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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)(IBM)(LAX)(00001)
New For PC: Windows Utility Offers File Compression 08/17/92
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- PC-Kwik has
announced Winmaster, a new utility program for Windows that,
among other things, allows drag and drop compression of files.
The company says the product is designed to display graphical
information in the form of on screen gauges, meters, and graphs
on system performance and the state of the disk drives. The
drag and drop compression, Kwikvault, allows compression up to
90 percent of seldom used data files. However, the company says
the compression and decompression should be done with its
product and won't necessarily work with files compressed by
other data compression programs, like PK-Zip.
Winmaster also offers a disk optimization program, Powerdisk,
that includes graphical screen output so users can clean up
fragmentation on their hard disk drives. The defragmentation
can be scheduled to run automatically as well, the company
said.
The product also offers Toolbox, an environment which can act
as an interface to Windows. Toolbox offers seven utilities for
file management, such as find, run, and copy; allows the
organization of programs by the user into groups; and allows
custom launch of programs.
The product runs on any machine that will run Microsoft Windows
in standard or enhanced mode, and requires 4 megabytes (MB) of
disk space. PC-Kwik recommends users have 2 MB of extended
memory and a mouse.
Winmaster retails for $129.95, but two versions of the product
will be available in a special promotion.
One version will be offered for $29.95 when purchased with
another Windows product from participating retailers. The other
version will include Super PC-Kwik, a disk cache that replaces
Windows Smartdrive cache. The version with Super PC-Kwik will
retail for $59.95. The company says the promotion is expected
to run through October.
Formerly Multisoft Corporation, the company changed its name to
the name of its disk caching product, PC-Kwik. The company is
headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.
(Linda Rohrbough/19920814/Press Contact: Lee Kufchak, PC-Kwik,
tel 503-644-5644, fax 503-646-8267; Public Contact, 800-759-
5945)
(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00002)
New For PC: Information Navigator For Windows 08/17/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Another attempt
to make Microsoft Windows easier to use is being made by Above
Software of Irvine, California who is shipping its new
information navigator for Windows, Golden Retriever.
Golden Retriever goes on top of Windows and uses the files and
drawers visual metaphor, like a manual filing system, the
company said. The company says the product also allows for long
file names of up to 256 characters.
Like Hewlett-Packard's Newwave and XSoft's Rooms for Windows,
Golden Retriever says the goal of the product is to organize
information by the subject, project, or author, and not by the
application with which it was created. So letters, memos,
spreadsheets, database records, and other data isn't stored in
a directory, but is stored like a manual filing system with
other related items.
The product installs automatically onto the Windows desktop
and recognizes all Windows and DOS programs, the company said.
It includes a back-up system that can also selectively back-up
files, Above Software added.
Golden Retriever requires Windows 3.0 or higher, DOS 3.1 or
higher, 384 kilobytes (K) of random access memory (RAM), and 1
MB of free hard disk space. The retail price is $99.
(Linda Rohrbough/19920814/Press Contact: Brenda Jaeck, Above
Software, tel 714-851-2283 fax 714-851-2285)
(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00003)
New For Unix: Mesa Spreadsheet For Nextstep 08/17/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Athena Design
has released Mesa, a spreadsheet for the Nextstep operating
environment on Next workstations. The spreadsheet reads Lotus 1-2-3
worksheet files and executes most 1-2-3 macros, the software firm
said.
The spreadsheet's features include formula inheritance, savable
report formats, auto-grow ranges, smart fill, cell typing and data
entry verification, drag-and-drop font and color selection,
animated drag-and-drop range moving and copying, series functions,
and on-sheet and formula-bar data entry.
An interesting feature is function inheritance. Much as all
spreadsheets allow users to change data and see the changes
reflected in cells that refer to that data, Mesa allows cells to
refer to formulas in other cells, so that a formula can be changed
once instead of in many cells.
Mesa allows users to build worksheets up to 16,384 by 16,384 cells,
company spokeswoman Tracy Kugelman said. According to the vendor,
the software takes advantage of many advanced techniques to speed
up recalculation of large models.
Mesa includes the Mesa Object Library Interface (MOLI), which
allows custom programmers to manipulate data in Mesa worksheets,
feed data to worksheets in real time, print reports, and include
worksheet views and graphs in custom applications.
The spreadsheet also allows users to define and save report formats
using a visual report builder, which the vendor said will eliminate
many print command steps.
Mesa's use of Nextstep provides streamlined operations for control
of color, typeface, and the over-all look of the worksheet.
Graphic images and charts can be placed anywhere on the worksheet
to generate presentation-quality output.
Mesa creates graphic and text representations of spreadsheet data
which can be transferred into word-processing, database,
presentation software, and other applications. Mesa will fully
support live data links available with Nextstep Release 3.0.
Mesa will inter-operate with other Nextstep applications including
programs from California-based Adamation. Athena Design said it is
working closely with Pages Software to integrate Mesa functionality
into Pages' word-processing system.
Mesa is commercially available from NextConnection and authorized
Next resellers. The suggested retail price is $499. An educational
version is available for $99, and a five-user network version costs
$2,500, Kugelman said.
(Grant Buckler/19920814/Press Contact: Tracy Kugelman, Athena
Design, 617-783-9838)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00004)
New For Macintosh: CA Offers Cricket Graph III 08/17/92
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Computer Associates
is about to begin shipping Cricket Graph III for the Macintosh, a
revamped version of its business graphics software. Cricket Graph
III incorporates features that were planned for Cricket Graph 2.0,
announced last January but not shipped.
Key features in the new release include new data handling and
analysis functions, an improved drawing environment including an
expanded tool set, expanded color control, and increased speed, CA
said.
CA originally intended to ship Cricket Graph 2.0, a release planned
before Computer Associates acquired the product in April. However,
said company spokesman Herman Chin, CA decided instead to
completely rewrite the software in the C++ object-oriented
programming language and add some extra features.
The new data handling functions include number-crunching
capabilities usually found in spreadsheets, the company said,
including statistical functions and configurable text import and
export capabilities.
New drawing features include rulers, grids, and guides with eight
zoom levels, multiple graphs per page and multiple pages per
document, and color palettes that can be modified, saved, and
loaded.
The software works with Macintosh System 6.0.7 and 7.0. One
megabyte of free memory is required, and CA recommends two
megabytes when using System 7.0. This release does not make full
use of all System 7.0 features; a release that does is planned
within the next year, Chin said. Previously, CA had planned to
follow up the earlier-announced release 2.0 with a System 7 version
of Cricket Graph this summer.
The suggested retail price for Cricket Graph III is $195.
Registered users can upgrade and buy additional copies of the
software for $49 until September 16.
(Grant Buckler/19920814/Press Contact: Herman Chin, Computer
Associates, 516-342-2364; Public Contact: Computer Associates,
800-225-5224)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(BOS)(00005)
New for Macintosh: StuffIt Deluxe 3.0 08/17/92
WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Aladdin Systems has
announced shipment of StuffIt Deluxe 3.0, an upgrade of its widely
used archiving compression software for the Mac.
David Schargel, company president, told Newsbytes that Version 3.0
brings improved compression size and speed, remote control from
outside scripting packages, the ability to expand additional file
formats, and two new applications: StuffIt Converter and StuffIt
SpaceSaver.
On average, compression speed is 20 to 30% faster than in Version
2.0, and compressed files are 20 to 30% smaller, although rates
vary according to the file format being compressed, Schargel said.
"Some file formats can be compressed more effectively than others,"
he commented. The compression performance of the new version is
about 5 to 10% better than that of Compact Pro, Stuffit's chief
competitor, he asserted.
Schargel added that the new remote control feature, made possible
by full support for System 7, makes it possible for Stuffit Deluxe
to transmit files via an outside communications package such as
Microphone almost automatically, through commands written in
scripting systems like UserLand Software's Frontier or Simple
Software's Control Tower.
"Once the command is written, all the user has to do is click on
the folder. That will tell StuffIt to compress the file, and the
communications program to send it to a particular destination," he
explained. This capability would be especially useful in a
situation where a network manager needed to help novice users send
files of their work to a company BBS, he noted.
As in the earlier release, Version 3.0 comes with translators that
enable expansion of ZIP, ARC, BinHex, AppleLink, DiskDoubler, and
MacBinary files, said Schargel. Now, though, the software also
contains translators for Compact Pro and two Unix file formats --
tar and uuencode -- as well as some other new formats. In
addition, ZIP expansion capabilities have been enhanced. "StuffIt
Deluxe now works with more file formats coming in from the ZIP
side," he told Newsbytes.
The new StuffIt Converter allows the user to convert files from
previous versions of StuffIt Deluxe -- and files created with
Compact Pro or AppleLink -- into the StuffIt Deluxe 3.0 format,
according to Schargel. The converter differs in functionality from
the translators, he emphasized. "The translators only expand the
files for workable use on the Mac. They don't convert them to an
entirely new format," he said.
The new StuffIt SpaceSaver, also available separately, allows the
user to compress a file without entering the Stuffit Deluxe
program. According to Schargel, compression can be carried out in
three ways: by clicking on the folder, adding a three-letter
suffix to the file within the Finder, or automatically, during idle
time.
"Thanks to the idle time compression, you can leave your machine,
go to lunch, and find, on your return, that where there was 100 K
free before, you now have 1 MB free," Schargel informed Newsbytes.
StuffIt Deluxe 3.0 is priced at $120.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19920814; Press Contact: David Schargel, tel 408-
761-6200)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00006)
CE Software Bundles Meeting Maker, QuickMail 08/17/92
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- CE Software
Holdings says it has signed an agreement with Cambridge-based ON
Technology to bundle QuickMail with ON Technology's Meeting Maker.
CE says the agreement allows it to bundle a five-user package of
Meeting Maker with any QuickMail package sold, and will initially
be available as an option to its customers.
Meeting Maker allows users to pick, propose, and/or confirm meetings
in a single step from their computer on a Macintosh network.
QuickMail is an electronic mail program for the Macintosh.
Users of Meeting Maker can propose a meeting time and date, prepare
agendas, and reserve rooms and other resources. An Autopick feature
automatically finds the first available meeting time that will fit
into the schedule of all the attendees. The program also tracks
responses and automatically displays an up-to-date status report of
meeting proposals.
CE executive vice president, Ford Goodman, said the two companies
entered into the bundling agreement due to customer demand. "Our
customers have wanted us to offer a group scheduling solution in
conjuncton with QuickMail," Goodman said. The announcement said the
two companies will also examine other ways to integrate their
products.
CE also announced its third quarter results today, reporting a
disappointing $5,321 net income for the quarter. Results for the
first three quarters showed net income of $466,517, or 9 cents per
share. That's down from 21 cents per share for the same period last
year.
CE Software Holdings president, Richard Skeie, attributed the results
to slower sales overall in the software industry, as well as what he
called "misconceptions concerning the electronic mail market."
Skeie said consumers were concerned that messaging technologies such
as Apple's OCE were competitive with QuickMail. "Rather than
competing with QuickMail, these new messaging technologies, when
available, will provide QuickMail with a more feature rich
transport," said Skeie.
(Jim Mallory/19920814/Press contact: Sue Nail, CE Software Holdings,
515-224-1995; Zyg Furmaniuk, ON Technology, 617-876-0900)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00007)
Chicagoans Order Groceries By Computer 08/17/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Peapod, a
Chicago-based company operated by two brothers, now offers a
computrized grocery shopping service to area residents.
The company offers software that allows users to browse through a
list of more than 15,000 items, check unit prices, scan for
specials, compile a shopping list, and even make comments. "If you
want ripe bananas, you can tell them," said one member.
The system can also handle discount coupons. When the groceries
arrive, just give the coupons to the delivery person and they'll be
credited to your account.
Each order costs Peapod customers $3.95 plus four percent of the
grocery bill. Subscribers pay a $49.95 startup fee, which includes
the software for IBM-compatible PCs, and a six-month membership.
Peapod spokesperson Harker Brautighan told Newsbytes that once
the initial six-month period has elapsed, customers can renew
their membership for a $39.95 annual fee.
Brautighan said the company was formed in mid-1990, and employs
about 50 full and part time people. She told Newsbytes that the
shopping and delivery staff is comprised of college students,
mothers, and retired persons.
Peapod president, Andrew Parkinson, says the company has about 1,200
members, is is growing at about 100 per week in their service area,
which includes the north side of Chicago and 13 northern and
northwestern suburbs. The company has recently expanded its service
area, now delivering as far south as the Chicago River and west to
Pulaski Road.
Online service Prodigy experimented with a similar service recently,
but didn't attract enough users and dropped the service in early
1991. In San Francisco, a company called Grocery Express has been
allowing customers to order by computer, or by phone, for same-day
or next-day delivery, since 1983.
Peapod says it works exclusively with Jewel food stores, a local
chain that works with the company and markets the service. Peapod
shoppers can be seen in Jewel stores filling two orders as they move
through the store aisles in their bright green shirts. Asked if the
company was negotiating with other grocery chains, Brautighan
replied, "We have a very good relationship with Jewel. They're a
progressive grocery chain and we're proud to have a relationship
with them."
(Jim Mallory/19920814/Press contact: Harker Brautighan, Peapod,
708-864-8900)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00008)
New Product: MicroTouch OEM UnMouse For Portables 08/17/92
WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- MicroTouch
has rolled out an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of
its UnMouse touch sensitive tablet, geared to inclusion in laptops
and notebooks.
The touch sensitive pointing device, intended as an easy-to-use
alternative to a mouse or trackball, has been available for seven
years as an external tablet, sold in retail stores. Now, with
the availability of a sensor, CMOS chipset, and software to OEMs,
the tablet is expected to start appearing on portable keyboards.
The OEM product is being shipped on a custom basis, said a public
relations spokesperson. The manufacturer can specify the size of
the desired tablet, and where the product will be positioned on
the keyboard. The chipsets will be integrated into motherboards.
In unveiling the new product, MicroTouch stressed that the light
weight of the OEM sensor suits the product ideally to laptops and
notebooks. Also, because the glass sensor is only 1.5 mm thick,
it can be fit into a portable's plastic housing without
redesigning the layout of the underlying components, the company
said.
Officials also pointed out several specific advantages that the
UnMouse holds over a trackball or mouse. The UnMouse requires
only one of two finger strokes for most cursor movements, in
contrast to the multiple rotations that must be supplied by a
small trackball, they stated.
The UnMouse also offers precise cursor control, due to its high
resolution of 1,000 x 1,000 touch sensitive points. And because
the controller averages the entire area of touch contact down to
a single point, the product can be managed with very small
motions, the company added.
Additionally, unlike external devices, the integrated UnMouse
will have no moving parts, and require no cleaning.
MicroTouch manufactures touch screens for point-of-sale, gaming,
factory floor, multimedia, and other applications. The company
also markets digitizers for pen computing.
Pricing for the OEM sensor, chipset and software starts at $40 in
quantities of 1,000.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19920814; Press Contact: Mirena Reilly, The
Weber Group for MicroTouch, tel 617-661-7900; Public Contact:
Janet Pannier, MicroTouch, tel 508-694-9900)
(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00009)
****Low-Cost Video Security Sys., Talking Picture Frame 08/17/92
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- How about
a picture frame that plays a recorded message when picked up,
or an inexpensive system to see and talk to a guest before you
electronically open the door for them?
A Hollywood, California-based distributor, Ametron, is the
exclusive US distributor of the Talking Picture Frame and also
distributes the AIPHONE (pronounced 'a-phone) security system.
Both products use existing computer technology and both are
manufactured overseas in Taiwan.
The AIPHONE comes in two parts, the phone and the receiver. The
phone is equipped with a approx. 4" diagonal black and white
viewing screen and controls to operate the video camera in the
receiver. The receiver is mounted outside the door and has a
speaker and a video camera eye shielded in smoke grey plastic.
The phone plugs into a regular wall outlet for power and offers
the user the ability to control the viewing angle of the video
camera in the receiver, volume control, and the ability to
electrically unlock a door, if the door or gate can be
controlled electronically.
Maurice Rosenthall of Ametron told Newsbytes installation of
the units is a simple matter of running the wiring and can be
done fairly easily. Retail price for the AIPHONE is around
$1,300.
The talking picture frame holds a 5-inch x 7-inch photo and
allows the user, with a press of a button to record a message
that automatically plays each time the frame is picked up. The
frame requires four 'AA' batteries and is available in two
models, one with a 6-second message and another with a 20-second
message for the same $12.95 retail price, Rosenthall
said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19920814/Press Contact: Maurice Rosenthall,
Ametron, tel 213-462-1200, fax 213-871-0127; Public Contact
213-462-1200)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00010)
Exabyte To Acquire R-Byte 08/17/92
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Exabyte Corporation
says it has signed a letter of intent to acquire R-Byte Inc., a
developer of 4mm DAT (digital audio tape), for $12 million in cash.
Exabyte markets high capacity 8mm tape cartridge subsystems for data
storage. The company said the acquisition is part of its long range
strategic plan to provide multiple tape technologies. "Since the
company's inception in 1985 it has been our intent to provide our
customers with a range of products and tape technologies," said
Exabyte chairman, Peter Behrendt.
Completion of the acquisition is subject to the negotiation and
execution of a definitive agreement, as well as approval by both
companies directors, and the shareholders of R-Byte. Exabyte says a
substantial portion of the purchase price will be expensed in the
quarter in which the deal closes.
Behrendt said Exabyte is taking the first step in broadening its
offerings because its success with 8mm technology has given the
company the resources to do so effectively. He says a 4mm tape drive
is a natural complement for Exabyte because it will allow growth in
a contiguous market
Exabyte says the R-Byte 4mm tape technology is 27 percent faster
than other 4mm devices, and uses US-designed tape transports and
electronics.
(Jim Mallory/19920817/Press contact: Susan Merriman, Exabyte,
303-447-7434)
(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00011)
New For PC: MoneyCounts 7.0 Personal Edition 08/17/92
HIAWATHA, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Parsons Technology has
released MoneyCounts 7.0 Personal Edition, an upgrade to its
financial management software.
The program is designed to track home finances, using checkbook-like
entry screens. Users can set up budgets for all the accounts, then
compare budgeted figures with actual expenditures to see if they are
meeting their spending and saving goals. The company says the
program can also be used to manage small business, farm, rental
property or a non-profit organization finances.
The program comes with a variety of income, expense, and investment
accounts already set up. Other accounts can be added, and existing
ones can be deleted or modified. Multiple sets of accounts can be
created, which can be used to track other family members finances
separately, said Parsons spokesperson Anne Rawland-Warner.
The program can print 25 different reports, as well as pie, bar, or
line graphs. Reports can be customized to show totals by individual
account or by various user-defined categories. For example, the
user could combine water, gas, and electric expenses in a
"Utilities" category.
Personal Edition also provides check printing, supporting dot matrix
or laser jet printers.
Parsons says that users who bought an IBM-compatible PC after June
1, 1992 can get a free copy of MoneyCounts 7.0 Personal Edition and
a copy of ProCalc 3D, the company's spreadsheet program, by mailing
in proof of purchase of their PC, and $8 to cover shipping and
handling. You'll also get a coupon worth $8 towards the purchase of
another Parsons product.
Suggested retail price for MoneyCounts 7.0 Personal Edition is $49.
It requires an IBM-compatible PC, 512K of RAM (random access
memory), DOS 2.11 or later, and a hard drive. Rawland-Warner says
the company recommends 640K of RAM for better performance.
(Jim Mallory/19920817/Press contact: Anne Rawland-Warner, Parsons
Technology, 319-395-9626,X1037; Reader contact: 800-223-6925)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00012)
Illinois Fair Offers Computerized Job Service 08/17/92
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Illinois
residents who are looking for a job should attend the state fair
this year.
The Illinois Department of Security says it will be operating a job
kiosk at its tent that will attract fairgoers with flashy video-game
style music and color graphics. Once a passerby steps up to the
automatic teller machine style device, they can call up regional and
national job listings in the occupations of their choice in either
English or Spanish. The computer can print the job listings in
either language, and can refer job-seekers to whichever of the
state's regional employment offices is nearest to their home. The
system also lists what skills employers are looking for currently,
including computer literacy.
IDES Director Loleta Didrickson says the machine is not intended to
replace face-to-face contact with caseworkers at regional offices,
but give overworked counselors time to provide more personalized
service. Didrickson says as many as 800 people are sometimes
waiting in line when the regional offices open on Monday mornings to
be processed. "There's no reason why somebody can't step up to an
electronic kiosk, begin the early steps of processing themselves,
and free our employees to work with them on job development," she
said.
Didrickson said the $20,000 booth will be shut down after the fair,
but hopes to initiate a pilot program operating several kiosks
around the state soon. California already has a similar program.
Didrickson says the Illinois Secretary of State is interested in
using the kiosks to cut red tape and reduce the long lines at
drivers license stations. The booth has a magnetic card reader
slot, and could eventually be used for issuing public aid checks or
do other state business, she said.
(Jim Mallory/19920817/Press contact: Loleta Didrickson, IDES,
217-785-5069)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00013)
Gateway 2000 Healthy In Troubled Economy 08/17/92
NORTH SIOUX CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- While
other personal computer companies are struggling, IBM-compatible
maker Gateway 2000's revenues have climbed nearly 100 percent in the
last year.
Gateway says its second quarter ended with revenues of $248.6
million, with nearly 100,000 systems being shipped during the
quarter. Gateway says pretax earnings were also up more than 97
percent over the second quarter last year.
Gateway president, Ted Waitt, says he's very pleased with the second
quarter figures, and with orders exceeding revenue in the second
quarter, he feels confident the third quarter will be even stronger.
Waitt says the company's revenues each quarter have been better than
the preceding quarter, and attributes the company's growth to the
way the company does business. He says the key is providing
high-quality, fully-configured systems at outstanding prices, with
excellent support. "In fact, later this year we will continue to
demonstrate how our low cost of doing business, combined with our
presence in the industry, allows us to offer high-performance
products that define new price/performance standards," he said.
Gateway is not only reporting steadily increasing revenue, but also
reflects a strong financial position. Its ratio is about two to
one, with stockholder equity exceeding 50 percent of total assets,
and long term liabilities are only 2.3 percent of total assets
currently.
Gateway is in good shape with its financial backers also. Its
credit line was nearly doubled recently to what the company
describes as "the mid eight-figure range." Gateway says it has no
balance due on its credit line and has not drawn on it since the
first half of 1991.
The company's sales have grown steadily, from $1.5 million in 1987.
In 1988 sales jumped to nearly $12 million, went to over $70 million
in 1989, and were over $275 million in 1990. 1991 was a banner
year, with sales up to $626.8 million, and the company expects to
reach the $1 billion mark by the end of 1992.
(Jim Mallory/19920817/Press contact: Glynnis Gibson, Gibson
Communications for Gateway 2000, 312-883-2388; Reader contact:
Gateway 2000, 605-232-2000, fax 605-232-2023)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00014)
Zoom Pocket Fax/Data Modems For Mac, PC 08/17/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Continuing to
establish itself as the lowest-cost modem manufacturer, Zoom
Telephonics reports it is now shipping its first pocket faxmodem
for Macintosh and PC notebook computers.
The Zoom/FaxModem PKT weighs 5.2-ounces, operates at 2400 bits-per-
second, and offers send/receive fax capabilities. The price
is $149 for MS-DOS and Macintosh models, and $169 for Windows models.
The company says the unit can get its power from a standard
nine-volt battery, a compact power adapter provided with the PKT,
or pin nine of the PC compatibles that provide power to this pin
of the serial port. A power-saving feature switches the PKT to a
low-power sleep mode when the PKT is on-hook and not receiving a
command or detecting an incoming ring, the company says. Typical
alkaline battery life is seven hours.
It comes with software for data and fax communications, including
Wordperfect's MTEZ for the MS-DOS model, Winfax Lite for Windows
and STF LC for the Macintosh. MTEZ enables the PKT's Rockwell
Protocol Interface for V.42bis data compression, V.42bis
error-correction, and MNP, the company says.
(Wendy Woods/19920817/Press Contact: 617-423-1072; Public Contact
800 666 6191 or 617-423-1072)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00015)
Japanese Mac System 7.1 Due In Fall, New Mac Dealer 08/17/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Apple Computer (Tokyo) is
preparing to release a Japanese version of the Macintosh operating
system, System 7.1, this fall. With this operating system, the
Macintosh will be able to fully support the Japanese language, Apple
reports.
System 7.1 is an upgraded operating system with features Apple
says were in demand by Japanese users. There's a multi-language
feature called "WorldScript" in which the operating system enables
the development of applications in a number of languages, including
Japanese. WorldScript can deal with a 2-byte word just as well as
a 1-byte word, Apple contends.
This operating system also has kana-kanji conversion software called
"Kotoeri." This kind of language conversion program is generally
called s front-end processor, and it plays a vital role in the
conversion of simple Japanese letters into kanji letters.
This is good news for Japanese users who had to deal with System
7.0's weak Japanese language support. A beta version of
Japanese System 7.1 has already been supplied to application
developers.
Meanwhile, Apple Computer (Tokyo) has let Fuji Xerox distribute
the Macintosh in Japan. This is based on a distribution agreement
signed between Apple Computer and Fuji Xerox this past
June. Fuji Xerox has created a special sales force for the
Macintosh in its office equipment system department. This is good
news for Apple Computer because Fuji Xerox has a nationwide
distribution network which may help sales of the Macintosh.
Fuji Xerox is currently selling Toshiba's J-3100 personal computers
and Unix workstations on an OEM basis.
Interestingly enough, last week Apple announced that it had struck
a deal with Xerox in the US to allow it to sell the company's
printer supplies through its office supply stores.
(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920817/Press Contact: Apple Computer, Tokyo,
+81-3-5562-6000)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00016)
****Softletter's GeoCon: Int'l Vendors Get Acquainted 08/17/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- PC software
vendors from Russia, Brazil, the UK, and about ten other
counties are getting acquainted with US distributors, venture
capitalists, and marketing realities at GeoCon/92, an
international conference that kicked off this weekend.
Produced by Softletter, the three-day event consists of a
product expo put together for the US audience, along with
educational activities designed with the European and Latin
American exhibitors in mind.
Jeffrey Tarter, Softletter's editor and publisher, told
Newsbytes that the expo is introducing US interests to fresh
and innovative new software concepts from abroad. At the same
time, he stressed, foreign-based vendors are unraveling the
mysteries of the US software situation, through seminars and a
field trip as well as informal chats with US attendees on the
showroom floor.
Many of the exhibitors are seeking US partners. According to
Tarter, these vendors' products are often low in risk but high in
potential -- fully developed and yet different from those
produced on US shores. "Generally, the products just need
repackaging, and in some cases, English translation," he noted.
An entrant in last year's conference, the first GeoCon show ever,
is now a successful draw in the Power-Up mail order catalog.
Called myHouse, the "design your own home" application from RAIR
of Hungary comes with advanced 3D CAD (computer-aided design)
capabilities. US developers might not include features like this
in a consumer package out of concern that their top-of-the-line
offerings would be cannibalized, Tarter told Newsbytes.
Other important deals between US firms and foreign developers
have been struck outside of GeoCon, he pointed out. Borland's
Quattro Pro is also based on a program developed in Hungary,
while the Timeworks desktop publishing package hails from the
UK, the editor and publisher stated.
The GeoCon exhibitors are uniformly interested in frank feedback
on their products, together with honest insights into US
advertising, packaging, distribution and business management
procedures, he added. "It would be easier for us to do a
textbook presentation," he acknowledged. "But GeoCon is oriented
toward how things actually work. In the US as in other
nations, some of the commonly accepted rules are more important
than others. And then, there are those `unwritten' rules that
can be extremely hard to find and decipher."
Held Saturday, this year's field trip took in three leading
retail chains: Egghead, Software Etc, and Comp USA. The
exhibitors were astounded by the numbers of packages on the
shelves, a response that was especially profound among companies
from Russia and the former Eastern Bloc countries, recounted
Tarter. "Retail stores like this simply don't exist in most
other countries," he commented.
In a conference session on Sunday, Tarter explained to
exhibitors that large US retail chains receive the same kind
of deep discounts that big distributors tend to get almost
everywhere. "In this country, discounts are based on the volume
sold, not the channel alone," he elaborated. Later, Tarter told
Newsbytes that European distributors typically perform wider
services than US distributors, "republishing" programs for
particular geographic markets.
In other workshops, exhibitors expressed dismay over the
complexities of US sales and payroll taxes. But the
participants were ecstatic to learn that US phone companies
typically honor installation requests in three days or less.
Conference sessions presented so far range from "Packaging-
Packaging-Packaging," by Steve Gray, vice president of the DRK,
Inc., ad agency, to "Distribution and Reseller Deals," By Colleen
Terry, director of sales and marketing for Clear Software,
to "Negotiating Licensing and Royalty-Based Deals," by Mary
Dixon, account manager at Houghton-Miflin and Michael Krieger,
attorney.
Other countries with companies at the show include Hungary,
France, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany,
Scotland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19920817; Press and Public Contact: Jeffrey
Tarter, Soft-Letter, tel 617-924-3944)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00017)
Invisible Software Upgrades LAN Product - Changes Name 08/17/92
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Invisible
Software has upgraded its peer to peer networking product - Net/30
and has changed its name in the process. The new version is to be
known as InvisibleLAN v3.13. The old version was Net/30 V3.1.
Several enhancement to InvisibleLAN include compatibility with
Microsoft Windows, which the company claims is becoming more and
more important to users; the addition of a TCP/IP packet driver which
allows user to integrate InvisibleLAN into Unix installations; and an
enhanced print server function. The print server now allows
direct printing without the need for prior spooling of the print
job.
Additional enhancements include real-time browsing of network
utilities, a user activity log, and a network bulletin board with
the ability to store and forward messages as well as track replies.
The company believes that InvisibleLAN should be the product of
choice in the peer-to-peer marketplace due to its complete support
and integration with Microsoft Windows as well as their significantly
better performance. Specifically, they mention performance as the
number one reason for choosing InvisibleLAN over Netware Lite and
Artisoft's LANtastic. InvisibleLAN will support up to 200 nodes on
a network but the average that the company is seeing is about 12
nodes.
There are two version of the product that are basically distinguished
by whether they come with or without an Ethernet adapter. The
company sells a starter kit for 8-bit systems which comes with two
adapter cards (their own cards) and the software for $549. A 16-bit
version of the same kit costs $599. Each 16-bit additional node kit
comes with the adapter and a 25-foot length of coaxial cable. The
add-on node kit sells for $299. There is also a version of the
software that sells independently. This is called the Adapter
Independent version and it sells for $149. The Adapter Independent
version comes with drivers that support adapter cards that are
compatible with either the Novell NE series or the Western Digital
8000 series of adapter cards.
Upgrades from the previous version of Net/30 are available for $99.
Should you have an earlier version of Net/30, the upgrade will cost
$149. All of the products are shipping and available now.
(Naor Wallach/19920817, Press Contact: Alex DuBrow, Invisible
Software,407-260-5200/Public Contact:Invisible Software,407-260-5200)
(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00018)
Japan: Canon Sells More IBM Computers 08/17/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Canon in Japan has launched a
major sales push for IBM's personal computers at its national
outlets called Zero-one shops. This is a huge distribution network,
similar to one established by Computerland in Japan.
IBM Japan currently has about 150 distributors for its personal
computers, but 70 percent of these are located in large cities.
Canon's distributors are scattered around smaller cities and
towns in Japan.
Canon used to sell only the PS/55 Note, which is a Japanese
version of the PS/2 Notebook, through Zero-one shops. Now, Canon is
selling other members of the PS/55 family including the desktop
version of the PS/55.
Canon has created an IBM Sales Project team to increase IBM PC
sales, in a move apparently due to the growing popularity of IBM's
personal computers in Japan. More DOS/V-based Japanese programs
have been developed with more due in the near future. This
development is the result of IBM Japan's sales strategy regarding
the OADG (Open Architecture Developers' Group). This group
has been advocating the development and sale of DOS/V-compatible
computers and software.
Canon has also been selling IBM Japan's office computer, the
"AS/400," as part of its office automation equipment systems.
Canon may also sell IBM Japan's local area networks in the future,
speculation has it, since the company recently decided to create
a sales, support, and promotion team for local area networks.
Amazingly, this new division will be operated by 300 employees. It
is expected to be set up by this fall.
(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920817/Press Contact: Canon, +81-3-3348-2121)
(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00019)
****Japan Columbia Releases Digital Motion Picture CD 08/17/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Japan Columbia has developed
a new digital compact disk, which supports motion pictures. The
disk is the same size as a regular 5-inch music compact
disk. It is expected to vie with Pioneer's laser disk in the near
future.
Japan Columbia's latest digital compact disk is called "digital
video interactive" or DVI. The motion picture data is compressed
in a 5-inch compact disk, and plays on a proprietary DVI player.
This system can also be connected to a personal computer. The only
drawback at present is the price -- the hardware set costs about
1 million yen ($8,000).
The major advantage of DVI is the size -- it is about half that of
a laser disk. Also, a player can be connected with a personal
computer and pictures can be edited on the computer. So, it
is envisioned as an ideal tool for multimedia personal computers.
Due to the size and features of DVI, many people in the software
industry expect that this kind of device will replace current
laser disks in the future.
Japan Columbia is now accepting purchase orders for this
DVI system. To start, the firm will target sales at corporate
users. Japan Columbia has already supplied the system to researchers
at a laboratory in a Tokyo suburb. The firm is also preparing to
ship this system to the US market.
The basic technology for DVI was developed and announced in the
fall of 1991. It took time for Japan Columbia to create an actual
commercial product because there was the problem of compatibility
with different types of computers.
Japan Columbia will also produce the software for this DVI.
(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920817/Press Contact: Japan Columbia, +81-3-
3584-8250)
(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00020)
New For PC: Superbase 2.0 08/17/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Software
Publishing is due to ship a second version of Superbase since
it acquired the product in the merger with Precision Software in
July, 1991. The new version of the database program for Windows
is numbered 2.0, and the company plans to ship it in November.
In the market as a whole, Superbase is not the only Windows database
on the market. Approach and Windowbase are two Windows database
products that are currently shipping. Windows versions of dBASE,
Clipper, Paradox, and Foxbase, are also in development.
Superbase 2.0 will retail for $795, network licenses are $395
per user. The developer edition is $1395.
Major enhancements in Superbase version 2.0, the company says,
include an improved Windows user interface, new visual design
tools for rapid application development, extensions to the Super
Basic Language (SBL), and additional connectivity options.
Version 2.0 interface's includes new menu and dialog options,
many of which were previously available only as SBL commands or
expressions, Software Publishing's press statements says.
There is also a feature called Quick Report generator and a
Report Designer for graphical reports. A macro recorder
enables users to record sequences of commonly repeated actions
and attach the resulting SBL procedures to menus, the Icon Bar
or push buttons in forms.
The program now reads and writes to dBASE and imports or exports
to Paradox. Version 2.0 supports new binary large object (BLOB)
formats such as AutoCAD drawings, Word Perfect graphics and
Harvard Graphics charts. The new version supports Windows
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE), the Windows Media
Control Interface (MCI) and is "Windows Pen aware."
(Wendy Woods/19920817)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00021)
****New York City Clamps Down On ATM Security 08/17/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Despite opposition
from banks, New York City has passed a bylaw that requires greater
security at automated teller machines. The move followed the
shooting of an off-duty police officer who tried to stop a robbery
at one of the machines, and was co-sponsored by a city council
member who had herself been robbed at a bank machine.
The bill, signed into law by Mayor David Dinkins on Friday,
requires that within six months all of the roughly 1,100 ATMs in
the city have surveillance cameras and adequate lighting. Except
where it is impossible because of the construction of the building,
any area containing an ATM will be required to have at least one
window wall so it is visible from outside. Reflective surfaces will
be required so that people using an ATM will be able to see
movement behind them, and special mirrors will also be called for
where it is not otherwise possible to see the whole area from one
place.
The bill also calls on banks to put in place customer education
programs covering safe use of ATMs, and to install signs urging
safety measures such as closing doors when entering an ATM area,
said Margaret Nelson, a member of the staff of city councillor
Ronnie Eldridge, a co-sponsor of the bill.
A task force is being set up to look into the problem of secure
locks on ATM enclosures. Nelson explained that in the early days of
ATMs, door locks opened by the ATM card itself were an effective
way to control access. But with the interconnection of ATM networks
so that one bank's card will work in the machines of many others,
the locks have had to be adjusted to accept more cards. The result,
she said, is that today most doors on ATM areas can be opened by
virtually any card with a magnetic stripe.
This is controversial because the banks claim the cost of more
discerning locks would be prohibitive. Nelson said the task force
will look at two options. One is to install in the doors
electronics like what the ATM machines themselves use, which would
read electronic information on the cards and check it before
admitting the customer. This would be "very expensive" and would
require people to wait outside while their cards are checked,
Nelson said. Another option is technology that can read just the
first digit of the card number, to distinguish bank cards from
others. However, Nelson said, the proliferation of magnetic-stripe
cards has led to deviations from international standards, so that
not all bank cards have the designated 5 as a first digit.
Once the task force reports, banks are to be given six months to
comply with the standards it recommends or, in the absence of
proper door locks, post unarmed security guards at each ATM.
(Grant Buckler/19920817/Press Contact: Margaret Nelson, City of New
York, 212-765-4339)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00022)
Scangraphics Gets $3.35 Million In Lawsuit 08/17/92
BROOMALL, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Scorpion
Technologies has been ordered to pay $3.35 million to Scangraphics
after Santa Clara Superior Court ruled that the California company
misappropriated Scangraphics trade secrets.
The verdict had to do with Scangraphics' proprietary raster to
vector conversion software, RAVE.
The court awarded Scangraphics $2.9 million in damages for
misappropriation of trade secrets. Also, the court awarded $356,000
for back royalties covering sales made by Scorpion which
incorporated Scangraphics proprietary products.
Scangraphics officials said the company plans to enhance its RAVE
software with feature and object recognition capabilities, to allow
users to convert scanned images into intelligent vector data used
in applications such as mapping, geographic information systems,
and computer-aided design.
Scangraphics, an IBM Business Partner, develops scanning technology
for engineering, large document and aperture card scanners, and
systems for drawing backfile conversion.
(Grant Buckler/19920817/Press Contact: Michael A. Mulshine,
Scangraphics, 908-528-8593)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00023)
****No More IBM Funds For Wang 08/17/92
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- A cloud
continues to hang over Wang Laboratories, which has not yet
released its financial results for the year ended June 30. Now
there are reports that a possible source of funds for the troubled
company has been removed with word that IBM will not exercise an
option to invest further in Wang.
Under an agreement the two companies signed in June, 1991, IBM had
an option to invest another $75 million on top of the $25 million
it put into Wang. The deal also provided for Wang to resell IBM's
RISC System/6000 workstations.
The Wall Street Journal quoted "an IBM official" as saying IBM had
put its plans to exercise that option on hold. However, company
spokesman Paul Newman told Newsbytes that was not an official IBM
position.
He read from a prepared company statement that said IBM "does not
wish to make any statement with regard to its relationship" with
Wang.
Recent events suggest the IBM deal might be having the wrong
results for Wang. A survey of the company's customers by Computer
Intelligence, a La Jolla, California, market research firm,
recently found that of about seven percent of Wang's customers who
plan to buy new hardware this year, only about half intend to buy
from Wang. Many were planning a move to IBM instead.
However, David Eulitt, the Computer Intelligence researcher who
wrote the report, warned against reading too much into the results.
"There is some indecision right now on the part of Wang users," he
said, but "it's too early to tell" what will happen in the long
term.
As the wait continues for Wang's financial results, there has been
speculation the company might file for protection under Chapter 11
of the bankruptcy laws. However, the company has denied it, and Ann
Palermo, research director for computer industry research firm
International Data Corp. in Framingham, Massachusetts, said she
would be surprised if things went that far. "[Wang Chairman
Richard] Miller is a finance guy, and he wouldn't let that happen."
However, Palermo said Wang is in difficulty and may be forced to
lay off more staff. Staff cuts have already taken place, the most
recent being the elimination of more than 1,000 jobs in late May.
(Grant Buckler/19920817/Press Contact: Paul Newman, IBM, 914-697-
6629; Ed Pignone, Wang, 508-967-4912)
(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00024)
****Apple Giving $500K In Computers To Environmentalists 08/17/92
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Apple
Computer says this year it is starting the Earthgrants project
which will place its computers, retail-valued at over half a
million dollars, in 19 institutions working on environmental
issues around the globe.
While Apple has donated its computer equipment in the form of
grants to non-profit groups before, this is the first time the
company has offered the Earthgrants. Apple says it has made
other donations to grassroots organizations in the US in
cooperation with the Environmental Support Center in
Washington, DC.
The EarthGrant program has five goals, Apple said. It is to put
environmentalists on a technological par with the organizations
they seek to influence; address environmental issues around
chemistry, biology, engineering, and geology; assist in the
collection and analysis of multiple data, tracked over long
periods of time and presented in a variety of formats; focus on
global environmental concerns that require timely communication
among scientists and activists worldwide; and apply personal
computer technology for increasing issue awareness among
diverse audiences.
The 19 institutions that have received the grants for 1992 are:
Cetacean Research Unit, The Conservation Fund, Environmental
Defense Fund, Environmental Health Coalition, Harbor Branch
Oceanographic Institution, International Institute for Energy
Conservation, Louisiana State University Hazardous Substance
Research Center, Museum of Science (Boston), Oregon Health
Sciences University Center for Research on Occupational and
Environmental Toxicology, Organization for Tropical Studies,
Pacific Energy and Resources Center, Peninsula Open Space
Trust, Pesticide Action Network, Southern Appalachian Highlands
Conservancy, Toward Utility Rate Normalization, Global Action
Network, University of Arizona, University of Maryland Center
for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, and the University of
Oregon Dept. of Landscape and Planning.
Eyes on Earth, a non-profit foundation started by Santa Monica,
California artist Tom Van Sant, has credited Apple with the loan
of computer equipment and assistance in the creation of The
Geosphere Project. The Geosphere Project is a computer-
generated model of the planet on compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM) that currently runs on a Macintosh and simulates
global database information on to the computer screen in visual
representations. The model currently simulates ocean currents,
deforestation, population, climate, seasons and other global
data to make the data more easily comprehensible.
Also, in its own environmental efforts internally, Apple has
been reporting for over a year that it is taking steps to
eliminate CFCs from its manufacturing processes. CFCs are
chemicals that released into the atmosphere, are believed to be
damaging to the earth's protective ozone layer. Historically,
CFCs have been used in the cleaning of circuit boards for
electronic equipment.
The company said last year it eliminated the use of CFCs to
clean electronic assemblies and circuit boards in its Fremont,
California facility, replacing the process with one that
doesn't require the boards be cleaned at all.
(Linda Rohrbough/19920817/Press Contact: Cindy McCaffery,
Apple, tel 408-974-1578, fax 408-974-5651)
(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00025)
Meridian Sues Frame For Sums Allegedly Owed 08/17/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Meridian
Systems, a sales representative and value-added reseller (VAR)
for Frame Technology, has filed suit against Frame in the
California Superior Court for the County of Santa Clara. The
suit alleges Frame owes Meridian and R. Cameron Pedego money,
charging that Frame has breached oral and written contracts
with respect to amounts allegedly owed to Meridian.
Frame, which describes itself as a supplier of document
publishing and distribution software for creating and
electronically distributing business and technical documents,
has publicly announced the suit is without merit. Paul
Robichaux, chairman and chief executive officer of Frame, said:
"Frame Technology has consistently fulfilled its business
obligations and will continue to do so." The company says it
plans to defend itself vigorously.
Frame technology representatives told Newsbytes the suit was
filed July 27, and Frame was served on August 6. When asked
about an out of court settlement or other details about the
suit, Frame representatives declined to comment.
Newsbytes contacted Meridian but no one was available who could
comment as of press time.
(Linda Rohrbough/19920817/Press Contact: Carol Kaplan, Frame
Technology, tel 408-428-6143, fax 408-456-9199; R. Cameron
Pedego, Meridian, tel 408-437-1087)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00026)
BoCoEx Index 08/17/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Boston Computer
Exchange for the week ending August 14, 1992.
Machine Main Closing Price Ask Bid
Drive Price Change
IBM AT 339 30 MgB 450 700 200
IBM PS/2 Model 30 286 20 MgB 500 900 300
IBM PS/2 Model 35 SX 40 MgB 1100 1300 800
IBM PS/2 Model L40SX 60 MgB 1350 1700 1100
IBM PS/2 Model 50Z 30 MgB 550 down 50 700 325
IBM PS/2 Model 55SX 30 MgB 900 1300 800
IBM PS/2 Model 60 40 MgB 600 900 325
IBM PS/2 Model 70 A21 120 MgB 1750 2000 1400
IBM PS/2 Model P70 120 MgB 1700 down 300 2000 1500
IBM PS/2 Model 80 110 MgB 1500 1800 1100
IBM PS/2 Model 80 70 MgB 1100 1200 1000
IBM PS/2 Model 95 160 MgB 3900 4500 3500
Compaq Portable II 20 MgB 425 500 375
Compaq Portable III 20 MgB 500 600 250
Compaq Portable 386 100 MgB 1300 1800 1000
Compaq SLT-286 20 MgB 700 900 400
Compaq LTE 20 MgB 550 700 400
Compaq LTE-286 40 MgB 800 down 50 900 500
Compaq LTE-386 60 MgB 1700 1900 1300
Compaq Deskpro 286E 40 MgB 500 1000 325
Compaq Deskpro 386s 40 MgB 1000 1200 700
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 60 MgB 1800 2000 1100
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 84 MgB 1850 2250 1400
Clone 386SX du Jour 40 MgB 875 900 700
NEC ProSpeed 386 100 MgB 1500 1800 1000
Zenith SuperSport-286 20 MgB 550 700 525
Zenith Mastersport-386SX 60 MgB 1350 1700 1000
Macintosh Classic 40 MgB 750 875 500
Macintosh Classic II 40 MgB 975 1025 800
Macintosh SE Floppy 525 650 450
Macintosh SE 20 MgB 725 775 500
Macintosh SE-30 80 MgB 1650 1750 1300
Macintosh LC 40 MgB 1000 1300 800
Macintosh II 40 MgB 1825 1900 1300
Macintosh II X 80 MgB 2500 2850 2000
Macintosh II CX 80 MgB 2600 3000 2000
Macintosh II CI 80 MgB 3100 3600 2460
Macintosh II FX 80 MgB 4100 4900 3700
Macintosh II SI 40 MgB 1800 2300 1500
Macintosh Quadra 700 160 MgB 3650 3700 3500
Macintosh Quadra 900 160 MgB 4250 4600 4000
Macintosh Portable 40 MgB 500 800 300
Macintosh Powerbk 100 20 MgB 850 1000 700
Macintosh Powerbk 140 40 MgB 1800 1900 1600
Apple Imagewriter 2 175 200 100
Apple Laserwriter 2 NT 1450 1600 1200
HP Laserjet II 850 950 550
HP Laserjet III 1000 1200 900
Toshiba T-1000LE 20 MgB 500 600 400
Toshiba T-1200 XE 20 MgB 700 800 550
Toshiba T-1600 20 MgB 650 700 500
Toshiba T-2000 SX 20 MgB 910 1000 800
Toshiba T-3100 SX 40 MgB 1300 1500 1000
Toshiba T-3200 40 MgB 900 1300 600
Toshiba T-3200 SX 40 MgB 1300 1600 900
Toshiba T-3200 SXC 120 MgB 3700 4000 3000
Toshiba T-4400 SX 120 MgB 2450 2500 2200
Toshiba T-5100 40 MgB 1300 1700 900
Toshiba T-5200 100 MgB 1800 2000 1500
BoCoEx Index data is compiled by Market Analyst, Gary M. Guhman
Here are some current retail-oriented Seats on the Exchange,
presented in a cyclic basis.
Madison, New Jersey - CompuTrade - Howard Kroll - 201-593-0362
New Orleans, Louisiana - Audubon Computer Rental - Mike Barry - 504-522-
0348
Detroit, Michigan - CompuCycle - Walt Hogan - 313-887-2600
Dallas - Ft. Worth, TX - DFW Computer Exchange - M.B. Lee - 817-244-7833
Albuquerque, NM, Western Computer Exchange - David Levin - 505-265-1330
Fresno, California - MacSource Computers - Mike Kurtz - 209-438-6227
Escondido, Ca. - Affordable Computer Solutions - Dean Jacobus - 619-738-
4980
BoCoEx Index prices are based on complete systems with keyboard,
monochrome monitor and adapter, less the value of any software or
peripherals. Boston Computer Exchange is available at: 617-542-4414,
Buyer's HotLine: 1- 800-262-6399, In Alaska and Canada 1-800-437-2470,
FAX: 617-542-8849.
(BOCOEX/19920817)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00027)
SoundByte News From BOCOEX 08/17/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- The following
report is provided by the Boston Computer Exchange.
Computer News for Business People
If you're an electronic mail user, you know how hard it is to send a
message to someone on another mail service. Well, that is about to change.
The X.400 Application Program Interface Association has unveiled a
prototype mail specification that would allow users to transfer mail
between services. Now it remains to be seen if the new specifications will
make e-mail as easy as the US Post Office, or only the same speed.
Compaq has released two new printers. Both are networkable on EtherNet and
AppleTalk networks and both are Postscript systems with 300 by 300 dot-per-
inch resolution and they can be converted to higher resolutions with an
upgrade.
Microsoft wants us to add sound to our programs. They are introducing the
$300 add-in card for IBM type computers that will make voice annotations to
programs, CD quality sound and even voice recognition. The code name is
Foghorn. We can only hope it is more subtle than a foghorn. Also from
Microsoft this week, is Schedule+ for Windows that makes personal
calendars, to-do lists and will coordinate group calendars for optimal
meeting times.
For all you Novell NetWare fans, you can now add Sun Workstations to your
networks with Sunlink from Sun MicroSystems. The software allows NetWare
and UNIX users to share storage, printing and client/server applications
resources.
Lotus Development Corporations may have won the lawsuit against Borland,
but Borland seems undisturbed. The California software maker unveiled
Quattro Pro 4.0 which has none of the original Lotus Interface in place. In
the Windows era, new buyers of spreadsheet technology seem to be losing
interest in character based applications.
It was MacWorld week in Boston last week. Apple has new machines in the
works. The Mac Performa 600, and Mac's IIvx, IIvi are set to redefine the
Mac line. The Performa and the Performa with CD drive will be sold through
mass market merchandisers while the Mac II's are going to be sold by
dealers. The Performa will be selling in mid-September and the new Mac II's
will hit the market in October.
Silicon Graphics was showing their Indigo workstations as the step up from
the Apple Quadra. MathType 3.0 from Design Science Inc and Expressionist
3.0 from Prescience Corp. Both appeared at MacWorld and each allows users
to write and edit equations and embed equations in text. Deneba Software
has released BigThesaurus 2 for the Macintosh System 7. The thesaurus is a
TSR program that has over 100,000 words and can handle 1.4 million
combinations of synonyms. Optical Access International announced Access
RD/Express, its new Macintosh CD-ROM drive. It is being sold as a
replacement for removable hard disk drives.
Virus watchers Alert! There are viruses due in August. Fifth Generation
Systems of Baton Rouge made note that the Casino-B and Blood viruses are
both due to trigger August 15. Casino-B can destroy a hard disk's file
allocation table, while Blood causes the system to reboot when an infected
file is executed. A virus named Argentina, will trigger on August 17 but it
is benign. Fifth Generation make anti-virus software.
Two way television is about to come of age. The FCC has announced that it
will begin accepting applications next week from cable operators in major
markets who want to offer two-way TV systems to their customers. Six year
old TV-Answer is about to get some pay off on its $60 million investment in
the new technology. One of the first users of TV-Answer will be a
consortium of Northeast banks that will offer full banking services via
television cable systems.
If you use a beeper pager and like to play computer games, a new product
from Japan will help you do two things at once. TOA of Tokyo has developed
a pocket beeper with two games and music built in. While the games are not
visually exciting on the small LCD screen, the new beeper does mean that
you can keep yourself amused while waiting for those critical phone
messages to come in. When a message arrives, the new beeper will play any
one of 12 tunes. Dick Tracy, your wrist watch two way television is just
around the corner.
Finally, Rosemarie Randall was born into the SoundByte News family on
August 8th weighing in at 8 pounds. She is currently booting her operating
system and mother and daughter are just fine.
SoundByte News is produced by Alex Randall who is solely responsible for
its contents. News is drawn from the wire services of IDG, NewsBytes,
ZiffNet, MacNet and the Boston Computer exchange. Copyright 1992, Alex
Randall, All Rights reserved.
(BOCOEX/19920817)
(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00028)
Canadian Show To Include Home Computing Seminars 08/17/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- A new series of
seminars that will focus on home-based business computing are a
sign of the evolution of the venerable Canadian Computer Show since
the days when computing meant mainframes.
Added to other conference sessions at this year's show -- scheduled
for November 23 to 26 -- will be four one-and-a-half hour panel
discussions on home-office topics.
Spokeswoman Gail Bergman said the seminars reflect a growing
attention to the small-business and home-office market on the part
of the show organizers, though she stopped short of saying this has
become the show's major focus. The show is covering all markets
this year, Bergman said.
The Canadian Computer Show originated in the 1970s, when most
computers were large mainframes or minicomputers and PCs had not
yet arrived on the scene.
Each of the four seminars will involve a panel, and the names of
panelists were not available at Newsbytes deadline.
Gerry Blackwell, editor of the Canadian supplement to Home Office
Computing magazine, will moderate a panel of consultants and
vendors who will talk about hardware, software, and services for
the complete home office.
Elizabeth Harris, editor and publisher of Head Office at Home: The
Canadian Magazine for People Who Work at Home, will moderate a
panel made up of four successful operators of home-based
businesses. They will talk about how they have set up their home
offices, how they use their computers to increase productivity, the
problems they have encountered, and the solutions they have found.
Jo-Ann Austin, executive director of the National Home Business
Institute, will moderate a panel of dealer representatives who will
talk about their services and products.
Tom Stoyan, director of education for HomeOffice Inc., the
Education Company for Home-Based Businesses, will lead a panel of
four consultants who will discuss their secrets and their mistakes
in building up home-based businesses.
Admission to the complete seminar series will cost C$95, with
individual seminars priced at $35 each.
(Grant Buckler/19920814/Press Contact: Gail Bergman, Context
Marketing for Industrial Trade & Consumer Shows, 416-422-1414;
Public Contact: Sharon Epp, Industrial Trade & Consumer Shows,
416-252-4887, fax 416-252-9848)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00029)
Is Motorola Impatient with the Indian Government? 08/17/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 AUG 17 (NB) -- Motorola is in the news
again and for the same old reason. It has threatened to quit India
because the government, it says, has delayed clearing its projects
worth over $130 million.
The Motorola chairman is reported to have written to the Indian
Prime Minister expressing his disappointment over the bureaucratic
wrangles despite the recent liberalization and deregulation
policies. And the Prime Minister has ordered for all the files
on Motorola.
According to the company, it had submitted a comprehensive
package for 13 different projects worth $4.15 billion. Though
many of them are in a preliminary and uncommitted stage, according
to the official regulations, with indication of "interest and
intention," on Motorola's part, there were actually only four
projects with investment plans totalling no more that $21 million.
So far clearance has been given to its software project, that has
been merged with data communications equipment project, and the
company was given the go-ahead to hike its equity stake to 100 percent
in a joint venture with Blue Star, for data communication products.
The other two projects are both in the field of value-added
services -- radio paging and personal communications network which
is estimated at $12 million investment.
According to informed sources, Motorola is upset because its
nationwide radio paging network proposal, for which it had
received informal assurances from the high-powered Foreign
Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), never materialized as the
Department of Telecommunications insisted on floating a tender
for it.
India was declared a strategic country by Motorola in 1987. Informed
sources disclose that the major proposal of setting up paging
facility with 51 percent equity is in collaboration with Arya
Communications and in sub-collaboration with Max India Ltd.
The FIPB cleared the proposal in January '92, long before the
official industrial liberalization policy came in. However, DoT
directed the company to follow the route of bidding when it came
to the crunch soon after.
Motorola raised a "hue and cry" in some sections of the press here,
saying that it was diverting its projects to China. The Times of
India (TOI) newspaper has, however, questioned the implication
that Motorola is making too much fuss regarding clearances from
the Indian government about the eight-month delay for which
China took even more than eight years. China was declared a
"strategic country" by Motorola even three years before India.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19920814)
(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00030)
New Product: Hayes Smartmodem OPTIMA 144 Data + Fax Modem 08/17/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 192 AUG 17 (NB) -- Hayes Microcomputer
Products has announced Hayes OPTIMA 144 + FAX 144, a data/fax modem
that supports CCITT V.32bis and V.42bis for data throughput of
up to 57,600 bits per second and Group 3 fax standard V.17 for
14,400 bits per second.
Hayes OPTIMA 144 + FAX 144, available for a suggested retail
price of $519, comes bundled with free Smartcom FAX communications
software and Smartcom EZ data communications software. Smartcom
FAX is a terminate-and-stay-resident program that allows users to
fax documents directly from their computer, as well as receive fax
messages and then view, rotate, flip, print, or save to disk.
Hayes also announced the OPTIMA 144, a cost-effective, high-speed
data modem designed for users whose applications do not require
fax communications. OPTIMA 144 comes packaged with free Smartcom
EZ communications software for a suggested retail price of $479.
All OPTIMA products carry a two-year limited performance warranty,
according to the company; Hayes' customer service number is
404/441-1617.
(Computer Currents/19920817)
