Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June/Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso/pc/text/mac_text/1990/nb900102

Text File | 1989-12-30 | 164.7 KB | 4,308 lines

(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00001)

NEW MAC VIRUS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE - WDEF A & B
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- Windows
close, icons fail to appear, files are claimed to be "locked,"
system error messages flash on the screen, and applications
crash -- sometimes computers won't start at all. Macintosh
owners worldwide, especially in the U.S., are suddenly confronted
with one of the fastest-spreading viruses on record: WDEF A
and WDEF B.

Discovered in early December by programmers in Belgium, whose
attempts to load floppy-based programs into their new Macintosh
IIci resulted in incessant system crashes, the WDEF virus has spread
throughout the U.S. in the past few weeks, and is now reported at
"virtually every major university," John Norstad of Northwestern
University, author of Disinfectant, a free program which detects and
eradicates the virus, tells Newsbytes.

"We're seeing quite a few problems. Three of our systems on the floor
were infected with it. This week we've seen five systems outside
infected," says Shaheed Ali, systems engineer, Computer Selection retail
store in San Francisco. He says it's not one of the worst infections
he's seen, but it is quickly affecting heavily used machines.

The Newsbytes headquarters' SE/30 was infected just prior to
Christmas, and before the problem was pinpointed, the virus had
spread to every unlocked floppy disk and hard disk in use.

This virus is so virulent because it only infects the invisible
Desktop files used by the Finder. With a few exceptions, says
Norstad, every Macintosh disk (hard drives and floppies) contains
one of these files. WDEF does not infect applications, document
files, or other system files. Unlike the other viruses, it
is not spread through the sharing of applications, but rather
through the sharing and distribution of disks, usually floppy disks.

The WDEF A and B strains differ in that the B strain causes the computer
to beep when a new Desktop file is infected.

Norstad says the virus can be removed easily -- just hold down
the option and command keys on the Macintosh keyboard until the
complete desktop has appeared on screen. This rebuilds the desktop
and eradicates the virus. Another method is to use Disinfectant
1.5, now available on GEnie as a free program in the Macintosh
RoundTable area, as well as on Compuserve, Delphi, BIX, MacNet,
America Online, Calvacom, and other systems. Disinfectant scans
a disk for signs of the infection and eliminates it if a user so
chooses.

The virus does not intentionally do damage, according to Norstad,
but it can cause severe performance problems on Appleshare
networks with Appleshare servers. There are two reports that the
virus can damage disks. The virus is known to create havoc at the
Desktop level of a computer, but also causes crashes when a file
is saved under Multifinder. It causes problems with the proper
display of font styles, the outline style in particular. When an
infected disk is loaded into a Mac IIci or Portable, the computer
will crash.

Since the discovery of the virus in early December, all major
anti-virus software makers have created updates to detect and
eradicate the problem: Symantec's version 1.4 of SAM,
Virex 2.3, Disinfectant 1.4, and Gatekeeper. The only program in
widespread use which will not fight nor detect WDEF
is Vaccine and no update is anticipated.

(Wendy Woods/19891219)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00002)

APPLE SETS DATE, FEATURES, FOR SYSTEM 7.0
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- Apple Computer
will release new System 7.0 software to the public next summer
and is preparing to "seed" or ship beta copies to developers now.

Apple says the new system software, the biggest rewrite ever of
the Macintosh operating system, will run on all Macs with at least
2 megabytes of random access memory. This leaves out the
majority of Macintosh users unless they upgrade their machines.
It also may mean heavy expense for corporate installations where
multiple Macintosh computers will have to be upgraded to run
7.0.

On the plus side, systems using the 68030 processor (or PMMU
-- Paged Memory Management Unit option with Macintosh II) will
also have the benefit of virtual memory, or what appears to the
user to be a virtually unlimited memory workspace in their
computers.

Apple says the release will include Finder 7.0, Outline Fonts,
Interapplication Communications Architecture, which will
allow various programs to exchange commands and data, Database
Access Manager, Virtual Memory, and 32-bit Addressing. There
will also be the Communications Toolbox and 32-Bit QuickDraw,
now on System 6.0, and new features: TextEdit, Script Manager,
Time Manager, Sound Manager, and Help Manager.

A new core technology called Macintosh Fileshare will also
be delivered in System 7.0 as an integral extension to the Finder.
This will allow users to share local files without a file server,
with any other computer running AppleShare client software,
including IBM-compatibles.

A later release will include Layout Manager, and the new print
architecture.

Apple promises to update these announcements at the Worldwide
Developer Conference in May.

(Wendy Woods/19891229/Press Contact: Cindy McCaffrey
at 408-974-1578 or Patty Tulloch at 408-974-5449)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00003)

APPLE AND ZOOMRACKS AUTHOR SETTLE
LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- The author of
Zoomracks, a popular shareware program for the PC and Atari ST,
has settled his suit against Apple Computer in which he charged
that Apple's HyperCard software violates a patent he obtained on
screen displays.

The settlement between Apple and Paul Heckel includes a cross-
licensing agreement granting the exchange of patents to Apple and
technologies to Quickview Systems/HyperRacks, marketer of
Zoomracks. HyperRacks also gets an undisclosed monetary
payment and allows its software to be marketed through the Apple
Program Developer's Association (APDA).

Paul Heckel of Quickview Systems/HyperRacks, created the PC program
Zoomracks in 1985. Available as shareware from such firms as PC-SIG,
Zoomracks allows portions of information from various fields to be
combined and displayed in an electronic version of file cards. Heckel
won a patent for the design -- patent number 4,486,857. Two years
later, the suit contended, the design showed up in HyperCard from Apple.

Zoomracks was chosen Best Database by Compute! magazine in
January, 1989, for its "influential interface ahead of its time."

(Wendy Woods/19891017)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00004)

MACWORLD EXPO SLATED FOR APRIL 11-13
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- The
next San Francisco MacWorld Expo is slated for April 11-13, 1990
at the Brooks Hall/Civic Auditorium and the Moscone Center.

The event will be the sixth consecutive year for the event and
will cover 340,000 square feet. 450 companies are planning to
exhibit, according to organizer Mitch Hall Associates.

Among the featured speakers will be John Sculley, chairman of
Apple, Jean-Louis Gassee, president of Apple Products,
and Mitch Kapor, chairman of On Technology and founder of Lotus
Development.

Conferences will cover such topics as multimedia, design,
software mastery, and programming and developing applications.

Conference and exhibit entrance fees are $80 but $25 for exhibits
only.

For more information call Mitch Hall Associates in Dedham,
Massachusetts at 617-361-8000.

(Wendy Woods/19891229)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00005)

MACUSER 1990 EDDY AWARDS/PLANS TO HONOR LATE COLLEAGUES
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- MacUser magazine,
a Ziff-Davis Publishing Company magazine, has announced that 122
products in 40 categories have been nominated for 1990 Eddy
awards for best Macintosh products.

Judged by the senior staff of the MacUser editorial and laboratory
departments, the Eddy award nominees are chosen according to quality,
usefulness, innovation, and value.

This year best anti-viral programs nominees are Virex 2.0, Disinfectant,
and SAM. Best Accounting Packages are Computerized Classic Bookkeeping
2.2, atOnce!, and M.Y.O.B. Best Backup Software was Retrospect,
Fastback II V.2.0, Redux 1.6, and best networking software nominees
were CL/1 Server for VAX/VMS, MacLink Plus 4.0, and Timbuktu
Remote.

Best general utility nominees are Shortcut, Virtual 2.0,
Boomerang. Best word processors competing are MacWrite II,
Word 4.0, and Nisus 2.03.

There are other nominees in the areas of graphics, information
management, math and statistics, OCR, finance, page design,
recreation, programming tools, spreadsheets, storage systems,
typography, video boards, word processing utility, education,
file management, display products, data analysis, color output
devices, connectivity hardware, CAD and animation.

Hardware of the year nominees are Apple's Portable, the
Microtek MSF-300Z scanner, and the SuperMac Colorcard/24.

The winners will be chosen from among the nominees at an award
ceremony slated for January 25, 1990 at the San Francisco Marriott
Hotel, Burlingame, California, in conjunction with the third annual
MacUser Marketing Conference. Jean-Louis Gassee, president of
Apple Products, will be master of ceremonies.

This year's award ceremony will also serve as the introduction of
the John J. Anderson Distinguished Achievement Award, and the Derek
Van Alstyne Rising Star Award, both presented for technical
excellence, and both based on the two MacUser staff members
killed in the San Francisco earthquake October 17.

(Wendy Woods/19891229)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00006)

FAST MACINTOSH FAX MODEM FROM ABATON
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- Abaton is
shipping its Interfax 24/96, a $595 fax and data modem for use
with the Macintosh computer.

The InterFax 12/48, which the company says was rated the top
fax and data modem by Byte, Mac Buyer's Guide and MacUser,
combines a 2400 bits-per-second (bps) Hayes-compatible data modem
with a 9600 bps Group III-compatible fax modem. The data
modem features MNP Class 5 data compression and error correction.

The fax modem features Abaton's Interfax software which allows
the modem to send or receive faxes and to receive unattended,
scheduled transmissions. Custom directories can be created
for up to 800 fax numbers. Fax images are converted to or
from TIFF, PICT, or MacPaint's PNTG formats.

Abaton is a subsidiary of Everex Systems.

(Wendy Woods/19891229/PRess Contact: Jim Thylin, 415-683-3601)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00007)

MEDIAMAP NOW ON DISK FOR THE MAC
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 11 (NB) -- Claris Corporation
has put one of the most popular guides to computer industry
journalism on a disk, compatible with the best-selling database
manager for Macintosh computers, Filemaker II.

MediaMap on Disk combines a Filemaker II template that
allows user to manage public relations contacts and related
data on more than 2,000 editors, reporters, and computer industry
analysts. In addition, there are quarterly updates.

The product is available immediately as part of the $1,894 annual
fee required to engage the talents of the MediaMap research
service.

(Wendy Woods/19891229/Press Contact: John Pearce, Mediamap, 617-
275-5560)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(WAS)(00008)

MICROCOM BUYS VIREX DEVELOPER HJC SOFTWARE
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 26 (NB) --
Microcom, developer of the MNP or Microcom Networking
Protocol data compression and error correction software for
telecommunications, has announced the acquisition of
Durham, North Carolina-based HJC Software Inc., the company that
markets Virex, the first commercially available anti-virus
software marketed for the Macintosh.

The company statement from Microcom says that technology in
Virex will be integrated into Microcom's products, Relay
Gold and Carbon Copy Plus.

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Christine Washburn,
Microcom, 617-551-1956)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00009)

KREMLIN HAS A MACINTOSH
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 22 (NB) -- Apple Computer Chairman John Sculley
has announced that "Our Macintosh computer supports Perestroika in
the office of Soviet leader Mikhael Gorbachev." He added that he plans
to visit the U.S.S.R. in January, 1990.

The announcement was made during Sculley's December visit to Japan.
He is probably hoping to achieve the same success in Eastern Europe
as he achieved in the West with Apple computers. He acknowledged,
however, that Apple Computers are meeting resistance in Japan, and
joked, "We will ask Prime Minister Kaifu to introduce
our Macintosh computer in his office."

Two AppleCenters were opened in Shiba and Toranomon district in Tokyo
during his visit to Japan. The AppleCenters will distribute
only Apple computers and peripherals, and will provide dedicated
service. When Sculley visited the AppleCenter in Tokyo's Shiba
district he said, "I really feel like I've parachuted down to the
middle of enemy territory." The reason behind that quip is the fact
that the Shiba district is headquarters to Japanese personal computer
giant NEC.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891227)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00010)

APPLE SCORES A HIT WITH LONDON COUNCIL
ISLINGTON, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- SAMS Apple Business
Centre Limited, an Apple UK dealer, has secured a prestigious
contract with Islington Council for the supply for Macintosh computers,
peripherals and software to equip schools and resource centres in
the borough.

According to Chris Webb, the director of education at Islington,
Apple Macintoshes were chosen in preference to other computers, owing to
the Mac's user-friendliness, its ability to run Hypercard
applications, and MS-DOS networking connectivity.

"Investment in advanced Information Technology (IT) will be of
critical importance following the dissolution of the ILEA, to
improve standards and effectiveness not only in management, but
also in the classroom," he said.

(Steve Gold/19893012/Press Contact: Jacqui Wilkinson, SAMS - Tel:
01-949-2229)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00011)

FEDERATED SUPERSTORES IN HOUSTON, DALLAS BITE THE DUST
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 20 (NB) -- A Utah liquidation
firm, Western Liquidators, has announced that all 16 Federated
Electronics Superstores located in Houston and Dallas, TX are
being closed and their stock liquidated.

The move comes as no big surprise as the closings have been
anticipated for several months although the timing during the
pre-Christmas selling period was unexpected by many. Earlier in
Dec., some 400 Federated employees were laid off in Houston and
none were offered jobs in other Federated stores.

Merchandise to be liquidated during the next four to five months
includes TVs, VCRs, microwave ovens, home and car stereos,
computer software and computer hardware.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00012)

WANG SELLS 30% OF TAIWAN FACTORY
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 27 (NB) --
Financially troubled Wang Laboratories Inc. has today announced
an agreement to sell 30 percent of its Taiwan-based manufacturing
subsidiary, Wang Laboratories (Taiwan) Ltd., to a Taiwan
investment group headed by Ron Cheng Investment Company for about
US $120 million (after taxes).

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Ed Pignone, Wang,
508-967-2356)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00013)

FNN BUYS LOTUS SIGNAL, QUOTREK
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 21 (NB) -- Lotus
Development got out of the online business by selling its Signal
and QuoTrek stock-quote services to Infotechnology Inc., owners
of High Technology magazine and the Financial News Network. Terms
were not disclosed, but analysts estimated the deal at $10
million.

Signal and QuoTrek were pet projects of former Lotus Chairman
Mitch Kapor, and while they were technological successes they
have been small businesses for Lotus, which should do about $600
million in business this year.

Infotech will combine the Lotus
unit with its own Data Broadcasting group, which also provides
stock quotes using a different technology than the FM subcarriers
pioneered by Signal. Signal delivers data to a PC, QuoTrek to a
hand-held terminal.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00014)

TANDY COMPLETES BUY OF VICTOR MICROCOMPUTER, MICRONIC
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 21 (NB) -- Tandy Corporation
has completed the buy-out of the Victor Microcomputer and Micronic
hand-held computer subsidiaries from Datronic AB of Stockholm.

The deal includes Tandy's acquisition of the rights to the Victor
and Micronic names for computers and hand-helds.

ULF Ericsson, formerly president of Datronic, has been appointed
president of Tandy's Victor Technologies Group, headquartered in
Stockholm. Victor has offices in a number of European countries
and markets its product line through some 2,700 dealers and
distributors.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Philip Bradtmiller,
Tandy Corporation, 817-390-3730)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00015)

FROM SUIT TO SUITOR: ARCHIVE BIDS FOR CIPHER DATA
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- Archive Corp.
has begun a $109 million takeover bid of arch-rival Cipher Data
Products in San Diego, CA.

Archive, with 7 percent of the rights to its stock owned by Texas
billionaire H. Ross Perot, has said it already owns 4.6 percent
of Cipher Data's stock and it has now begun a tender offer for
the remaining stock at $7.50 a share. Before the announcement,
Cipher Data's stock was selling at $4.875 a share.

Both Archive and Cipher Data make tape backup products for data
protection. The two companies have been engaged in a long running
legal battle over patent rights to a computer-tape technology for
which the two companies once shared licensing agreements.

Archive has asked a federal judge to throw out some "poison pill"
provisions that exist in Cipher Data's corporate structure. The
company claims to have financing lined up for its offer. In it's
last fiscal year ended Sept. 30, Archive sales jumped 48 percent
and its profits rose 40 percent while Cipher Data did nowhere
near as well.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00016)

TI, TOPPAN PRINTING TO FORM PHOTOMASK OPERATION
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 21 (NB) -- Texas Instruments (TI)
has signed a letter of intent with Toppan Printing Company
(headquartered in Tokyo) to establish a jointly owned US company
to acquire and manage TI's internal photomask operation located
in Dallas, TX.

TI will retain a minority interest in the company and receive a
cash payment of $19 million which should result in a pretax gain
somewhere between $13 and $15 million in the quarter in which the
agreement is reached. The companies are striving to complete the
definitive agreement by Mar. 30, 1990.

The new company, which is expected to remain in its current TI
facilities, will employ TI's current photomask workforce of 170
people and is expected to be headed by someone currently in
management at TI. TI will participate on a management advisory
committee for the new company. Any future relocation of the
facility is expected to be within the Dallas area.

The new company will combine Toppan's advanced technology and
software strengths with TI's production capabilities and
experience. It will support upcoming photomask requirements for
16- and 64-Mbit DRAMs (dynamic random access memories). The
company will serve TI's Dallas location and will be involved in
serving the needs of TI and other customers in the US and Europe.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Stan Victor, Texas
Instruments, 214-995-2984)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00017)

PETER NORTON COMPUTING NAMES INT'L OPS DIRECTOR
SANTA MONICA, CA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 21 (NB) -- Peter Norton
Computing (PNCI) has named Jim Lewis to the newly created
position of director of international operations.

Lewis comes from Ashton-Tate where he was managing director of
Ashton-Tate Asia. In his new position, Lewis will be responsible
for managing and developing PNCI's international business, an
area that is accounting for an increasing amount of the company's
revenues.

The appointment of Lewis takes effect immediately.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Kenn G.Morris, Peter
Norton Computing/213-319-2000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00018)

KAYPRO HANDS CANADIAN MARKET TO DISTRIBUTOR
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 DEC 28 (NB) -- Kaypro,
of Solana Beach, Calif., is handing over Canadian distribution of
its products to Coastway System Technology, a Vancouver reseller.
Coastway officially becomes Kaypro's exclusive Canadian
distributor on January 1.

Daken Ariel, president of Coastway, said his company has been in
business five years as a hardware and software dealer and
training organization. It has an office in Montreal, Quebec, but
has done most of its business on the West Coast. Coastway is
starting a third division to handle Kaypro distribution, Ariel
said.

The move marks the end of Kaypro's experiment with selling direct
to dealers in Canada over the past several years.  "I guess they
could make money having us do it," Ariel said. He added that
Coastway is hiring the technical staff from Kaypro's Canadian
office, also in Vancouver.

(Grant Buckler/19891229/Press Contact: Daken Ariel, Coastway
System Technology, 604-736-5039)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00019)

NEC ADDS CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR AMIDST CONFUSION
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- NEC Technologies
has named Compuserve, a Toronto distributor, as its second
Canadian distributor, while NEC Canada looked on with some
concern. The two companies handle different segments of NEC's
product line.

NEC Technologies, a United States subsidiary of the Japanese
giant Nippon Electric, handles NEC PowerMate desktop and portable
computers as well as printers. It already distributes these
products in Canada through Micro Computers of Canada, another
Toronto distributor, which will continue to handle the products.
Some 120 dealers currently handle the NEC Technologies products
in Canada. With the addition of Compuserve, 80 to 100 new dealers
will be authorized, said Jon Turner, Compuserve's president.
Compuserve expects to have hardware available for dealers in
January.

Compuserve is also one of the distributors for NEC Canada,
another subsidiary of the Japanese firm, which sells NEC laptop
computers and home electronics equipment. Sources close to NEC
Canada indicated the company was puzzled and unhappy about the
NEC Technologies announcement and the fact that the Canadian
operation had not been informed. Anthony DeCristofaro, general
manager of the Computer Systems Division, NEC Canada, admitted
the U.S. firm's announcement might confuse dealers. "Eventually,"
he said, "we will supply the total solution to the Canadian market."

However, David Middleton, manager of PC marketing for NEC
Technologies, said NEC Canada "will not have anything to do with
the desktop machines." Middleton said his firm's announcement was
"probably not very noteworthy" from NEC Canada's standpoint.

(Grant Buckler/19891222/Press Contacts: David Terry, Compuserve,
416-477-8087; Peter Ferguson or Craig Conrad, NEC Technologies,
508-264-8000; Anthony DeCristofaro, NEC Canada, 416-477-8088)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00020)

STEALS PEOPLE ASSETS SOLD
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 28 (NB) -- Buyers have been
found for the assets of The Steals People, the discount computer
chain that went bankrupt earlier this fall.

Most of the chain's inventory has been told to Maynard's, a
Toronto liquidator, which is advertising bankruptcy sales at all
Steals People locations. Michael Creber, a senior vice-president
of Peat Marwick Thorne Inc., which is acting as receiver manager,
said another buyer has purchased most other assets, and plans to
continue operating most Steals People locations. The buyer, which
Creber said he could not name yet, will obtain inventory from its
own sources, he said. There have been reports Hartco Enterprises
of Montreal, Quebec, which operates MicroAge and CompuCentre
stores, was a bidder.

"We were disappointed we didn't get one buyer for the whole
piece," Creber said, but he was optimistic many Steals People
employees would still have jobs with the new owner.

(Grant Buckler/19891229/Press Contact: Michael Creber, Peat
Marwick Thorne, 416-777-3825)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00021)

CANADA'S COMTERM TO SELL DIVISION
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Comterm, the
Montreal-based terminal maker, plans to sell its contract
manufacturing division to CompAS Computer Assembly of Brockville,
Ontario. The price will be more than C$3 million, plus ongoing
royalties for contracts already awarded to the division.

CompAS has two manufacturing facilities, one in Brockville and
one in Ogdensburg, New York. It will continue to use Comterm's
facilities in Montreal as well.

The Comterm division produces electronic assemblies and sub-
assemblies. Aside from producing assemblies for Comterm, its
largest job recently has been assembling lottery terminals for
Loto-Quebec.

(Grant Buckler/19891226/Press Contact: William Fraser, CompAS,
613-342-5041; Dolliver Frederick, Comterm, 514-694-4332)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00022)

SOFTWARE TOOLWORKS TO ACQUIRE MINDSCAPE
LEWES, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- The Software Toolworks, a US
software house, has agreed in principle to acquire Mindscape
Incorporated in the US, and Mindscape International, its European
subsidiary, based in the UK. Terms of the deal have not been
revealed.

The merger has been unanimously approved by the board of
directors of both The Software Toolworks and Mindscape, and is
now subject to the approval of the shareholders in Mindscape,
which is expected to be granted at a special shareholder's
meeting due to be held in March, 1990.

According to Less Crane, chairman and CEO of The Software
Toolworks, the Mindscape acquisition gives the company access to
Mindscape's established European and Pacific Rim markets, as
well as Mindscape's licensing agreement with Nintendo America.

"We're also delighted that Roger Buoy (Mindscape's chief
executive officer) will serve as president of our entertainment
and international divisions, and as creative director of the
combined companies," he said.

As part of the company merger, Newsbytes understands that Buoy
will also become a member of The Software Toolworks' board of
directors.

(Steve Gold/19891230/Press Contact: Geoff Heath, Mindscape
International - Tel: (UK) 0444-86545; Les Crane, The Software
Toolworks - Tel: (US) 818/885-9000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00023)

GNOSIS OPENS UK OFFICE
STOCKPORT, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Gnosis NV, the Antwerp,
Belgium-based SQL connectivity company, has formed a British
subsidiary, Gnosis UK Limited. The UK operation will work from
offices in Stockport, near Manchester in the Northwest of
England.

Gnosis UK's first action in the UK market will be to launch three
connectivity systems on 18 January, 1990, in London. The
connectivity packages will be based around an Apple Macintosh and
support the DEC VAX series, Unix machines and the IBM AS/400
series of computers.

Gnosis UK will be headed up by Richard Taylor, the company's
managing director. Taylor was previously a systems manager with
the TSB banking group, and is joined by Andrew Mills, another ex-
TSB employee, who becomes technical director.

Initially, Taylor and his staff plan to develop the UK market for
Sequelink, the company's DEC VAX computer connectivity system
based around the Apple Macintosh. Since Sequelink was launched in
the spring of 1988, the system has been installed by more than
300 companies and organizations - including Apple and DEC - in 23
countries around the world.

"When companies see the advantages offered by Sequelink, and our
other platforms that will soon be introduced, they will no doubt
be taking a fresh look at the potential of the Apple Macintosh as
a corporate intelligent workstation, as well as the far-reaching
benefits of SQL," said Taylor.

The launch of Gnosis UK follows the formation of TechGnosis, the
group's Florida-based subsidiary in March, 1989. Plans call for
other country subsidiaries to be established in the coming
months, with France coming onstream next, as part of the group's
global marketing strategy.

(Steve Gold/19891230/Press Contact: Mike Cowley, Cape Cowley
Associates - Tel: [phone]; Public Contact: Richard Taylor,
Gnosis UK - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00024)

The BoCoEx Index/ Closing Prices on the Boston Computer Exchange
for the week ending December 29, 1989

 Machine                       Closing Price    Ask       Bid

 IBM PC 176          Floppy    $ 550 -          600       400

 IBM XT 086          10 MgB      800 down 190  1100       700*

 IBM XT 089          20 MgB      900 down 125  1200       800

 IBM AT 099          20 MgB     1450 -         1600      1300

 IBM AT 239          20 MgB     1825 -         2000      1700

 IBM AT 339          30 MgB     1825 -         2000      1700

 IBM PS/2 Model 30   20 MgB     1100 -         1440       800

 IBM PS/2 Model 50   20 MgB     1700 -         1900      1500

 IBM PS/2 Model 60   40 MgB     2700 -         2825      2500

 IBM PS/2 Model 80   70 MgB     3800 -         4100      3650

 Compaq Portable I   Floppy      645 -          750       550

 Compaq Plus         10 MgB      750 -          950       675

 Compaq Portable II  20 MgB     1700 -         1725      1550

 Compaq Portable 286 20 MgB     1900 -         2000      1600

 Compaq Portable III 40 MgB     2300 -         2875      2100

 Compaq Portable SLT 20 MgB     3110 -         3325      2750

 Compaq Portable 386 40 MgB     3300 -         3510      2750*

 Compaq Deskpro      20 MgB      900 -         1200       800

 Compaq Deskpro 286  40 MgB     1675 -         1975      1600

 Compaq Dskpr 386/16 40 MgB     2475 -         2750      2475

 Macintosh 512       Floppy      555 -          800       550

 Macintosh 512e      Floppy      655 -          890       650

 Macintosh Plus      Floppy      925 -          950       900*

 Macintosh Plus      20 MgB     1325 -         1500      1100

 Macintosh SE        Floppy     1575 -         1850      1475

 Macintosh SE        20 MgB     1900 down 25   2150      1800

 Macintosh SE/30     40 MgB     3125 -         3400      2500

 Macintosh II        40 MgB     3750 -         4200      3620

 Macintosh IICX      40 MgB     4400 -         4800      4000*

 Apple IIgs          Floppy     1200 -         1475       800

 Apple IIe           Floppy      625 -          750       500

 Apple IIc           Floppy      450 -          650       400

 Toshiba T-1600      40 MgB     3025 -         3200      2750

 Toshiba T-3100      10 MgB     1600 up 75     1750      1400*

 Toshiba T-3100      20 MgB     1750 -         1850      1500

 Toshiba T-5100      40 MgB     3700 -         4200      3100

 Zenith 183          20 MgB      900 -         1175       600

 Zenith SuperSport 286          2000 -         2150      1650*

                                       * Top demand this week

End of the First Decade of the Personal Computer

by BoCoEx Staff Economists

The end of the year rush made the phones ring, and the deals fly,
but the net effect was on the volume of trade, not on prices.
The last trading of 1989 was done at, or very close to last
week's BoCoEx Index prices.  It's the season when buyers call to
buy almost anything if they need to create the expense in 1989.
There are always a few buyers who have to buy before the tax year
ends.

At the IBM desk, there were losses on two IBM XT models, with the
10 megabyte IBM XT 086 losing $190 to close the week at $800.
The 20 megabyte IBM XT-089 lost $125 to closed the week at $900.
Interestingly, these machines opened the year at $1100 and $1200
respectively.  There was a price differential of $100 at the
beginning of the year, and by the end of 1989 they showed the
same differential.  BoCoEx Index will change its reporting on the
PS/2 Model 30 which will now be reported with 20 megabyte hard
disk.

At the Compaq desk, the story was volume without major shifts in
price.  Buyers grabbed up the hottest Compaq models, and prices
were stable. A comparison to a year ago reveals that the original
portable model is actually trading above last years price.
BoCoEx closed this model at $645 while a year ago it traded for
$600.  The Portable III, in contrast lost $200, falling from
$1900 in January 1989 to $1700 at the end of the year.

Among the Apples there were few price changes.  Volume was down
from last week when the Christmas rush made the MacModels fly
through the market.  Prices were stable, with only one model, the
20 megabyte Macintosh SE, down $25 to close at $1900.  A year ago
it traded for $2575 for a year long loss of $675. Other annual
changes included the 20 megabyte Macintosh Plus which lost $150
this year from $1475 down to a year-end close of $1325.

Among the Laptops,  there was strong demand for the Toshiba
T-3100 which gained $75 and closed the week at $1600. This model
was trading at the beginning of the year for $2500! and lost $900
following the active trade in its successor model the T-3100/20.
Other laptop models were active, but they were trading at last
week's numbers.

Index prices are based on configurations of complete systems with
keyboard, monochrome monitor and adapter, less the value of any
software or other peripherals.  Call: 617-542-4414 or the Buyer's
Hot Line: 1-800-BoCoExx or FAX: [phone].

(BOCOEX/122989)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00025)

MEITEC UNITES U.S. WITH JAPANESE TRADING PARTNERS
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- Companies
seeking to deal with Japan shouldn't wait to do so and can benefit
by a few tips. That's the message of Meitec America, a U.S.
consulting firm backed by the $200 million Meitec Corporation, a
Japanese engineering and information services company.

In an exclusive interview with Newsbytes, Meitec America's
president, George Leslie, said that Japanese companies are actively
seeking U.S. partners in specific areas: graphics, image processing,
and other software arenas. But he says the days of three or four
years ago -- in which the Japanese were interested in almost every
technology -- are over. Start-ups with new products, he says, have
less than a year and a half before their window of opportunity to
market them in Japan closes.

The Japanese are particularly interested, he adds, in projects which
required a lot of development. The high prices make large
development efforts in Japan less attractive.

In the area of consumer electronics, he says, U.S. companies best
take into account the buying habits of Japanese people. For instance,
Japanese brand-name means far more in Japan than it does in any other
country. So a U.S. firm with a "better antenna" better hitch up its
star with an established Japanese brand-name firm if it's generally
going to reach the household in Japan.

The issue of reliability and the proximity of service is also critical
when it comes to selling in Japan. Leslie cites the case of a
semiconductor equipment manufacturing company which found it
difficult to sell its wares to Japanese chipmakers. They were
uninterested because they wanted the reliability of a known
Japanese vendor who would be nearby to customize or repair
a critical piece of the machinery if needed. Once Meitec's staff
went to work on the problem, the firm struck a deal with a Japanese
company which served to provide both a local presence and an
established name for the U.S. firm. The U.S. firm is now
doing business in Japan, having received an up front payment
and a royalty stream.

Meitec America, in Santa Clara and Tokyo, is one of the few firms
specializing in linking up U.S. firms with Japanese partners.

(Wendy Woods/19891228/Press Contact: George Leslie, 408-986-
0944)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00026)

BERKELEY PROF WINS PRIZE FOR FUZZY LOGIC
BERKELEY CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- University
of California Computer Science Professor Lofti Zadah has won
the prestigious Honda Prize for his contributions to the area of
fuzzy logic, according to a published report.

The announcement from Tokyo, made in November, was repeated
last week, due to the fact that the San Francisco/Santa Cruz
earthquake on October 17 prevented the school from hearing
about it, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Fuzzy logic is an area of computer programming which allows machines
to think in terms other than black-or-white, yes-or-no, or zero-
and-one. Fuzzy logic enables the computer to perceive more subtle
values, and ascertain shades of difference between values.

Lofti Zadeh is said to have pioneered the use of fuzzy logic 25
years ago at the Berkeley school. His research has not won much
attention in the U.S., except by a few firms, but it has been
wholeheartedly embraced in Japan. There, fuzzy logic-based
computers are in use to control such diverse machinery as
railways, cargo cranes, and air conditioners.

Zadeh told the San Francisco Chronicle why he thinks Asian
culture picked up on the concept faster than the West: "One
(reason) is that in Western cultures, people are told to
respect what is crisp and precise, while in Eastern cultures
this is not so, and the people understand that truth is not so
simple. So there is somewhat less resistance to fuzzy logic."

(Wendy Woods/19891229)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00027)

COMPUTER LIBRARY CD-ROM ADDS INDUSTRY GURU NEWSLETTERS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Computer
Library, the pioneering CD-ROM based method of distributing
abstracts and full text articles, reviews and product
announcements from more than 120 computer-related magazines and
newspapers, has announced that it has added the full text
of newsletters written by such industry leaders as Stewart Alsop,
Esther Dyson, John Gantz, Andrew Seybold, Jonathan Seybold,
Patricia Seybold, Michael Slater and Jeffrey Tarter.

Each issue of Computer Library contains the entire past year of
articles from most important industry news publications, with
many of them carried in full text.

The same group has recently added a new online computer library
directory on CompuServe, which contains 60,000 computer products
with full specifications and company information. It is a good
bet that this information will find its way onto a CD-ROM next
year, either as a stand-alone product or integrated into the
Computer Library database.

Jonathon Pollard, director of marketing for Computer Library,
told Newsbytes last week that he expects to continue adding
important new databases to the massive Computer Library database
which he described as having a large subscriber base, although he
declined to discuss specific numbers.

This bureau has been assisting Mr. Pollard in his ongoing search
for an acceptably accurate OCR or Optical Character Recognition
system which can be used to replace the inadequate OCR system and
hand keying now used to transfer the text from printed form to
the CD-ROM database.

Computer Library is kept online at all times at this bureau as a
fact checking reference and as a source of industry information,
such as names and phone numbers or companies. Running the search
program under DesqView (QuarterDeck Office Systems multi-tasking
operating environment) allows this office to run the database in
one window while using WordPerfect to write and edit stories and
HyperAccess (Hilgreave, Inc.) to access various electronic
databases, including GEnie, MCI Mail, and CompuServe.

Computer Library is available as a one-year subscription costing
$765 plus $25 shipping and handling for the 12 issues. For
further information call 212-503-4400

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Toni Nevitt, Computer
Library, 212-503-4423)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00028)

CAHNERS LAUNCHES NEW HONG KONG-BASED BUSINESS MAGAZINE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Cahners
Publishing Co., a major print publisher of technical and business
trade magazines, has announced the creation of a new business
magazine, Electronic Business Asia, intended to serve the needs
of those Asian-based businesses working in the electronics field.

With a projected initial circulation of more than 40,000, the new
magazine will have a worldwide business audience and be published
primarily in English, although special local-interest articles
will be published in Asian languages.

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Mark Danes, Cahners, 212-
691-0080)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00029)

SHARP TO MODIFY WIZARD
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 16 (NB) -- Sharp will make a major change to
its best-selling electronic organizer, Wizard, by adding additional
functions in 1990.

According to industry sources, the new Wizard will be capable of
auto-dialing. The Wizard can be used to perform hands-free calls
and will dial the desired telephone number when placed next to a
telephone handset. The dialling will take place as the Wizard
generates the touch-tone sounds of the number.

Sharp hopes the new features will help it to recover market share
from its chief competitor, Casio.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891227)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00030)

UK: FUTURE PUBLISHING EXPANDS FOR 1990
BATH, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Future Publishing, the
computer magazine house founded in 1985, is moving to new
premises over the Christmas and New Year break. The new editorial
and advertising offices - sited in Bath, Somerset - open for
business on 2 January, 1990.

According to a spokesman for Future Publishing, the new site
boosts the company's size from 6,000 to 14,000 square feet.
Future's existing offices in Somerton, Somerset, are being
retained for the company's expanding accounts and mail order
divisions.

Future Publishing currently produces a wide range of computing
titles, including New Computer Express, ST Format magazine and
Amiga Format magazine. Sources close to the company suggest that
a number of new titles are planned for launch in the New Year,
hence the move to much-enlarged new premises.

(Steve Gold/19891230/Press & Public Enquiries - Future
Publishing, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, Avon BA1
2AP. Tel: 0225=442244)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00031)

HUGHES WHISTLE BLOWER CITES FAULTY CHIPS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- A former
Hughes Aircraft engineer, Michael Denlinger, has filed a $9.6
billion dollar lawsuit against the company.

Denlinger, a 13-year Hughes employee, alleges that the company
covered up defects in more than 4 million microchips installed in
18 weapons systems between 1984 and 1988. In his suit, Denlinger
also alleges that Hughes covered up the problems with fraudulent
engineering studies.

According to a UPI report, among the systems in which the faulty
chips were installed were the AEGIS early warning ground radar
system that is part of NATO air defenses and the Advanced
Capacity (ADCAP) torpedo for the US Navy as well as other radar
and communications systems.

The suit was filed under a False Claims Act provision that allows
triple damages. The suit claims that Hughes charged the federal
government $3.2 million for the components involved.

Denlinger, who resigned from Hughes in January 1989, claims he
went through Hughes chain of command and was ignored. After his
resignation, he turned over documentation on his claims to the
Department of Defense. To date, the Department of Justice has not
joined Denlinger in his suit.

Hughes has denied any wrongdoing. A Hughes spokesman has
acknowledged that Hughes knew there was a problem and that the
company has worked closely with the Pentagon to resolve it. His
comments have been reinforced by a spokeswoman for the Defense
Contract Administration Service's Western region.

In another development, Denlinger appeared at a press conference
in Santa Ana, CA shortly after the suit was revealed accompanied
by a security guard and three Orange County, CA Sheriff's
Department special officers who checked media credentials.
Denlinger explained that he fled Orange County after his
resignation because he feared retribution from Hughes and
then recounted a tale of an alleged attempt on his life by an
unseen gunman near Morro Bay, CA in June. One of his attorneys
told of receiving threatening telephone calls earlier this month.

Hughes has denied any involvement and no comment on these
allegations has come from either the FBI or the Justice
Department, according to the Orange County Register.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00032)

MAN FROM MICROAGE NAMED MAYOR OF YUMA, ARIZONA
TEMPE, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Robert Tippet, a
MicroAge franchisee, has been elected mayor in Yuma, AZ.

The new mayor plans to divide his work energies between MicroAge
and city duties. He says he is confident his staff will be able
to manage the daily operation of his MicroAge store.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Nadine Wakely,
MicroAge, 602-968-3168 x 2215)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00033)

TI RECEIVES LABOR DEPARTMENT AWARD
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Texas Instruments (TI)
has announced that its Versailles (Kentucky) site has received
the Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) award from the US Dept. of
Labor.

The award recognizes TI's special commitment to affirmative
action for people with disabilities. EVE is given to government
contractors who voluntarily implement innovative projects in
their workforce, industry or community aimed at enhancing
employment opportunities for employment for disabled, minorities,
women and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans.

TI was one of seven companies across the country to receive this
award.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Sandy Christopher,
Texas Instruments, 214-995-2355)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00034)

CANADA PLANS PROTECTION FOR CHIP DESIGNS
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- A law tabled in the
Canadian House of Commons today would extend intellectual
property protection to the topography of integrated circuits.

Tabled by Acting Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Harvie Andre, the bill would protect chip designs for as long as
10 years.

Chip designers would be required to register their designs with
the government to qualify for protection.  Topographies would be
protected for 10 years from the date of registration or the date
when the design or any product based on it was first sold, with
the term expiring on Dec. 31 of the final year.

The legislation would permit reverse engineering, in which a
circuit is taken apart to aid in the design of a similar circuit.
It would also allow designs to be copied for research and
teaching purposes.  Third, the doctrine of first sale, which says
the designer cannot limit use of a design after selling that
design, would apply.

About 25 Canadian companies design and/or produce chips,
according to the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs,
which estimates Canadian chip production at C$300 million in
1989. Though Canada accounts for only about one percent of
worldwide circuit production, the government said it views the
industry as important to the country's ability to compete in many
areas of technology.

At least 15 other countries, including the United States and
Japan, which dominate worldwide circuit production, have specific
legal protection for integrated circuit designs. The World
Intellectual Property Organization adopted a treaty in May, 1989,
for chip protection. Canada has not yet decided whether to sign
that document.

(Grant Buckler/19891221/Press Contact: Jim Keon, Dept. of
Consumer and Corporate Affairs, 819-953-7845)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00035)

PRESSURE FOR UK ANTI-HACKING LEGISLATION GATHERS PACE
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Following the failure of
MP (member of parliament) Emma Nicholson's private member's bill
submitted to the UK parliament earlier this year, a second bill
on computer misuse has been submitted by Michael Colvin MP.

Colvin's private member's bill received its first reading in the
House of Commons on 20 December, 1989, and will get its second
reading on 9 February, 1990. If the second reading is successful,
then the bill could become law by the end of 1990.

In a press statement issued by Mr Colvin before the Christmas
recess, Colvin said: "I have introduced this bill to deal with
serious problem of computer misuse. The mischiefs it addresses
are unauthorized access to computer systems and unauthorized
modification to computer programs and data."

"I have the benefit of an excellent Law Commission report,
published in October, which cogently puts the case for the
offences and specifies the terms in which they should be drawn. I
understand this report now commands widespread support," he
added.

Colvin's bill echoes many of the English Law Commission's white
paper on computer misuse issued in October 1989. The primary
differences are that it seeks to deal with the tricky problem of
cross-border hacking. This involves, say, a hacker in Paris,
illegally gaining access to a bank computer in, say, Berlin, and
transferring the money to a bank in New York.

Such a case would, Newsbytes understands, prove difficult to
prosecute, owing to the different countries and legislatures
involved. Furthermore, any prosecution would almost certainly
have to involve the Paris hacker being extradited to stand trial,
either to West Germany or to the US.

(Steve Gold/19893012)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00036)

IBM ANNOUNCES 25 MHz 486-BASED MODEL 70
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- IBM has
announced the latest and by far the most powerful member of
the PS/2 Micro Channel computer line, the PS/2 Model 70 486, a
powerful desktop system which uses the Intel i486 microprocessor
to achieve a performance about triple that of a 33 megahertz, or
MHz, 80386-based system.

The i486, a chip which has suffered a number of marketing and
production setbacks recently due to design errors, was initially
offered in a piggy-back arrangement for earlier IBM PS/2 Model 70
computers which had been shipped with 80386 processors, but this
is the first IBM computer to be built with the 80486 chip.

The 80486 or i486 achieves its speed through a special internal
cache and a built-in math coprocessor, rather than any code
modifications; thus it is entirely compatible with all software
designed for or running on current 80386 systems.

The new Model 70-B61 has a 60-megabyte hard disk and sells for
$12,395 and the $12,990 Model 70-B21 comes with a 120 MB hard
disk. Both are now available through IBM Advanced Products
Dealers and other IBM marketing representatives.

All PS/2 Micro Channel computers come with VGA graphics, 3.5-inch
high density floppy disk drives, serial, parallel and mouse
ports.

IBM has also announced that it has resumed shipment of the 486/25
Power Platform, the modification for 80386-based Model 70s.
Shipment of the Power Platform had been stopped due to the
problems with all i486 chips. The new computer and the now
shipping Power Platform modification for older Model 70s both use
the latest version of the Intel chip which has corrected the
problem with the built-in coprocessor.

The initial problems with the i486 were not limited to the
recalled IBM Power Platform but exist in all early 80486-based
computers and IBM sources tell Newsbytes that nearly every
defective chip has already been replaced in the couple of hundred
Power Platforms which were shipped before Intel discovered the
design fault.

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Madeline Epstein, IBM,
914-642-5363)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00037)

NEW RADIO SHACK PC AIMED AT HOME MARKET
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 26 (NB) -- Radio Shack has
announced the new Tandy 1000 SL/2 personal computer targeted for
home, home office, education and small business uses.

The new system, an upgrade of the Tandy 1000 SL computer
introduced in July 1988, is 8086-based with 512K RAM and a 3.5-
inch floppy drive (720K). The 1000 SL/2 has MS-DOS 3.3 and
DeskMate version 3.03.01 Graphic User Interface built-into ROM.
The 1000 SL/2 can also record, store and playback high fidelity
speech and sound through internal digital to analog converter
circuitry. The system also has on-board video support for
monochrome text, Hercules monochrome graphics and Tandy-enhanced
color graphics as well as support for a second floppy disk drive,
either 3.5" or 5.25 ." There are five PC-compatible expansion
slots and ready-to-run DeskMate 3.03.01.

In their announcement, Radio Shack also noted that many well-
known software publishers including Lotus, Symantec, Activision,
Intuit, Broderbund, Epyx, First Byte, Electronic Arts, DAC
Software, Quantum Computer Services and The Learning Company are
all developing their own products with the built-in DeskMate
interface.

The Tandy 1000 SL/2 has a suggested retail price of $999. The
company is making a special introductory offer of $1098.95 for
the system including a CM-5 color monitor and the DeskMate
Software Bonus Pack that includes three additional DeskMate
applications, Quicken (by Intuit), Instant Page (by Electronic
Arts) and RightWriter (by RightSoft).

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Fran McGehee, Radio
Shack, 817-390-3487)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00038)

XTREE TO END INTRODUCTORY UPGRADES DISCOUNT
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 21 (NB) -- Jan. 31,
1990 is will be the end of XTree's introductory $25 upgrade offer
from its own and its competitors products to XTree Pro Gold.

As of Feb.1, consumers who upgrade XTree or Xtree Pro to Xtree
Pro Gold will pay the full $40 for the new disks, documentation
and registration. Through Jan. 31 only, XTree will continue to
let consumers convert to XTree Pro Gold from any competitive disk
management utility for $35. Xtree Pro Gold regularly retails for
$135.

Once registered, upgraded users will receive free telephone
technical support and will be able to take advantage of the
company's special upgrade policy that offers 25 to 50 percent
savings on other XTree products. Registered users will also
receive a free archive manager.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Therese Solimeno, XTree
Company, 805-541-0604)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00039)

EXTENDED SYSTEMS REDUCES OPTIONAL MEMORY PRICES
BOISE, IDAHO, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 15 (NB) -- Extended Systems has
announced price reductions on the optional memory upgrades
available for its ShareSpool and MultiSpool printer sharing
products.

All units shipped beginning on Jan. 1, 1990 will reflect the
reduced prices. According to Wendell Babcock, marketing manager
for resource sharing products, the company is able to offer these
price reduction by passing along lower purchasing costs the
company has been able to find.

The company's pricing for base units remains the same. Only the
price for the optional memory has been lowered and the optional
memory must ship with the base unit to ensure reliability.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Scott Beltz, Extended
Systems, 208-322-7163)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00040)

ASHTON-TATE SHIPS MULTIMATE VERSION 4.0
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Ashton-Tate has
begun shipping its DOS-based word processor MultiMate 4.0.

The new version includes integrated e-mail, a grammar checker,
transparent file conversion, a DOS shell feature, and several
features targeted to the legal market including redlining.

MultiMate 4.0 has a suggested retail price of $565. Upgrades from
MultiMate Advantage II and previous versions of the software are
available for $75. Upgrades ordered before Jan. 31, 1990 by
MultiMate Advantage II users who bought that program after Oct.
16, 1989 are free. All data files created in MultiMate Advantage
II and earlier versions are compatible with MultiMate version
4.0.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Brad Stevens, Ashton-
Tate, 213-538-7348)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00041)

IBM STRESSES INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERISM
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- International
Business Machines, living up to the "I" in their name (in more
than one way) has today announced that nine countries will share
in a special $1 million fund intended to promote individual
volunteer efforts by current or retired IBM employees, or their
spouses.

With cash and equipment grants ranging from $50,000 to $330,000
going to groups in Argentina, Japan, the U.S., Brazil, Canada,
France, Germany, Pakistan and the U.K., the program is stressing
job training for the disabled and disadvantaged,

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Barbara L. Bickerman,
IBM, 914-697-6516)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00042)

IBM ANNOUNCES AI ASSISTED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) --
International Business Machines has announced the
introduction of a new knowledge-based system software family that
will help developers build expert systems for a variety of
computer systems.

The Integrated Reasoning Shell is a $7,500 (PS/2 systems) to over
$100,000 system (System/370) that provides a common SAA or
Systems Application Architecture structure for developing expert
systems that can be run on a range of computer platforms.

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Deborah Siegel, IBM, 914-
642-5462)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00043)

LOTUS SHIPS MAGELLAN IN QUANTITY DISCOUNT PACKAGES OF 25
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 18 (NB) -- Lotus
Development Corp. has started shipping the Magellan file
management software utility in packages of 25 at a price of
$3,375, representing a 30-percent savings to quantity buyers.

Magellan, which speeds access to hard disk files by creating a
special index of every file on a system's hard disk, started
shipping last April. The software lets users quickly locate any
word or phrase contained in any file and is particularly useful
for those with large numbers of files on massive hard disks or
those business users who may need to locate data or files created
by absent colleagues who can't be asked for a file's location.

Intended for use by large organizations with a number of PCs, the
new quantity packaging includes 25 copies of the software with
licenses and four copies of the documentation.

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Sue Jensen, Lotus, 617-
577-8500 X1138)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00044)

BLUEBIRD ALLOWS MS-DOS/WINDOWS USE WITH SUPERDOS
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 13 (NB) -- Bluebird Systems
has announced the availability of PC Connect, software that
allows SuperDOS-based applications to run in multitasking
Windows concurrently with DOS-based applications.

PC Connect can run on any microcomputer that supports MS/Windows
and is connected to a SuperDOS microcomputer via a standard RS-
232 port. According to Hal Tilbury, Bluebird's president, PC
Connect will allow any SuperDOS user to have up to 6 virtual
terminals on a single PC workstation and enable them to access
both SuperDOS and DOS simultaneously.

SuperDOS is Bluebird's multiuser operating system capable of
supporting up to 66 PC or CRT workstations on a single IBM or
compatible microcomputer.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891229/Press Contact: Rebecca Gribbs,
Bluebird Systems, 619-438-2220)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00045)

ACCPAC ADD-IN TO AID SALES SUPPORT
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 DEC 15 (NB) -- Crystal
Services, a Vancouver developer of companion products for
Computer Associates' Accpac Plus accounting software, has
announced FollowThru. The new Accpac add-on is designed to
support sales and administrative jobs.

Designed initially for lead tracking and prospect follow-up in
car dealerships, FollowThru lets users define a standard schedule
of actions to be taken after initial contact with a client. When
such a schedule is attached to the name of a new client,
reminders and follow-up actions will take place at the right
times.

Terry Cunningham, president of Crystal Services, said his five-
year-old company specializes in Accpac companion products.
FollowThru is Crystal's ninth product and its first non-
accounting package. Among current users of the package is the
consulting firm Deloitte Haskins & Sells, which uses FollowThru
to manage seminars across Canada. Crystal sells through
distributors in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom,
Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

FollowThru is priced at C$795 and is available now.

(Grant Buckler/19891228/Press Contact: Terry Cunningham, Crystal
Services, 604-681-3435)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00046)

IBM CANADA NOW SELLING ALL CHARGECARD
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- IBM Canada now
sells the All Chargecard, a memory management card from All
Computers of Toronto, Ontario.

Following the lead of its parent company, which began selling
the All Chargecard late in 1989, IBM Canada is offering
versions of the card for its Personal System/2
Models 30-286, 50, 50Z and 60.

The All Chargecard, which supports the Lotus-Intel-Microsoft
Expanded Memory Specification 4.0, can load device drivers and
terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs in the normally unused
memory between the 640K and one-megabyte addresses. It attaches
directly to the system board and does not use up an expansion
slot. IBM Canada sells a version for the PS/2 Model 30-286 for
C$685, one for the PS/2 50Z for C$710, and one for the PS/2
Models 50 and 60 for C$555. All three versions are available now.

Less than five percent of All Computers' sales are currently in
its home country, said Shelly Sofer, director of technical
marketing, in a recent interview. "I think that's going to change
after IBM Canada's announcement," he said.

(Grant Buckler/19891229/Press Contact: Shelly Sofer, All
Computers, 416-960-0111; IBM Canada, 416-474-3900)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00047)

TOSHIBA EXPECTS MORE DYNABOOK SALES
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 22 (NB) -- Toshiba has announced plans
to produce 20,000 units of the DynaBook computer each month
starting in March as the machine has met surprising public
demand.

By the end of the fiscal 1989 or March 1990, Toshiba expects to
have shipped 90,000 of the machines, which were introduced
in July. That's a number 30 percent higher than initially forecast.

Toshiba has installed additional two production lines for DynaBook
in its Ome plant, and consequently, it has three lines now.

Toshiba took an early lead in the notebook-sized computer market
with its reasonably priced (200,000 yen or $1,380) offering,
and has maintained its position by strong advertising.

NEC, the Japanese personal computer giant, aims to acquire some
of Toshiba's market with its newly introduced PC98Note. While
the price is higher (50,000 yen or $345 higher), it has a wealth of
software currently on the market which it can run. Dynabook
software, meanwhile, is generally seen as costly and in short
supply.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891227)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00048)

JAPAN EXPORTS IBM-COMPATIBLE MAINFRAMES TO U.S.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 22 (NB) -- Fujitsu and Hitachi have started
delivery of mainframes capable of running MVS/ESA, the most advanced
operating system program for an IBM mainframe without any
modification, to the U.S. The competition for Big Blue comes
sixteen months after IBM shipped MVS/ESA in August, 1988.

Fujitsu shipped MVS/ESA version of 5990 series mainframes to its
Sunnyvale, California-based associate firm Amdahl, which plans to ship
the 5990 series mainframes in January 1990. On the other hand,
Hitachi has shipped an MVS/ESA version of AS/EX series mainframe
which its Santa Clara, California-based subsidiary Hitachi Data
Systems is scheduled to release by the end of 1989.

(Ken Takahashi/19891227)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00049)

JAPAN: IBM PLANS MAJOR PUSH FOR PC MARKET SHARE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 26 (NB) -- IBM Japan is preparing for
a fight against NEC, Japan's PC giant, with a new campaign
aimed at promoting sales of the PS/55Z model 5530Z SX
computers which were released at the end of November
1989.

IBM Japan intends to emphasize the high performance
and low price as well as the computer's ability to read data and
documents written on NEC's Japanese de facto standard PC-9800
series.

For instance, a floppy with data written by a PC-9800 version of
Ichitaro word processing software can be used by the 5530Z SX
running the PS/55 version of the same program.

The firm will launch a major advertising campaign in January along
with major exhibits at its showrooms. IBM has not decided whether
to sell its machines at large discount houses.

In related news, IBM Japan has supplied 5530-T, the high-end model of
its 5530Z SX, on an OEM (original equipment manufacturing) to
Ricoh, which has released it under the brand name RICOHHPS
Series Model 5530-T. Ricoh is scheduled to ship it on the 10th
of January 1990. The price for the T-03 with a 3.5-inch floppy
and a 30 megabyte hard drive is 750,000 yen ($5,200) and the
T-06 with a 3.5-inch floppy and a 60-Mbyte hard drive is 910,000
yen ($6,300).

(Ken Takahashi/19891227/Press Contact: IBM Japan, 586-1111)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00050)

UK: COMCEN LAUNCHES OPTI-NET CD-ROM NETWORK SYSTEM
SWANSEA, WALES, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Comcen Technology has
launched Opti-net, a CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory)
system for networked PCs. Pricing on the system starts at UKP 795
($1,200) for a one to eight user unit.

The Opti-net software loads on top of existing network software
drivers, effectively allowing stations on the network access to
the CD-ROM drive on the relevant network server. The Opti-net
software supports IBM's Token Ring, 3Com's Ethernet, Novell
netware and IBM PC-Net network standards.

According to Paul Fletcher of Comcen, the Opti-net software will
also support any network that supports IBM's NetBIOS standard,
and only occupies 80K of memory on the file server, and just 4K
on other workstations on the network.

For larger networks (i.e. those greater than eight stations),
Comcen supplies an 80386SX microprocessor-based PC file server.
The UKP 3,995 ($6,000) is a fully configured PC with CD-ROM
drive, and can be used with 1-100 user Opti-net package, which
costs UKP 1,495 ($2,250).

(Steve Gold/19893012/Press & Public Contact: Paul Fletcher,
Comcen Technology - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00051)

WORDPERFECT 5.1 SHIPS IN UK
WEYBRIDGE, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Wordperfect UK has
announced the immediate availability of Wordperfect v5.1 for the
English market. The package prices in at UKP 425 ($650) for the
single user or network server version, with workstation nodes
costing UKP 195 ($300) each.

Existing users of Wordperfect v5.0 who purchased their copy of
the package after 1 October, 1989, can upgrade to the new edition
for UKP 5-00 ($8-00). Other users may upgrade for UKP 70-00
($105).

Amongst the several new features of Wordperfect v5.1, are pull-
down menus, mouse support, tabling capabilities and improved data
import facilities. Wordperfect v5.1 was first shown in late
September, 1989, at the Personal Computer Show in London.

Peter Fergusson, the managing director of Wordperfect, said that
v5.1 is expected to place the company even further ahead of its
rivals in terms of useful, quality features and user popularity.
"We're constantly reviewing our products to ensure that they meet
the demands of our users who want to make use of advanced
features, but also to ensure that we maintain the product's speed
and ease of use," he said.

(Steve Gold/19891230/Press Contact: Peter Fergusson - Tel: 0932-
850500)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00052)

MICROSOFT INTRODUCES NEW FLIGHT SIMULATOR IN EUROPE
HOOFDDORP, THE NETHERLANDS, 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- Microsoft NL, The
Netherlands-based subsidiary of MIcrosoft US, has announced plans
to ship an new edition of its much-vaunted Flight Simulator
program for MS-DOS machines.

The new edition includes emulation
modes for such modern aircraft as the Boeing 767 series and the
Tomcat F-14 fighter, amongst many others.

Flight Simulator V4.0, which will ship in the first quarter of
1990, also includes several new facilities such as the command
flight path display (analogous to IFR - instrument flight rule -
in real flying) and support for VFR - visual flight rules.

Microsoft Flight Simulator V4.0 requires an 80286-based or better
PC to run. Support for CGA, EGA and CGA graphics is included in
the package.

(Peter Vekinis/19891230)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(LON)(00053)

BIX AND COMPUSERVE: EXPANSION PLANS?
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Information received from two
independent sources suggests that Byte Magazine is engaged in
top-secret discussions in moving the Byte Information eXchange
(Bix) over to the Compuserve network.

At the same time, sources close to Compuserve have confirmed that
the US online service is currently beta-testing its European
network - the Compuserve European Information Service (CEIS) - in
readiness for a Spring 1990 launch.

Attempts to contact both Bix and Compuserve for comment during
the Christmas and New Year break were unsuccessful. Newsbytes'
sources, however, suggest that the Bix user environment will be
retained, running either as a gateway system on CIS, or on the
DEC computer environment for which Compuserve is famous.

Compuserve's European network, meanwhile, is reported to be in
place, consisting of an amalgam of several existing European
online vendor networks, all using X.25 switching methods to
feed the data into Switzerland, from where line concentrators
relay the subscriber calls through to Columbus, Ohio, in the US.

Currently, it costs Compuserve's European subscribers from $25 an
hour upwards to place an X.25 network call to Compuserve's US
data network. This charge is in addition to Compuserve's online
rates. Newsbytes' sources suggest that Compuserve's existing $12-
$25 an hour access rates for 1200 and 2400 bits per second (bps)
access will be retained for European subscribers, thanks to the
use of leased lines between Switzerland and Columbus, Ohio, in
the US.

(Steve Gold/19891230)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00054)

AT&T TO ASK FCC FOR MORE PRICING POWER
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 DEC 20 (NB) -- Stung by continuing
inroads from large competitors like MCI and Sprint, as well as
smaller "bypass" companies laying fiber optic cable in major
cities, AT&T plans to ask the Federal Communications Commission
for permission to go after the competition with a new Tariff 17.

Newspaper stories over the last few weeks indicate this new
tariff would let AT&T offer custom deals anytime to not just meet,
but beat the competitors' prices.

Under current rules, called Tariff 15,
AT&T can meet but not beat competing offers, and must prove the
existence of a competitive offer by submitting it to the FCC.

AT&T officials have expressed frustration over the FCC's handling
of offers under current tariffs, charging regulators with foot-
dragging. New FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes, meanwhile, has expressed
frustration over the need to look over individual deals, and is
considering more general rules. Tariff 17 is the first shot in
the war for Sikes' soul.

Critics and competitors say the proposed Tariff 17 would be
illegal under anti-trust law, but AT&T will reply that
competitors are doing this kind of thing anyway, and the new
tariff would merely create a "level playing field." This is a
story you can expect to read more about throughout 1990.

In other AT&T news, the company announced it is making a wide
range of products and services available within Mexico, working
with that nation's public carrier, Telefonos de Mexico, or
TelMex. Among the new offerings are international T-1 and 56,000
bit/second data circuits, toll-free 800 number service, Pro WATS
lines for small business and Megacom switch services. The primary
customers for the new Mexican services are American companies
using cheap local labor for manufacturing operations near the
U.S. border.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00055)

GALACTICOMM ADDS X.25 SUPPORT TO MAJOR BBS
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 12 (NB) --
Galacticomm has released version 5.08 of its Major BBS bulletin
board package.

One new feature is optional X.25 connection to
packet switch networks such as Telenet and Tymnet. The capability
can be had with all versions of the software, and modems don't
have to be changed either, says Chairman Tim Stryker. He adds the
capability may be most important in Europe, where Galacticomm has
recently entered the market through agents who are translating
the software into local languages.

Other improvements in the new software include the ability to
scroll back and forth in the audit trail, hardware flow control
and port locking, log-on notification of e-mail waiting for
users, file and message exemptions to prevent auto-deletes, a
text log accessed with the command Alt-L, a paging function,
optional 4-line message headers, and threads to message "parents"
in Special Interest Groups, a capability usually found on high-
end conferencing systems like PARTICIPATE.

Galacticomm has also issued a new version of its third-party
catalog. Since Major BBS is written in the C language, it's easy
to extend, and at least 7 companies are in the business of
writing such add-ons. Among the add-ons are casino games and
skill games like chess, mail relay software, text adventure
games, conferencing software, and account management packages so
users of Major BBS systems can be sent detailed bills each month.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Tim Stryker,
Galacticomm, 305-583-5990)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00056)

NEW VERSION OF CAUCUS LAUNCHED
TROY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 15 (NB) -- Camber-Roth and
its distributor, Metasystems Design Group of Arlington, Virginia,
have released version 2.2 of Caucus, a conferencing system.

Caucus works on DEC VAX machines as well as Unix-based
minicomputers and machines from Prime, Hewlett-Packard, Unisys
and Data General. A version is also available for IBM PCs.

The new version offers a menu interface to make the software
easier to learn. The program can also be customized easily.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Frank Burns,
Metasystems Design Group, 703-243-6622)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00057)

CONTEL WINS CELLULAR LOTTERIES FOR NEW ENGLAND, KENTUCKY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- Contel
Cellular, a 90%-owned subsidiary of the one-time Continental
Telephone company, which holds phone franchises mainly in rural
areas, won two federal lotteries for rural cellular licenses.

The company will be general partner for two areas in Vermont and one
in New Hampshire, with roughly 313,000 POPs, as potential
customers are called, when they're multiplied by a company's
ownership interest in the market. Contel Cellular holds
franchises around Manchester, New Hampshire and Burlington,
Vermont.

The company also won a lottery to provide cellular service in two
rural areas in Kentucky. This deal is worth about 198,000 POPs.
Contel's nearest operations to these areas are in Owensboro,
Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana. All these areas will
eventually be connected into one calling network, the company
said. Partners in the Kentucky enterprise include BellSouth
Mobility, Smithville Telephone and Century Telephone Enterprise.

To date Contel Cellular, or partnerships that it controls, has
been named as prospective operator in 44 rural service areas,
worth about 3.4 million POPs. The company has a total POP
population of about 15.8 million In early 1990, Contel Cellular
is expected to add 13 Southern cities acquired from McCaw
to its network.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Ben Parrish, Contel
Cellular, 404-391-8016)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00058)

AT&T CUTTING CALIFORNIA IN-STATE RATES 8.6%
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 28 (NB) --
Following on the heels of moves to cut rates by Pacific Telesis,
AT&T is cutting its in-state long-distance rates for California
with the New Year.

The cuts average 8.6%, which AT&T says is
worth $113.3 million. A 5-minute weekday call between Los
Angeles and San Francisco will cost $1.06, down from $1.20.

Since deregulation began on January 1, 1984, AT&T has reduced
California long distance prices about 45.5%, including the
latest cuts.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: AT&T Rick Reser, 415-
978-2225)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00059)

AIR TRAVEL CARD TO ADD INTERNATIONAL CALLING SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 DEC 28 (NB) -- Executive
TeleCard signed an agreement under which its international phone
services will be offered through the Air Travel Card, formerly
the Universal Air Travel Plan, and its licensee cards, AirPlus
and PassAge.

The Air Travel Card is issued by 30 member airlines to 100,000
corporations and their 1.5 million card users, and accepted by
more than 200 domestic and international air carriers, as well as
Amtrak, with total charges of $4 billion per year.

In Europe, 9 airlines license the program as the AirPlus card,
and in Japan, Japan Airlines calls the same card service
PassAge. Both cards are covered by the agreement.

ETI has also put its operator services onto the cards of JCB
International, the largest issuer of bank credit cards in Japan,
and First Card AB of Sweden, the largest bank-issued credit card
in Sweden. Negotiations are in process in Italy, Canada and the
Far East.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Executive TeleCard
Robert N. Schuck, 914-627-2060)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00060)

KDD BUYS 5% OF INFONET
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- KDD, the Japanese long-
distance company, bought 5% of Infonet, the packet network, from
Computer Sciences Corporation, which dropped its own holding to
30%.

Over the last few years Computer Sciences has been steadily
selling pieces of Infonet, mainly to foreign PTTs. The biggest
pieces of the company are now held by Transpac of France, and
Bundespost of West Germany, both with 15%. Other owners of
Infonet include telecommunications authorities in Britain, Spain,
Netherlands and the Far East.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00061)

BRITE VOICE INSTALLS CITYLINE SYSTEM IN PHOENIX
WICHITA, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- Following on
the heels of FaxBank's entry into Milwaukee, Brite Voice Systems
will provide its Cityline voice-services system to KTSP
Television in Phoenix, Arizona.

KTSP-TV is owned by Great
American Television and Radio of Cincinnati, which also owns 4
other TV stations, 18 radio stations, and the Hanna-Barbera
animation studios. KTSP general manager Ron Bergamo, said he'll
use the product to conduct opinion polls, as he did after buying
the same product when he was at KWCH-TV in Wichita.

Brite's Cityline is sold to only one television station or
newspaper in each market. The touch-tone phone service offers
stock quotes, financial news, and trivia games, and can be
updated as needed.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Brian Schoenthaler,
Brite Voice Systems, 316-687-4444)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00062)

CANCOM, CYLIX SEAL PARTNERSHIP
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- Cancom/Satlink
Business Services, based here, and Cylix Communications of
Memphis, Tenn., have announced a partnership. The two companies
will build private very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite
communications networks linking Canadian and American sites.

Cancom/Satlink is a division of Canadian Satellite
Communications, also of Mississauga, which provides VSAT services
in Canada. Cylix, formerly a subsidiary of RCA Communications,
operates a large satellite network in the United States. The
partnership will allow customers in either country to link their
remote sites across the Canada-U.S. border using VSAT terminals.
Before the agreement, Cancom spokeswoman Leila Tardif said,
customers could only have done this through a special agreement
with Telesat Canada, which operates satellites for domestic
communications in Canada. Many customers chose land lines
instead, she said.

(Grant Buckler/19891227/Press Contact: Leila Tardif,
Cancom/Satlink, 416-272-4960)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00063)

3COM PLANS CANADIAN SEMINAR SERIES
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 22 (NB) -- 3Com Canada will
hold a series of seminars on local-area network trends in late
January and early February.

3Com says the sessions, to be held in six Canadian cities, are
designed for information systems, communications, networking and
strategic planning people, will deal with technologies for multi-
vendor networking, integration of multiple operating systems and
support requirements.

Seminars will be held in Calgary, Alberta, on January 29; in
Edmonton, Alberta, on January 31; in Vancouver, British Columbia,
on February 2; in Montreal, Quebec, on February 5; in Ottawa,
Ontario, on February 7; and in Toronto, Ontario, on February 9.
Further information is available from 3Com Canada at 1-800-NET-
3Com (1-800-638-3266).

(Grant Buckler/19891228)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00064)

NTT TO LAUNCH DIGITAL PUBLIC PHONE SERVICE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 23 (NB) -- Japan's telecom giant NTT
aims to be the first in the world to initiate a public phone
service connected with an ISDN (integrated services digital
network) this coming March.

NTT will introduce full digital public phones with visual and data
terminals such as facsimile and personal computers.

NTT and domestic public phone makers are currently developing
a public phone unit capable of displaying rates and time for the
new service. NTT will place the phone units at the service
stations of its branches and sales agencies, in order to
demonstrate the technology.

Its original INSnet ISDN service turns two late this month, but
has not been as popular as NTT hoped, so the company intends
beef up demand with the much utilized public phone service
to the ISDN network.

(Ken Takahashi/19891227/Press Contact: NTT, 03-509-3101)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00065)

MNEMATICS BBS OPENS IN UK
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Mnematics UK, the UK-
based subsidiary of the Mnematics online system in New York, has
opened a user support BBS in the Southampton area. THe board runs
at all CCITT modem speeds to 2400 bits per second on 0489-583232.

According to Mnematics UK spokesman Tony Harding, the support BBS
allows both existing and potential subscribers to have an online
point of reference for Mnematics. It also has the added advantage
that Mnematics subscribers can leave mail for onward transmission
to the US system, with having to call the service directly.

"At $30 a year for European subscribers, Mnematics is the
cheapest US online system for the users on this side of the
Atlantic to use. Adding the UK BBS facility greatly enhances the
services we can supply to out 100-plus UK-based subscribers," he
told Newsbytes.

Harding's plans for Mnematics UK's BBS are ambitious. Within a
short while, Mnematics-bound e-mail will be batch processed for
onward transmission several times a day, and the number of
program files available for download will be greatly increased.

"Mnematics is the first US online system to provide a UK BBS for
existing and potential subscribers to call. As such, we beaten
Compuserve and Genie to the line," said Harding.

Callers to the Mnematics BBS, which runs on an Amstrad PC1512
fitted with an Amstrad modem and 30MB hard disk, should set their
communications software to 8:N:1 parity, scrolling ASCII, and
dial 0489-583232. New callers should log on with an ID of DEMO
and a password of the same.

(Steve Gold/19893012/Press Contact: Tony Harding - Tel: 04895-
84567; Email on Dialcom - 10082:TSG630)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BRU)(00066)

EIB LENDS $11.2 MILLION TO IRELAND TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 DEC 23 (NB) -- The European Investment
Bank (EIB) is lending ECU 10 million (about $11.2 million) to the
Irish government to assist the country in improving its
communications facilities.

The much-needed funds will be added to those already earmarked
for use by the Irish government, whose ambitious plans for the
early 1990s including upgrading the country's international
satellite links, as well as improving voice and data telephony
circuits in rural areas.

(Peter Vekinis/19891230)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00067)

CD-ROMS CAN BE PREVIEWED ONLINE
PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 15 (NB) -- Try before you
buy is difficult when it comes to CD-ROM (compact disk, read-only
memory disks), but a CD-ROM publishing house is aiming to allow
consumers to do just that -- via the telephone lines.

The Bureau of Electronic Publishing has created a service called
CD-Online. The free service, accessed via modem for the price of a
call to New Jersey, provides customers with a variety of CD-ROM
titles. The user gets 10 minutes to view them once logged-in.

Among the titles online are U.S. History, PC-SIG public domain
software, the Oxford English Dictionary, Movie Database,
Grolier's Electronic Encyclopedia, Microsoft Programmer's
Library, Microsoft Bookshelf, CD-Audio Guide, the Oxford
Textbook of Medicine, and the complete works of Sherlock
Holmes.

To get a peek at this online service, you have to call the bureau
to get a password and the log-in phone number. For users without
a modem, a free 120-page catalog is available. The bureau
can be reached by calling 201-808-2700.

"We want to give people a chance to see the online service, but
we don't want people to have a problem getting in," explains
Executive Officer Larry Shiller to Newsbytes, in regard to his
reluctance to publish the CD-Online phone number.

(Wendy Woods/19891229)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00068)

CHILTON MAGAZINE PREDICTS SAFER OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS IN 90S
RADNORE, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 28 (NB) --
Chilton's Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) quotes
Joseph Kinney, director of the National Safe
Workplace Institute, said that, where the 70s were the decade for
women and the 80s the decade for the environment, the 90s will be
the decade for occupational safety and health.

ISHN Editor Dave Johnson cited increased employer awareness,
which is being forced by large OSHA (the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration) fines and increased worker compensation
costs, as a major force for improvement in the workplace, which
will even affect the areas of video display terminal safety and
repetitive stress syndrome (often suffered by computer users
typing in the same position for hours at a time).

(John McCormick/19891228/Press Contact: Dave Johnson, Editor ISHN
(editors call for free report), 215-964-4057)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00069)

INTEL OFFERS REAL-TIME TV COMPRESSION FOR DVI
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 20 (NB) -- Intel has
come up with some explanations on its RTV Version 1.5, a
technology which could finally bring TV and computing technology
together.

RTV stands for "Real-Time Video" and it's essentially a data
compression technique running on the Intel 750 chipset. The
software, due out by the end of March, compresses video footage
at the full video speed of 30 frames per second onto a PC. What
this means is you can run TV pictures into your PC at the same
speed as they were first broadcast. The only limitation is in the
storage medium: CD capacity must be expanded, or even better
compression developed, before sizable shows can be edited on a
PC.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Paula Zimmerman, Intel
DVI, 609-936-7617)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00070)

HOWTEK INTRODUCES BRAILLE PRINTER
HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 15 (NB) -- Howtek
took a giant step toward integrating blind workers into the
workforce with a new braille printer developed with the National
Federation of the Blind.

The printer is a modified version of
Howtek's Pixelmaster color ink-jet printer, which can produce
raised dots on standard office paper, big enough to create the
tactile feel needed by blind readers. The ink is plastic-based,
and melts within the printer, then becomes solid when it hits the
paper. The same printer can also be used to create color
documents for sighted users. Software within the printer can
translate the characters on the keyboard into braille fonts. A
prototype of the new printer was used last summer to create
floor plans of the exhibit center during the NFB's convention in
Denver. Deliveries start in January.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891229/Press Contact: Stephanie Papantonis,
Howtek, 603-882-5200)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00071)

JON SHIRLEY TO RESIGN FROM MICROSOFT
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- Citing the need
for more personal time, something of which he's had little since
joining Microsoft in 1983, Jon Shirley will resign as president
of the software firm on June 30, 1990. He will remain on the board
of directors and be a consultant, however.

Shirley is generally seen as one of the chief architects of Microsoft's
growth and dominance in the personal computer world. His
departure in 1990 should coincide with Microsoft's first billion
dollar year. He had spent 25 years with Tandy Corporation prior to
joining Bill Gates at Microsoft.

(Wendy Woods/19891229)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00072)

CANADIAN STUDY FINDS LAN LITERACY GROWING
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- Canadian business
people still know little about local-area networks, but they are
learning. So says International Data Corp. Canada, which recently
surveyed LAN usage and purchase intentions.

Significant numbers of respondents to IDC's survey could not say
which network protocol or system they preferred, what vendor of
interface cards they liked best or who supplied their current
network operating system. However, IDC found more people could
identify a preferred network server vendor this year than last.
And those who replied mentioned support for PC applications,
upgrade paths and performance as important factors in choosing a
LAN. They also said access to company and department data and
peripheral sharing were important capabilities for LANs. The
business community is thinking more about networks, IDC
concludes.

Survey results also indicate IBM's Token Ring LAN architecture
gaining ground from the older Ethernet. Finally, the survey shows
more buyers are turning to dealers and value-added resellers
rather than manufacturers to supply them with networks.

(Grant Buckler/19891221/Press Contact: Mark Pellettier, IDC
Canada, 416-369-0033)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00073)

JAPAN'S IC INDUSTRY RECEIVES LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 15 (NB) -- Facing the need for volume
production of four-megabit dynamic random access memory chips
(DRAM), and the challenge of creating highly integrated chips and
better silicon wafers, Japanese integrated circuit firms have
been investing heavily in research and development.

Japan Silicon, one of the members of Mitsubishi group and a supplier
of silicon wafers for Mitsubishi Electric, has invested three billion yen
or $20.7 million and introduced the same diffusion line for semiconductor
chips as Mitsubishi Electric. The line is said to automate the
production of high quality, sample chips.

Meanwhile, Japan Silicon's mother firm, Mitsubishi Metal,
is responsible for research and development of 16-megabit DRAM chips.

Other silicon wafer makers are also investing heavily in research,
including the fourth largest supplier Komatsu Electronic Metals, and
Hitachi's wafer supplier, Shinetsu Handotai, which is the largest
in the industry with a 36 percent market share.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891227/Press Contact: Japan Silicon, 0471-24-1511)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00074)

JAL LAUNCHES TRON-BASED RESERVATION SYSTEM
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 26 (NB) -- Japan Air Lines has applied
TRON architecture to the development of a next-generation CRS
(computer reservation system) for the first time in the world,
an architecture which the company says is easier to use for
Japanese travel agents.

The CRS now in use require the input of English language entry codes
for the entry of arrival and departure destinations, as well as
flight numbers and other travel information, resulting in systems
which are difficult to use by Japanese or non-English speaking
operators. The new CRS, temporarily called B-TRON Specified Total
Research System, simply requires the operator to type in names of
destinations, and not codes. In addition, all characters on the
display are Japanese.

Mutimedia functions also come standard with the system -- it
allows the agent to receive a visual introduction to hotel rooms and
the main sights of tourist resorts, using video and CD-ROM
(compact disc read-only memory).

JAL developed of the new CRS after extensive research and with
the cooperation of TRON advocate Ken Sakamura. JAL estimates
the total expenditure for the development was 500 to 600
million yen ($3.4 to 4.1 million). JAL reported the total development
cost to the IATA (International Air Transport Association)
early in December.

JAL intends to acquire a patent on the CRS shortly, and will
implement experimental use of the system in travel agencies
next year. Furthermore, JAL aims to promote the new system
to the general public in late 1990.

(Ken Takahashi/19891227/Press Contact: Japan Air Lines,
03-284-2104)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00075)

HITACHI TO INTRO 32-BIT COLOR LAPTOP
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 25 (NB) -- Hitachi will unveil a 32-bit
laptop computer with a color LCD (liquid crystal display) screen
in January 1990, according to industry sources.

The 80386SX-based laptop will adopt a single matrix STN (super
twisted nematic) color LCD screen capable of displaying 16 colors.
The screen, with a high resolution of 640 by 400 pixels, will
measure between ten and twelve inches. The price will be between
800,000 and one million yen ($5,500 and 6,900), depending on
storage configurations. A Hitachi spokesman would not comment
on the new machine to Newsbytes.

Back in June 1989, Hitachi launched export of its 16-bit color
laptop, called HL400 Model 021C, to the European market, but
Hitachi does not expect the machine to prevail in the domestic
market because the 6.3-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 640
by 200 is not sufficient for displaying complicated Japanese
language characters.

Things will be different, however, when Hitachi launches its
new high-resolution color laptop into the Japanese market, where
it expected to compete head-on with NEC and Fujitsu, current
industry laptop leaders.

(Ken Takahashi/19891227/Press Contact: Hitachi, 03-258-2057)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00076)

NEC TO SET UP OFFICES IN THE U.S.S.R. AND EAST EUROPE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- With the rapid liberalization
in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, NEC has decided
be among the first to line up to sell to this emerging
economy.

NEC will be the first Japanese firm to establish local offices
in Hungary and Poland to sell data communications equipment.

NEC has decided to choose Hungary and Poland for its initial
thrust into Eastern Europe. These countries have been the
the largest clients of its communication and broadcasting devices
in the Eastern European nations. NEC expects it will be able to
promote its communication networks there as Hungary and Poland
have privatized telecommunication business.

Until now, NEC's Austria office has been responsible for
the Eastern Europe business, and NEC's headquarters in Japan
has taken care of business with the U.S.S.R.

Though NEC's dealings with the Soviet Union ending in 1984,
they are expected to resume as construction of fiber optic
cables between Europe and Japan will require installation
across the Soviet Union, a project slated to start in 1990.
There are also negotiations underway for creation of a large-scale
international communication project between the U.S.
and the U.S.S.R. involving satellites.

Also, PBX (private branch exchange) units and high performance
facsimile machines have been the target of COCOM (Coordinating
Committee for Export to Communist Area) negotiations underway.

NEC, however, predicts that such regulation will gradually ease
and that demand for phone networks and cellular
phone services will rapidly grow in the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe.

(Ken Takahashi/19891227/Press Contact: NEC, 451-2974)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00077)

UK: SURVIVE! DISASTER RECOVERY GROUP LAUNCHED
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- With the recent panic caused
by the Aids Trojan horse program, the ramifications of which are
still echoing around the UK, Monadnock International has
launched the Survive! Disaster Recover Group.

Annual membership of the user group costs UKP 200 ($300)
for individuals and UKP 250 ($375) for consultants and vendors
in the computer industry.

Membership of the group entitles discounts on attendance to regular
conferences, member workshops, manuals and publications and a
regular newsletter.

Survive! is also promoting a conference on disaster recovery for
PC systems which will be held on 26 February, 1990, in London.
The conference fee has been set at UKP 275 ($420) with a UK 80
discount available to Survive! members. Topics to be covered by
the one-day conference include: PC network security; PC data
recovery; PC network contingency planning and physical security
systems.

(Steve Gold/19891230/Press & Public Contact: B S Kelly, Survive!,
Monadnock International - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00078)

AT&T, DELOITTE LAUNCH TRAINING CENTER
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- AT&T Canada and the
accounting and consulting firm Deloitte Haskins & Sells have
joined forces to set up a Unix training center here.

The center, located at Deloitte's Calgary office, will provide a
range of Unix-related training and materials, including a
complete AT&T videotape library. Deloitte's Calgary-based
Information Systems Group develops and supports business systems
using Unix System V. The firm is to merge with Touche Ross,
another accounting and consulting firm, later this year.

John Touzel, manager of client education for AT&T Canada, said
the center is the first of its kind for AT&T, but is likely to be
"the first of many." Calgary was chosen as the first location
largely because "Calgary is becoming quite a hotbed of activity
regarding the Unix operating system," he said.

(Grant Buckler/19891227/Press Contacts: Steve Remmington,
Deloitte Haskins & Sells, 403-298-3900; John Touzel, AT&T Canada,
416-756-5129)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00079)

MACH TO BE RELEASED IN JAPAN
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 DEC 19 (NB) -- Encore Japan, a joint venture of
Nippon Mining and U.S.-based Encore Computer, will start marketing
the Mach operating system (OS) in Japan in January 1990.

The Mach OS was developed in Carnegie Melon University on
order of the Pentagon in a project funded by DARPA or Defense
Advanced Research Project Agency. The result was that this
operating system could not be exported without strict controls
on its distribution.

Encore Japan applied for the distribution of the OS in Japan but it
was rejected in August 1989. The U.S. government, however, reversed
the decision and approved the application in October.

U.S.-based Encore Computer has rewritten the Mach OS to work on its
parallel processing computer, Multimax, which is scheduled to be
introduced at the Pentagon as early as January 1990. The Mach OS has
been adopted by the Open Software Foundation and NeXT Computer.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891227/Press Contact: Japan Encore Computer, Inc.
03-459-4301)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00080)

HITACHI TO SELL WORKSTATION WITH HP PROCESSOR IN 1991
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 DEC 27 (NB) -- Hitachi has decided to release
a high-speed workstation based on Hewlett-Packard's microprocessor
in early 1991, an announcement directly related to the agreement made
between the two firms in July 1989.

In the reduced instruction set-type workstation arena, Hitachi
was outstripped by Toshiba and Fujitsu, which received supplies
of workstations from Sun Microsystems on an OEM (original
equipment manufacturing) basis, but now Hitachi aims to overtake
them with the HP-based product.

The new workstation is expected to be the most advanced product
of its kind and will include a processor capable of performing
60 MIPS (million instructions per second), HP announced in
December 1989. It will also have the processing ability of 12
to 16 FLOPS (floating point operations per second) for scientific
and engineering calculations.

The operating system will be OSF/1, which is currently under
development by the Open Software Foundation to which Hitachi and
HP belong. Shipment is slated to start in November 1990.

With common use of each other's microprocessors and operating
systems, HP and Hitachi will be able applications and thereby
enhance their competitive edge. CAD (computer-aided design)
software from HP and finance and insurance software from Hitachi
will run on both workstations.

Hitachi's new workstation will adopt OSF/Motif developed by
OSF for its graphic user interface.

Furthermore, HP and Hitachi are now getting ready to develop a
reduced instruction set-type microprocessor with a staggering 100
MIPS rating, using bi-CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
combined with bipolar semiconductor technology. They are planning to
release a workstation with this processor embedded by the end of
1992.

(Ken Takahashi/19891227/Press Contact: Hitachi, 03-258-2057)


(REVIEW)(IBM)(WAS)(00081)

Review of: Compaq/LTE hard disk MS-DOS notebook computer

From: Compaq Computer Corp., P.O. Box 69200, Houston, TX 77269-
2000. 713-370-0670

Price: $2,999 (with hard disk)

PUMA Rating: 3.95 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)

Reviewed by: John McCormick, 12/26/89

Summary: The LTE is a six-pound clamshell laptop/notebook
computer with good display, excellent keyboard, and all the
features needed to make it a useful traveling companion for those
with light-duty computing chores to perform. Full VGA graphics
and more power are available in the larger SLT and a 286-based
version of the LTE (called the 286/LTE) is also available, with
correspondingly higher price but similar battery life.

======

REVIEW

======

I was very impressed last year by the 286/SLT when I received one
of the very first review units (still lacking FCC approval for
sale at that time) but, as much as I admired its terrific
graphics and power, it was just too big for my needs.

While I use a computer for almost everything imaginable at the
Newsbytes bureau office, when I am on the road it is used almost
exclusively for simple word processing/note-taking and for
connecting with online services; therefore, a powerful and
consequently rather heavy portable is not what I need.

This second generation of laptops from Compaq came with every
feature I ever wanted in a laptop, 640K (more RAM eats up battery
power too quickly), 1.44 megabyte (MB) 3.5-inch floppy disk, 20
MB hard disk with good access time (29 milliseconds per
specification but about 26ms on my tests), spare battery, built-
in 2400 baud modem (with serial port also included), and the
usual amenities such as printer and external monitor ports.

Despite all this, the LTE is the smallest laptop computer I have
ever used that was actually big enough to do any reasonable
amount of work on. Although battery life will undoubtedly improve
over the years, and laptops will get even lighter, there is no
way to make a laptop smaller than a certain size which is limited
by the size of a keyboard and a good, viewable screen, so this is
likely to remain the smallest practical size for a real computer
which is used by a touch typist.

This latest Compaq offering is packed with features but is still
about as small as is commensurate with having a keyboard that is
comfortable to work with, lacking only a separate number pad
(those needing a separate numeric keypad can add one that plugs
into the back).

Although the LTE came with both 3.3 and 4.0 versions of MS-DOS, I
never did like 4.0, so I stayed with what for my money is the
best version of MS-DOS. The Compaq disk formatting and setup
program is fully automatic, so the fact that this computer
arrived with nothing on the hard disk was absolutely no problem
and would present even a novice user with little to do before the
system was fully configured.

The quarter-inch-thick supertwist backlit display is only CGA
(not VGA) grade, but I found it to be highly usable for most
tasks.

As usual, you do pay a price for Compaq reliability and advanced
technology, although at $2,399 for the floppy disk version (all
models come with a minimum of 640K RAM) and $2,999 for the 20MB
hard disk version tested, the basic computer is certainly
reasonably priced considering what you get. My complaint would be
with the overpriced ($89) carrying case; an automobile adapter
that costs $129; an optional numeric keypad that at $119 costs
more than a good quality 101-key enhanced keyboard for any
desktop; and nearly $450 for a 2400 baud modem.

These prices seem out of line with the reasonable price of the
base computers, despite their quality, but I guess you get what
you pay for and street prices are likely to make both the 286/LTE
and the LTE very, very popular, especially with business users
who can easily justify paying a few dollars more for the Compaq
name and reputation.

Having a C-MOS (complimentary metal oxide) 80C286 processor in
the same size and weight package, the $4,500 286/LTE is obviously
a more sophisticated and powerful computer, but for my needs the
80C86-based LTE is just right.

These are the laptop/notebook computers that IBM should have
designed and probably wishes they had.

===========

PUMA RATING

===========

PERFORMANCE: 4. The sophisticated power management and other
utilities supplied by Compaq make this a dream to operate; just
remember that it is only an 8-bit computer and not a speed demon.

USEFULNESS: 4. Again, the special Compaq-supplied utilities add
to its utility, but, even without them, a notebook MS-DOS
compatible computer this size and weight with a standard 1.44-
megabyte 3.5-inch floppy drive is uniquely useful.

MANUAL: 3.8 Compaq's documentation is good, but a more elementary
section designed for first-time business users might be
appropriate since there is a likely audience for this sort of
computer. Personally, I only looked at the documentation to see
how good it was; an experienced PC user would never need to open
it.

AVAILABILITY: 4. Compaq is an industry leader, and its machines
are widely available.

(John McCormick/19891212/Editor's Note: Newsbytes' Paul
Zucker also reviewed the LTE in November and gave it our highest
rating - 4/Press Contact: Debra Globe, Compaq, 713-374-1562)

(REVIEW)(APPLE)(SFO)(00082)

Review of:  John Elway's Quarterback, game for the Apple IIGS

Runs on: Apple IIGS

From: Melbourne House, 711 West 17th St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (714)
631-1001

Price: $39.99

PUMA rating: 3 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Naor Wallach, 12/29/89

Summary: A competent if unexciting implementation of the game of
football for your home computer.

======

REVIEW

======

Football is the number one spectator sport in the U.S. today. Affection for
the sport extends well beyond just watching it on TV to watching in
person, subjecting the family to retellings of great plays as if you've been
personally involved, and even to the arcade and computer arena. In the
home computer arena there are several versions of football games asking
for your attention. John Elway's Quarterback (QB) is a successful arcade
game that was transported to the Apple IIGS and is the subject of this
review.

The game comes on one 3.5" diskette with a 30-page Player's manual, a
quick reference card, a flier describing Arcadia's other offerings and a
stats form for you to keep some statistics on. The manual intends to teach
you the basics of football as well as this game's peculiar slants and
therefore does not do too well at either. It would have been better for the
authors to concentrate on the game's particulars and leave the overall
football knowledge as a given. There are basically two sections in the
manual. The first tells you how to run the game and what the different
options are. The second, describes the game of football and diagrams (and
explains) the nine basic offensive and six defensive plays that you may
use.

Game play is supposedly exactly patterned after the arcade version of this
product. Therefore, only nine players are represented on the screen rather
than the eleven present on a real football field. The manual gives two
explanations for this: 1. The arcade version shows only nine players. 2. The
computer will slow down too much if eleven players are present for each
team. You may choose to play any team in the NFL. Choosing a team confers
no particular privileges or advantages so it basically becomes a moot
point as to whether you play as the Dallas Cowboys or the San Francisco
49'ers. You may play against the computer or another person. Since the
computer is trying to rate your overall performance, you must go through a
tedious routine of entering your initials followed by your Birthdate every
time you try to start the game. Using your joystick or keyboard arrows you
move the cursor to your initials. Hitting the fire button or the return key
enters that initial into the game. Bugs here include not being able to use
just two initials (you must enter three. A space key is available, but it
does not work.), and not being allowed to have been born in the month of
December. (The game just rotates right back to the initial entering
section.)

When you play solitaire, you may choose to use the joystick or the
keyboard. On the keyboard you must use the keys that are defined in the
Quick Reference Card. You may not use the arrow keys even if they are
present on your keyboard. The game will not recognize them. Once the
preliminaries are over you enter right into the game with one team
receiving the kickoff. Play is rather straightforward with either the
joystick or keyboard (once you get used to the key choices). You first
select a play from a diagrammatic menu and then try to execute it. You get
control of one player. Either the Quarterback/Running Back/Receiver or a
Linebacker. Once the play is over, the sequence starts all over again. The
game maintains a play clock and counts down the time within the four
quarters. All of the standard rules of Football are followed. There are
some interesting exceptions though. You may meet a potential receiver
head on and block him from getting to a ball at any time. In regular
Football this would be cause for an interference penalty but not in QB! No
penalties are allowed so delay of game simply stops the clock while
offsides is prevented by not letting your player cross the line of
scrimmage etc.

After each quarter, the quarterback's statistics are displayed.
Additionally, a dollar figure is given. I assume that it is the level of
performance that you have achieved, however, I cannot be sure as there is
no mention of it in the manual nor anywhere else. At the end of the game,
your total statistics are again displayed followed by a display of your
cumulative statistics under those initials.

The game is not perfect. I already mentioned the problems with entering
your initials and birthdates. Let me mention some other problems and
errors that I encountered in the course of playing this game. I found it
interesting that when I returned a punt or an interception to score a
touchdown, that the opponent's players came over and celebrated the score
while my teammates left in apparent disgust. It is also possible to
attempt a flying tackle and miss and then manipulate the player in such a
way that the character gets back up about 15 yards further downfield than
where the tackle was first attempted. This helps if you missed the initial
tackle! It is also very easy to defeat the game's intelligence which seems
to be fixated on running sweeps and play-action passes. It also helps that
in the first half only running plays are employed while the second half
features only passing plays.

============

PUMA RATINGS

============

PERFORMANCE: 3. This is an arcade style game and plays much like one.
Split-second timing is not really a necessity but some sense of timing
helps. There are errors and problems but thankfully they tend to appear in
relatively unimportant areas.

USEFULNESS: 4. As a sports game that can be played against another human
being, it is very entertaining.

MANUAL: 2. The manual attempts to explain all of Football in eight pages
and does not pay enough attention to things that are specific to this
implementation. (What does the dollar figure mean? And why can't it go
higher than $1,000,000?)

AVAILABILITY: 4. Available from mail order and software stores.

(Naor Wallach/19891226)


(EXCLUSIVE)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00083)

COMPUTER STOCK PERFORMANCE MIXED IN LATE DECEMBER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- The New York
stock markets rallied last week, regaining much of the ground
lost over the previous weeks due to profit taking.

Analysts are already predicting that 1990 will see less than one
percent growth as the norm for the United States, although West
Germany and Japan are expected to approach three percent growth
rates.

During the week ended December 15, 1989, the NYSE Dow Jones
average closed at 2739.55, down 14.08 percent, a decrease of
more than half a percent. Technology stocks lost ground yet
again, closing at $95, one of the lowest levels it has been in
recent times.

IBM's stock has been losing ground lately due to less than better
current quarter expectations. Apple did even worse, falling more
than 20 percent on the week, closing the period at $33.75 on the
NASDAQ index. Apple's shares had traded at $45 just two weeks
before. Other issues finishing the week on a sad note included
Unisys (NYSE) closing at $14.25, Compaq (NASDAQ) at $77 and Wang
finishing at $5, one of the lowest levels ever.

Companies reporting results include:

[] General Instrument, manufacturers of integrated circuits and
instruments, reported revenues down to $340 million for the
quarter ended 26 November, 1989, while quarterly profits reached
$21.771 million - down slightly on the $21.883 million reported
in the same period last year. The company paid a dividend of 80
cents a share.

[] Mass Microsystems, the minicomputer mass storage products
company, reported sales of $4.863 million for the quarter to 30
September, 1989 - almost double the $2.691 million sales reported
for the same period last year. Net income for the quarter reached
$201,000 - an improvement on the $406,000 loss reported for the
same period last financial year.

[] Micron Technology, the semiconductor company that spearheaded
the US Memories chip consortium in 1989, reported revenues of
$66.5 million for the quarter to 30 November, 1989 - down from
$110.4 million for the same period last year. Profits for the
quarter were just $400,000 - way down on the $32.2 million
reported for the same period last year. The poor profits have
been blamed on falling memory chip prices.

[] Novell Inc., the LAN specialist, reported record revenues of
$422 million for its full year to 28 October, 1989 - up 22 per
cent on the $347 million reported last year. Net income for the
year was $48.5 million - up 35 percent on the #35.9 million
reported last year. Earnings in fiscal 1989 were $1.46 per share
- up from $1.09 last year.

December 18, saw Miniscribe and NBI default on loan payments.
Miniscribe, having recently seen increased competition in the
hard drive business, defaulted on its $97.5 debentures
outstanding due to non-availability of funds. The company said
that it would wait for thirty days, a grace period, before
deciding on its next step. NBI, the computer services company,
also faced the same problem, when it failed to pay interest due
on 16 November, 1989. NBI is in the process of restructuring to
avoid new year problems.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed the week at
2697.5, down 42.02 or more than 1.5 percent. The DJIA has been
on a sliding run for a while. Nasdaq, where many computer and
technology stocks trade, closed the week at 436.03 - dropping
7.81 points (1.7 percent). Technology stocks led the declines on
the OTC market. On the American Stock exchange, Wang fell below
$5 to hit 4 7/8.

Other stocks worth noting included Oracle (OTC) which closed
at $21.25, Intel (OTC) at $30.125 and Apple at $34.75.

On December 19th, the Dow Jones Industrial average hit
2695.61, a slide of 1.92 points or about minus 0.07 percent for
the day. The DJIA has been seeing increasing problems recently.
IBM's shares at last began to rise after news of initial
shipments of its latest 80486-based computer, the 70-486 system.
IBM closed the day at $94.75. Other technology companies were not
so lucky. Unisys increased just 25 cents - standing at $14.125
after being very active with more than 2.3 million shares
changing hands. The OTC market also saw Apple rise a little
closing at $35, while Intel followed closing at $31. OTC average
closed at 434.35, falling by 1.68 points.

Although New York kept a low profile, the Frankfurt stock
exchange kept moving up, closing at 688.47 (the FAZ index).
Frankfurt, Sydney and Helsinki all increased while the remaining
world markets fell. The slump was led by Johannesburg which fell
by 1.76 percent. In Frankfurt, Siemens' shares increased to DM
651.69 - up from yesterday's close of DM644.8 - while Nixdorf
kept level at DM 311.

December 20th also kept the pre-Christmas losses at bay,
although some computer companies also reported losses. The DJIA
closed at 2687.93, falling 7.68 points or 0.27 percent. NASDAQ
composite did a little better closing at 436.94 up by more than
2.5 points, an increase of 0.6 percent. IBM started a slide
again by falling to $94 5/8 with more than 1.5 million shares
changing hands. AT&T, which led the market, fell by $1.25 to
close at $44.25 after more than 2.9 million shares changed hands.

On the American exchange Wang saw its shares halt at $5.00. On
the OTC, Apple gained ground recently lost, closing at $35.75
with more than 1.5 million shares changing hands.

On the international markets, Frankfurt led the profitability
with the FAZ index closing at 700.7 points. Other markets which
improved included Amsterdam with the CBS general index closing at
FL199.80 with Philips rising to FL46.00 and Milan closing at
L1145. Olivetti finished the day at 7491 up from 7430 the
previous day.

Company reports:

[] Qume corporation reported revenues of $55.919 million dollars
with profits falling lightly to $1 million from $1.4 million the
year earlier for the quarter ending November 30. Qume makes laser
printers and was a leader in daisywheel technology.

[] Standard Microsystems reported revenues of $19 million up from
$17 million the previous year for the quarter ending November 30.
Net Income reached to $1,5542 against a loss of $4.048 million
the previous year. Standard Microsystems which specialises in
local area network systems paid out 14 cents a share.

[] December 21 saw the DJIA reach a new higher level and the
first time the average has reached 2691.13, an increase of 3.2
points, gaining the ground lost recently. AT&T again led the NYSE
stock number tally with more than 8 million shares changing
hands. AT&T closed at $43 7/8. IBM traded more than 1.8 million
shares and closed slightly up reaching the $95.125 level.

[] The OTC did even better, closing at 441.09, almost one per
cent higher than the previous day. Apple moved a little higher
closing at $36.25, while Sun Microsystems saw more than a
million shares change hands. Sun Microsystems closed at $17.

[] Other stocks worth noting included Intel at $33.75, Zymos at
$25/32, even though the company has just announced a new chip set
which, together with a 80386SX microprocessor, memory, a keyboard
controller chip and oscillator makes a complete 80386SX computer.

[] Internationally, Paris saw its market average - the CAC - move
up to 547.40 from the previous close of 538.7 with shares in the
Thomson-CSF group reaching the FF148 mark.

The Christmas break took effect, closing down most markets around the
world. December 27th, however, saw resumption of market trading
with the DJIA closing at 2724, up by 15 points.

The Nasdaq index also closed at 448.81, up by 3.55 points. The
Tokyo exchange also set the lead by climbing more than 75 points.
The Hong Kong market remain volatile, as thoughts turned to the
1999 Chinese take-over, falling by 33 points to end the week at
2,895.43 points.

Company reports:

[] General Computer reported a loss of $588,313 for its second
quarter, down from losses of $824,840 reported a year earlier.
Company revenues for the second quarter were $2.893 million, down
slightly on the $2.965 million reported for the same period last
year. General Computer's online business volume for its claims
processing systems has increased ten fold over the last 12 months
currently processing more than 400,000 claims per month. The
company specialises in medical and pharmaceutical systems.

[] Zenith stockholders finally approved the French Groupe
Bull take-over. Jerry Pearlman said that 16.5 million shares were
cast in favour of the take-over - more than 96 percent of the
company's shares. Zenith received $496 million in cash for the
sale, while the company's total interest bearing obligations
accounted for $560 million.

[] 1989 ended with the December 28th stock market indices showing
an overall improvement. The DJIA closed at 2732.3 - up by more
than 7 points - while the Nasdaq market closed at 449.9 - up by
1.17 points. Active issues on the big board included IBM at
$94.12, trading at 1,637,100 shares and Unisys at $14.75 with
1,087,000 shares changing hands, while Control Data closed at
18.12 after 211,900 shares changed hands during the period.

[] On the OTC, Apple Computer closed at $35.25, trading 1,360,800
shares. Novell, meanwhile, closed at $31 along with Maxtor at
$8.75, while Scitex closed at $17. Scitex, which has gained more
than $14 since January 1989, is expected to stabilise at $18 and
then fall a little. There are industry rumours about that Sir
Robert Maxwell - who already owns a sizeable part of the company
- plans to buy an additional 18 percent.

(Peter Vekinis/19891230)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00084)

STOCK REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING DEC 29, 1989
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 30 (NB) -- Computer and
technology stocks fared the past week as follows:

    Name of stock                  Closing price    Traded(00s)

     1st Financial Mgmt                    32.25   1833

     3com                                  13.75   4620

     Acme Elec                              9.12      4

     Acxiom                                21.00     16

     Adage                                  1.19    541

     Advance Circuits                      10.62    119

     Advncd Mcro Dvcs                       7.87   6585

     Advncd Smcndctr Mtl                    7.00     13

     Alliant Computer Sys                   5.75    991

     Alloy Computer Prods                   1.25    224

     Alpha Microsystems                     4.62    244

     Alpharel                               0.62   1614

     Altera                                 6.87    883

     Altron                                 5.50     80

     Alts Cmptr Systms                      7.37    572

     AM Magnetics                           5.25    150

     Amdahl                                14.37   2542

     Amp                                   44.50   1884

     Anacomp                                4.25   3000

     Analog Devices                         9.75   2525

     Analogic                               9.62     77

     Apple Computer                        35.25  13608

     Applied Matls                         28.50   1380

     Applied Solar Energy                   6.25     42

     Ast Research                          10.37    470

     Astrocom                               0.78     58

     Astrosystems                           3.75     59

     Atari                                  8.62    791

     Atmtc Dta Prcssng IN                  49.00    940

     Augat                                 13.50    216

     Auto Trol Technology                   3.75    154

     Automated Sys                          1.75    105

     Avx                                   30.62    319

     Babbages                               7.37     90

     Banctec                               15.50     11

     Bel Fuse                               4.12    347

     Bgs Sys                               15.50    202

     Bhc Communications                    51.50    303

     Bmc Inds Inc Minn                      7.62     39

     Bolt Beranek&Newman                    7.00    855

     Boole&Babbage                         15.50    120

     Borland Intl                           9.87   1376

     Brite Voice Sys                        8.87    500

     Brrstr Infrmtn Sys                     1.25    175

     Bytex                                  8.37     82

     C P T                                  0.50   2225

     CA Micro Devices Cor                   2.25     32

     Canadian Marconi                      12.25     13

     Cdnce Dsgn Systm                      21.25   1572

     Chips&Technologies                    18.00   2253

     Chronar                                2.00   1511

     Cimflex Teknowledge                    2.37    488

     Cipher Data Prods                      7.00   2077

     Clllr Infrmtn Sys                     10.75   1303

     Cmptr&Cmmnctns TE                      0.75   2515

     Cncrrnt Cmptr Crp NW                   3.00    544

     Cntnntl Infrmtn Sys                    0.22   1828

     Cntrl Dta Crp DL                      18.12   2119

     Comdisco                              24.75    834

     Commodore Intl                        10.75   1451

     Comnet                                 9.50      4

     Compaq Computer                       79.50   4223

     Comptek Resh                           4.87     28

     Comptronix                             2.62    250

     Computer Assoc Intl                   12.50   5181

     Computer Horizons                      9.12    200

     Computer Identics                      1.37     40

     Computer Memories                      1.37    242

     Computer Prods                         2.81    602

     Computer Sciences                     57.75    173

     Computer Task Group                    9.12    331

     Computrac                              3.37    104

     Comshare                              35.00     64

     Continuum                             23.12     20

     Convex Computer                       15.37    193

     Cray Resh                             39.00   2686

     Cronus Inds                           12.37    231

     Csp                                    5.75      9

     Cts                                   23.00      9

     Cybertek                               4.37     66

     Cycare Sys                             9.75    425

     Cyprss Smcndctr                        9.87   1890

     D B A Sys                              7.00    841

     D H Technology                        14.62    145

     Daisy Sys                              0.62   4654

     Data Gen                              12.50   1796

     Data I O                               3.50    673

     Data Switch                            3.62    426

     Datametrics                            0.87    155

     Datapoint                              3.37   1414

     Dataproducts                           9.00    901

     Dataram                                9.62     26

     Datasouth Computer                     2.25     20

     Dell Computer                          5.50   1689

     Dgtl Cmmnctns Assc                    19.75    988

     Diceon Electrs                         6.12    386

     Digi Intl                              9.75    175

     Digital Equip                         82.00   3744

     Diodes                                 1.87     29

     Dlphi Infrmtn Sys                      6.75    107

     Dta Dsgn Lbs Inc DL                    5.37    345

     Dynatech                              16.75    750

     E M C Corp Mass                        3.25   1288

     Ecc Intl                               5.50    187

     Electronic Assoc                       2.87    183

     Elxsi                                  0.19   2232

     Emulex                                 6.37    719

     Epsilon Data Mgmt                      7.50     53

     Espey Mfg&Electrs                     18.37     19

     Esterline                             11.25    571

     Everex Sys                             7.75   1602

     Evns&Sthrlnd Cmptr                    24.12    582

     Fdp                                    4.12     21

     Fibronics Intl                         6.00     27

     Filenet                               11.00     21

     Fiserv                                21.75    351

     Floating Point Sys                     1.62   1712

     Fsi Intl                               7.00     67

     General Instr                         39.75   1311

     General Parametrics                    4.25     66

     Genicom                                1.00    627

     Gerber Scientific                     16.12    186

     Gnrl Atmtn Inc Clf                     0.69    165

     Gradco Sys                            11.00   2465

     Gtech                                 16.25    294

     Gti Corp Del                           3.00    217

     Gtwy Cmmnctns                          2.12    359

     Hadco                                  5.87     47

     Hei                                    1.62     53

     Henry Jack&Assoc                       1.81     60

     Herley Microwave Sys                   1.25     13

     Hewlett Packard                       47.25   3214

     Hogan System                           4.12   1052

     Hunt Mfg                              24.62     31

     Hytek Microsystems                     0.50    137

     I I S Intllgnt Info                    4.56     19

     Information Res                       12.87    423

     Information Sciences                   0.56     98

     Infotron Sys                           8.00    239

     Ingres                                 7.25   1033

     Inrad                                  3.25      7

     Int Bus Machs                         94.12  16371

     Int Rectifier                          5.75    256

     Int Totalizer Sys                      5.06    718

     Intel                                 34.50   7403

     Intellicorp                            4.75    275

     Intelogic Trace                        2.50   1044

     Intergraph                            17.25   1904

     Interleaf                              7.12   2309

     Intermec                              28.75    168

     Intermetrics                           4.12     60

     Interphase                             6.25    141

     Interpoint Corp Wash                   8.00     12

     Intgrtd Dvce Tchnlgy                   8.12   1185

     Intllgnt Sys Mstr L                    2.25    675

     Iomega                                 3.06   1248

     Ipl Sys                                6.00     37

     Iversion Technology                    3.62    140

     Jetronic Inds                          2.75     29

     Jones Plumbing Sys                     2.62     20

     Keane                                 21.50     33

     Kevlin Microwave                       2.25    155

     Key Tronics                            5.12    469

     L C S Inds                             3.94      0

     LA Barge                               0.69     18

     Lee Data                               1.44   1823

     Legent                                26.25   1438

     Litton Inds                           77.25    592

     Lodgistix                              1.25    188

     Logicon                               19.00    114

     Lotus Dev                             31.00   4138

     Lsi Logic                              7.12   1117

     Macneal Schwendler                    10.50    109

     Mai Basic Four                         2.87    425

     Masstor Sys CP                         2.37   1327

     Matec Corp Del                         6.37     49

     Maxtor                                 8.75   3946

     Megadata                               0.75     88

     Mentor Graphics                       16.75   2371

     Mgmt Science Amer                     18.25     24

     Micron Technology                      9.75   3530

     Micropolis                             3.50   2633

     Micros Sys                             3.75     27

     Microsemi                              2.50    368

     Microsoft                             87.00   5391

     Microwave Labs                         0.22    130

     Miltope Group                          5.25    110

     Mindscape                              5.87    480

     Miniscribe                             0.37  10593

     Mips Computer Sys                     19.50   2385

     Moniterm                               2.12   1233

     Mpsi Systems                           3.00     21

     Mxm Intgrtd Prds                       8.25   3321

     Nat Micronetics                        0.34   1165

     Nat Semiconductor                      7.25   7606

     Nbi                                    0.31    982

     Ncr                                   58.87   1020

     New Image Inds                        12.50    461

     Norsk-data A S                         4.56     54

     North Atl Inds                         3.37    272

     North Hills Electr                     1.62     71

     Novell                                31.00   1727

     Ntwrk Eqp Tchnlgs                     31.50    745

     Odetics Inc Del                        5.62      0

     ON Lne Sftwre Intl                     9.75    231

     Orbit Instr                            3.50    968

     Pansophic SY                          18.50    705

     Par Technology                         5.12    115

     Park Electrochemical                  12.87     63

     Parlex                                 4.00     41

     Pay Fone Sys                           2.87     41

     Pda Engineering                        4.37    139

     Phil Subn                             13.87     96

     Pitney Bowes                          47.50    736

     Policy Mgmt Sys                       34.00    566

     Prcptn Tchnlgy                         4.75    204

     Prime Computer                         6.37    974

     Printronix                             9.87    123

     Pyramid Technology                    19.00    358

     Qantel                                 0.19   1996

     Qms                                   11.25    658

     Quantum                               10.87   2328

     Questech                               3.12     19

     Qume                                   5.12    972

     Recognition Equip                      7.25    621

     Reuter                                 9.25    559

     Rexon                                  7.25    303

     Reynolds&Reynolds                     24.12    165

     Robotic Vision Sys                     3.37    182

     Sage Software                          8.87     28

     Scan Optics                            2.75    712

     Scitex                                17.00    601

     Scntfc Sftwre Intrcm                   3.50     82

     Scs Compute                            4.50    224

     Seagate Technology                    15.00   4076

     Sei                                   17.75    112

     Selecterm                              6.00     15

     Semtech                                1.87    142

     Seq Tchnlgy Inc DL                     3.44   1651

     Sequent Computer Sys                  20.00   1088

     Sfe Technologies                       0.22    297

     Sfgrd Scntfcs                         13.62    115

     Sftsl Cmptr Prds                       6.12    743

     Sharebase                              0.25   2471

     Sheldahl                               5.37    761

     Silicon VY Group                       7.25    661

     Siliconix                              2.62    212

     Sltrn Dvcs Inc DL                      1.50    588

     Smith Corona                          14.00   1581

     Softech                                4.00     19

     Software Pubg                         16.25   1341

     Sped O Prnt BS Mch                     3.50     51

     Spinnaker Software                     1.12    254

     Sprague Technologies                   7.25    858

     Star Technologies                      0.44   1140

     Sterling Software                      9.12    284

     Stndrd Mcrsystms                       6.25    752

     Stockholders Sys                       7.75      3

     Stratus Computer                      23.00    472

     Strctrl Dynmcs Rsh C                  29.50   1116

     Summagraphics                         13.00    277

     Sungard Data Sys                      23.75   1371

     Supertex                               2.00     38

     Symantec                              15.50    690

     Symbolics                              1.25   4007

     Syntech Intl                           0.34   1282

     System Inds                            2.62    157

     Systems Ctr                           20.87    131

     Systm Sftwre Assc                     29.75    422

     Tandem Computers                      23.00   2234

     Tandon                                 0.81   3067

     Tdk                                   40.00      0

     Technalysis                           13.25     16

     Technitrol                            40.31      0

     Technology                             9.25    244

     Telematics Intl                        4.50    607

     Telerate                              20.75     24

     Televideo Sys                          0.28    794

     Tempest Technologies                   2.12    313

     Teradata                              22.00    378

     Terminal Data                          1.25    338

     Titan                                  2.37    122

     Transducer Sys                         0.87    533

     Transnet                               1.00    271

     Triad Sys                              3.37   1516

     Tridex                                 4.25     32

     Tsr                                    4.25      1

     TX Instrs                             35.87   2289

     U S Bioscience                        12.37    361

     Ultimate                               7.62    448

     Unisys                                14.75  10870

     United Telecomm KA                    38.00   3427

     United Tote                           12.75      1

     Unitrode                               4.75    514

     Unitronix                              6.87   2233

     Valid Logic Sys                        4.12   5764

     Varian Assoc                          21.62    479

     Velobind                               6.00    128

     Video Display                          5.87    119

     Vlsi Technology                        7.37   2248

     Vmx                                    2.25    431

     Vshy Intrtchnlgy                      17.00    178

     WA Scientific Inds I                   9.75     31

     Wang Labs                              7.37     20

     Warner Computer Sys                    5.87    288

     Wells Amern                            0.37     60

     Wes Digital Corp Del                   8.37   1992

     Wes Microwave                          1.00     70

     Whitehall                             14.00     42

     Wicat Sys                              1.75   1265

     Wiland Svcs                            3.50     17

     Wlls Grdnr Elctrs                      3.75     59

     Wordstar Intl                          1.44    916

     Wyse Technology Del                    9.75   1210

     Xerox                                 57.25   1222

     Xicor                                  4.25   2959

     Xscribe                                0.56    486

     Xyvision                               2.50    581

     Zentec                                 0.16    394

     Zentec                                 0.16    394

     Zero Corp Del                         14.87    264

     Zitel                                  3.25     20

     Zycad                                  3.00    236

     Zymos                                  0.78    310

The Newsbytes Stock Index (NSI) is the aggregate of the stock
prices of the past week. Comparisons show whether the index moved
up or down. Compared with last week's value of 10.99, the index
changed by plus 0.30

A total of 473,182 shares changed hands during the week, while
computer stocks closed the week at 4981.55

(Peter Vekinis/19891230)


(INDEX)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00085)

NEWSBYTES INDEX/January 1, 1990/Issue #339
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 JAN 01 (NB) -- 1990 ushers
in twice-a-week editions of Newsbytes, filed online by Thursday
mornings and Sunday mornings worldwide. Janet Endrijonas has been
named managing editor of the Mid-Week edition.  Wendy Woods
remains editor in chief and managing editor of the weekend edition.

Here's the news from the last week of the past decade. Our highlights
include news of a deal between Compuserve and Bix (telecommunications
section) and an editorial on the way we gather our news.

=====

APPLE

=====

NEW MAC VIRUS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE - WDEF A & B

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 29 (NB) -- Windows
close, icons fail to appear, files are claimed to be "locked,"
system error messages flash on the screen, and applications
crash -- sometimes computers won't start at all. Macintosh
owners worldwide, especially in the U.S., are suddenly confronted
with one of the fastest-spreading viruses on record: WDEF A
and WDEF B

APPLE SETS DATE, FEATURES, FOR SYSTEM 7.0

Apple Computer will release new System 7.0 software to the public
next summer  and is preparing to "seed" or ship beta copies to
developers now.

APPLE AND ZOOMRACKS AUTHOR SETTLE

The author of Zoomracks, a popular shareware program for the
PC and Atari ST, has settled his suit against Apple Computer
in which he charged  that Apple's HyperCard software violates
a patent he obtained on  screen displays.

MACWORLD EXPO SLATED FOR APRIL 11-13

The next San Francisco MacWorld Expo is slated for April 11-13,
1990 at the Brooks Hall/Civic Auditorium and the Moscone Center.

MACUSER 1990 EDDY AWARDS/PLANS TO HONOR LATE COLLEAGUES

MacUser magazine, a Ziff-Davis Publishing Company magazine, has
announced that 122  products in 40 categories have been nominated
for 1990 Eddy  awards for best Macintosh products.

FAST MACINTOSH FAX MODEM FROM ABATON

Abaton is shipping its Interfax 24/96, a $595 fax and data modem
for use with the Macintosh computer.

MEDIAMAP NOW ON DISK FOR THE MAC

Claris Corporation has put one of the most popular guides to
computer industry  journalism on a disk, compatible with the
best-selling database manager for Macintosh computers, Filemaker
II.

MICROCOM BUYS VIREX DEVELOPER HJC SOFTWARE

Microcom, developer of the MNP or Microcom Networking Protocol
data compression and error correction software for telecommunications,
has announced the acquisition of Durham, North Carolina-based
HJC Software Inc., the company that markets Virex, the first
commercially available anti-virus software marketed for the Macintosh.

KREMLIN HAS A MACINTOSH

Apple Computer Chairman John Sculley has announced that "Our
Macintosh computer supports Perestroika in  the office of Soviet
leader Mikhael Gorbachev." He added that he plans to visit the
U.S.S.R. in January, 1990.

APPLE SCORES A HIT WITH LONDON COUNCIL

SAMS Apple Business Centre Limited, an Apple UK dealer, has secured
a prestigious contract with Islington Council for the supply
for Macintosh computers, peripherals and software to equip schools
and resource centres in the borough.

========

BUSINESS

========

FEDERATED SUPERSTORES IN HOUSTON, DALLAS BITE THE DUST

A Utah liquidation firm, Western Liquidators, has announced that
all 16 Federated Electronics Superstores located in Houston and
Dallas, TX are being closed and their stock liquidated.

WANG SELLS 30% OF TAIWAN FACTORY

Financially troubled Wang Laboratories Inc. has today announced
an agreement to sell 30 percent of its Taiwan-based manufacturing
subsidiary, Wang Laboratories (Taiwan) Ltd., to a Taiwan investment
group headed by Ron Cheng Investment Company for about US $120
million (after taxes).

FNN BUYS LOTUS SIGNAL, QUOTREK

Lotus  Development got out of the online business by selling
its Signal  and QuoTrek stock-quote services to Infotechnology
Inc., owners  of High Technology magazine and the Financial News
Network. Terms  were not disclosed, but analysts estimated the
deal at $10  million.

TANDY COMPLETES BUY OF VICTOR MICROCOMPUTER, MICRONIC

Tandy Corporation has completed the buy-out of the Victor Microcomputer
and Micronic hand-held computer subsidiaries from Datronic AB
of Stockholm.

FROM SUIT TO SUITOR: ARCHIVE BIDS FOR CIPHER DATA

Archive Corp. has begun a $109 million takeover bid of arch-rival
Cipher Data Products in San Diego, CA.

TI, TOPPAN PRINTING TO FORM PHOTOMASK OPERATION

Texas Instruments (TI) has signed a letter of intent with Toppan
Printing Company (headquartered in Tokyo) to establish a jointly
owned US company to acquire and manage TI's internal photomask
operation located in Dallas, TX.

PETER NORTON COMPUTING NAMES INT'L OPS DIRECTOR

Peter Norton Computing (PNCI) has named Jim Lewis to the newly
created position of director of international operations.

KAYPRO HANDS CANADIAN MARKET TO DISTRIBUTOR

Kaypro, of Solana Beach, Calif., is handing over Canadian distribution
of its products to Coastway System Technology, a Vancouver reseller.
Coastway officially becomes Kaypro's exclusive Canadian distributor
on January 1.

NEC ADDS CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR AMIDST CONFUSION

NEC Technologies has named Compuserve, a Toronto distributor,
as its second Canadian distributor, while NEC Canada looked on
with some concern. The two companies handle different segments
of NEC's product line.

STEALS PEOPLE ASSETS SOLD

Buyers have been found for the assets of The Steals People, the
discount computer chain that went bankrupt earlier this fall.

CANADA'S COMTERM TO SELL DIVISION

Comterm, the Montreal-based terminal maker, plans to sell its
contract manufacturing division to CompAS Computer Assembly of
Brockville, Ontario. The price will be more than C$3 million,
plus ongoing royalties for contracts already awarded to the division.

SOFTWARE TOOLWORKS TO ACQUIRE MINDSCAPE

The Software Toolworks, a US software house, has agreed in principle
to acquire Mindscape Incorporated in the US, and Mindscape International,
its European subsidiary, based in the UK. Terms of the deal have
not been revealed.

GNOSIS OPENS UK OFFICE

Gnosis NV, the Antwerp, Belgium-based SQL connectivity company,
has formed a British subsidiary, Gnosis UK Limited. The UK operation
will work from offices in Stockport, near Manchester in the Northwest
of England.

=======

GENERAL

=======

MEITEC UNITES U.S. WITH JAPANESE TRADING PARTNERS

Companies seeking to deal with Japan shouldn't wait to do so
and can benefit by a few tips. That's the message of Meitec America,
a U.S.  consulting firm backed by the $200 million Meitec Corporation,
a  Japanese engineering and information services company.

BERKELEY PROF WINS PRIZE FOR FUZZY LOGIC

University of California Computer Science Professor Lofti Zadah
has won  the prestigious Honda Prize for his contributions to
the area of fuzzy logic, according to a published report.

COMPUTER LIBRARY CD-ROM ADDS INDUSTRY GURU NEWSLETTERS

Computer Library, the pioneering CD-ROM based method of distributing
abstracts and full text articles, reviews and product announcements
from more than 120 computer-related magazines and newspapers,
has announced that it has added the full text of newsletters
written by such industry leaders as Stewart Alsop, Esther Dyson,
John Gantz, Andrew Seybold, Jonathan Seybold, Patricia Seybold,
Michael Slater and Jeffrey Tarter.

CAHNERS LAUNCHES NEW HONG KONG-BASED BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Cahners Publishing Co., a major print publisher of technical
and business trade magazines, has announced the creation of a
new business magazine, Electronic Business Asia, intended to
serve the needs of those Asian-based businesses working in the
electronics field.

SHARP TO MODIFY WIZARD

Sharp will make a major change to its best-selling electronic
organizer, Wizard, by adding additional functions in 1990.

UK: FUTURE PUBLISHING EXPANDS FOR 1990

Future Publishing, the computer magazine house founded in 1985,
is moving to new premises over the Christmas and New Year break.
The new editorial and advertising offices - sited in Bath, Somerset
- open for business on 2 January, 1990.

=======================

GOVERNMENT & THE COURTS

=======================

HUGHES WHISTLE BLOWER CITES FAULTY CHIPS

A former Hughes Aircraft engineer, Michael Denlinger, has filed
a $9.6 billion dollar lawsuit against the company.

MAN FROM MICROAGE NAMED MAYOR OF YUMA, ARIZONA

Robert Tippet, a MicroAge franchisee, has been elected mayor
in Yuma, AZ.

TI RECEIVES LABOR DEPARTMENT AWARD

Texas Instruments (TI) has announced that its Versailles (Kentucky)
site has received the Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) award
from the US Dept. of Labor.

CANADA PLANS PROTECTION FOR CHIP DESIGNS

A law tabled in the Canadian House of Commons today would extend
intellectual property protection to the topography of integrated
circuits.

PRESSURE FOR UK ANTI-HACKING LEGISLATION GATHERS PACE

Following the failure of MP (member of parliament) Emma Nicholson's
private member's bill submitted to the UK parliament earlier
this year, a second bill on computer misuse has been submitted
by Michael Colvin MP.

===

IBM

===

IBM ANNOUNCES 25 MHz 486-BASED MODEL 70

IBM has announced the latest and by far the most powerful member
of the PS/2 Micro Channel computer line, the PS/2 Model 70 486,
a powerful desktop system which uses the Intel i486 microprocessor
to achieve a performance about triple that of a 33 megahertz,
or MHz, 80386-based system.

NEW RADIO SHACK PC AIMED AT HOME MARKET

Radio Shack has announced the new Tandy 1000 SL/2 personal computer
targeted for home, home office, education and small business
uses.

XTREE TO END INTRODUCTORY UPGRADES DISCOUNT

Jan. 31, 1990 is will be the end of XTree's introductory $25
upgrade offer from its own and its competitors products to XTree
Pro Gold.

EXTENDED SYSTEMS REDUCES OPTIONAL MEMORY PRICES

Extended Systems has announced price reductions on the optional
memory upgrades available for its ShareSpool and MultiSpool printer
sharing products.

ASHTON-TATE SHIPS MULTIMATE VERSION 4.0

Ashton-Tate has begun shipping its DOS-based word processor MultiMate
4.0.

IBM STRESSES INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERISM

International Business Machines, living up to the "I" in their
name (in more than one way) has today announced that nine countries
will share in a special $1 million fund intended to promote individual
volunteer efforts by current or retired IBM employees, or their
spouses.

IBM ANNOUNCES AI ASSISTED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

International Business Machines has announced the introduction
of a new knowledge-based system software family that will help
developers build expert systems for a variety of computer systems.

LOTUS SHIPS MAGELLAN IN QUANTITY DISCOUNT PACKAGES OF 25

Lotus Development Corp. has started shipping the Magellan file
management software utility in packages of 25 at a price of $3,375,
representing a 30-percent savings to quantity buyers.

BLUEBIRD ALLOWS MS-DOS/WINDOWS USE WITH SUPERDOS

Bluebird Systems has announced the availability of PC Connect,
software that allows SuperDOS-based applications to run in multitasking
Windows concurrently with DOS-based applications.

ACCPAC ADD-IN TO AID SALES SUPPORT

Crystal Services, a Vancouver developer of companion products
for Computer Associates' Accpac Plus accounting software, has
announced FollowThru. The new Accpac add-on is designed to support
sales and administrative jobs.

IBM CANADA NOW SELLING ALL CHARGECARD

IBM Canada now sells the All Chargecard, a memory management
card from All Computers of Toronto, Ontario.

TOSHIBA EXPECTS MORE DYNABOOK SALES

Toshiba has announced plans to produce 20,000 units of the DynaBook
computer each month  starting in March as the machine has met
surprising public  demand.

JAPAN EXPORTS IBM-COMPATIBLE MAINFRAMES TO U.S.

Fujitsu and Hitachi have started delivery of mainframes capable
of running MVS/ESA, the most advanced  operating system program
for an IBM mainframe without any  modification, to the U.S. The
competition for Big Blue comes sixteen months after IBM shipped
MVS/ESA in August, 1988.

JAPAN: IBM PLANS MAJOR PUSH FOR PC MARKET SHARE

IBM Japan is preparing for a fight against NEC, Japan's PC giant,
with a new campaign  aimed at promoting sales of the PS/55Z model
5530Z SX  computers which were released at the end of November
1989.

UK: COMCEN LAUNCHES OPTI-NET CD-ROM NETWORK SYSTEM

Comcen Technology has launched Opti-net, a CD-ROM (compact disk-read
only memory) system for networked PCs. Pricing on the system
starts at UKP 795 ($1,200) for a one to eight user unit.

WORDPERFECT 5.1 SHIPS IN UK

Wordperfect UK has announced the immediate availability of Wordperfect
v5.1 for the English market. The package prices in at UKP 425
($650) for the single user or network server version, with workstation
nodes costing UKP 195 ($300) each.

MICROSOFT INTRODUCES NEW FLIGHT SIMULATOR IN EUROPE

Microsoft NL, The Netherlands-based subsidiary of MIcrosoft US,
has announced plans to ship an new edition of its much-vaunted
Flight Simulator program for MS-DOS machines.

==================

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

==================

BIX AND COMPUSERVE: EXPANSION PLANS?

Information received from two independent sources suggests that
Byte Magazine is engaged in top-secret discussions in moving
the Byte Information eXchange (Bix) over to the Compuserve network.

AT&T TO ASK FCC FOR MORE PRICING POWER

Stung by continuing  inroads from large competitors like MCI
and Sprint, as well as  smaller "bypass" companies laying fiber
optic cable in major  cities, AT&T plans to ask the Federal Communications
Commission  for permission to go after the competition with a
new Tariff 17.

GALACTICOMM ADDS X.25 SUPPORT TO MAJOR BBS

Galacticomm has released version 5.08 of its Major BBS bulletin
board package.

NEW VERSION OF CAUCUS LAUNCHED

Camber-Roth and  its distributor, Metasystems Design Group of
Arlington, Virginia,  have released version 2.2 of Caucus, a
conferencing system.

CONTEL WINS CELLULAR LOTTERIES FOR NEW ENGLAND, KENTUCKY

Contel  Cellular, a 90%-owned subsidiary of the one-time Continental
Telephone company, which holds phone franchises mainly in rural
areas, won two federal lotteries for rural cellular licenses.

AT&T CUTTING CALIFORNIA IN-STATE RATES 8.6%

Following on the heels of moves to cut rates by Pacific Telesis,
AT&T is cutting its in-state long-distance rates for California
with the New Year.

AIR TRAVEL CARD TO ADD INTERNATIONAL CALLING SERVICE

Executive TeleCard signed an agreement under which its international
phone  services will be offered through the Air Travel Card,
formerly  the Universal Air Travel Plan, and its licensee cards,
AirPlus and PassAge.

KDD BUYS 5% OF INFONET

KDD, the Japanese long- distance company, bought 5% of Infonet,
the packet network, from  Computer Sciences Corporation, which
dropped its own holding to  30%.

BRITE VOICE INSTALLS CITYLINE SYSTEM IN PHOENIX

Following on  the heels of FaxBank's entry into Milwaukee, Brite
Voice Systems  will provide its Cityline voice-services system
to KTSP  Television in Phoenix, Arizona.

CANCOM, CYLIX SEAL PARTNERSHIP

Cancom/Satlink Business Services, based here, and Cylix Communications
of Memphis, Tenn., have announced a partnership. The two companies
will build private very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite
communications networks linking Canadian and American sites.

3COM PLANS CANADIAN SEMINAR SERIES

3Com Canada will hold a series of seminars on local-area network
trends in late January and early February.

NTT TO LAUNCH DIGITAL PUBLIC PHONE SERVICE

Japan's telecom giant NTT aims to be the first in the world to
initiate a public phone  service connected with an ISDN (integrated
services digital  network) this coming March.

MNEMATICS BBS OPENS IN UK

Mnematics UK, the UK- based subsidiary of the Mnematics online
system in New York, has opened a user support BBS in the Southampton
area. THe board runs at all CCITT modem speeds to 2400 bits per
second on 0489-583232.

EIB LENDS $11.2 MILLION TO IRELAND TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending ECU 10 million
(about $11.2 million) to the Irish government to assist the country
in improving its communications facilities.

===================

TRENDS & TECHNOLOGY

===================

CD-ROMS CAN BE PREVIEWED ONLINE

Try before you buy is difficult when it comes to CD-ROM (compact
disk, read-only memory disks), but a CD-ROM publishing house
is aiming to allow  consumers to do just that -- via the telephone
lines.

CHILTON MAGAZINE PREDICTS SAFER OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS IN 90S

Chilton's Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) quotes  Joseph
Kinney, director of the National Safe Workplace Institute, said
that, where the 70s were the decade for women and the 80s the
decade for the environment, the 90s will be the decade for occupational
safety and health.

INTEL OFFERS REAL-TIME TV COMPRESSION FOR DVI

Intel has  come up with some explanations on its RTV Version
1.5, a  technology which could finally bring TV and computing
technology  together.

HOWTEK INTRODUCES BRAILLE PRINTER

Howtek took a giant step toward integrating blind workers into
the  workforce with a new braille printer developed with the
National  Federation of the Blind.

JON SHIRLEY TO RESIGN FROM MICROSOFT

Citing the need for more personal time, something of which he's
had little since joining Microsoft in 1983, Jon Shirley will
resign as president of the software firm on June 30, 1990. He
will remain on the board of directors and be a consultant, however.

CANADIAN STUDY FINDS LAN LITERACY GROWING

Canadian business people still know little about local-area networks,
but they are learning. So says International Data Corp. Canada,
which recently surveyed LAN usage and purchase intentions.

JAPAN'S IC INDUSTRY RECEIVES LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

Facing the need for volume production of four-megabit dynamic
random access memory chips (DRAM), and the challenge of creating
highly integrated chips and  better silicon wafers, Japanese
integrated circuit firms have been investing heavily in research
and development.

JAL LAUNCHES TRON-BASED RESERVATION SYSTEM

Japan Air Lines has applied TRON architecture to the development
of a next-generation CRS  (computer reservation system) for the
first time in the world,  an architecture which the company says
is easier to use for Japanese travel agents.

HITACHI TO INTRO 32-BIT COLOR LAPTOP

Hitachi will unveil a 32-bit laptop computer with a color LCD
(liquid crystal display) screen in January 1990, according to
industry sources.

NEC TO SET UP OFFICES IN THE U.S.S.R. AND EAST EUROPE

With the rapid liberalization in the Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe, NEC has decided  be among the first to line up to sell
to this emerging economy.

UK: SURVIVE! DISASTER RECOVERY GROUP LAUNCHED

With the recent panic caused by the Aids Trojan horse program,
the ramifications of which are still echoing around the UK, Monadnock
International has launched the Survive! Disaster Recover Group.


====

UNIX

====

AT&T, DELOITTE LAUNCH TRAINING CENTER

AT&T Canada and the accounting and consulting firm Deloitte Haskins
& Sells have joined forces to set up a Unix training center here.

MACH TO BE RELEASED IN JAPAN

Encore Japan, a joint venture of Nippon Mining and U.S.-based
Encore Computer, will start marketing the Mach operating system
(OS) in Japan in January 1990.

HITACHI TO SELL WORKSTATION WITH HP PROCESSOR IN 1991

Hitachi has decided to release  a high-speed workstation based
on Hewlett-Packard's microprocessor  in early 1991, an announcement
directly related to the agreement made  between the two firms
in July 1989.

=========

EDITORIAL

=========

WHAT IS NEWS AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? - EDITORIAL by J. McCormick

The question of just  what news consists of and where it must
or can come from is important both to journalists and those
who rely upon our work. John McCormick's editorial provides our
readers with some insight into the way reporters choose and
write their stories at Newsbytes.

=======

REVIEWS

=======

Review of: Compaq/LTE hard disk MS-DOS notebook computer

Review of:  John Elway's Quarterback, game for the Apple IIGS

(Wendy Woods/19891229)


(EDITORIAL)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00086)

WHAT IS NEWS AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? - EDITORIAL by J. McCormick
MAHAFFEY, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 DEC 31 (NB) -- The question of just
what news consists of and where it must or can come from is important both
to journalists and those who rely upon our work.

I have lately received calls from major news organizations for
comments about both the recent California earthquake and its
effect on the computer industry, and even more recently from a TV
network for comments about the IBM situation.

These calls, and the coverage given IBM's cutback story on TV
which mostly featured reporters interviewing other reporters in
the guise of financial experts, are directly related to the fact
that companies are generally reluctant to comment on what is
happening in their industry and particularly with their own
organization. This leaves the ludicrous situation of reporters
interviewing other reporters, something which you don't see here
in Newsbytes, but if you watch closely you will notice that this
is happening more and more with TV, newspapers and other major
"news" sources.

All this is happening because corporate "communications" offices
are being delegated the sole responsibility to disseminate news
about the company, but their main mandate is not to give out the
truth, or even the whole story, only those parts of it that
conform to management's ideas of "good" news about the company.

This is reasonable enough, I suppose, but the communications
staff seldom knows enough about the business to make meaningful
comments and must rely on parroting written statements and
otherwise blocking access to those who might actually have
something to say.

Newsbytes is fortunate that we have the technical expertise and
contacts in the industry that let us go beyond these "PR" people
and get comments from others at the major companies, although
this use of "contacts" does mean that often there are stories
which lack the names of the people who are the true source of the
information simply because they must be protected from the wrath
of those who manage the news for particular corporations.

Now, I am not picking on IBM in particular; actually, to the best
of my knowledge the real story behind the cutbacks is rather
innocuous, just another big company adjusting to business
conditions and in a very employee-responsible manner. But the IBM
situation where even CEO Ackers refuses comments just points up
the problems we here at Newsbytes, and especially the usually
less technically experienced reporters in other media, have
reporting the "real" news.

Another problem with what constitutes news involves press
releases. If you aren't familiar with them, those are the one- or
two-page summaries of news and/or product information released by
corporate communications offices.

These are NOT news stories as such, although they well may
contain all the essentials of a real news story once they are
verified, have the self-serving hype removed or have facts added
by a knowledgeable reporter. Nonetheless, press releases are
vital to reporters because they are the way companies get story
ideas to us.

We don't reprint press releases here at Newsbytes, although we
welcome them for the information they contain. This bureau alone
seldom runs more than 20 stories on the heaviest news week, but I
normally get about 30 press releases every day, most of which I
quickly determine aren't important enough or relevant to this
bureau's work.

So, if press releases and what corporate communications offices
write or say aren't news, just what is news?

At this bureau, news consists of new product announcements,
because our readers want and need this information; reports of
major promotional campaigns, to help readers weed out hype and to
inform them of special deals; company mergers, earnings and other
economic information such as layoffs or restructuring;
personalities in the computer industry; major new trends,
developments, or inventions relating to the
computer/telecommunications field; and, most importantly,
breaking stories about what is actually happening in the world of
computers.

This last category is where stories of new virus or worm attacks
come in, hints about problems or successes with new products not
yet announced, and every other important development in the
computer industry that the corporate communications office won't
comment on.

How do we get these stories? Contacts. Contacts are those people
who call or, better yet, drop us e-mail notes about things they
see or hear about in the industry, often in their own or a
competitor's company.

A contact's information is seldom a story in itself (and
certainly not without some confirmation), but it often supplies
an important lead which we can follow up to verify and expand
upon.

Who is a contact? Anyone who learns something interesting and
wants to pass along the information to benefit other Newsbytes
readers. Have you heard anything interesting recently? Some new
program that has important bugs? Some computer with hardware
problems? Rumors of cutbacks at a company? A virus attack that
hasn't yet hit the evening news? All these and many other items
are of interest to Newsbytes and may lead to a real story which
can be published here.

If you know of a story or think you might, drop one of the
Newsbytes bureaus a message; we will appreciate the effort, even
if the story doesn't pan out, and you will never be identified as
the source of the information unless you specifically request
that your name be mentioned.

Even if you don't have any leads for us, please continue to read
and tell your friends, we are growing rapidly, welcome your
comments, and appreciate your continued support.

We at Newsbytes are a bit handicapped in presenting the news
compared to the nightly TV news; after all, I don't look like Tom
Brokaw, and even if I did, how would you know? We don't have
pictures of cavorting pandas or soundbites of the latest
dictator's declamations, but, on the other hand, some of us,
including you if you are reading this, are more interested in
"REAL" news than about one more self-serving political statement,
no matter what country it comes from.

(John McCormick/19891207)