\paperw8640 \margr0\margl0\ATXph0 \plain \fs20 \f1 PCs which start up in less than five seconds and receive email, faxes and answer the phone while they're switched off are on
the horizon following the release of Microsoft's OnNow technology.\par
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OnNow is a new class of technologies developed by Microsoft which will allow PC manufacturers to make computers more like other consumer devices in the future. Future PCs which in
clude the OnNow technology will be able to switch on as quickly as video recorders or TVs, according to Microsoft, and will resume exactly where you left them.\par
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Microsoft has released seven OnNow device class specifications to PC manufacturers.
The new technologies have been released to leading PC manufacturers such as Compaq, Toshiba, Intel and Hewlett-Packard and cover everything from audio, communications, displays, input devices, PC Cards, storage and networking. \par
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The first PCs
which adhere to the OnNow specification will appear in 1998 and although they look as if they're turned off, will automatically wake up to receive incoming emails, phone messages and faxes. Unlike today, there'll also be no waiting time when a user switc
hes the PC on. OnNow forms part of Microsoft's and Intel's PC98 reference design.
