Show in Birmingham. The Telephone Computer News [TCN]
services will be available on British Telecom's value-added 0898
area code.
Initially there will be two services - TCN Newsline and TCN
Buyers Guide. The Newsline service is on 0898-666030, and will -
in essence - be an audio version of a computer magazine, updated
on a weekly basis.
The Buyer's Guide on 0898-666029, meanwhile, is aimed at business
people looking to buy a PC but in need of clear, concise and
unbiased advice on how to go about ensuring they buy the right
machine for their needs.
Robert Schifreen, launch editor of TCN and editor of .EXE
Magazine, commented "Because TCN's Newsline really is up to the
minute, callers know that they're hearing the latest stories.
They don't need a modem or a special phone to use the service."
Both the new services will be updated each Thursday, following
their launch on 21 February, 1989. Other services - covering
buying advice on accounting software, database packages, modems,
networks, printers, word processors and other applications
software - are scheduled for launch in the second half of 1989.
Will TCN succeed? Other computer magazines have launched similar
services, although not on the 38 pence peak/25 pence cheap per-
minute 0898 area code system. The service will be of particular
interest to Newsbytes non-UK readers, since no surcharge for the
use of the 0898 area code can be made from outside of the UK.
(Steve Gold/19890217/Process Communications - Tel: 01-994-6477)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00006)
BRITISH AIRWAYS LAUNCHES PLANE SATELLITE PHONE SERVICE
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- British Airways has unveiled
Skyphone, a satellite phone service, for use on its London-New
York fleet of aircraft. The service is being trial-tested for a
six month period and is a joint project between British Airways,
British Telecom and Racal.
The service works with passengers using a wall-mounted callbox
with a 'swipe' credit card system for call charging purposes.
Calls are charged at a hefty $9-50 a minute to anywhere in the
world.
The calls are switched from the plane's telecommunications system
up to the nearest available Inmarsat satellite, and back down to
earth via US or European ground stations. To make maximum use of
the bandwidth available, up to four calls can be compressed on to
the single channel available to each plane in the BA fleet.
(Steve Gold/19890217)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00007)
DATASTAR TO LAUNCH DATAMAIL E-MAIL SERVICE
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Datastar, the online
bibiographic and full-text retrieval system, is to launch its own
electronic mail service for subscribers. The system, called
Datamail, will enter service on 1 March, 1989.
For Datastar subscribers, the provision of e-mail will allow
inter-subscriber mail, as well as fast delivery of offline search
requests. Previously, offline requests, as well as requests for
information which is not available online, were serviced by
postal means.
Datamail will be integrated with the Radio Suisse network [RS-
Net] in Switzerland, allowing onward e-mail to other RS-Net
subscribers and third-party systems, as well as access to the
telex network and outbound e-mail to fax services.
(Steve Gold/19890217)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00010)
FOURTH EUROPEAN EDI CONFERENCE SCHEDULED
MUNICH, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Blenheim Euromatica has
announced the 4th European Electronic Document Interchange [EDI]
conference - Die Vierte Europaische EDI Ratgung - will be held in
Munich on 3-5 April, 1989.
The conference, subtitled Compat '89 will cost from DM 948 plus
tax [UKP 290] to attend, and will attract speakers from all over
Europe. Blenheim say that the conference aims to bring EDI users
up to date with what systems and standards are evolving in the
European marketplace.
(Steve Gold/19890217/Blenheim Euromatica - Tel: London 01-727-1929
Wiesbaden 06121-58040)
(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00001)
DRIVE THROUGHPUT DOUBLED
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- PRIAM Corporation
is shipping a redesigned RLL [run length limited 2,7] controller
which doubles the data-transfer rate of its RLL drives. The changes
also increase compatibility with various multi-user operating
systems for the 75-, 100-, and 230-megabyte drives. Pricing of the
company's nine internal and nine external RLL models, which are now
being bundled with the new controllers, remains unchanged. New
ordering numbers have been assigned however.
PRIAM's increase in throughput [rate of task completion] has been
achieved by reducing the interleave ratio, or distance that
consecutive sections of data are spaced apart on the surface of the
disk, from 2:1 to 1:1. Transfer rates, required to accommodate the
new interleave ratio, effectively doubled to approximately 700K
bytes per second.
Compatibility with systems such as Xenix, OS/2, Pick, and PC/MOS was
improved by a modification in the way operating-system translations
are handled. The translation, which was performed by BIOS [basic
input/output system], is now done directly by firmware [logic
embedded in the hardware]. The change allows these multiuser
operating systems to utilize the full capacity of PRIAM's RLL drives
for the first time. Approximately 10% of the drives were formerly
unavailable to those systems.
Drives capable of using the RLL data-encoding scheme can provide up
to 50 percent more data-storage when working with an RLL controller than
when paired with a standard MFM [modified frequency modulation]
controller. However, not all drives are capable of RLL performance.
PRIAM has integrated a controller, preformatted and performed
additional testing for its RLL drives to eliminate integration
problems for the end user. Full kits also include cables, mounting
hardware, manuals and complete software for installation and
partitioning.
(Wayne Yacco/19890218/Contact: 408-434-9300)
(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00002)
NEW INPUT DEVICE COULD REPLACE MOUSE
WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Help may be on
the way for all those naysayers who never felt comfortable with
the mouse. A new product from MicroTouch Systems, called Touche,
duplicates the functions of the mouse while eliminating separate
cables and the need for extra desktop space. The product is a
one-inch by two-inch rectangle that can be located on a keyboard.
The cursor is positioned by moving a finger along the touch-
sensitive glass surface, and then pressing on the product to
duplicate the functions of the mouse button.
According to the company, the product will begin shipping in June
or July, and will be incorporated in at least one laptop computer
in the near future.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Janet Holian, MicroTouch Systems,
617-935-0080)
(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00003)
NEW IRD STUDIES SHOW THE ONLINE FUTURE IS FAX AND AUDIOTEX
NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 7 (NB) -- The
saturation of the fax market is nowhere in sight, according to a
recent study by International Resources Development. It says three
million machines will be installed in the U.S. by the end of this
year, and 30 million will be installed by the mid-1990s.
Distinctions between computers with fax capability and
programmable fax machines will also erode, especially as the
Group IV standard, which allows for color, more detail, and
faster transmissions, becomes accepted. By the end of the
century, they'll either be a Group 6 standard, the report says,
or you won't be able to tell the difference between fax and
online.
Another report predicts the combined voice mail-audiotex market,
now worth $1 billion, will grow to $5 billion by 1993, driven by the
Regional Bell Operating Companies. MCI and the RBOCs will also become
stronger players in the audiotex market, which could mature with more
offerings in financial services. As parts of the market become saturated,
you can also expect providers to compete on price, something they
don't do now.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19890217/Contact: Elizabeth Hanscom at 203-966-
2525)
(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SYD)(00004)
SUPER RISC CHIP FROM INTEL TO DEBUT ON FEB 27
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- Intel will release a
microprocessor on Feb 27 that has been called the 'Cray on a
chip." The 'N10' is a reduced instruction set [RISC] computer
which contains over one million transistors, four times the number
in the 80386.
It's not yet clear where the N10 will be most used but analysts
say it's suitable for high speed scientific workstations, numeric
co-processing, graphics and even as the basis of minicomputers.
They expect a handful of product announcements soon after the
launch. These will include a 'rip-roarer' CAD [computer-aided
design] workstation from Computer Corporation of Australia.
(Paul Zucker/19890217)
(NEWS)(EXCLUSIVE)(SYD)(00005)
486 CHIP LAUNCH IN APRIL - EARLIER THAN MANY EXPECTED
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- The 80486 chip is to be
released in April, according to sources close to Intel who told
Newsbytes to 'keep the date free'. Previously not expected till
late this year, the chip is already being field tested in various
prototype PCs from companies such as Compaq and IBM. Analysts
told Newsbytes that the 486 can be thought of as a 386 with a
number of the associated chips taken on-board to dramatically
reduce the component count and size of mother board in PCs using
the new processor.
The chips will be used as the next generation of 'power'
machines. The maximum clock speed of the 486 is likely to be
higher than production 386s - partly due to the higher degree of
integration.
In the meantime, 33MHz 386 machines are expected from Compaq and
IBM within the next few weeks. Both of these machines have bus
improvements which will further boost effective performance. Bill
Gates' prediction that PCs will increase in speed by ten times
over the next few years [due to software as well as hardware
improvements] seems a safe bet.
(Paul Zucker/19890217)
(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00014)
COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTRODUCES SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A, 1989 FEB 15 (NB) -- Computer
Associates has introduced the CA Application Construction
Environment, or CA-ACE, a software architecture, that the company
claims will provide a framework for applications development in
the next decade.
CA-ACE spans hardware platforms, operating systems, and
application types, and is designed as a strategic development
architecture that will safeguard customer investments in current
technology while providing portability to new platforms and
industry standards.
(Jon Pepper/19890217/Contact: Bob Gordon, Computer Associates,
201-874-9332)
(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00004)
HP CANADA LAUNCHES WORKSTATION, CUTS HP 9000 PRICES
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 13 (NB) -- Hewlett-
Packard's new Model 340SRX entry-level 3D graphics workstation is
now available in Canada for C$22,840. The new model is source-
and object-code compatible with existing HP 9000 Series 300
computers.
Hewlett-Packard [Canada] Ltd. also announced price cuts on
existing HP 9000 models. Base configurations of the HP 9000 Model
360 now range from C$22,067 for a diskless monochrome system to
C$55,168 for the Model TurboSRX. The Model 370SRX has been
reduced to C$64,222, and the Model 825SRX now goes for C$80,386.
None of these prices include federal sales tax.
(Grant Buckler/19890215/Contact: Colin Reay or Pat Farrell,
Hewlett-Packard [Canada] Ltd., 416-678-9430)
(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00005)
SCO LAUNCHES OFFICE PORTFOLIO SYSTEM FOR XENIX/UNIX USERS
WATFORD, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 17 (NB) -- The Santa Cruz Operation
will launch its Office Portfolio package at this week's Which
Computer? Show in Birmingham. The UKP 200 package is designed to
act as an overlay and linker system for Applications software
running under Xenix or Unix.
Central to the linked software concept is the provision of an
electronic clipboard that allows file conversion and portage
between different applications software. Thus, if a user wanted
to import a file to a word processor from, say, a spreadsheet,
the clipboard would convert and port the data between the
packages.
According to Heather Wilson, SCO's product manager, the Office
Portfolio is unique in that it performs full file conversions
whilst cutting and pasting been applications.
"Instead of users having to fiddle with independent - and limited
- file conversion systems, Office Portfolio's clipboard system
does it all in seconds. We hope that the clipboard file format
will take off as the standard format for Xenix/Unix applications
software," she told Newsbytes.
Wilson went on to say that software houses and third-party
companies are being encouraged to use the clipboard file format,
without any copyright restrictions or licensing fees.
Will the package take off? Judging from SCO's current flush of
successful software products for the Xenix and Unix markets, it
looks that way. The package also allows users to build their own
customised version which includes unique combinations of almost
any Xenix or Unix applications software.
(Steve Gold/19890217/Santa Cruz Operation - Tel: 0923-816344)
(EDITORIAL)(IBM)(LAX)(00001)
WYSIWYG - Wayne Yacco's Gazette
THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE NEXT FOXBASE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 19 (NB) -- Fox Software
recently responded to Ashton-Tate's lawsuit in the courts with
a counter complaint. Now the David of dBASE is getting
ready to respond to Goliath's challenge in the market place as well.
Expect to see the Fox version of dBASE IV on the shelves by June or
July. Norman Chapman, Fox vice president administration, promised
that Foxbase Pro will be completely compatible with dBASE IV and
about six times faster.
And there will be one more important difference, the interface. It
is logically similar to dBASE so virtually no training's required
but they're claiming that it will be easier to use. The interface
may have a side benefit of diffusing some of the tension between Fox
and A-T. That would be good news for Fox which would rather not
take on the fight.
There's also some good news for users of dBASE III Plus. The
company will continue to market the current version of Foxbase as a
low-cost alternative for the many users who are satisfied with the
power of dBASE III Plus. Companies with large installed bases of
that product can buy Foxbase when they need additional database
software and avoid incompatibility issues and the need to support
multiple standards. The other alternative is to perform an
expensive company-wide upgrade.
Foxbase Pro is only a few months away if Fox stays on schedule. A
version of Pro will eventually be available for the Macintosh as
well--probably long before A-T figures out how to port dBASE to the
Mac.
(Wayne Yacco/19890219)