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(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00001)

IBM TO PARTICIPATE AT MAJOR BELGIAN SHOW WITH HUGE CONTINGENT
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- IBM is to take
part in Belgium's huge trade show, Bureau 90, slated for September
19 to 26, with a huge contingent, showing everything from the newly
announced PS/1 system to the AS/400 and RISC 6000 systems.

IBM is using "you have everything to succeed" as the theme
for this year's show. In addition, every visitor to the
show will be able to win one of ten PS/1 systems slated
as prizes, of which, three are destined for schools and
students participating at the quiz/lottos.

IBM will also devote a new area for software and illustrate
availability of low cost software to be furnished with
the PS/1 system.

(John Verhelst/19900913)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BRU)(00002)

VICTOR LAUNCHES A NEW SERIES OF 386 SYSTEMS RUNNING UNIX
PARIS, FRANCE, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Victor, the company that
was started by Chuck Peddle and is currently owned by Esselte of
Sweden, is to launch a new series of systems running the Unix
operating system.

The T-U line of systems includes the V386T25-U running at
25 MHz and the T386T33-U running at 33MHz as well as the
V486TI-U using the 486 processor chip.

Offering speeds from 6 to 11 MIPS, these 3 super micros,
are constructed using identical motherboards and peripherals.
Only the CPU card is different. The interchangeable nature
of the parts is designed to make the units easy to upgrade.

(John Verhelst/19900913)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00003)

HM SYSTEMS SECURES MAJOR HEATHROW AIRPORT OS/2 CONTRACT
HEATHROW, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- HM Systems, the
modular and small footprint PC manufacturer, has secured a UKP 1.5
million contract to supply 540 386SX-based PCs to Heathrow
Airport over the next three years. Heathrow is one of the busiest
airports in the world.

Terms of the contract call for the London-based company to
install the PCs in various situations in the airport, all of
which are designed to run the airport's management activities
system. In the future, HM Systems plans to integrate the LANs
(local area networks) with the airport's mainframe, with a view
to using FDDI (fibre distributed data interface) technology to
provide a fully distributed network.

Tony Harris, managing director of the company, said he is pleased
with the contract: "There's been a lot of talk about smaller
companies' ability to compete with the large international
players on contracts of this size, but when tenders have been
fairly assessed, as in this case, then companies such as
ourselves are proving we can meet large orders, not only on
performance, but on aspects such as price and the level of
service we can provide," he said.

(Steve Gold/19900913/Press Contact: Tony Harris, HM Systems -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00004)

AUSTRALIA: COMPAQ GEARS UP TO SUPPLY GOVERNMENT
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Compaq Computer
Australia has announced an initiative to better serve its
government customers, which it, not surprisingly, has called the
Federal Government Program.

The complete range of Compaq computers has recently been
approved for the government PE40 list which covers approved
suppliers for all government departments. To better service
the public sector, Compaq has appointed Rob Miller as
federal region manager in Canberra, Australia's national
capital.

Marketing Director for Compaq Graham Freeman said at the
announcement, "As a relatively new company, Compaq has been
working to establish a national network. The company has
enjoyed spectacular growth in major business and government
markets world-wide because of the quality and performance
of its products. With Compaq Computer Australia now
strongly established with a national support network,
including sales, technical support and spare parts, we are
able to fully support government clients."

(Sean McNamara/19900916/Press Contact: Graham Freeman or
Inge Fuglestved, phone in Australia [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00005)

AUSTRALIA: NEW ASHTON-TATE BUSINESS CENTERS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Ashton-Tate has
announced the appointment of several of its dealers as
Authorized Business Centers [ABC] to better service its
customers.

After applying its criteria in end-user training, in-house
support and sales staff skills to dealers who applied,
Ashton-Tate appointed the following resellers as ABCs:
Ferntree Computer Corporation; Microhelp Computers and
Communications; Wang Australia; Photoset Computer Services;
Business Computers of Australia; and Computerland
Australia. Each center will be eligible for preferential
purchasing, regular training, priority technical support
and access to special promotions and seminars.

(Sean McNamara/19900916/Press Contact: Trish Elkington,
phone in Australia [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00006)

AUSTRALIA & NZ: NOVELL OFFERS SPECIAL EDUCATION PURCHASES
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Novell Netware will
be available to educational institutions in Australia and
New Zealand at a discount price, under a program announced
by Novell.

The Education Account Purchase program allows secondary
schools, universities, and colleges of technical and further
education [TAFE] to copy ELS II, Advanced Netware, SFT
Netware or Netware 386 from specially prepared master
supplied by Novell. This allows the institution to make as
many copies as needed for its needs at a greatly reduced
cost.

According to Arthur Ehrlich, Novell's Australasian regional
director, "This program puts the benefits of establishing
networks within reach of schools, universities and TAFEs
and enables them to get more from their computer equipment.
It plays a particularly important role in the classroom by
preparing students for the growing trend in the business
computing environment."

(Sean McNamara/19900916/Press Contact: Tanya Cozis, phone
in Australia [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00007)

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS: Market Report, Thursday, Sep 13
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Stocks closed
higher in New York in light trading with the Dow Jones finishing
at 2625.74, 13.12 points up on the day. A feeling that some
progress was being made by White House and congressional budget
negotiators towards a plan to cut the budget deficit may have
helped to edge the market higher.

In the Over The Counter market Microsoft was up $1.875 at
$57.375, Intel Corporation rose 75 cents to $32.75, Apple
Computer was unchanged at $34, Conner Peripherals was down 25
cents at $22.25, MCI Communications was also down 25 cents at
$33.875, and Sun Microsystems dropped . cents to $28.375.

There were no active technology stocks on the American Exchange,
where prices closed sharply higher in moderate trading.

On the New York exchange, Tandem Computers recovered slightly,
closing 12.5 cents higher at $11.625, after dropping Tuesday
on warnings that its growth rate might not come up to
expectations. AT&T was off 37.5 cents at $30.625, with
analysts being quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying that
they do not expect it to be a good buy for some while, citing
recession fears and promotion expenses for its new credit card.
IBM rose 37.5 cents to $107.875.

(John Verhelst/19900913)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00008)

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS: Business News, Thursday, Sep 13
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Companies
reporting include: WALLACE COMPUTER SERVICES, INFINITE
GRAPHICS:

[] WALLACE COMPUTER SERVICES reported record earnings and sales
for the fiscal year and fourth quarter ending July 31. The
company has an enviable record, with fiscal 90 being the 29th
consecutive year of increased earnings and sales. Net income for
the year was $39,600,000, compared to $36,900,000 for the
previous year. Net income for the fourth quarter was
$10,900,000, a 6.6 percent increase over the same quarter of
last year ($10 million).

[] INFINITE GRAPHICS INC posted a net loss of $1,389,804 for the
fourth quarter ending April 30, on sales of $823,533 compared to
a net loss of $661,360 on sales of $1,272,554 for the same
period of the previous year. The company realized in the middle
of the fiscal year that planned sales of its mechanical software
based on the Macintosh were not going to materialize and
implemented expense reductions and other measures. Infinity is a
precision graphics company which develops and markets
engineering graphics services and products in the United States,
Canada and Western Europe.

(John Verhelst/19900913)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BRU)(00007)

INTEL OFFERS STATIC VERSIONS OF THE 80188 AND 80186 CHIPS.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEPT 13 (NB) -- Intel has
released the 16MHz 80C188EB and the 80C186EB processors which
offer chip select circuits, two UARTs (universal asynchronous
receiver/transmitter), three timers, and refresh control.

The chips manage to draw just 100 micro amps in power-down
mode as the chip turns off all the clocks. For comparison,
a digital watch uses about 25 micro amps.

Related products include a $400 evaluation board, and two
$16,000 emulators for digital design. Intel also offers a
language translator that will convert 8085 code directly into
these chips and others using the 8086 instruction set.

(John Verhelst/19900912)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(EWR)(00008)

EXCLUSIVE: CEO QUITS PREFERRED IN MONEY WRANGLE
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Jonathan Whitman,
president of the Macintosh software publisher Preferred Publishers
and a part owner in the beleaguered Aapps Corp., has quit his post at
Preferred, Newsbytes has learned.

Whitman told Newsbytes that he had resigned this week, and that the
resignation "indirectly" has to do with two suits he filed this year
against Aapps.  Aapps, which employs several well-known former Apple
programmers, sells a video display and capture board for the Mac II
series of computers.  Preferred sells commercial versions of popular
shareware programs, including Vantage, Direct Mail and DAtabase.

Whitman founded Aapps and is its former president.  He retained 26
percent of the company, selling 31 percent of it to Frank Brooks and
15 percent to entrepreneur Nolan Bushnell, inventor of the video
game.  At the time of the sale, Preferred was a division of Aapps.
Whitman told Newsbytes that Aapps then sold Preferred back to himself
and another partner.  Part of that deal is at issue in the litigation
filed earlier this year and led to the resignation, Whitman said.

Whitman is accusing Aapps of failing to provide financial data and of
defaulting on an employment contract.

"I turned the development side of Aapps to Brooks," Whitman told
Newsbytes.  "In the process, it didn't take them long to breach the
contract and try to run it as a sole proprietorship."

"Things were going on between Preferred and Aapps that put me in a
position to either compromise a quality issue in the way the company
was being run" or leave, he said. He cited as quality issues such
items as author relations.

According to published reports, finances at Aapps are tight.  Brooks
has been reported as saying he is seeking additional partners and an
infusion of capital for the company.

(Daniel J. Rosenbaum/19900912)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(EWR)(00009)

MACS IN SHORT SUPPLY AS NEW MODELS NEAR
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Supplies of new
Macintoshes have become tight, as Apple prepares for a widely
expected product rollout next month.

Developers, allowed to purchase systems direct from Apple at
significant discounts, say they are being cited delivery intervals
far longer than normal for most machines.   The "compact" Macs -- SEs
and SE/30s -- are being especially hard hit.  A developer order for
an SE/30 will take six to eight weeks, while the interval for a
normal 68000-based SE is being cited as six to eight weeks.  A
two-week turnaround is usual.

A cx model of the Macintosh won't be available for four to six weeks,
the same as a single-floppy Mac fx, Apple's top-of-the-line machine.
The ci -- recently the recipient of a major price cut -- is the only
machine available immediately to developers.  It is available,
however, only in what has become Apple's top configuration: 4
megabytes of random access memory and an 80-megabyte hard disk.
Other configurations of the ci have been discontinued.

The quoted shipping interval would put most machines in developers'
hands after the expected announcement of new models.

The apparent shortage of developer machines comes at the same time as
reports of constricted supplies to dealers.  Computer Reseller News
is reporting that Apple's dealers are also having a hard time getting
their hands on product, especially the compact series.

Apple is expected to add three computers to its line on October 15,
including a Mac Classic which from published reports would appear to
have the same functionality as the SE at a significantly lower price.
Also expected next month is a 68030-based workstation comparable to
the Mac fx and a Mac LC, expected to be a color-capable Mac far cheaper
than existing models.

The shortages of existing products so close to the expected
introduction of new models has led to speculation that Apple has
either temporarily or permanently turned its assembly lines over
to the new products at the expense of old.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to say which machines are actively
being manufactured and which are being sold out of existing
inventory.  She would say only that "Apple will continue to sell any
machine for which there is market demand."

(Daniel J. Rosenbaum/19900912)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(EWR)(00010)

NEW MACINTOSH VIRUSES LEAD TO NEW COUNTERMEASURES
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Just as antibodies
respond when a biological virus enters a system, Macintosh anti-viral
programs all got a quick upgrade upon reports of new computer viruses.
Three new viruses have been detected in the last month, resulting in
the sudden ratcheting of version numbers of most major anti-viral
programs.

A new strain of the nVIR B virus --  known as "prod" -- was detected
in England late in August.  Working identically as nVIR B, the new
virus causes system crashes, swollen application size, and an
inability to open applications.

Two other viruses were recently discovered at Cornell University, the
home of the Internet worm that brought down thousands of computers
last year.  Symantec, publisher of the Symantec AntiVirus for
Macintosh (SAM) program, called the viruses "very contagious but
relatively harmless."

MDEF2, also known as Garfield B or Top Cat, attaches itself to system
files and applications.  It causes menus to act unpredictably.  CDEF
acts very much like WDEF, attaching to the invisible Desktop file,
which keeps track of files and icons on all disks.  It causes
frequent crashes, and can be eliminated simply by rebuilding the
Desktop file by holding down the Command and Option keys while
rebooting.

Symantec sent postcards about the new viruses to all registered users
of SAM 2.0, and posted notices about the new viruses on its bulletin
board.  SAM 2.0 lets users configure it to detect new viruses.

Also upgraded were Virex, from Microcom Software Division, Durham,
N.C., as well as the freeware Disinfectant and the shareware
VirusDetective.

CE Software, which published Vaccine, the first Mac anti-viral
program, has held fast to its pledge to not upgrade and thereby
escalate the virus wars.  Microseeds Publishing, Tampa, FL,
publishers of Rival, did not return phone calls.

(Daniel J. Rosenbaum/19900912)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(EWR)(00011)

ALMOST NEW FOR MACINTOSH: HYPERCARD 2.0 APPROACHES
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- The fat lady isn't
singing yet, but it appears that Apple Computer's long-awaited
Hypercard 2.0 is almost ready to ship. An Apple spokeswoman told
Newsbytes that developers have been send a "golden master" of the
program, perhaps best described as an end-user programming toolkit.

Version 2.0 of Hypercard will reportedly support such features as
color and cards of different sizes.  A major expansion of the
scripting language HyperTalk is also expected.

Several software publishers were showing products based on Hypercard
2.0 at August's MacWorld Expo, but they were prohibited from showing
the new version Hypercard itself.  Also, at least one book about
Hypercard 2.0 is available at bookstores.

The "golden master," the spokeswoman said, is expected to be the
final beta version, free from all bugs.  If it survives testing, the
program will be released to the public.

The spokeswoman declined to predict when the release will occur,
saying only that Apple "is committed to shipping only error-free
software."

Since its release in August 1987, Hypercard has been distributed as
part of Apple's system software.  Upgrades to version 1.0 have been
available for free through user groups and electronic online
services, and for $49 (including manuals) from authorized Apple
resellers.  Apple has not announced its distribution or pricing plans
for Hypercard version 2.0.

(Daniel J. Rosenbaum/19900912/Press Contact: Brooke Cohan, Apple
Computer, 408 974 3019)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00012)

GROWING MISMATCH BETWEEN U.S. WORKER SKILLS AND JOB NEEDS
BETHESDA, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- The World Future
Society has released a report showing that workforce entrants
and current employees are poorly educated for the jobs that
involve rapidly changing technology.

In "Educational Renaissance: 43 Trends for U.S. Schools," Marvin
Cetron and Margaret Evans Gayle say that, due to poor vocabulary,
reading, and writing skills, U.S. workers can't adapt to changing
jobs. "Three-fourths of new work-force entrants will be qualified
for only 40 % of the new jobs created between 1985 and 2000,"
said the report.

One part of the report says that the one million annual U.S. high
school dropouts cost the economy about $240 billion in lost
lifetime earnings.

The authors say that while only 15 percent of future jobs will
require a college degree, more than half of all jobs will require
post secondary (beyond high school) educations.

The 8-page education trend report, abstracted from the authors'
forthcoming book, "Educational Renaissance: Our Schools into the
Twenty-First Century,╙ St. Martin's Press, December 1990, is
available from World Future Society, 4916 Saint Elmo Ave.,
Bethesda, MD 20814 at $3 for a single copy, $2 for each
additional copy, and $1 each in quantities of 100 or more.

(John McCormick/19900913/Press Contact: Timothy Willard, World
Future Society, 301-656-8274)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00013)

WINDOWS AND OS/2 PRODUCTS GET SPECIAL SECTION AT PC EXPO
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- PC Expo sponsor
Bruno Blenheim has announced that a separate 35-exhibitor
pavilion sponsored by the Windows and Presentation Manager
Association will feature Windows and OS/2 applications software
during the upcoming PC Expo in Chicago.

It is important to note that graphical user interfaces are
becoming prominent enough to gain their own pavilion, which was
apparently oversubscribed even with 35 spaces.

The fifth annual PC Expo, one of the major fall computer trade
shows, will be held at McCormick Place North, Chicago, Illinois,
from September 25 through 27, open daily 9:30 A.M. to 4 P.M.

For further information, contact PC Expo at 800-444-EXPO or 201-
569-8542.

(John McCormick/19900913/Press Contact: Rich Nagle, Rourke & Co.,
508-777-6006)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00014)

AUSTRALIA: NETWORK SOLUTIONS APPOINTED 3COM RESELLER
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- 3Com has announced
the appointment of Network Solutions as a direct reseller
of 3Com's entire range of networking products in Australia.

After being the original reseller of 3Com products in
Australia in 1984, Network Solutions entered into an
agreement with Bridge Communications prior to the
Bridge/3Com merger to enter into an indirect relationship
with the company. 3Com General Manager Roy Johnson said,
"3Com is pleased to have reestablished the relationship
with Network Solutions. We expect this new agreement will
help both organizations move forward rapidly."

(Sean McNamara/19900916/Press Contact: Roy Johnson, phone
in Australia [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00015)

BULL AUSTRALIA TO SUPPLY BRITISH TAX OFFICE
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- In a move which many
expect to bring down the ire of every British taxpayer, Bull
plans to manufacture an initial order of 1700 workstations in
its Australian plant for supply to the British Inland Revenue
Service (tax collector).

The units are 3Com workstations, built under license by
Bull at the North Ryde plant in Sydney. In total, 14,000
workstations will be supplied under the contract over the
next couple of years. A number of Australian businesses
will benefit from the deal by supplying various components such
as metalwork, printed circuit boards, cabling, and power supplies.

(Paul Zucker/19900910)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00016)

NEW FOR IBM: ATI Has VGA Card For US$99
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- ATI Technologies
has announced the VGABasic-16, a low-end Visual Graphics Array
(VGA) display adapter priced at US$99. The Canadian maker of
graphics hardware and modems can't offer buyers at home a price
under the magic $100 barrier, however: the Canadian price is C$139.

According to ATI, the VGABasic-16 offers superior performance and
name-brand quality at the price of no-name graphics card. And the
company said its availability will put another nail in the coffin
of older graphics standards. "At only $99," said Director of
Marketing Henry Quan in a prepared statement, "there's no longer
any reason to buy anything less than VGA."

The VGABasic-16 uses the same technology as ATI's VGAWonder card,
which has won several awards. It began shipping in late August.

(Grant Buckler/19900911/Press Contact: Henry Quan, ATI
Technologies, 416-756-0718)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00017)

UK: BREAKOUT REPRO RELEASED
WEST DRAYTON, MIDDLESEX, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- PC Communications
has launched Breakout Repro, a new addition to its range of
modem-based communications systems. The package is designed to
receive calls from a user running version 2.00 of Breakout Plus,
the company's primary PC communications package.

The package supports two modes of operation - repro and teletype.
In repro mode, the user is able to take complete control of the
PC running Breakout Repro from a machine running Breakout Plus.
In teletype mode, files can be transferred between the two
machines using any one of five supported file transfer protocols.

Unlike many competing packages Breakout Repro is tight on memory
usage, occupying just 60K of RAM and running in the background,
allowing the desktop PC to continue to be used for foreground
tasks, while remote users can dial in the background. The
package costs UKP 195 when supplied on its own, and from UKP 349
when bundled with a modem.

(Steve Gold/19900910/Press & Public Contact: PC Communications,
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SYD)(00018)

UNIX USERS GROUP QUESTION VALUE OF BENCHMARKS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Greg Rose, president
of the Australian Unix Users Group, says that too many Unix
users are evaluating systems on benchmarks alone, while ignoring
other issues such as support and breadth of software.

He told Newsbytes that this was one of the issues to be
discussed at his group's annual exhibition and conference
to be held in Canberra on September 26 to 28. The conference
theme is "Unix: The computing Platform for the 90s."

Rose expects around 500 delegates and 1000 exhibition
visitors.

(Paul Zucker/19900913)


(EXCLUSIVE)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00019)

CHIPS & TECHNOLOGIES TO MAKE 80286 VGA PCS IN U.S.S.R.
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- U.S.-based Chips and
Technologies, along with a U.S. firm called MTI and the Soviet
joint venture Dialogue have joined forces to set up a factory
for the mass production of PC clones in the Soviet Union.

Their new company, called Golden Gate, will produce 80286 VGA
PC clones at a factory in the city of Minsk, the capital of the
Byelorussian republic.

Jeff Grammer, the Chips and Technologies officer in charge of the
Minsk factory project, is in the Soviet Union and was unavailable
for comment.

The Minsk factory will have a sophisticated quality control
system, in addition to an assembly line, Newsbytes has learned.
Chips and Technologies will supply ready boards and cabinets,
the suppliers of keyboards and other parts could not be
determined by deadline.

The Minsk factory was selected "due to good communications, available
production space and skilled labour," a Golden Gate representative said.

A company representative told Newsbytes that the computer will be
"specially designed to meet Soviet market requirements" although he
would provide no further details.

Golden Gate announced that it will sell its PCs for hard currency only.
No rouble sales are expected in the nearest future.

Golden Gate, although already registered with the U.S.S.R. Ministry of
Finance, is still overcoming problems with offices, phones,
representatives, and salespersons. It announced that operation of
the assembly line will begin December 1st. Before that date the firm
will organize a major promotional campaign to introduce their product.

Golden gate will provide technical support, training, and service
facilities. Computers will come complete with Russian MS-DOS and
documentation.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19900912)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TRENDS)(MOW)(00020)

MOSCOW: SOME U.S. COMPANIES DOOMED TO FAIL, SAYS EXPERT
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Some U.S. companies
are doomed to failure in their attempts to capitalize on the
newly opened Eastern European and Soviet market, an expert in
Soviet marketing, Boris Fridman of the joint Soviet/Hungarian
venture Microinform, told Newsbytes during a show at the Moscow
International Trade Center.

"On the Soviet software market American companies will face many
more problems than their Asian or European competitors," the general
director of the 1-million-rouble software company told Newsbytes.

Fridman says this is because U.S. firms expect to be profitable
overnight. "In general the bigger the company is, the faster
it wants to get substantial profits here."

"But the local market is something different from their ideas. You
have to move step by step to come here and to stay on in it. Nothing
big and fast is possible here since there are hard currency problems
and an old unwillingness to buy software is the backbone of a
Soviet customers' mind."

Fridman says his company has sold two million roubles worth of Soviet
software in the last two years but "Sales for hard currency are
much lower and almost impossible without the hardware."

Although Microinform is a mostly software-oriented company in the Soviet
market, it claims to have a 10-times higher volume of hardware sales
than software sales.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19900912/Press contact: Boris Fridman, Microinform,
phone [phone] fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(MOW)(00021)

SOVIET TRANSPUTER SOCIETY LAUNCHED
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Representatives of several
Soviet companies and research institutes have formed a Transputer
Society in Moscow.

According to Vladimir Levin, the Society's president, the club
came about a result of Moscow British-Soviet transputer seminar
in June. Representatives of the Institute of Computer Science
and Informatics' Problems, Kvant Research Institute, several
joint ventures, and state companies met with their colleagues
from the British Transputer Initiative. The meeting involved
several dozens Soviet transputer experts.

"The main goal of this meeting was to see each other's progress to
avoid doing the same job twice. The Society will have several
commercial projects in the nearest future," Levin said.

"We have some software developed for transputers by our Society
members," Mr Levin told Newsbytes.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19900912/Press contact: Vladimir Levin, STC, phone
[phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00022)

NEW FOR IBM: Software Automates Lotus 1-2-3 Macro Handling
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Young Enterprises
has released Macro Magic, a menu-driven "Macro Management System"
that automates the handling of macros, according to the company.

The program includes over 50 essential macro programs, the company
says, as well as automated, "ready-to-build" macro libraries.
By using a "point and select" method, the user can import macros
into a spreadsheet and prepare them to run, execute macros, or
delete macros from the file.

Included are a Cell Documentation Program, a Data Entry Program
and a Print Enhancement/Line Spacing Program, as well as macros
for performing time-consuming functions such as calculating
depreciation and loan payments, converting monthly data to
quarterly data, sorting a database, and switching the placement of
data.

The program is priced at $59.95. Call 214/231-8149 for more
information.

(Computer Currents/19900913)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00023)

NEW PRODUCT: New 20MHz 386SX Machine With SuperVGA
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- American MiTAC
Corp. is shipping the MPC2386E, a new desktop 80386SX 20MHz
AT-compatible computer that comes bundled with high-resolution
graphics, Windows 3.0 and a mouse.

According to the company, the MPC2386E is among the first
systems to offer an upgrade option to 1024 x 768 SuperVGA graphics,
requiring just the addition of video RAM. The company designed the
system for what it sees as the growing number of  users who
require sophisticated graphics and an upgrade path to future
standards.

The system comes with 1MB RAM expandable to 4 or 8MB and four
mass-storage device spaces. Both 5 1/4- and 3 1/2-inch floppies
can be installed. The list price is $2,395. Call 408/432-1160
for more information.

(Computer Currents/19900913)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00024)

NEC TO MAKE PERSONAL COMPUTERS IN W. GERMANY
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Japan's personal computer giant
NEC will start manufacturing personal computers in West Germany
in order to meet the surging demand for them in Europe,
according to the report of Nikkei Industrial Journal paper.

NEC has decided to make IBM PC/AT-compatible machines, but
is uncertain whether they will be laptop or desktop.

Under its basic policy to "manufacture products in places which
demand them," NEC has been determined to launch into the
European personal computer market. It has chosen the Southern part
of West Germany as a production foothold, where Germany's
high-tech industry is centered and where there is an
abundance of high-quality parts and professional engineers.

NEC will soon make a decision regarding the location,
investment, and production rate, in hopes of staring
factory operation in 1992.

Prior to local production, NEC will arrange sales and
distribution channels. NEC Deutscheland, the subsidiary of
NEC, will expand its sales and service network from West
Germany to include East Germany. The German arm of NEC already
held a computer technology seminar for East German electronics
dealers in Leipzig, East Germany. NEC intends to establish
a shop in Dresden early next year and will set up shops
in major metropolitan cities such as East Berlin and Leipzig in
a couple of years.

NEC, with more than half the share of the Japanese personal
computer market, has no production foothold in Europe. The
European personal computer market consumes four million
machines per year, and manufacturers from the U.S. and Europe,
such as IBM and Olivetti, are in fierce competition there.
With NEC's local production, the competition is expected
to get worse.

Meanwhile, Toshiba has announced that it will boost production
of laptop computers in West Germany from the current 10,000 to
15,000 units per month next April. Toshiba is the only Japanese
personal computer maker which owns a factory in West Germany.

(Ken Takahashi/19900913)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00025)

NIPPON STEEL TO SHIP NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS TO U.S.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Japan's largest steelmaker
Nippon Steel has announced that in November, its original
notebook-sized, IBM AT-compatible computers will be available
in the U.S. market. The product marketing comes as the firm
is diversifying its electronics and information systems
divisions.

The computers are called Librex, which combines "Libre" meaning
book in French, with "Rex" meaning king in English. One of them,
Librex 286 will come with a 12.5 MHz 286 processor and a
standard one-MB (megabyte) RAM (random access memory)
expandable to 3 MB. Another one is called Libre 386SX and
it will have a 20 MHz 386SX processor and a 2 MB RAM expandable
to 4 MB.

The two computers have a 2.5-inch, 20 MB hard disk, and
a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive; they are equipped with a
backlit white LCD (liquid crystal display) displaying 16
gradations in VGA (visual graphics array) mode with a resolution
of 640 by 480 pixels; they measure 213 by 297 by 50.8 millimeters
and weigh 2.8 kilograms.

With a fully charged battery, the Librex 286 runs for
three hours and the Librex 386X runs for two and a half hours.
Nippon Steel is expected to set the prices at $3,500 for
Librex 286 and $5,500 for Librex 386SX.

The notebook computers will be sold by California, U.S.-based
Librex Computer Systems, formerly called NS Computer Systems,
the wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Nippon Steel, and will be
manufactured by California-based personal computer maker
Solectron.

Nippon Steel projects sales of 10 billion yen ($71.4 million)
on shipments of 30,000 units in the first year and 20 to 30
billion yen ($142.9 to 214.3 million) in a few years.

(Ken Takahashi/19900913/Press Contact: Mr. Kitaguchi, Nippon Steel
Corporation, Electronics and Information Systems Division,
03-5566-2040)


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

NEW PRODUCT: Events Calendar For High-Tech Marketers
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- A new
calendar, in wall-mount format, will highlight more than
200 trade shows and conferences in 1991. Called the
Computer Events Calendar, it's being offered by Tech
Trade Events of San Francisco for $24.95.

The company says its wall calendar is the first to provide
the dates, locations and contact information for high
tech trade shows, analyst conferences, key vertical market
gatherings and special events taking place each year in
both the U.S. and overseas.

The calendar ships in mid-November but orders are being
taken now at Tech Trade Events, PO Box 411211, San
Francisco, CA 94141-1211 or by calling 415-428-2439.

(Wendy Woods/19900913/Press Contact: Mark Cohen)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00027)

NEW FOR MACINTOSH: New Video Utility From Apple
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Apple
has introduced VideoSync version 1.0, a Macintosh system
software extension designed to improve the video
recording of Macintosh monitor screens by standard
consumer video camera equipment.

When the VideoSync file is added to the Macintosh System
Folder, the user can adjust the timing of an Apple display card
from the monitors Control Panel. The resulting image appears
more stable when viewed by an external NTSC video camera.

VideoSync requires any Macintosh II personal computer,
System Software 6.04 or greater, or A/UX 2.0 or later,
an AppleColor High-Resolution RGB monitor; and a video
card.

The utility is available immediately through the Apple
Programmer's and Developer's Association for $35. Call
800-282-2732 in the U.S. or Apple Computer at 408-996-1010
for more information.

(Wendy Woods/19900913)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00028)

NEW FOR MACINTOSH: InTouch DA Stores Names & Addresses
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Advanced
Software has introduced Intouch Version 1.0, a desk
accessory which enables users to store an unlimited number
of names, addresses, and up to 14 pages of notes with each
as a kind of pop-up electronic journal.

The product, $69.95, enables you to keyword search on
any name or address, has telephone dialling options,
envelope and label printing and previewing, time and date
stamping of notes, zooming the notes field for a larger
typing area, importing and exporting of files, and instant
copying of addresses to and from other applications.

More information or ordering can be had by calling 800-
346-5392 or 408-733-0745.

(Wendy Woods/19900913)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00029)

SOFTWARE TOOLWORKS MOVES TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A, 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Software Toolworks,
famous for such programs as Chessmaster 2100 and Twist and Shout,
has moved from Southern California to the Marin County town of
Novato. The company also has received a license from Nintendo
to market its Nintendo game cartridges in Japan.

Les Crane, chairman of the board and chief executive officer,
says Software Toolworks will be one of the select U.S.-based
companies with rights to sell its Nintendo game cartridges in
Japan. "There are currently over 15 million Nintendo
Entertainment System units in Japan, with relatively little
game cartridge penetration by Nintendo licensees."

He says his company will first introduce "Days of Thunder," a
stock car racing game based on the movie starring Tom Cruise,
and Loopz, a multi-level loop building game featuring high
resolution graphics.

Crane also announced that Robert Lloyd has been appointed president
of the company's consumer product division and Randall Thier
has been appointed president of international operations.

The company's new address is 60 Leveroni Court, Novato,
CA 94949, phone [phone].

(Wendy Woods/19900913)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00030)

BROTHER LOWERS PRICE OS LASER PRINTER
SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 13 (NB) -- Brother
International Corporation has announced that it will lower
the retail price on its HL-8e laser printer from $2,895 to $2,395.

Standard features on the printer include a Canon SX engine, 1MB of
memory, 44 resident fonts, a front-located control panel and six
emulations, including the HP-GL industry standard for CAD/CAM
applications.

Options include memory upgrades of 1 or 2 megabytes, Brother font
cartridges and a PostScript-compatible controller board. For more
info, call 201/981-0300 ext. 4611.

(Computer Currents/19900913)