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(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00001)

JAPAN: NEC LAUNCHES TINIEST PALMTOP COMPUTER
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Japan's personal computer giant
NEC is leading the personal computer industry into new territory with
a new, superlight, personal computer Handy98, which is roughly
half the size of a current notebook-sized computer and weighs
only 1.1 kilograms despite having a standard QUERTY-type keyboard.

The miniaturization owes much to several technologies, such as the
incorporation of an IC (integrated circuit) memory card and a 1.25 MB
(megabyte) RAM (random access memory) drive for storage. There is
also a smaller LCD (liquid crystal display) and a smaller keyboard.
The motherboard is also more highly integrated.

MS-Works, an integrated software program including
Japanese word processor, database, spreadsheet, business charting,
and communications comes standard in the memory card.
A schedule management software program is available in ROM
(read only memory).

Handy98 sports NEC's 10 MHz 16-bit V50 microprocessor, which is
an upgraded version of the V30 equipped with its previous notebook
98Note. A standard built-in battery pack allows the computer
to run for as long as seven hours and, together with an optional
battery pack, for 13 hours. The display is a 6.9-inch LCD with a
640-by-400-pixel resolution. A resume function which recovers data
last viewed when switched on comes standard with the unit. By
attaching an optional 50,000 yen ($390) Docking Station with a
built-in 3.5-inch FDD (floppy disk drive), Handy98 can run about
500 application software programs for NEC PC98LT laptop computer,
which is incompatible with Japan's de facto standard NEC
PC-9801 personal computers. With an optional RS-232C cable,
however, the handy computer can share data with PC-9801.

Handy98 is priced at 198,000 yen or $1,520 and becomes available late
this month. NEC expects to sell 200,000 units in the initial year.

Though a Japanese industry report says that NEC will market an
IBM-compatible version of the machine for the overseas market
in the future, an NEC spokesman did not provide any details to
Newsbytes.

(Ken Takahashi/19901018/Press Contact: Mr. Kato, Public Relations
Office, NEC Corp., 03-798-6511)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00002)

KDD AND OKI DEVELOP NEW CODING SYSTEM FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Japan's international telecom
giant KDD and major electronics firm Oki Electric Industry have
jointly developed a new coding scheme for video conference systems.
The coding system, INVITE/S, adopts a color motion video coding method
to be recommended as standard this December by CCITT (International
Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee), so it can be used
to communicate with other makers' coding systems which adopt the
same method.

The coding system can cover a wide range of transfer speeds from
56 Kb (kilobits) to 2 Mb (megabits) per second, so a video conference
can be varied in image quality, transfer cost, and network capacity.

The incorporation of KDD's superfast digital image processor
KZ-5000, integrated with half a million transistors, has contributed
to making the coding system small and the motion video vivid, the
company says.

INVITE/S can utilize a video camera, a TV monitor, and a microphone
with NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase
Alternating by Line) methods to input and output motion video and
voices.

The coding unit can be used on the international ISDN (Integrated
Services Digital Network), high speed digital networks of NTT or KDD,
and NTT's ISDN network INSnet.

INVITE/S will be available from Oki and Videocom International,
KDD's related firm, in April next year. The price has not been
released.

(Ken Takahashi/19901018/Press Contact: KDD, 03-347-6932)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00003)

JAPAN: DEC AND CANON CREATE SYSTEM INTEGRATION BUSINESS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corporation
Japan and Canotec, the strategic software firm of Canon Sales group,
have signed a VAR (value-added reseller) contract to create a business
for integration of DEC VAX computers and Apple Macintosh personal
computers.

Based on the agreement, Canotec will sell server system software
for VAX computers as hosts of a Macintosh network. The sales will
be made to corporate users through the sales channels of the Canon
Sales group. The server system will cover a wide variety of functions
such as application server, file server, electronic mail server,
database server, and communication server.

The contract is designed to cash in on the surging demand
for system integration and the demand for networks linked to
Apple Macintoshes at Japanese offices.

DEC Japan intends to aggressively build its VAR business for
minicomputers. Canotec is the first partner of that VAR contract.

(Ken Takahashi/19901018/Press Contact: Digital Equipment Corporation
Japan, 03-989-7526)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00004)

JAPAN: CANON OFFERS ERASABLE MAGNETIC-OPTICAL DISK DRIVE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Canon has developed an erasable
magnetic-optical disk memory system capable of storing 512 MB
(megabytes) of data on a magnetic-optical disk. The data transfer
speed is 800 KB (kilobytes) per second and the average seek time
is about 80 milliseconds. The drive unit can be connected to as
many as seven personal computers.

The drive unit will be available from Canon Sales in the beginning
of next month. The unit including an interface kit for NEC PC-9801
personal computers will be priced at 470,000 yen ($3,620) and a version
for Apple Computer's Macintosh personal computers will be
priced at 465,000 yen ($3,600). Canon Sales is planning to produce
1,000 units each month.

(Ken Takahashi/19901018/Press Contact: Canon Inc., 03-348-2121)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00005)

JAPAN: OKI OFFERS HIGH-END AX MACHINE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Oki Electric Industry has
launched the most advanced AX personal computer configured with
IBM PC/AT compatibility and Japanese language functions. The computer
called if486VX Model 520 sports a 33 MHz 32-bit 80486 microprocessor,
which gives the top processing speed on the AX personal computing
platform. The internal bus is EISA (extended industry standard
architecture) bus, which realizes both 32-bit performance and AT bus
compatibility.

It is designed to be useful as a desktop server. The standard 8 MB
(megabyte) RAM (random access memory) is expandable to 40 MB. The
hard disk can store 100 MB of large data. The display is a high
resolution monitor capable of displaying 1,120 by 700 pixels.

The basic price is 1,980,000 yen ($15,300). It will be available
in February next year. Oki aims to sell 5,000 units in the first
year.

(Ken Takahashi/19901018/Press Contact: Oki Electric Industry
Co., Ltd., 03-580-8950)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00006)

SHARP UNVEILS COLOR LCD PC LAPTOP
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Sharp revealed its advanced
LCD (liquid crystal display) technology with its 32-bit personal
WS (workstation), the AX386LC. Developed as high-performance
personal WS, its clock frequency is 20 megahertz, has an 80386DX,
comes standard with 2 MB (megabytes) of main memory expandable to
10 MB, has a built-in 100 MB HDD (hard disk drive) and one 3.5-inch
FDD (floppy disk drive).

The screen panel for the machine is a 10-inch TFT (thin film
transistor) color LCD and the viewing angle, a weak point of many LCD,
is said by Sharp to be a full 90 degrees. It employs a hot-cathode
fluorescent tube to get a brighter backlight than ordinary
cold-cathode fluorescent tubes.

Sharp plans to start marketing a laptop personal computer
with this color LCD in the middle of December.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19901028/Press Contact: Sharp Corp. 03-260-1161)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00007)

NKK SETS UP ELECTRONICS FIRM IN SILICON VALLEY
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Steelmaker NKK has diversified
into the electronics industry with the creation of a sales subsidiary
in the U.S.'s Silicon Valley. The new firm, named NKK Electronics
America, was 100 percent financed by NKK U.S.A., a subsidiary of
NKK in America, with $600,000.

The major role of the new firm is to enhance sales and provide
technical support for NKK's optical disk auto-exchanger, called
Disc-Inn. The Disc-Inn is an external memory unit for computers
with 36 gigabytes of capacity through the accommodation of 56
56 disks in its jukebox-like body. Information is read from one of
two magneto optical disk drives.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19901028/Press Contact: Nippon Kokan K.K.
03-217-2144)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00008)

JAPAN: AST TO MARKET ITS DUAL COMPATIBLE MACHINE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Announced last April,
AST's dual compatible machine, named DualStation 386SX/16,
has finally been released by AST Research Japan in the
Japanese market.

The machine will be delivered to the Japanese market via three
Japanese sales agents, Okura & Co., Proside and Swire Transtech.
AST has failed to find a Japanese OEM (original equipment manufacturing)
supplier and the machine will be shipped from its U.S., Hong Kong
and Taiwan manufacturing plants.

The prices of the DualStation are: 389,000 yen or $2,990 for two
FDDs (floppy disk drives) model 5, 499,000 yen or $3,840 for two
FDDs and 40 MB (megabyte) HDD (hard disk drive) model 45, and
569,000 yen or $4,380 for two FDDs and 110 MB HDD model 115.

The machines are designed to run application programs written
for both Japanese de facto standard NEC PC-9801 and international
standard IBM PC/AT with a chip set developed by Kawasaki Steel and
an ISA (International Standard Architecture) bus. The machine will
automatically identify the format of an application program and boot a
program at its 98 or AT modes.

James W. Ashbrook, senior vice president marketing member,
executive committee, of AST Research U.S. headquarters, delivered
an overview, saying, "Our pricing is competitive against NEC
and Seiko-Epson, only a producer of NEC compatible machines, and
we expect to have three to five percent of the market share in
the future."

The machines especially designed toward the Japanese market are
also of interest to the U.S. government. Stephen C. Kaminski,
commercial attache to the American Embassy in Tokyo, said, "We would
like to support AST Research to succeed in the Japanese market."

AST is aiming to make known its brand name, develop general access to,
and serve special segments of the Japanese market with the machines.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19901028/Press Contact: AST Research Japan,
03-818-0710)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(NYC)(00009)

US AGENTS ARREST ALLEGED THIEF OF TELEPHONE CREDIT CARDS
BETHPAGE, NEW YORK, U.S.A.,1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- New York State
Police, acting in concert with three other law enforcement agencies,
have executed a search warrant in Bethpage, Long Island and arrested
17 year-old John Farrell who, through the use of computer algorithms,
allegedly bilked telephone companies in excess of $1 million.

In conjunction with the execution of the warrant, Major Timothy M.
Rabbett of the NY State Police released a statement saying that
Farrell had used computer programs to acquire over 100 valid
telephone credit card numbers and had then used these numbers over
500 times. He said the credit card numbers were then posted on
computer bulletin boards throughout the US, England, Australia,
Germany and Denmark.

New York State Police Special Investigator Donald Delaney, who led the
arresting team, told Newsbytes that, in the course of the execution of the
search warrant at 83 South 3rd Street in Bethpage, Long Island, a
Commodore Amiga and a large number of floppy disks were impounded.
Delaney said "Farrell, who operated under the handle "Rokman," is a
member of a group called 'Paradox' which pirates software as soon as it is
released and distributes it to its members. Paradox's members are
located, among other places, in Long Island, Chicago, France and
Denmark. Farrell was using the stolen credit card numbers for
communications with other Paradox members." Delaney added that
Farrell had admitted obtaining and using the credit card numbers.

Delaney also said, "With the new technology that has been developed,
telephone carriers can easily detect where these credit card calls are being
made from and monitor the number making the calls. This information can
then be passed on to the appropriate law enforcement agency for action. It
seems foolish for people to continue activities like these."

Other police agencies assisting in the investigation are the US Secret
Service, the Nassau County, New York District Attorney's office, and the
Suffolk County, New York District Attorney's office.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/199010019)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GOVT)(NYC)(00010)

PUBLISHER ALLEGES HIS PRIVATE E-MAIL SEIZED
MIDDLE ISLAND, NEW YORK, U.S.A.,1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Eric
Corley, editor and publisher of "2600 Magazine: The Hacker Quarterly,"
has told Newsbytes that electronic mail intended for him has been seized
from the bulletin board (BBS) on which it was stored. Corley said that he
was told by the sysop of the "Silly Code" BBS that the equipment used for
the BBS which contained Corley's mail was taken by the New York State
Police in conjunction with an investigation of some sort.

Corley told Newsbytes, "My private mail has nothing to do with whatever it
is that they are investigating and I greatly resent it being taken. My privacy
has been invaded by this action and I am contacting my attorney to
determine the appropriate legal action to be taken."

A New York State Police spokesperson contacted by Newsbytes said that
he had no knowledge of any seizure such as the one described by Corley
being carried out by either the State Police or other law enforcement
agencies.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/199010019)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00011)

APPLE, DEC REPORT LOWER EARNINGS; SOFTWARE FIRMS DOING WELL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Quarterly
statements from DEC and Apple indicate a slowing of profits and
lowered earnings. However, the picture couldn't be rosier for several
software companies filing reports today.

Digital Equipment Corp., on the heels of news that it will cut
another 5,000 from its workforce of 123,000, reported an 82.6
percent decrease in first-quarter earnings with net income
$26.2 million, down from $150.8 million last year. Quarterly revenues
were $3.09 billion, slightly lower than a year earlier when revenues
stood at $3.13 billion.

Apple Computer says net revenues for the fourth fiscal quarter were
$1.354 billion, a 2 percent decrease from the $1.384 billion reported
in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Net income for the fourth quarter
was $98.5 million, a 39 percent decrease from the prior year's fourth
quarter. Earnings in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1990 were $.81 per
share, a decrease of 35 percent from the $1.24 per share earned in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1989. Apple says international sales were 42
percent of net sales for the full year compared to 36 percent a year ago.

Chips & Technologies reported net sales of $59.5 million and net
income of $0.7 million, or 5 cents per share, for the quarter ended
Sept. 30, 1990. This compares to net sales of $70.9 million and net
income of $9.1 million for this time last year. The lower sales are
attributed to lowered prices for its chipsets, and lowered unit shipments
due to a softening in overall PC market demand over the past several
months.

The news was much better for Silicon Graphics which reported
revenues totaling $115.8 million for the first quarter ending Sept.
30, a 34 percent increase over the comparable quarter a year earlier.
Net income was $9.6 million for the quarter compared with net
income of $5.2 million in the like period for the prior fiscal year,
an increase of 84 percent.

KnowledgeWare, a maker of computer-aided software engineering
products, was particularly pleased with its quarterly report.
Saying that it attained both total revenues and product license revenues
that exceeded any prior quarter in the company's history, KnowledgeWare
reported net income for the quarter of $2,532,000 or $.20 per
share. Total revenues for the quarter were $23,517,000, up 84 percent
from revenues of $12,754,000 for the corresponding period of 1989.
Product license revenues for the quarter were $19,262,000, up 136
percent from $8,171,000 for the same period last year.

Cadence Design Systems says its third quarter revenue was $59.6 million,
compared with $41.9 million for the same period of the prior year, an
increase of 42 percent. Net income for the quarter was $10.5 million
compared with $7.2 million for the same period of 1989, an increase of
46 percent. Net income per share for the quarter was $.33 per share
compared with $.23 per share, an increase of 43 percent. Cadence
recently merged with Automated Systems, Inc.

Corporate Software Inc., a value-added marketer of microcomputer
software and hardware add-ins, Thursday announced net sales of
$47,398,000 for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1990 -- a 50 percent
increase over net sales of $31,658,000 for the same period in 1989.
Net income for the quarter rose 46 percent to $495,000,
or 10 cents per share, over net income of $339,000, or 7 cents per
share, for the same period one year ago.

(Wendy Woods/19901019)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00012)

SPSE CALLS FOR PAPERS ON NON-IMPACT PRINTING
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- SPSE, The Society
for Imaging Science and Technology, has issued a call for papers
on non-impact printing technology to be presented at next year's
October 5-11, 1991 International Congress on Advances in Non-
Impact Printing Technologies.

The seventh annual Congress will provide a forum for discussion
of state-of-the-art printing technologies, especially advances in
color printing.

Those wishing to present an original paper (20-minute maximum)
are asked to send a 50-150 word abstract and biographical sketch
to Mr. Ken Pietrowski, Xerox Corp., 800 Phillips Rd., Webster,
New York, 14580. Phone [phone].

Anyone wishing to exhibit at the Portland, Oregon show should
contact Exhibit Coordinator Walter Crooks at 408-256-4432.

This year's Congress on Advances in Non-Impact Printing
Technologies will be held October 21-26 at The Hyatt Orlando,
Orlando, Florida.

(John McCormick/19901017/Press Contact: SPSE, 703-642-9090)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00013)

NEW FOR IBM: Advanced Modular Printer Sharing From Data Spec
CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Data Spec has
introduced Para-Link Plus, an advanced modular printer sharing
device that enables up to 16 users to send data to a single
parallel printer over a 1200 foot area.

Para-Link Plus employs a daisy chain topology that allows users to
place their equipment exactly where they want it without being
limited to a 10-foot distance. The company says the system
installs in seconds. Individual transmitters plug into the
parallel ports of IBM PCs or compatibles and a single receiving
unit attaches to the parallel port of the printer. Connections use
standard RJ-11 (telephone) cable that is included with the unit.

Para-Link Plus transmits data up to 6,000 cps (characters per
second).

The Para-Link Plus Starter Kit, Model PL 3, for sharing one
parallel printer between two computers, includes two transmitters,
one receiver and two 25 foot modular cables for a suggested retail
price of $199. The Expansion Kit Model PL4 for adding a computer
into the system sells for $74.95.

(Janet Endrijonas/19901017/Press Contact: Melissa Macaluso, Data
Spec, 818-772-9977, ext. 421)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00014)

UK: WEEKLY MAG REVEALS PLANS FOR AMSTRAD NOTEBOOK PC
BATH, SOMERSET, ENGLAND, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- New Computer
Express (NCE), the sole remaining consumer computer weekly after
the demise of Popular Computing Weekly last month, has revealed
plans for an Amstrad notebook PC along the lines of Cambridge
Computer's Z88 laptop.

The Amstrad unit, NCE says, features a full keyboard in the same
vein as the Tandy WP-1, a UKP 299 notebook machine announced this
summer. The Amstrad unit, NCE asserts, will retail for around the
UKP 200 mark and be launched in the Spring of 1991.

Like the Tandy WP, the heart of the Amstrad notebook will be a
Zilog Z80 - possibly a Z80A chip for extra speed - with a
probable clock speed of around 7MHz, the report says. No disk drive is
planned, the unit instead relying on CMOS-backed memory for data
storage although a plug-in external disk drive is likely.

Again, like the Tandy WP, the Amstrad notebook will feature an 80
character by 8 line LCD screen, says NCE. The screen may be
backlit.

Amstrad's latest "ALT" series of laptop PCs - launched at
the CeBIT Hannover computer fair in March of this year,
are produced by Funai on behalf of Amstrad.

Amstrad has refused to comment on NCE's news items.

(Steve Gold/19901015)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00015)

AMERICA ONLINE ENHANCES APPLE SERVICES - TO INTRO IBM SERVICE
VIENNA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- America Online, Quantum
Computer Services' online service for Apple II and Mac owners, has
enhanced its range of services, and confirms plans to publicly
launch an IBM service later this year.

Among the several new forums available for Apple II and Mac
users are those from Fifth Generation, Salient Software, Softek and
Working Software. In addition, a new menu catalogue is now
available online. This service lists more than 15,000 software
package for the Apple II and Mac, as well as MS-DOS-based
computers.

On the MS-DOS access front, Nancy Beckman, a representative of
America Online, told Newsbytes that there are plans to introduce
an IBM PC and compatible service soon. "There have always been
plans to launch an IBM service. We are working towards that," she
said.

In the meantime, she added, MS-DOS computer users can access the
Apple II and Mac service using a package from Geoview, which
drives the America Online system software. The software is being
bundled with Laser Computer's Laser Pal 286, a machine intended to
compete directly with the home computers recently announced by
IBM and Tandy.

America Online is accessible via Telenet and Tymnet in the US, as
well as via direct dial. The service costs $5.95 per month, which
includes one hour of usage and unlimited toll-free telephone
support. Hourly fees in excess of the initial hour per month
are $5 evenings and weekends, and $10 during office hours.

Newsbytes' access on America Online has been improved. Readers
can select the various sections such as Apple, Business, IBM
etc., using an icon-driven 'point and shoot' graphical user
interface. A powerful keyword search facility has also been
introduced.

(Steve Gold/19901018/Press & Public Contact: Quantum Computer
Services - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00016)

ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Other Media This Week
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief
look at some computer stories carried in other publications
received here this past week.

The October 6 issue of Science News carries a story of how IBM's
M.M. Denneau designed a unique large-number computation computer
faster than the most advanced supercomputers because it betters
their 64-bit word length by using 257-bit words.

Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reported that Schaumburg, Illinois-
based Motorola will market a lower-cost 68030 microprocessor,
the 68EC030, with volume shipments starting before the end of this year.

Santa Clara, California-based National Semiconductor Corp. has
announced its entry into the personal computer chipset arena by
introducing its SuperAT and SuperAT/SX, two single-chip
controllers.

Intel Corp. hopes to increase the use of laptop computers by
introducing its new 386SL chip set, which will allow the laptops
to run more complex programs without increasing battery drain.

The New York Times reported  Thursday that IBM and Motorola have ended
talks aimed at the sharing of IBM 4 megabit chip technology. The report
says that International Business Machines and Motorola engaged in
talks earlier this year, a report both entities will not publicly
acknowledge.

(John McCormick/19901019)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00017)

ATARI TAIWAN INDICTED ON SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT CHARGES
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Within days of a raid on a
Taiwan firm allegedly distributing thousands of bogus copies of
MS-DOS, Taiwan is in the spotlight again in a new piracy case.
Atari's Taiwan subsidiary has been indicted by Taipei District Court
on charges connected with the alleged illegal copying of Lotus 1-2-3
and dBASE III PLus software for internal use at the plant. The case
was initiated by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), a Washington,
D.C.-based organization funded by 8 leading US software companies.

The public prosecutor in Taiwan charges that the illegal copies were
used in performing company business and was found to be "scattered
throughout the company's quality control and finance departments
and in its computer center," according to a BSA statement.

The violation carries a potential three years in jail for the accused
parties and fines up to $600,000 under Taiwan law, according to one
BSA source.

In addition to indicting the company, Atari Taiwan, the public prosecutor
indicted Kuo Mao Hsing, chief of Atari's computer center, and Atari
employee Chen Jian Chung, who, the statement says, "admitted to
bringing a floppy disk containing an infringing copy of Lotus 1-2-3
to Atari and copying Lotus 1-2-3 and dBASE III onto a computer."

"The indictment of Atari Taiwan and two of its employees sharply
illlustrates the risks to an organization when there appearsz
to be a lack of control and management of software resources,"
said Tom Lemberg, chairman of the BSA board of directors and
general counsel to Lotus Development.

For its part, Atari has reportedly stated that the unauthorized programs
were used by two employees without the company's knowledge and
against its policy. "Being a computer company, we are very sensitive
to the software community," said August Liguori, vice president of
finance, in a published report. "We fight this kind of (piracy) all the
time. It would be foolish for us to cheat our own peers over a
few hundred dollars."

(Wendy Woods/19901019/Press Contact: Lori Forte, BSA, 202-
737-7060)


(EDITORIAL)(APPLE)(WAS)(00018)

APPLE CLASSIC MEETS TWIN PEAKS - Editorial by J.McCormick
MCGEES MILLS, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Let me
explain at the outset that portions of this editorial will only
make sense to Americans because it involves U.S. television.

At first I didn't notice that I was watching a commercial.

I thought it was just another scene in last Saturday night's Twin
Peaks episode when I first saw Apple Computer's commercial for
the low-priced Macintosh Classic.

There I was watching the most bizarre evening program ever to hit
American television, and all of a sudden someone was touting a
Macintosh computer in the same breath as he talked about using
mass production to lower costs in an effort to bring computer
technology to the masses.

This was just the sort of double-speak viewers have come to
expect from the show which has an FBI agent sorting murder
suspects using Tibetan mysticism and throwing rocks at bottles or
giving his pinky ring to a giant alien.

I think I can be forgiven for not noticing at first that Apple
was really claiming a bit of sainthood for finally producing a
low-cost Macintosh computer.

Aren't these the same people who have successfully fought tooth
and nail to keep others from building Macintosh-compatible
computers which would lead to real competition and therefore
lower prices?

Does Apple really expect to win customer and media applause for
finally producing a $995 Macintosh Classic computer that is
priced a bit more in line with similarly powered PC compatibles?

Well, stranger things have happened, but I rather doubt that they
will get away with it; if anything, they are risking alienating
all those who paid upwards of $2,000 for the same capabilities
just a short time ago.

I may have missed it but I didn't notice any monitor port on the
Macintosh Classic.

That means that, while you can still buy a complete hard disk MS-
DOS computer with 14-inch monitor for a shade under $1,000, all
you can get on the Macintosh is that miniature 9-inch black-and-
white screen that has been turning off users for years.

Why, even a $200 Tandy Color Computer has a monitor port built in
so it can't cost that much. (Actually, the CoCo has three video
ports at that price; the other two are for TVs.)

If you want to run Apple II software on your Mac, or just have
color graphics, you will need to ante up almost $2,500 for a
Macintosh LC, plus a monitor of course.

All in all, watching the new crop of Apple commercials, I kept
waiting for the drum-beating rabbit to come strolling across the
screen.

Non-U.S. readers may not know about the famous toy rabbit that
advertises batteries by breaking into pseudo commercials that
look as though they are for some actually fictitious product such
as pork rinds or a new telephone network.

At least Apple will never have the same problem that is
reportedly plaguing the great rabbit commercials. It seems that
everyone loves the commercial but no one can remember what brand
of battery it advertises!

No, no one will confuse Apple with any other computer company.

Yes, sir, this is a really innovative company, constantly
striving to bring out the lowest-priced computers they possibly
can. One thing you won't notice the commercials mentioning is the
fact that just a short time back Apple was reportedly expected to
introduce the $995 Classic at a $1,500 price tag.

They haven't redesigned the computer; they just lopped off one-
third of its list price. Was there a bit of extra gravy built
into that originally rumored price?

You bet! I wonder how much fat could still be trimmed from the
price?

Speaking of innovation, these are the people who bought the
rights to the Apple name from the Beatles and paid a stereo
company for the rights to the Macintosh name.

Hmm, now I wonder where John Sculley (former Pepsico executive)
came up with the name Classic?

EDITOR: Newsbytes welcomes and will publish all editorial responses.)

(John McCormick/19901019)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00019)

BEIJING: SAS OPENS OFFICE, FORECASTS $1 MILLION SALES IN 1991
BEIJING, CHINA, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- SAS Institute, the
world's largest privately held software company, has opened an office
in Beijing to serve its growing base of customers in China.

Headed by Jeff Lo, the company's Hong Kong based marketing manager,
the Beijing office will coordinate all sales, support and training
activities. Primary support will be provided by the State Information
Centre, a government body that recommends computer hardware and
software for government sites and is itself a major SAS user.

"We expect the Beijing office to be the forerunner of SAS offices in
a number of regional centres in China," said Nigel Gasper, general
manager of SAS Institute Ltd in Hong Kong. "We plan to have offices
in Shanghai and either Chengdu or Wuhan within 2-3 years."

SAS Institute has around 15 customer sites in China, mainly with
World Health Organization projects and multinational companies,
though local customers include the Ministry of Public Health and
Tianjin University.

The company expects to sell $1-2 million of software in China next
year. "We tend to sign long licence agreements to coincide with the
Five-Year Plans, so the value of each contract is generally higher
than in markets such as Hong Kong or the Philippines," said Gasper.

"The other big difference is that China is primarily a technical
marketplace, whereas Hong Kong is more commercial and there is less
spending on research and development."

(Norman Wingrove/19901019/Press Contact: Nigel Gasper, SAS,
[phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(CORRECTION)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00020)

CORRECTION: LEGEND TECHNOLOGY'S CABLE TV PROPOSAL
KOWLOON BAY, HONG KONG, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Owing to a typographical
error, this week's news story on Legend Technology's alternative
proposal for a cable television network in Hong Kong referred to
target audiences of 12,000 households per franchise. The correct
figure is 120,000 households per franchise.

(Norman Wingrove/19901019)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00021)

BELGIAN BANK PICKS ORACLE AS PLATFORM FOR THE 1990s
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1990 OCT 20 (NB) -- Belgian Bank has embarked on
a new data processing strategy in Hong Kong, based on Oracle
relational database and application development tools worth more than
$500,000.

All future applications will be written for the Oracle environment
and existing applications will be converted for use with Oracle over
a three year period, according to Operations and Administration
Manager Rene A. Heymans.

Heymans said the bank spent six months evaluating eight combinations
of hardware and software before choosing a system based on Oracle and
computers from Digital Equipment Corporation.

The Oracle products run on a cluster of two VAX 3100 computers and
one VAX 6410, with a DECnet network linking main offices in Wanchai
and Mongkok and 20 branches throughout the urban areas.

(Norman Wingrove/19901019/Press Contact: Venus Chan, Oracle,
[phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00022)

U.S. WEST OPENS HUNGARIAN CELLULAR SYSTEM
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- U S West
and its Hungarian partner, Hungarian Telecommunications, began
operating the first cellular telephone system in Eastern Europe.
Hungarian Tel is the landline telephone service in Hungary, with
one million customers.

The opening of the analog cellular system came three months
ahead of schedule. Ron Sanders of US West is comanaging director
of the new system, which is known as WesTel Radiotelefon.
WesTel is initially offering service to 3,000 Budapest customers
and will add capacity for another 3,000 by February. Plans call
for expansion to Miskoloz, the Lake Balaton region, and the
main corridor highway between Budapest and Vienna, Austria
through Gyor-Sopron by the end of 1993.

Phones made by Motorola and Ericsson are being sold for use in
Hungary, but the network itself is made by Ericsson.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19901019/Press Contact: Rebecca Herbst, U S
West, 303-649-4658)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00023)

NEW FOR IBM: Distec's 60 Megabyte Laptop Hard Disk
WINTER PARK, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Disk
Technologies announced the Disctec RHD 60, a 60-megabyte
removable hard disk drive for laptop and desktop PCs. The drive
is the same size as the company's existing 20 megabyte drive, and
weighs under 7 ounces.

It is made by Areal Technology of San Jose, California and features
an average access time of 21 milliseconds, average power
consumption of less than 2 watts, and a data rate of 7.5 million
bits/second. It can handle a shock of 10 times average gravity
while operating, or 150 Gs when turned off.

It will be available in November at a suggested retail price
of $865. Docking brackets cost $65-100, depending on the computer
model.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19901019/Press Contact: Doug Caldes, Disctec,
407-645-0001)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00024)

NEW FOR IBM: Crosstalk Communicator And New IRMAX
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Digital
Communications Associates announced Crosstalk Communicator, a new
version of its flagship communications program which it says
"makes accessing dial-up information services as easy as dialing
the telephone." The program "walks" the user through steps needed
to connect with another computer, and installs in only a few
minutes.

The program has a dialing directory which includes predefined
settings for most popular services including GEnie,
CompuServe, and the Official Airline Guide. Users need only add a
local telephone node, plus their passwords to access these
scripts. The program also lets users create scripts which are
compatible with the Crosstalk Applications Script Language, and
it features a "learn" mode so new scripts can be created quickly.
The suggested retail price is $99.

DCA also announced it has enhanced its IRMAX DFT and IRMAX
Multisessions programs to support IBM's OfficeVision and Lotus-
Microsoft-Intel Expanded Memory Specification Version 4.0,
allowing users to take advantage of expanded memory.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19901019/Press Contact: DCA, Margaret Owens,
404-442-4521)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00025)

BANYAN SIGNALS SHIFT FROM BUILDING OWN SERVERS
WESTBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Banyan
Systems will eventually withdraw from the network server business
to concentrate on network software and services, the company has
indicated.

Banyan announced that it plans to expand its support for network
servers from a variety of manufacturers. Nearly 40 such machines
are already certified as servers for Banyan's VINES network
operating system, the company said.

Gary Wolfe, a Banyan spokesman, told Newsbytes evolving PC
technology led to the change. When Banyan was founded in 1983, he
said, "there was a necessity for us to get into the hardware
server business" because personal computers available at that
time lacked the horsepower to act as VINES servers. Today a
multitude of servers are available.

"The return on investment for us to keep creating new server
platforms is steadily diminishing," Wolfe said.

Banyan's Hardware Products Group will shift its emphasis to
hardware add-ons for industry-standard systems, designed to help
these systems work better with VINES.

However, Wolfe added that Banyan is not abandoning its existing
CNS server products. It is still in production and will remain so
"as long as there's a need for it and as long as we can sell it
in a competitive way," he said.

Banyan also signalled a growing emphasis on support and
consulting with the formation of its Advanced Network Services
Organization. Working through Banyan resellers, the new group
will provide network consulting services to Banyan customers.

"Our resellers many times come into situations where they can
benefit from utilizing the technical expertise that Banyan has,"
Wolfe said. This has been done on a case-by-case basis up to now,
he added, and the new group is "an effort to standardize the
services that we provide."

Banyan also announced that VINES will support the Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP). The company announced the
availability of the VINES SNMP Management Information Base, which
developers can use to write SNMP managers that access information
from a VINES network. Banyan demonstrated a prototype of its SNMP
Agent, which will allow VINES network and systems management
information to be sent to any SNMP-compliant management node. The
SNMP Agent will be available in 1991, Wolfe said.

Finally, Banyan announced support for IBM's new medialess PS/2
Model 55 LS workstations. In fact, Wolfe said, VINES will support
any workstation that can accept IBM's on-board network adapter
cards with Remote Program Load (RPL) software. No vendors other
than IBM are offering such machines at the moment, he added.

(Grant Buckler/19901019/Press Contact: Gary Wolfe, Banyan
Systems, 508-989-1000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00026)

WANG LAUNCHES CLIENT-SERVER LINKS TO PCS, LANS
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Wang
Laboratories has introduced new client-server computing products
and disclosed business relationships meant to promote the
company's Innovation on Standards strategy.

Wang unveiled a set of Open/server software products that
integrate its VS midrange systems with IBM-and-compatible PC
software and local area networks (LANs) from Banyan, Novell,
Microsoft, 3Com, IBM, Proteon, and other developers.

Wang also extended an OEM agreement with Novell. The new
agreement allows Wang to resell, service, and support Novell's
entire NetWare product line.

Wang announced an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement
with Proteon that allows Wang to market Proteon's Pronet-4/16
Token Ring twisted-pair networking products.

Also announced were agreements with a number of third-party
vendors including Netwise, Graphic Software Systems (GSS), M/H
Group, Easel, and Oracle.

Finally, Wang announced an extensive services program for PC LANs
and third-party software.

The new products support Wang's Open/server Architecture and
Open/Architecture framework, which enables users to choose
desktop and server processing environments independent of
applications. The new Open/server products include Level One and
Level Two offerings.

Wang's Open/server Level One products include PC LAN/VS Access
and PC LAN/VS Windows. Wang said these two software products
provide industry-standard PC LAN users with VS connectivity and
the ability to run a wide range of Wang data processing
applications. PC LAN/VS Access is priced from US$1,250 to
US$10,250. PC LAN/VS Windows is priced at US$7,500. Both are
available now.

Level Two products are designed to help construct enterprise-wide
networks using the client- server model. They include
Open/server-VS, Windows InfoSharer, VS WIIS Image Workstation
3.0, Open/client 3270-Windows, VIP Services Windows 7760, and a
range of toolkits.

The Open/server-VS software lets Wang VS systems act as full-
function servers for a variety of networks. The product is priced
from US$3,710 to US$17,580.

Windows InfoSharer is a Microsoft Windows-based data integration
tool that lets users exchange information among Windows
applications, popular industry-standard applications, and VS
applications. Windows InfoSharer is priced at US$295 per PC.

The VS WIIS Image Workstation 3.0 is a Microsoft Windows-based
software product that lets users on a PC client display and print
Wang Integrated Image Systems (WIIS) documents stored on a VS
image server. It costs US$500 per workstation.

Open/client 3270-Windows is a new software product compliant with
Microsoft Windows. It gives PC clients multiple Systems Network
Architecture (SNA) host sessions using 3270 display emulation.
Open/client 3270-Windows is priced from US$1,480 to US$7,680.

VIP Services Windows 7760 provides VIP emulation on a PC running
DOS or Microsoft Windows. It allows users running the Windows
graphical interface to connect to Bull Information Systems
mainframes. The price is US$1,500.

The Open/server-VS VINES Application Developer's Toolkit enables
programmers to integrate their applications with the management
and control features of Open/server-VS. The price is US$2,500.

All the Level Two products are scheduled to be available in the
first quarter of 1991, Wang said.

Wang's service and support program will cover PC LANs and third-
party products worldwide. Wang will support NetWare and VINES
networks, Wang Open/server products, and third-party products
connected to these networks.

(Grant Buckler/19901019/Press Contact: Linda Volpe Kincaid, Wang,
508-967-6425; or Hanne Herwick, Wang, 508-967-6405)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00027)

ALDUS CHIEF DISCUSSES DIRECTIONS; NEW PAGEMAKER NEXT MONTH
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Desktop publishing
pioneer Aldus wants its flagship Pagemaker product to account for
no more than half its sales by 1992, according to the company's
founder and chief executive, Paul Brainerd. Speaking to reporters in
Toronto, Brainerd said Pagemaker and related products account for
some 70 percent of his company's revenues today, and he wants that
figure down to 50 percent in two years as other products develop.

Brainerd also said Aldus will be paying more attention to the
IBM-compatible PC market in the future. He said Version 4.0 of
Pagemaker for the PC is almost ready for release and "will be
shipping within 30 days." Aldus Preprint software, currently
available for the Macintosh, has been made to run on a PC within
Aldus, he added.

The arrival of Microsoft Windows 3.0 earlier this year was a key
to perking up Aldus' effort on the PC, he said. "We were really
having to wait for Windows 3.0 to get into that market."

Brainerd emphasized the importance of training and support. "In
many respects we have more products and more technology than we
know what to do with," he said. Aldus is working with consultants
and other third parties to develop better training programs, he
added.

Noting that Pagemaker is currently sold in some 50 countries in
about 14 languages, Brainerd pointed to promising international
markets. In particular he singled out the Soviet Union. The
Soviet government publishes huge amounts of material, he said,
mostly using outdated equipment. The Soviet Communist Party is
committed to moving to PC-based publishing over the next five
years, he told reporters.

(Grant Buckler/19901019/Press Contact: Aldus Canada,
416-925-1288)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00028)

STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS DEAL WITH AUTODESK, ALLIANCE PROGRAM
MILFORD, OHIO, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Structural Dynamics
Research Corporation has signed a development agreement with
computer-aided design software vendor Autodesk and
established a program called Solid Alliance, aimed at involving
value-added resellers, complementary software suppliers and
computer system manufacturers in cooperative sales, marketing and
technical collaboration programs with SDRC.

The agreement in principle with Autodesk says the two companies
will jointly develop and provide two interfaces between SDRC's I-
DEAS software and AutoCAD software from Autodesk. They will also
market software jointly.

The first interface, I-DEAS Solid Link, a new SDRC software
product, will allow I-DEAS customers to transfer solid modeling
information to AutoCAD at the end of the design cycle for final
drafting. The second interface, AME Link, a new Autodesk software
product, will let AutoCAD users pass AutoCAD/AME solid modeling
information to I-DEAS. The interfaces will be distributed through
those AutoCAD dealers who are members of the new Solid Alliance
program.

"The Solid Alliance program is designed to help us more broadly
penetrate the mechanical design automation marketplace beyond our
current direct sales and OEM channels," said Ronald J. Friedsam,
SDRC chairman and chief executive, in a prepared statement

SDRC will offer members of the program a selection of cooperative
activities, ranging from sales and advertising programs to
promotional events and technical collaboration, in order to
jointly develop a unique marketing plan for each program member.

SDRC sells I-DEAS Solid Concept and Solid Assembly, software
based on its I-DEAS software and available on hardware platforms
from Apollo, Digital, Hewlett-Packard, Silicon Graphics, and Sun
Microsystems.

(Grant Buckler/19901019/Press Contacts: Jere Brooks Hunter, SDRC,
513-576-2469; Andrew Zarrillo, Autodesk, 415-491-8704)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00029)

BUSH SIGNS BILL AGAINST ALTERNATE OPERATOR ABUSES
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- A bill aimed at
curbing abuses by alternate-operator companies was signed by
President Bush. The Teleputing Operator Consumer Services
Improvement Act of 1990, also known as H.R. 971, was signed
October 17, and requires that all phone switch systems offer
consumers access to the long-distance carrier of their choice.

Older switches may have to be retrofitted, at an estimated cost
of $7,000-$22,000 per site, in order to comply, according to the North
American Telecommunications Association, a trade group.

The bill emerged from a host of consumer complaints against so-called
AOS companies, which pay property owners to control their
phones, then make the call for consumers. Often, the result is
that a gas station or hotel will take a kickback from the AOS
company, which will jack-up the cost of a long distance call and
bill it to your credit card. Consumers often don't know about the
added charges, and are in no position to complain as they often
get the bill many months after the calls were made.

As recently as this summer, Georgia regulators charged that some
abuses were continuing. The new law won't curb the abuses found
in Georgia, which mainly involve tacking on "operator" charges where no
operator is involved, or adding $1/call surcharges to in-state
calls, but it will assure that consumers at least have the option
of using their favorite phone card for long-distance calls.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19901019/Press Contact: The White House, 202-
456-1414)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00030)

BELL ATLANTIC TO COMBINE SOFTWARE UNITS
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- Bell
Atlantic will combine its two software companies, Bell Atlantic
Knowledge Systems and Technology Concepts, on Jan. 1.

The company has named William E. Miller, formerly of CRISP
Automation/Joy Technologies, to head up the new company, which
will be called Bell Atlantic Software Systems. Miller recently
joined Bell Atlantic to oversee the integration of the two
companies.

The new company will be headquartered in Morgantown, West
Virginia, where Knowledge Systems was founded three years ago in
concert with West Virginia's emerging Software Valley movement.
Knowledge Systems now has 50 employees in Morgantown, principally
software engineers, and 25 in Princeton, New Jersey.

Bell Atlantic spokeswoman Nancy Stark told Newsbytes the company
plans to maintain its facilities in Sudbury, Massachusetts, where
Technology Concepts is currently based. There are no immediate
plans to move employees as a result of the merger, she said.

"By combining and moving these companies forward as one, we have
created a core competence in software that is vital to addressing
the information management requirements of our customers," said
Jeffrey S. McDermott, president of Bell Atlantic Software and
Systems Solutions, in a prepared statement.

(Grant Buckler/19901019/Press Contact: Nancy J. Stark, Bell
Atlantic, 215-963-6777)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00031)

CANADA: STM SYSTEMS ACQUIRES APRICOT DISTRIBUTOR
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1990 OCT 19 (NB) -- STM Systems, a
subsidiary of International Semi-Tech Microelectronics, has
acquired AIC Computers, the exclusive distributor for Apricot
computers in Canada.

AIC, which does business as Apricot in Canada, will continue as a
separate subsidiary of STM, said Ray Lancashire, an STM
spokesman. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

Lancashire told Newsbytes the move was the first step into
hardware distribution for STM Systems, Canada's largest computer
service bureau and systems integrator. He said he could not
speculate on the possibility of further moves into that area. "I
would image that a lot will depend on how we do with Apricot," he
said.

AIC has distribution rights for the Apricot line only in Canada,
and Lancashire said there is no immediate prospect the deal will
lead to parent International Semi-Tech distributing the British-
made computers through its international operations.
International Semi-Tech also manufactures IBM-compatible personal
computers.

(Grant Buckler/19901019/Press Contact: Ray Lancashire, STM
Systems, 416-979-3900)


(REVIEW)(IBM)(ATL)(00032)

Review of: Language Master ver 3.0, word tools for the PC

Runs on: IBM PC/XT w/DOS 2.0+, or IBM PC-AT w/DOS 3.0+; fixed
disk or 2 floppy disk drives (one must be High Density); 100KB
free memory; 80 column color or monochrome monitor

From: Franklin Software, 3511 N.E. 22nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33308, 305-566-3511, FAX [phone]

Price: $99.00 -- upgrades from Franklin: $39.00 plus $3.00 ship

PUMA Rating: 3.725 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: tbass, HNDYPRSN,  10/19/90

SUMMARY: Language Master ver 3.0 is a versatile TSR dictionary and
thesaurus now including synonyms, antonyms, contrasted words,
compared words, and related words. Don't mistake it for a
document spell checker.

======

REVIEW

======

Language Master ver 3.0, LM, is similar in format to the pocket
electronic dictionary and thesaurus. I have enjoyed the use of this
TSR dictionary and thesaurus over the past couple of years. With
the addition of related, compared, and contrasted
words, and antonyms to the thesaurus it becomes even more
valuable. The thesaurus now has 1.4 million responses.

This program is an 80,000-word dictionary and crossed reference
thesaurus that interacts with the user's word processor. LM can be
easily configured to work with one or more of 32 different word
processing applications. The TSR program can quickly be dropped
from memory without having to return to DOS, a nice feature when
one wants to print a document and needs memory for printer
configuration files. It must be loaded from DOS, of course.

LM is loaded in the first 640K of memory. It takes up the room
needed when working with a word processor and large, or multiple,
documents. Franklin, as with many companies using pop-up format,
still needs to find a way to place it in memory above the first
1024K. This would make LM even more convenient for professional
writers and editors.

The program allows one to switch from dictionary to thesaurus to
dictionary until the user has chosen the word that most suits
their purpose. Then LM will subsitute that word with an existing one,
or it will leave the original word alone at the users
discretion. It will also allow the user to look up words when
the spelling is not correct by giving a list of possibilities.
The user can use 'wild cards' in the spelling if need be.

This application is for people who are wordsmiths, in school
learning English as a second language, or interested the fine
distinctions between words. For those who want to use the word
that says it correctly, be it for business, professional, or
simple pleasure, this one's for us.

LM was developed through a unique collaboration between Merriam-
Webster and Proximity Software. They have provided us with two
programs integrated in a sophisticated database. The two programs
are Webster's Electronic Dictionary, Concise Edition and
Webster's Electronic Thesaurus.

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

PUMA RATING

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

PERFORMANCE: (3.9) As a cross-referenced dictionary and
thesaurus LM is excellent. Its TSR quality makes it convenient
and, yet, its ability to drop from memory on command is a big
plus in this day of 'memory hog' program features. There needs to
a way to place LM in memory above the first 1024K.

USEFULNESS: (4) For those of us who truly enjoy looking up words
and savoring the fine distinctions among them, it is a great
tool. LM has increased in its usefulness with the enlarged
thesaurus. It is definitely quality for a reasonable price. I
don't think you can beat it for the money.

MANUAL: (3.0) The old manual is clear and has a professional
appearance, but the additions are only referred to on a slip of
paper added to the box. I might add that the slip is not too
clearly written either. Novices need to understand very little
about TSR programs and hot-keys; the old manual gives what is
needed.

AVAILABILITY: (4) Language Master is easily available through
Franklin Software and is, also, available in stores. I've seen
the advertisements in some of the leading magazines. Franklin
Software's phone number is 800-543-3511. VISA, Master Charge,
American Express, check, money order, prepaid purchase, and
company purchase order are accepted.

(tbass, HNDYPRSN/19900928/Press Contact:Carol Lahnum, 800-543-3511)


(REVIEW)(APPLE)(SFO)(00033)

Review of: MacAnalyst Combo V2.1, a CASE tool for the Macintosh

Runs on: All Macintoshes with 1MB of RAM or more

From: Excel Software, P.O.Box 1414, Marshalltown, IA 50158 (515) 752-
5359

Price: $395

PUMA rating: 3.93 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)

Reviewed for NEWSBYTES by: Naor Wallach, 10/19/90

Summary: A CASE tool as they all should be. Very intuitive and flexible. If
it could only be shared by more than one person, it would be ideal.

=======

REVIEW

=======

MacAnalyst is a computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool. The
software engineering discipline mandates that a particular process be
followed when creating a program. This is a very methodical approach that
is intended to put a structure around what can be a very chaotic process.
To assist software engineers in this task, it seems only appropriate that
computers be enlisted for the task. And, while we have not reached the
nirvana of having the computer do the design and writing of programs from
short instructions that the engineers give them, we are at least on the
road to having the computer help in creating programs.

There are five stages in the creation of a program. They are: Requirements
Specification, Analysis, Design, Code, Test and Debug. This is not a linear
process and frequent iterations are common. MacAnalyst is a tool that
addresses one of the stages, namely, the Analysis stage. The Requirements
Specification stage is already aided by computer via the use of your
garden-variety word processor.

The heart of any Analysis methodology is to capture ideas in a graphical
format. MacAnalyst allows you to analyze the program via the use of
either the Yourdon/DeMarco or Gane & Sarson methodologies. I will not
dwell on these methodologies in this review.

Using the program is very intuitive and "Mac-ish" feeling. Excel software
should be congratulated on capturing the spirit of the Macintosh and
applying it very well to a complex product like this. When creating a Data
Flow Diagram (DFD) there is a tool palette present along the left side of
the screen a la MacPaint and MacDraw that contains all the elements
needed. To place a process, you click on the process tool, move the cursor
to the spot, and click. A process bubble will be drawn at that spot and a
dialog box will come up and ask you for some pertinent information about
that process. Enter the info, click on the "OK" button and immediately you
are back in your DFD ready to place another process.

MacAnalyst takes care of a lot of the mundane details for you. Things
like numbering of bubbles is automatically done, the Data Dictionary
(DD) can be automatically updated to include all new items and
changes that are made to a DFD, etc. This is truly the way a CASE
program should behave.

Once you have completed your DFD and updated all items in the Data
Dictionary, you can create child-processes and repeat the process of
creation. Moving between a parent and child process is as easy as clicking
your mouse button twice. Any data that should be moved to the child
process is done with the selection of an item on the menu bar. Modifying
any drawing or the Data Dictionary is also very simple and intuitive, you
simply click on the object that is to be moved, grab a corner, and move it
to the new location.

The program also performs various checks for you on your analysis. You
can specify the depth of checks and also the kind. You can have your DFDs
verified and balanced, and your Data Dictionary can be checked to make
sure that all items are present, their composition defined, and that they
are truly used in the DFDs that you created. I cannot tell you how many
times I was embarrassed to realize very late on a project that I still have
a bunch of Data Dictionary items in my DD but no corresponding flows in
my DFDs! The results of these checks are displayed in a text window and
thereafter can be perused by you for making corrections.

The program keeps most of its data in memory. This means two things:
First, it is screaming fast. And secondly, the more RAM memory you have,
the better the performance you get. I work in an environment where every
software engineer is equipped with a DEC workstation running a
distributed CASE tool similar to MacAnalyst. All the workstation are
networked to a cluster of minicomputers that provide the raw computing
power. This is a much more costly and powerful setup than the single Mac
II that I used for this review. However, there was no comparison in
performance. I transferred one Analysis that I was working on to
MacAnalyst and performed the same checks on both. MacAnalyst finished
and displayed its results in approximately 15 seconds. The other tool was
still crunching 17 minutes later!!!

I do have some negative comments about this program. First, the set-up of
a new analysis is not very intuitive. There are relatively strict rules as to
what kind of document needs to be open when, and in what order. If you do
not follow these rules exactly, various checks and reports are not
available to you.

Second, all of the data that is collected is merged into a single file
for the DFD and another one for the DD and yet another one for
the Process Descriptions. This is fine except that it does not allow for a
team of engineers to work on one program. The people I talked with in
Excel software assured me that this program can be used by several
people across an Appletalk network for instance. However, when
questioned closely, it turns out that you can store the files on a server,
and then have each of the individuals work on a different file. For a small
one person project, this may be sufficient. However, the more likely use
for this kind of a program is when a group of engineers are working
together and then it is much more likely that they would all be analyzing
at the same time, albeit on different parts of the problem.

Third, there were a few minor errors in the manual. I ran through
the tutorials and unfortunately made a small error in one diagram.
The program detected the problem and attempted to inform me of
it. Deplorably, the error message did not contain sufficient information
for me to be able to fix the problem. I had to call the company to find
out where my mistake was. This problem appeared only during the
tutorial, I made the same mistake deliberately during my evaluation
and then the program did tell me exactly what the problem was. So,
I'm confused.

There is yet another part to this program and that is the ability to use
Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs). I am not very familiar with the use
of ERDs so I cannot comment on how well they are done, but I can say that
the ERD module displayed the same good characteristics as the parts that
I am familiar with.

Overall, I was very impressed with MacAnalyst. Frankly, I didn't expect
such performance and quality from a program that costs so relatively
little. If Excel Software could somehow allow for the ability to have
multiple users working on an analysis at once, I would highly recommend
that one and all software engineers buy it immediately. As it currently
stands I can only highly recommend it for use in smaller projects. And
that is very high praise indeed!!

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PUMA RATINGS

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PERFORMANCE: 4 This program screams! I never had the opportunity to take
a coffee break while giving the excuse that " I am waiting for the
machine." It also provides complete analysis functionality in an intuitive
fashion.

USEFULNESS: 3.75. My only real beef is that this is almost a
single-user program. Large groups cannot share the data here too well.

MANUAL: 4 It is competently written and lacks typos and mistakes. I do
wish that a section was inserted that explained in greater detail the
meaning of some of the report details.

AVAILABILITY: 4 I only had one problem and that was quickly resolved
with a call to the company. The people I talked to were knowledgeable and
accurate in their responses. When I was told that I would be called back in
the morning, I was!

(Naor Wallach/19900926/Press Contact: Harold Halbleit)