•          Apple US. has introduced the LC 630, a low-end multimedia Mac  with ample room for expansion. Similar in design to the Macintosh IIsi, 
the LC 630 (also known as the Quadra 630 and Performa 630) features 
a 33MHz 68040 processor, an optional double-speed CD-ROM drive, 
8 megabytes of RAM (expandable to 36), 8-bit stereo sound (16-bit when played from internal CD) and either a 250 or 360 megabyte IDE hard drive. The 1 megabyte of on-board Video RAM supports displays up to 15” in size with 32,768 colors and displays up to 17” in size with 256 colors. 

Internally, the LC 630 is equipped with an LC processor direct slot; a communications slot (previously introduced in the LC 575) for the addition of either a fax-modem or Ethernet card; a video slot for the addition of either the Apple Video System (allowing the user to record video from a VCR or other source), the Apple Video/TV System (providing the user with an internal television tuner from which the user can record) or the Apple Presentation System (allows for video output to VCR’s and large-screen TVs); and a dedicated connector for the internal TV tuner. Apple has indicated that the 630 series is PowerPC upgradeable.

Apple Canada is expected to announce the LC 630 within weeks, which will ship in both 8MB/250HD and 8MB/360HD/CD configurations. US. ApplePrices for the 630 systems begin at $1300.00; the Apple Video System, Video/TV System and Presentation System carry US. ApplePrices of $149,$249 and $299 respectively.

 •         Computer Intelligence InfoCorp’s  intial results of its “First 100 days of the Power Macintosh” show that Power Macintosh sales have out-paced Pentium sales (66,300 
Power Macintosh units vs. 40,900 Pentium units). Sales of the Power Macintosh 6100 
have been the most brisk.

 •         After a number of unexpected delays, Global Village has finally shipped the PowerPort/ Mercury for PowerBook Duo users. Currently the only alternative to Apple’s problem-
plagued Duo Express modem, the PowerPort/Mercury Duo offers 19.2k data and 14.4k fax transmission speeds and has a US. suggested retail price of $399.00

 •         Apple Canada has introduced the AppleDesign Keyboard as a replacement 
 or both the Apple Keyboard II and the Apple Extended Keyboard II. The 106-
key device offers identical functionality to the Extended Keyboard II, includ-
ing function keys and a numeric keypad, yet costs only $135-$165 Canadian 
(US. ApplePrice $85). Potential buyers should be aware, however, that the 
AppleDesign Keyboard is thicker and “chunkier” than both its predecessors.

 •         Apple has shipped Macintosh PC Exchange 2.0, a utility for mounting DOS, ProDOS and OS/2 formatted media on the Macintosh desktop. Version 2.0 adds supports for SCSI devices such as Bernoulli and Syquest removable-media mechanisms. Approximately $95 Canadian. (US. ApplePrice $79)

 •         Berkley Systems has announced its intention to debut 4 new screen  saver products before Christmas of 1994. 

AfterDark 3.0. Providing more wild animated displays, AfterDark 3.0 
will ship in August for Macintosh users and will include EcoLogic™, a software technology which slows down CPUs when not in use and powers down Energy Star compliant monitors after a desired time. In September, Berkley will ship The Complete After Dark CD, containing AfterDark 3.0 and all screen saver displays from both the original After Dark and More After Dark. US. SRP (suggested retail price) $49.99

The Simpsons Screen Saver. Featuring 15 side-splitting modules based on the hit TV series, the Simpsons Screen Saver will be ship in September. US. SRP $49.99

The X-Men Screen Saver. From the popular Marvel comic book come 8 animated displays featuring characters such as Wolverine, Beast and Magento. Shipping in October. US. SRP $49.99

Star Trek: The Next Generation Screen Saver. The highly anticipated follow-up to Berkley’s original Star Trek Screen Saver hits stores this November. Featuring Picard, Troi, Riker, Data, Q and the rest of the members of the Enterprise 1701-D, this screen saver will carry a US. SRP of $49.99 and is sure to be a fast seller.

 •         Microsoft is now shipping Microsoft Works 4.0 for the Macintosh,  which includes more than 100 new features. Version 4.0 comprises of 
word processing, spread-sheeting, database, drawing, paint and communication modules. In addition, Microsoft Works 4.0 adds a calendar and address book, and ships with WordArt, Equa- tion Editor 2.0, an assortment of TrueType fonts and 30 clip art images. Pricing is expected to be $189 Canadian (approximately $100 US.)

 •         Apple US. has introduced the Apple Multiple Scan 15” Display. Carrying a  US. ApplePrice of $505, the Multiple Scan 15” uses a .28 dot pitch Flat Square 
tube (as opposed to a Sony Trinitron tube, used in the Multiple Scan 17” and 
20”) and supports Macintosh resolutions up to 832x624. Apple Canada is ex-
pected to announce the Multiple Scan 15” within weeks. 

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