Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June/Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso/pc/text/mac_text/1993/nb122393

Text File | 1993-12-23 | 86.9 KB | 2,015 lines

(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00001)

 ****Newsbytes News Archives On CD-ROM Special Offer 12/23/93
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Buy a
Newsbytes News Network CD-ROM -- more than 50,000 news
stories written about the worldwide telecommunications and
computer industries -- and get a $10 off coupon on the next
update disc, Newsbytes' first multimedia version, due in February.

Newsbytes Volume III, a CD-ROM which runs on both the Apple
Computer Macintosh and DOS-based PCs, contains all news,
reviews, and editorials published on the Newsbytes News Network
for nearly 11 years -- from May, 1983 through July, 1993.
The disc is available for $24.95 (plus $2.50 shipping and
handling to US addresses, $4.50 to non-US addresses) and is
now shipping with a special $10 off coupon for the next
edition, which will be a multimedia version.

"The next version of our CD-ROM, which is in its fourth annual
printing next year, will contain graphics -- shots of the
products, people, and places we're writing about. It will be an
exciting new addition to our previously text-based CD-ROM,"
said Wendy Woods, Newsbytes' editor-in-chief.

The digitized photos included on the next disc will be taken
directly from Newsbytes' new picture service, Newspix,
which provides publishers and on-line services with at least
30 digitized product, people, place, and event shots to
supplement text-based news stories.

Newsbytes is the world's largest source of independent computer
and telecom industry reporting. Newsbytes reports 30 stories
a day, or 600 a month.

The stories are first-hand reported and gathered by the
Newsbytes team of 19 daily reporters in  Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Atlanta, Washington
DC, Boston, Toronto, London, Tokyo, Hongkong, Sydney, and New
Delhi. Newsbytes reporters provide on-site coverage of dozens
of trade shows each year, focusing on the latest marketing,
legal, business, and product trends.

A Textware search engine enables the Volume III CD-ROM disc
to be keyword searched for stories in which individual words
or text strings appear, or Boolean searched ("keyword1" plus
"keyword2" but not "keyword3"). This makes it an invaluable
tool for researchers and libraries.

One user tells Newsbytes, "I'm doing a presentation for a class
at the university I'm attending and needed some historical
computer information. I popped in the CD-ROM and found 131
articles on my topic! I marked them and saved them to a
disk file that I printed later. Talk about easy research.
You have a 'sold' customer."

Newsbytes, a pioneering electronic publication, has provided daily
coverage of the dynamic and complex computer and telecom
industries to on-line services, magazines, newspapers, newsletters,
and fax and electronic-mail news delivery services worldwide since
1983.

Newsbytes coverage has won Best Online Publication awards five
times from the Computer Press Association, the largest
organization of professional computer journalists worldwide.
Newsbytes is an independent, privately held news organization.

Those interested in ordering the CD-ROM should send a check or
money order, or their Visa or Mastercard number, with expiration
date (no American Express please) to CD-ROM Offer, Newsbytes
News Network, Carriage House, 406 West Olive St., Stillwater,
MN 55082, or fax to 612-430-0441.

Electronic mail orders should be sent to
[e-mail] (Internet), NEWSBYTES1 (Applelink
or Bix), WWOODS (MCI Mail), 72241,337 (Compuserve), or
NEWSBYTES on America Online. Include shipping address.

(Newsbytes Staff/19931220)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00002)

Windows To Lead GUI Future, But Which Windows? 12/23/93
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Market
research group CI Infocorp says that, while several new, advanced
operating systems (OS) will be introduced in the near future,
Microsoft's Windows will most likely lead the market. The
problem is, which version of Windows?

The choices for the next round of graphical user interface (GUI)
operating systems include: Windows NT (code named "Cairo" in the
new release now under development); Windows 4.0 (code named
"Chicago"); OS/2 from IBM; Taligent from IBM and Apple; Unix; and
the Macintosh OS moving to Apple's new PowerPC-based Macintosh
machines expected next year. While Infocorp says Windows will
definitely lead in the next two to five years, the question
becomes which version of Windows?

Chicago or Windows 4.0 is the predicted winner in the near term
with an estimate of 20 million units consumed worldwide by 1997,
Infocorp maintains. While Microsoft is aiming the 4.0 version at
the current Windows 3.x market, it requires a minimum of a 386
microprocessor and eight megabytes of random access memory
(RAM). Microsoft has pre-release versions in the hands of
developers beginning this month, but the official introduction of
the product is not expected until late second or early third quarter
1994.

Chicago is said to include multiple-thread support and
multitasking like its big brother NT, as well as built in support
for object linking and embedding (OLE) 2.0. The product is also
reportedly capable of automatically "sensing" devices linked to
the PC, in order to eliminate complex configuration by the user.
As with the current version of NT, DOS will not be underneath
anymore, a requirement for the low-end Windows 3.1, but
Chicago will provide for DOS and Windows 3.x emulation.

The problem is the product is being build on a substantially new
code base, according to Infocorp, and as such can be considered a
1.0 version. To computer industry veterans, any 1.0 version is
associated with "bugs," and so a new code base could spell
concern.

Windows NT will take hold, but not in the numbers Chicago is
expected to generate until after 1997, when higher-performance
hardware is expected to shift users to more advanced operating
systems.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931222/Press Contact: Tom Roberts, CI
Infocorp, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00003)

Lower Prices, New Features For Phase X's X Terminals 12/23/93
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Phase X System
has repositioned its CA Series of color and monochrome X terminals
with a local Motif windows manager and other new features, along
with lower prices.

Encompassing 15-, 17-, and 20-inch color models and a 19-inch
monochrome model, the CA Series supports Sun, Hewlett-Packard,
IBM, DEC, and SCO Unix server systems.

"X terminals are typically priced at half the price of a
workstation. But the CA Series is priced much lower than a
comparable X terminal. The cost per seat for the CA Series is
four times less than a Sun or HP workstation," said Dr. Chong
Lee, president and CEO, in making the announcement.

The CA X terminals sport an AMD-29000 RISC (reduced instruction-
set computer) processor, plus an ASIC (application-specific
integrated circuit) chip running at 64 megahertz (MHz) as a
graphics accelerator. The X terminals offer over 65,000 XStones
in graphics performance, and all models are ISO-9001
(International Standards Organization) quality certified, says
the company.

Aside from the local Motif windows manager, other new features
include font server access, screen lock, low memory dialogs, three-
dimensional (3-D) graphical user interface (GUI) setup windows,
and remote configuration capabilities.

The X terminals support the DECnet interface and an XDM (X Display
Manager) chooser list designed to allow users login into various
hosts.

Local area network (LAN) connectivity is provided through two
thin net and thick net Ethernet LAN interfaces. The terminals also
include a serial and parallel port for supporting local peripherals
such as printers.

The CA Series is targeted at such applications as transaction
processing, commercial, finance, banking, office, manufacturing,
and two-dimensional (2-D) computer-aided design (CAD).

Phase X also sells the CE Series of X terminals, a family based on
a MIPS-compatible 33 MHz RISC LR 33020 processor from LSI
Logic. Introduced in a joint launch with Samsung at Unix Expo in
September, the CE Series performs at 120,000 XStones and is aimed
at high-speed graphics applications. Samsung manufactures both the
CE Series and the CA Series.

Phase X is a direct response company formed last year. Dr. Lee,
president and CEO of Phase X, was formerly managing director at
Samsung. Phase X also markets Unix workstations, PC and X station
applications software, and PC, X station, and Macintosh integration
software from a variety of vendors.

Under the new pricing schedule for the CA Series, the 15CA1, a 15-
inch color model offering 1024-by-768 resolution, has been reduced
in price from $1,695 to $1,495. The price of the 17CA1, a 17-inch
color model with 1024-by-768 resolution, has been reduced from
$1,995 to $1,795. The 20CA2, a 20-inch color model with 1280-by-
1024 resolution, has been lowered in price from $2,995 to $2,595.

The 19CA1, a 19-inch monochrome model with 1280-by-1024
resolution, is sold for $1,395. All prices include X server software
and a one-year warranty.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931222/Reader Contact: Phase X Systems,
503-531-2400; Press Contact, Peter Ghavami, Phase X,
503-531-2400)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00004)

India - Intecos & Quality Assurance Institute In JV 12/23/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Delhi-based Intecos has
joined hands with the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI), to form
a joint venture--Quality Assurance Institute (India) Ltd.

Besides India, QAI (India) will also be addressing Middle East and
South East Asian countries providing quality management and
ISO 9000 (International Standards Organization) services,
especially for the software sector.

It will also offer reports, conduct quality studies, establish
quality assurance and control functions, organize seminars and
conferences on quality related issues among other services.

"Quality was merely a hype a few years ago, today it has become
a buzzword, and a business proposition too," said Navyug Mohnot,
a director of QAI (India).

While Intecos holds the majority shares in QAI (India), the exact
distribution has not yet been fixed, said Mohnot. The company, for
the time being, will use the existing infrastructure of Intecos.

Intecos's Information Systems Division, which was established in
1988 to focus on software productivity and quality, including
ISO 9000 facilitation through consultancy, studies, training,
products, tools and publications, will continue to sell the enabling
tools.

The company has recently brought out a 450-page ISO 9000 enabler
for understanding, planning and costing the ISO 9000 certification
process, which will now be sold by QAI (India).

QAI (India) will facilitate software professionals to get the
Certified Quality Analyst (CQA) designation in India. One can get
certified by sitting for an exam which will be administered in
India by QAI (India) on behalf of QAI (USA).

(C.T. Mahabharat/19931223)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00005)

NEC To Make Further Investment In Bull 12/23/93
PARIS, FRANCE, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- NEC Corp., has announced that
it has exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Bull, the
troubled French computer manufacturer, for a technology link-up
between the two companies.

As part of the link-up between the two firms, NEC will invest
around FF330 million in Bull some time during January. This
extra investment in Bull, Newsbytes notes, brings the value
of NEC's investment to more than 16,000 million yen,

Previous investments by NEC in Bull have covered computer chip
technology. Although precise details of the technology deal have yet
to be confirmed, Newsbytes understands that the new deal covers
areas such as communications, color displays and ASIC (application
specific integrated circuit) processors.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931223/Press & Public Contact: Bull SA,
33-1-6447-9164)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00006)

UK - Nokia Extends Deal With Hutchison Microtel 12/23/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Hutchison Microtel, which
will launch the UK's second DCS1800 personal communications
network (PCN) digital mobile phone network next Spring, has
announced an extension to its contract with Oy Nokia Ab for the
supply of equipment to its network.

Hutchinson's original contract, dating from 1991, was for UKP60
million. According to Hutchinson, the extension means that total
contract is worth more than UKP100 million with Nokia.

Hutchison Microtel is majority-owned by Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.,
of Hong Kong. Like the Mercury One-2-One PCN launched earlier this
year, Microtel will operate at 1,800 megahertz (MHz) -- twice the
frequency used by analog cellular phone services.

UK press sources have been speculating over the tariffs that
Hutchinson Microtel will charge the public when it launches in the
Spring. Mercury One-2-One is already offering free local calls
within the M25 outer orbital motorway area that rings London
during off-peak times. Hutchinson Microtel has said it will equal
this offer in one way or another.

(Steve Gold/19931223/Press & Public Contact: Hutchinson
Microtel, 44-992-501234)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00007)

Olivetti Prepares Way For January Restructure 12/23/93
ROME, ITALY, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Olivetti has announced
provisional plans for a planned restructuring during January,
although precise details will not be revealed until mid-January,
according to Gino Giugni, the Italian labor minister.

In a prepared statement, Giugni said that Olivetti has agreed to
postpone its plans to place around 2,000 workers on a state-assisted
temporary layoff for a month over the Christmas and New Year
holiday period. Instead, full details of the restructuring will be
announced to the workforce in mid-January.

Giugni has admitted that he is optimistic about reaching an
agreement with the unions concerned prior to the mid-January
announcement, thanks to their track record with reaching
agreement in the past.

Newsbytes understands that talks will resume between the
management of Olivetti and its unions on January 11 in Rome,
when a week of talks is expected to finalize the agreement
over the restructuring.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931223/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00008)

Italy - RAI Rides Financial Storm, Italian Govt Steps In 12/23/93
ROME, ITALY, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- RAI, the Italian broadcasting
company, has revealed that it very nearly hit bankruptcy recently,
but now the Italian government has stepped in to full the breach.

According to Maurizio Pagani, the Italian Minister for Post and
Telecommunications, plans call to rescue the broadcaster by a
combination of public and private funding. The government plans to
raise license fees for radio and television during 1994, with the
resulting projected increase in income allowing the government to
raise the "book value" of the company to stand surety against loans
the company has.

Only a few weeks ago, Claudio Dematte, RAI's chairman, hit back at
critics of the original plans to hike license fees by more than 15
percent, claiming that anything less would mean the state
broadcasting company would go out of business.

Privately, Italian government officials seem to be admitting that
liberalization of Italian broadcasting this past decade has gone
wrong. Instead of the expected price controlled competition,
dozens of small TV stations, each operating on a shoestring budget,
have sprung up, offering programming ranging from dial-in bids for
strippers to remove their clothing to horror shows.

Most of the small stations survive on donations from the public
and unofficial adverts. This has caused problems for RAI, which
has been forced to maintain its existing programming output.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931223)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00009)

UK - Xedia Intros Three Intelligent Hub Products 12/23/93
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Xedia has
announced the launch of three new products in its MADway series.
The company claims that these new products will optimize the
performance of Ethernet local area networks (LANs) by workgroup
 segmentation and provide low-cost expansion to existing LANs.

All three products are claimed to be compatible with Novell
Netware and are designed to be incorporated within desktop
computers or LAN servers, as well as Xedia's own intelligent
hub chassis.

First in the new range is the MADGroup, which is claim by the
company to combine the functionality of a hub repeater with an
integrated LAN bridge to reduce the loading on individual workgroup
segments. The bridging function allows access to other co-located
workgroups using Xedia's high-speed onboard real time bus or via
a thirteenth port configured as a separate bridge for access into
an existing backbone network.

Jens Montanana, Xedia's president, said that the MADGroup contains
the local traffic within the workgroup that needs to use it. "It
optimizes inter-company data traffic while only sending data to
other workgroups as and when they need it. Those packets of data
that need to go from one workgroup to another get filtered out and
bridged internally," he said.

The second new product is the MADlink card, an adapted version of
the MADGroup card. This card also provides two fully independent
bridge ports for "cross-campus-like" applications.

The third product is MADextend, a 12-port 10BaseT hub card that
claims to provide repeater functionality which can be used in
conjunction with the MADGroup card to extend workgroup or
LAN clusters cost-effectively.

Pricing on the new products has yet to be confirmed by the UK
operation. Xedia Limited is a subsidiary of Xedia Corp., of
Wilmington, Massachusetts, in the US.

(Steve Gold/19931223/Press & Public Contact: Xedia, tel
44-784-4497977, fax [phone])


(CORRECTION)(IBM)(LON)(00010)

Correction - Comdex Theos+DOS 32 Story 12/23/93
WALNUT CREEK, CA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Theos Software
Corp., has contacted Newsbytes to clarify a few points in a
Comdex story about the company's Theos+DOS 32 product.

In that story, Newsbytes reported that Theos has spun off its
multi-use DOS operating system from its networking software.
Theos has asked us to point out that this product was actually
spun off from the Theos multi-user operating system and Plus
Paks.

Newsbytes also noted that Theos+DOS 32 overlaid standard DOS.
In fact, the package creates a virtual PC and runs true DOS on that
virtual PC.

The company asks Newsbytes readers in the US wanting more
information to contact it toll-free on 1-800-600-5560.

Our apologies for any misunderstanding over Newsbytes' original
report from the Comdex computer show.

(Steve Gold/19931223/Press & Public Contact: Theos Software
Corp., tel [phone], fax [phone])


(CORRECTION)(TELECOM)(DEN)(00011)

Correction - Computer Press Assn Gets Dedicated BBS 12/23/93
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- A
recent story about the Computer Press Association members
getting a full-time, dedicated bulletin board system (BBS)
where they can exchange mail, check job openings, and share
professional information contained an erroneous phone number.

The voice number in the byline of the original story is correct.
However, the correct number to reach the bulletin board using a
modem-equipped personal computer is 719-592-1528

The board, called CompPress, is operated by CPA member and
veteran system operator (sysop) Thom Foulks, a freelance writer.
CompPress uses Mustang Software's Wildcat! software and a
Practical Peripherals PM14400 modem. Users can access the
board at speeds up to 14,400 bits-per-second (bps).

CompPress will have some public access areas for messaging
activities as well as the private CPA members-only message and
files areas. It will also carry various freeware and shareware
computer programs that are available to CPA members and non-
members alike.

Users desiring access to CompPress should set their modem
parameters to 8 bits, no parity, and one stop bit.

(Jim Mallory/19931223/Press & Reader Contact: Thom Foulks,
tel [phone]; BBS 719-592-1528)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00012)

Northern Telecom Creates Two Operating Groups 12/23/93
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Trying to
streamline to meet tough competition, Northern Telecom Ltd., is
shuffling its worldwide organizations into two groups. One group
will include all product development as well as North American
sales and marketing, while the other will sell the company's
products in the rest of the world.

John Roth, who formerly oversaw Northern's wireless products,
will take responsibility for its switching, transmission, and
broadband systems products as well. Roth will become an
executive vice-president. Northern's two North American operating
subsidiaries -- Northern Telecom Canada Ltd., of Mississauga,
Ontario, and Northern Telecom Inc., of Nashville, Tennessee -- will
also report to him. All of these operations will become part of
the new Nortel North America group.

James Long, an executive vice-president whose former
responsibilities included Northern's operations in Europe, Asia,
the Pacific, and the Middle East, will also oversee Central and
South America operations as head of Nortel World Trade, said
Robert O'Brien, a company spokesman.

Northern's South, Central, and North American operations were
formerly part of its Americas group, under Roy Merrills, who is
to retire at the age of 60 in March, O'Brien said.

The switching, transmission, and broadband systems product units
have been reporting directly to Jean Monty, Northern's president
and chief executive. Now, only Roth and Long will report to Monty.
By streamlining the reporting structure, O'Brien said, Northern
hopes to be able to respond better to increasing competition and
a tough economy.

He added that the shuffle is a natural development coming about a
year after Monty assumed control of the company from Paul Stern.

In the second quarter of 1993, Northern recorded its first
quarterly loss in five years -- and warned that it expected a loss
on the year as well. At that time, the company also said it would
cut manufacturing capacity and let go about nine percent of its
global work force, or 5,200 employees worldwide.

In its third quarter, Northern lost US$35 million on revenues of
US$1.88 billion. A company spokeswoman said in October that
Northern expects a profit in the fourth quarter but still
forecasts a loss on the year.

(Grant Buckler/19931223/Press Contact: Robert O'Brien,
Northern Telecom, 703-712-8526; Maureen O'Brien, Northern
Telecom, 905-238-7206)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00013)

Canada's Computer Paper To Expand 12/23/93
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- The
Computer Paper, a monthly tabloid that currently publishes four
regional editions across the country, will launch a fifth to
extend its reach across Canada in February.

The Vancouver-based publisher will begin an eastern edition for
distribution in Ottawa, Montreal, and the Atlantic Provinces. The
new edition will join existing ones serving British Columbia,
Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.

The Computer Paper expects a circulation of about 75,000 copies
for the new edition, bringing the monthly's total national
circulation to over 300,000 copies per month -- more than
any other Canadian computer publication, officials said.

As it is in the rest of the country, The Computer Paper will be
distributed through high-volume convenience stores, libraries
and the like in Eastern Canada, said Douglas Alder, editor and
publisher.

The new edition will carry some content specific to the region as
well as some material that appears in all editions across the
country, he said. Correspondents are being signed up in Ottawa
and Montreal, he said, and, "just by being there and circulating
it, we tend to get a bunch of press releases."

The paper will offer advertisers the ability to place their ads
in all copies of the eastern edition or, through split runs, only
in copies distributed in Ottawa, Montreal, or the Atlantic
Provinces. The Computer Paper also carries national
advertisements that appear in all editions.

The latest expansion gives the publication nationwide
distribution, but Alder noted that there is still no edition
aimed at the province of Saskatchewan, a gap that may be filled
in future. He added that the Ontario market is large enough that
the company may consider a second regional edition there in
future as well.

(Grant Buckler/19931223/Press Contact: Douglas Alder, The
Computer Paper, 604-733-5596; Public Contact: The Computer
Paper, 604-733-5596, 416-588-1580, or 613-729-0234)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00014)

Buyers Ponder Client/Server, Open Systems - IDC Canada 12/23/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- The visions
dancing in Canadian information technology  (IT) managers' heads
this Christmas are mostly of client/server computing and open
systems, according to a recent study by Toronto-based research
firm International Data Corp., Canada.

IDC said 65 percent of the sites surveyed either have moved or
are moving to client/server computing, and 71 percent are
pursuing open-systems strategies.

Not surprisingly given the client/server focus, networking
hardware, software, and services are absorbing the biggest
spending increases in nearly half -- 46 percent -- of the
organizations surveyed.

However, client/server database management seems to be moving
slowly. IDC reported that at 36 percent of the organizations its
researchers contacted, databases are likely to stay on mainframe
systems for the time being, while another 31.3 percent have both
central and end-user databases but said they were in no hurry
about integrating them.

About two thirds of those who responded are maintaining their
current levels of spending on information technology. About 26.4
percent said they expect an increase in their IT budgets in the
coming year.

At the same time, IDC found, information systems people are
losing only a little of their control of technology purchases to
end-user departments. Decentralization has put more purchasing
decisions in users' hands, the research firm said, but
information systems people still have a role as a central
coordinating body.

Another finding of the IDC study, entitled: "1993 Canadian IT
Customer Directions and Spending Strategies," is that Microsoft
Windows continues to increase its hegemony over the desktop. In
92 percent of the sites surveyed, Windows was in use or planned
within 12 months. Fifty percent of respondents described Windows
as an important application and/or development environment.

IDC also said about 37.3 percent of respondents are focusing on
developing and/or implementing strategic applications aimed at
boosting their organizations' competitiveness. About 23.6 percent
named migrating from older to newer hardware and software as a
key concern.

(Grant Buckler/19931223/Press Contact: Michelle Shannon, IDC
Canada, 416-369-0033)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00015)

Cray Research Intros New C, C++ Products 12/23/93
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Cray Research
has announced two new products the company says will make C
and C++ programming easier and also help those programs
perform better on the company's supercomputers.

The company is announcing the Cray Standard C Programming
Environment 1.0 and the Cray Research C++ Libraries.  The
programming environment includes the most recent version of the
Cray Standard C compiler version 4.0 and some associated tools
and libraries.

According to Mike Booth, head of compiler development at Cray
Research, the integrated approach to the company's compiler
products will provide Cray customers full programming
environment support for languages like C++ and the newest
releases of languages such as C. Booth says Cray plans to make
all future releases of its compiling technology available in this
manner. The company had previously announced programming
environments for Fortran 77 and Ada, and expects to ship a
Fortran 90 environment by the end of the year.

Cray says the Standard C Compiler, the main component of its
Standard C Programming Environment, employs advanced
parallel detection techniques to take advantage of the inherent
parallelism of its supercomputer systems.

The Cray Tools included with the programming environment are a
collection of X Window system-based utilities for debugging and
doing performance and source code analysis. ATExpert, another
component of the environment, is described by Cray as an expert
system that interprets performance data and offers suggestions
to improve code performance.

The new libraries augment the C++ compiling system that was
released in July 1992. C++ is an object-oriented programming
language that allows users to create software applications for
supercomputers using familiar objects. Class libraries are the
building blocks for simplifying application software development.

The libraries are based on products by Rogue Wave Software Inc.,
a supplier of scientific class libraries for workstations and PCs,
and are designed to enable scientists and engineers to write code
using objects such as molecules, matrices, or meshes.

(Jim Mallory/19931223/Press contact: Mardi Larson,
612-683-3538; Reader contact: Cray Research, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00016)

In Focus Systems Expands Projection Panel Line 12/23/93
TUALATIN, OREGON, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- In Focus
Systems has expanded its line of notebook-sized Panelbook
projection panels with the introduction of the Panelbook 525, an
active matrix liquid crystal display unit designed to project
computer graphics and animation.

Like other members of the Panelbook line, the 525 has a form
factor of 9.5-inches by 11.5-inches by 2-inches, the width and
height of a piece of computer paper with the perforations still
attached. The Panelbooks are designed to connect to a notebook
computer and project the contents of the PC screen at 640 by 480
pixel resolution in up to 1.4 million colors. The company says the
25-millisecond response rate supports full motion animation at
30 frames-per-second.

The Panelbooks are designed to be placed on an overhead
projector for display of the screen image, and can be used with an
optional video adapter to project video signals, including NTSC
(National Television Standards Committee) and PAL/SECAM to a
television set. There is also a universal power adapter included
with the unit that allows it to be used on domestic and
international power sources.

The 525 comes with a handheld remote control device that lets the
user control the system much like a VCR control is used. A button
that can store the user's favorite or most-used command is
included on the remote control.

The Panelbook 525 has a suggested retail price of $5,499 and is
immediately available. It joins the Panelbook 450, a $3,299 color
passive-matrix LCD panel, and the 550, an $8,999 active-matrix
multimedia panel with integrated video, two stereo speakers and
microphone input. Both systems were introduced earlier this year.
All the Panelbook systems include the remote control unit.

(Jim Mallory/19931223/Press Contact: Sharon VanSickle, KVO for
In Focus Systems, 503-221-2353; Reader Contact: In Focus
Systems, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(MSP)(00017)

Newsbytes Will Not Publish Dec 24-Jan 2 12/23/93
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Newsbytes'
last issue during the holiday season will be Thursday, December
23, and the next issue following that will be January 3, 1994.

Newsbytes will not publish for the final week of December
in order to give our correspondents a welcome holiday break.

We wish all our readers a pleasant holiday season, and we'll
see you in 1994!

(Newsbytes Staff/19931223)


(REVIEW)(IBM)(WAS)(00018)

Review of - WordPerfect 6.0 For Windows 12/23/93

Runs on: 80386SX or better with Windows 3.1, 32 megabytes
(MB) of free hard disk space, and 6MB RAM.

From: WordPerfect Corp., 1555 N. Technology Way, Orem, Utah
84057.

Price: $495

PUMA Rating: 3.25 (1 lowest, 4 highest)

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick

Summary: A very ambitious but somewhat buggy release of this
important word processor.

======

REVIEW

======

Windows is not my favorite operating environment -- but I don't
ignore programs which require it nor does it mean that I give
them a break just because the developers had to work around
Windows' quirks!

I have used WordPerfect for years and have no intention of
changing, but I also won't upgrade all my hardware to accommodate
WPSIXO.

First let's see what WPSIXO offers: a customizable double icon
bar packed with features such as a grammar checker; traditional
and alternative sets of function-key commands; powerful
templates; built-in graphics creation; better table creation;
many built-in spreadsheet functions; and direct import of many
file formats including dBASE, Paradox, and 1-2-3.

Now what's wrong: one icon bar is difficult to see on a 14-inch
monitor; my installation failed the first time and didn't
properly load the grammar checker on the second (despite
reporting no problems the second time); WPSIXO uses a lot of
resources to provide tools that many users already have or don't
need; there is another new file format; and lastly, WPSIXO is
incredibly slow on an older system.

Although I have powerful 486 systems that will run WPSIXO much
faster, many businesses are still running the very popular 386 SX
computer so I loaded the software there first.

Running on a 16 MHz system WPSIXO needs 15 seconds to bring up
the "save" screen - it takes an eye blink to do the same with
earlier non-Windows versions. Fifteen seconds is an eternity when
you make regular saves. Along the same line, it takes 12 seconds
to bring up the thesaurus and another nine seconds to actually
replace a word in the document from the thesaurus list, and
another 10 seconds to begin a spell check of a 10-word screen.

We are talking about software that is so slow that it might
almost be faster to grab a print thesaurus or dictionary!

Certainly you get much faster performance on other systems and
even this one could be tweaked to speed it up, but it is a common
configuration and one which the program supports.

While trying to load the software I learned that WPSIXO wouldn't
recognize my removable optical disc despite the fact that other
programs have no trouble. Therefore, I had to load Windows
onto my crowded hard disk at which time WPSIXO decided it
could be installed on the magneto-optical disc as long
as Windows wasn't also on the disc.

I have no idea what the problem was and have no intention of
finding out - life is short and troubleshooting installation
problems under Windows is a thankless task.

The installation went without a hitch except that when I tried to
use the Grammatic grammar checker WPSIXO reported that it was
missing. I also encountered some problems with the templates -
they were there, but they didn't always work properly.

File conversion from 5.0 to 6.0 seems to work fine if you don't
mind the wait, but when converting back I discovered some strange
extra formatting information that needed to be removed.

You can customize the buttons in WPSIXO, but do so at the peril
of slowing things down even further because it will increase disk
accesses as the software brings up a new text description every
time you put the cursor on that button. The text is necessary to
learn the buttons, but I couldn't find a way to shut off the
descriptions after I learned what they meant so operation was
continually slowed.

Basically, although the company doesn't say so, this is an
integrated program, a spreadsheet, graphics program, and word
processor all in one. Companies tried this once before back in
the mid 80's but most people found that software like Symphony
just didn't offer enough power in any one feature, therefore they
continued to buy separate programs that fit their needs.

There are a lot of powerful tools here, but all that code takes
up a lot of space and inevitably leads to internal errors (bugs).

Personally I don't use a grammar checker, but if I did, I would
have already bought one and wouldn't need the one in WPSIXO. I do
need a powerful spreadsheet so I have one and don't need the one
built into WordPerfect 6.0. I also have several more powerful
graphics programs than the one in WPSIXO.

Bottom line is that if you liked the compromised integrated
programs that were somewhat popular a few years back and have a
powerful, fast computer, then WPSIXO might be just what you need,
but if you already have all the writing and other tools you need
this will not enhance your ability to put words on paper.

I do look forward to trying version 6.1.

This review written in WordPerfect 4.1. When reviewing word
processors I normally write the review in the test program but I
had a deadline.

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

PUMA RATING

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

PERFORMANCE: 2 A bit buggy and very slow on any but the most
powerful systems.

USEFULNESS: 3 Very feature-packed, but probably too many bells
and whistles for most users.

MANUAL: 4 As always WordPerfect did a good job here and the
built-in help/tutor has to be considered an extension of the manual.

AVAILABILITY: 4 Very easy to find - there is a strong push to get
this software onto computers before the competition (read
Microsoft Word).

(John McCormick/19931206/Press Contact: Jeff Larsen, WordPerfect,
801-228-5034 fax [phone]/PHOTO)


(REVIEW)(IBM)(LAX)(00019)

Review of - Packard Bell's Navigator 12/23/93

Runs on: Microsoft Windows-equipped Packard Bell Computers

From: Packard Bell, 9425 Canoga Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311,
tel [phone], fax [phone]

Price: comes with Packard Bell Computers -- the computers are
priced between $1,200 to $1,800 depending on model.

PUMA Rating: 4.0 (1 lowest, 4 highest)

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Linda Rohrbough

Summary: Navigator, Packard Bell's interactive, multimedia
answer to get newcomers started with a personal computer
(PC), is one of the best I've seen. With it, new PC users can
learn the basics in their spare time.

======

REVIEW

======

The group of people I always feel the most sympathy for when
teaching are adults who take the one-day introduction to
computers class. I don't fault the schools that offer these
classes, they're giving people what they say they want, but the
reality of the situation is you just can't learn to use a
computer if you've never touched one before by taking a one-day
class. That's why I find Packard Bell's Navigator product so
exciting.

One of the smartest things PC manufacturers ever decided to do
was pre-load software onto new computers, but that still isn't
enough to get new users "off the ground." Newcomers need time
and most of them need to see and hear with their own eyes and
ears how this is done. Not everyone can learn by reading a book
and it's unreasonable to expect them to do so.

So along comes Packard Bell with Navigator on a multimedia
computer. Navigator is another graphical environment to make
Windows easier to use. It is pre-loaded on the Packard Bell
computer, so it starts up first and it's aimed at brand new
computer users, via a multimedia interface that "talks" to the
user and demonstrates what to do.

I've seen plenty of these "make Windows easier" interfaces and
my conclusion has always been, you might as well just bite the
bullet and learn Windows because the cure is worse than the
disease. But Navigator is different because it teaches how to
use Windows.

What is Navigator like? Well, when it first starts up there is
a pleasant view of a computer on a desk and an agreeable female
voice welcomes you. Then it switches to the next screen where
there are six options represented by large push-button type
square boxes. The options are: 1 Getting Started, 2 Tutorials,
3 Service and Support, 4 Software, 5 Windows, 6 Exit, and
Return to DOS. The boxes have photographs on them that offer
illustrations of the concepts to the new user. For example,
the Getting Started button has a picture of a computer in a
newly opened box.

When the mouse is moved over each box, a long text box to the
right of the screen offers an explanation of what can be
accessed by double-clicking or pressing enter when the mouse is
on that box. At the bottom of the screen on the left are round
buttons. One has a question mark that brings up a help screen
when pressed, one has a lock that allows different portions of
Navigator to be accessible by password only, and another has
an envelop for the user to enter registration information.

Each of the buttons takes the user step-by-step with voice,
text, and animations, through use of the mouse, use of the
menus, how to get help, and how to navigate the screens. In
many places, Navigator uses forward and reverse arrows at the
button of the screen like those on a video cassette recorder
(VCR) which is an intuitive way for users to back up or go
forward in the presentation.

Some of the tutorials are from Microsoft and some are done by
Packard Bell. I went through the tutorials, and even picked up
some new information -- "pixel" stands for picture
element. I knew what a pixel was, but I didn't know it was
a combination of two words.

Navigator has several advantages to new users. One is it
doesn't present as much information -- choices are simple and
direct. I like Windows, but I remember feeling a little
overwhelmed at the sheer volume of visual information when I
first started it. The second was the use of the photographic-
like images on the buttons, which helps the user understand
what each item is. And third, I found Navigator attractively
designed with the choices for the user well categorized and
obviously well thought-out.

But I'm no longer a new user. So I decided to offer a friend,
who owns a photography studio and is just considering
computerizing, the opportunity to try out the Packard Bell
machine with Navigator. For this article, I'll call her Lola. I
wanted to know if a new user, with very limited or no computer
experience, could learn Windows and how to use the computer by
themselves using Navigator.

Lola not only liked Navigator, she was able to begin using the
computer to produce flyers and price sheets for her business,
using Microsoft Works (which was also pre-loaded on the Packard
Bell computer) by herself. Her long-term goal is to eventually
use a computer to do digital photo retouching, accounting, and
payroll, but she didn't have a clue on how to get started
learning to use a computer.

At first, Lola played a lot of Windows Solitaire, which some
people might consider a waste of time. I didn't, though,
because I feel like anything you can do on a computer
successfully prepares you for every other task you might want
to do. She felt guilty about it, she said, but after a while,
when she was comfortable and was able to see specific ways she
could make the computer work for her particular situation, she
got bored with Solitaire, and started to do things she
really needed to do.

Lola was also successfully able to figure out how to format
disks. This is a credit to the disk formatting program provided
by Packard Bell because it offers a visual representation of the
disk, including what capacity the disk is and how to tell if
the disk is write-protected or not. The differences between 360
and 1.2 5.25-inch disks and 1.44 and 720 3.25-inch disks are
subtle and are just about impossible for new users to figure
out on their own. Unlike other new users, I never did have to
sit down and explain the disk formatting differences to Lola,
even though she was using 5.25-inch 360 kilobyte (K) disks.

One downside to Navigator is Lola said she expected to learn
more and found it confusing that she didn't know how to use
every program and didn't understand filenames just because she
knew how to get around in Windows. With my teaching experience,
however, I realize getting a grasp on filenames is a big step
for a new user and usually just takes time and experience.

Some minor problems included some oversights and strange
explanations. For example, the explanation of how to use the
mouse is the first one in the Getting Started group, meaning
the new person probably already used a mouse to get to that
portion of the program.

One problem I thought would come up that didn't is Navigator
gives the user the opportunity to go out to DOS. I thought Lola
would call me when she got stuck out at DOS, but it never came
up. When I asked her she said she pushed the reset button a
couple of times, then later she read the instructions printed
when you first go out to DOS from Navigator and typed "Win" to
get back into Windows.

I used Navigator on a Packard Bell Legend 2001 486-based 25
megahertz (MHz) multimedia Packard Bell computer with 4
megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), a 200 MB hard
disk drive, a Sound Galaxy sound card, a compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM) drive, and a television card. It also included
a stereo speaker system from Roland for the sound and used
standard components (such as the single in-line memory modules
or SIMMs) that are readily available almost anywhere (a real
plus compared to the proprietary systems I've had to deal with
in the past).

With a television card, the Packard Bell Legend 2001 can do
double-duty. Full-screen television is very sharp and clear on
a computer monitor, but it requires a location where there's
access to good television reception, which is not usually in
the same portion of your home or office where you might set up
your business. Of course, you can size the image down, and even
make it a tiny television icon that is still displaying a live
image. Also, there's no remote -- channel control is done via
the mouse by selecting it in the software.

Plenty of software came with the Legend 2001 as well. The CD-
ROM titles included: Microsoft Multimedia Pack for Windows
1.0 which includes Windows 3.1 and a multimedia tutorial;
Microsoft Works on CD-ROM, with a good multimedia tutorial on
using Works; the Software Toolworks Multimedia Encyclopedia;
San Diego Zoo Presents The Animals from Software Toolworks;
and CD Deluxe Pack, also from Software Toolworks that offers
The Chessmaster 3000, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2.0, US Atlas
3.0, and World Atlas 3.2 on the same disc.

In addition, Packard Bell offers 24-hour support via phone and
on-site service. I've been up to see Packard Bell's support
facility and was quite impressed. It was well-staffed with
plenty of folks to answer questions, and tiered so the easy
questions that can be answered by anyone can be answered
quickly. The company's support people are smart enough to
document everything on computer, so other support folks can
simply look up answers to something another person has
handled. They also take one of each new Packard Bell
personal computer apart themselves and document what's inside.
Tougher support questions are routed to more experienced
personnel, who also have the authority to make a decision right
then about what needs to be done to fix the problem.

But, the real issues in buying a computer these days appear to
be centered outside of the hardware, since computers have
become a commodity. What does the consumer get buying a Packard
Bell that he doesn't get buying a Dell or Gateway or IBM
machine? In this case, it's Navigator.

My experience has been that it takes businesses about a year to
get up to speed with a computer, meaning that it takes that
long to get one or two of the business' critical tasks onto the
computer. It also takes a year to get the business owners
comfortable with the computer and the results. After that
introductory first year, it takes a lot less time to
computerize the rest of the business functions.

The advantages to having a computer that you can teach yourself
to use are enormous, especially if you happen to be a small
business owner. I was very impressed with Navigator and the
results Lola was able to produce by using it. I would certainly
recommend it.

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

PUMA RATING

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

PERFORMANCE: 4.0 Navigator performed flawlessly. No complaints
here.

USEFULNESS: 4.0 I can't think of anything more useful than being
able to teach yourself how to use the computer.

MANUAL: 4.0 The manuals had detailed photographs and drawings
of all the procedures and users can always call if they need
technical support. Of course, Navigator talks, so what could
be better than that?

AVAILABILITY: 4.0 Packard Bell has a broad distribution network
for its computers. I've seen them in most of the major buying
clubs as well as at major department stores.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931115/Press Contact: Philip Little, The
Bohle Company for Packard Bell, tel [phone], fax 310-286-
9551)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00020)

Vendors Test Interactive Titles In Bookstores 12/23/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- The next time you
go to the bookstore, either now or after the New Year, you might
encounter "volumes" and "titles" of a different variety than you
would ordinarily expect.

Six major electronic publishers -- The Voyager Company, Apple
Computer, Time Warner Interactive Group, Macmillan New Media,
Creative Multimedia Corp., and Discis Knowledge Research --
have launched a market test of interactive entertainment
software in bookstores.

Eight participating bookstores in the US, UK and Canada have each
received a kiosk from the publishers, equipped with demonstration
computers and preview software for in-store operation, plus a
selection of titles on CD-ROM and floppy disk.

The Voyager Company is providing in-store personnel to train retail
staff and to present the demos. A number of promotional events are
also going on, including drawings for free multimedia upgrade kits
for Macs and IBM-compatible PCs.

"The best bookstores are wonderful places to browse a wide
selection of works, and typically provide a high level of service.
We wanted to bring that comfort, selection and service to the buyer
of interactive software. It makes sense because these products are
as much like books as they are like software. So the shopping
experience should be similar," explained Bob Stein of The Voyager
Company.

Noted Paul Wollston of Apple's New Media Division: "Apple
Computer is very happy to bring new media and a merchandising
solution to the bookstores. This project marks the beginning of
what we hope will be a long involvement with retailers of all
kinds who sell interactive entertainment software."

Voyager, Apple, and the other electronic publishers are planning to
run the market test through 1994, and possibly into next year's
holiday season.

Three of the participating stores are located in New York City,
two in southern California, and one each in Colorado, the UK, and
Ontario, Canada.

The New York City stores are Barnes & Noble (Upper West Side),
Shakespeare & Company (Upper West Side), and Tower Books (East
Greenwich Village).

Other participating stores include: Crown Books in Encino,
California; Brentano's at the Century City Mall, also in southern
California; The Tattered Cover in Denver, Colorado; Wendell Holmes
Bookstore in London, UK; and Coles Bookstore in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931223/Reader Contact: Voyager Company,
212-431-5199; Press Contact: Alexandra Fischer, 212-431-5199)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00021)

PCTV Show Schedule - January 1994 12/23/93
MARLOW, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- PCTV is a
weekly television program hosted by Victoria Smith who covers the
latest PC and Macintosh computer hardware and software through
interviews and reviews.

The following program schedule information was supplied to
Newsbytes in mid-December, schedules are subject to change.
Check with your local cable system operator for times and
channel, or tune to Mind Extension University which carries
PCTV. The show is also syndicated to broadcast stations.

January 6, 1994 PCTV (94-1) Graphic User Interface: Victoria
Smith talks to Bill Rose of the Software Support Professionals
association about the future of tech support, we take a first
look at DeltaPoint's Graphics Tools, an image editing and
management software package. DeltaPoint shows us Animated
Desktop, a fun way to get animated icons on the Microsoft Windows
desktop.

January 13, 1994 PCTV (94-2) Getting Connected: In and Out of the
Office: Home Office Computing  magazine reviews some Personal
Digital Assistants in their monthly segment. Victoria Smith gets
a first look at Traveling Software's CommWorks for Windows, an
integrated communications package, and Coactive Computing shows
us Coactive Connector for Windows, a networking solution for
those who don't like to open up their computers.

January 20, 1994 PCTV (94-3) Major Upgrades: Microsoft Excel 5.0
and Word 6.0: PC Week magazine's Dale Lewallen takes us on a walk
through financial planners. Victoria Smith gets a first look at
two major upgrades: Microsoft Excel 5.0, their spreadsheet
package, and Word for Windows 6.0, the latest version of their
word-processing package.

January 27, 1994 PCTV (94-4) Graphics Update: Aldus PhotoStyler
2.0: Home Office Computing magazine gives us some tips for making
high-impact presentations. Microtek shows Victoria Smith their
latest line of low-cost scanners, and Aldus' Amy Warfield shows
Joe Bourke the latest update to PhotoStyler their image-editing
package.

(John McCormick/19931223/Press Contact: Wayne Mohr, Executive
Producer PCTV and MacTV, 603-863-9322)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00022)

Australia - Microsoft Ships Windows For Workgroups 3.11 12/23/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Microsoft is now shipping
the latest version of its Windows package in Australia. Windows
for Workgroups 3.11 is the standard product now, replacing both
Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.1.

Many Australian and imported original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) pre-install Windows, and have switched to 3.11. These
include Osborne, Ipex, Dell, DEC, Texas Instruments, Toshiba,
Zenith and Zeos.

Microsoft spokesperson Terry Clancy said the product is easier to
integrate into exiting multi-vendor, multi-platform environments,
making it the "industry's ideal universal client software."

He said that part of the enthusiasm was due to a more open
approach to the product, with improved Novell Netware support
and disk doubling performance.

Microsoft also has a wide group of "solution providers" who
offer training, consulting, support, customization, and integration
of Windows 3.11 and existing systems. In Australia these include
Aspect, ATR, Australasian Memory Systems, DEC, Ferntree,
Helicon, LBMS, Ipex, Labtam, NCR, Praxa, Q Technology, Wordware,
and Trilogy Resources.

The full product has a suggested retail price in Australia of
AUS$225. An add-in pack for users of version 3.1 is priced
at AUS$119 per unit. The add-on for DOS allows DOS users
many of the networking features of WFW 3.11, such as allowing
them to act as print and file servers. This is priced at AUS$75
per unit.

(Paul Zucker/19931223)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00023)

New Australian Magazine For PC Developers 12/23/93
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Australian
magazine publisher CPS has launched a new computer magazine
for developers.

PC Developer is a monthly technical journal for DOS and Windows
programmers that comes with source code, bug fixes, algorithms,
graphics resources, executable examples, programmers tools, and
complete sample applications.

Because of the nature of many of these items, each issue of the
magazine includes a high-density disk. Much of the content comes
from Australian programmers such as Bulka, Costin, Franks,
Hubbard, Karabatsos, Liddelow, McGrath, Mingins, Moignard,
Morgan, Mutimer, Scott, Smith, Taylor, Trescowthick, and Werdiger.

Products covered include Access, Visual Basic, Clipper, Borland
C++, FoxPro (Dos and Windows), MS C++, MS Basic, dBase,
SuperBase, Paradox, Gupta SQL, TASM, TPW, SQL Server, dBFast,
Donner, ToolBook, MASM, Dataease, Omnis 7, CA Realizer
KnowledgePro, Blitzen, and GFA Basic.

The magazine has a dedicated bulletin board service (BBS) in
Melbourne, and a technical support forum on Compuserve (GO
WINSOL).

Individual issues cost AUS$18 (US$12) but there are two
subscription offers. The Early Bird offer consists of a 12-month
subscription, one hour of BBS access per day, a $50 Compuserve
passport, and a magazine binder. The Worm Burner offer has the
above plus two hours BBS access per day, Compuserve CIM
software, a $100 discount certificate, and a PC Developer
mousepad. These cost AUS$159 and AUS$179, respectively.

CPS also publishes other magazines in Australia: Windows
Solutions; Australian Multimedia; Windows Buyers Guide; and
a disk-based magazine called PC Vision.

(Paul Zucker/19931223/Contact: CPS, tel [phone],
fax [phone]; or Compuserve 76711,1243)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00024)

New For PC - Create A Check Corporate 4.1 12/23/93
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Create-A-
Check Inc., has announced it is now shipping Create-A-Check
Corporate version 4.1.

The software automates the printing of checks, including the
check layout, digitized logos and signature, and the necessary
MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) coding required for
bank processing. Create-A-Check allows companies to print
their checks on blank security check paper stock using an IBM
compatible personal computer connected to a laser printer.

The company says the Corporate version of its software was
developed for large organizations with multiple bank accounts
and extensive check printing needs.

"Regarding day-to-day accounting, users will never run out of
check stock for any bank account, will never have to deal with
obsolescence costs, and will never again have to change the
check form in the printer for multiple bank account check
printing," said Keith Bateman, director of marketing and sales.

Create-A-Check spokesperson Melissa Clyne told Newsbytes that
companies with offices at multiple locations can send a check
print file to each location for on-site check printing, instead of
spending money to send completed checks via overnight courier.
That also eliminates any concern over the security of the checks
while in transit.

Create-A-Check software meets the standards for magnetic ink
and the document standards established by the American
Bankers Association as well as the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI). The software uses pop-up windows, menus, and
a mouse to select the necessary settings and print the checks.

The software includes security features to protect against
unauthorized use, including individual logins and passwords,
and a function called Trace-A-check that encodes each printed
document with information related to the user's ID, the date and
time, and the serial number of the software used to create the
check. Sensitive data is encrypted and the software is copy
protected.

Create-A-Check pricing starts at $1,695 and the company can
customize the software for the user's individual needs.

(Jim Mallory/19931223/Press Contact: Melissa Clyne, Bremer
Public Relations for Create-A-Check Inc., 801-364-2030;
Reader Contact: Create-A-Check Inc., 800-621-5720)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00025)

Accounting Software For Midrange Platforms 12/23/93
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) - Lawson
Software publishes business for midrange platforms such as
the IBM AS/400, as well as Unix-based platforms like IBM's RISC
System/6000 and Hewlett-Packard's HP 9000. Products include
accounting, human resources, distribution management, retail
management, and materials management packages.

The company's accounting system includes general ledger,
project accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and
fixed assets. The general ledger program can handle multiple
divisions and even multiple companies, and the relationship
between those levels can be modified as needed.

All of the Lawson applications use a language translation data
dictionary that is advantageous for multi-national companies.
The dictionary manages both multilingual operations and unique
corporate terminology, and allows users in the same office to
have different languages displayed on their respective screens,
all from the same application.

GL has a built-in report writer module that presents actual, budget,
statistical historical, variance, and computed amounts in user-
selected formats. Division and company data can be consolidated.
The reports module also ties in with the cost allocations and
flexible budgeting features to enhance the reports.

The user can select whether or not to carry forward historical data
after changes in department frameworks, and the changes have a
ripple effect on reports and consolidated balances. A GL feature
Lawson calls "drill down" allows the user to move from summary
to detail information and back again just by clicking on icons or
selecting menu options. There is also a screen entry feature that
allows the user to enter just the amounts for recurring journal
entries. Other data automatically defaults.

The accounts payable module can handle taxable and non-taxable
items on the same invoice, and invoices can be batched together
for quick processing, or you can route selected invoices to a
supervisor for approval before releasing them for payment.

In accounts receivable, there are seven different screens for
entering payments and creating applications. Each screen serves
a specific function or variation of the cash application process.
Payments can be applied to an invoice number or to the oldest
outstanding receivable. Users can take multiple deductions
against one invoice, apply payments to invoices of different
currency, make applications across customer and company
levels, and determine the general ledger date of payment
applications.

(Jim Mallory/19931223/Press Contact: Dawn Westerberg,
Lawson Software, 800-477-1357 or 612-379-2633 ext 3298;
Reader Contact: Lawson Software, tel [phone] or
612-379-2633, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00026)

The Enabled Computer By John McCormick 12/23/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 DECEMBER 23 (NB) -- The Enabled
Computer is a regular Newsbytes feature covering news and
important product information relating to high technology aids
for the disabled.

If you are reading this issue looking for technology information,
I will disappoint you because this time I have written a more
personal column to my many readers, but we will be back to
technology with the very next issue.

I wish you all a happy holiday season and hope the year went well
with you and yours.

This was not a particularly good year for the disabled community,
nor was it especially bad. It looks like we will have to wait yet
another year to see if the Americans with Disabilities Act ever
gets any real teeth.

The law is here, the technology is here, the workers are
certainly waiting, but few employers are on board and it isn't
clear yet whether the Clinton Administration will really get out
in front on this issue.

We didn't see any major court decisions which would force
companies to open up their employment policies to accommodate
disabled applicants, nor did we see any headlines made by
corporate CEOs embracing the ADA, but there were also no major
discrimination cases brought to and decided by the Department of
Labor. There was one important case regarding whether being
overweight qualified as a disability, but I don't count this
because it really had no direct connection with the ADA, it was
related more to expanding the definition of disability.

I did personally talk with one particularly companionate (born
again Christian) car dealer who, when I asked about his
employment policy, said "No disabled individual will ever work
here so I don't worry about it." Apparently he did not realize
how crippling his own attitudes are for himself and his business,
but somehow I can't extend him the compassion he may deserve for
being mentally, socially, and morally disabled. I guess he feels
that putting a copy of The Bible in each glove box is all the
social responsibility and moral stand he needs.

I was at his dealership, walking with the aid of my cane, to see
about buying a new car. We are still shopping for the right
vehicle, but, of course, we won't buy it from him. I didn't tell
him why not yet, but you can bet that I will as soon as I have
taken delivery on a new car to show that I was serious and that
he actually lost a sale.

Understand, he has no objection to taking money from disabled
individuals, he just doesn't want to see any working for him.

In this light, I urge readers to pay attention to where they
spend their money too. Both Sears and K Mart now regularly show
disabled shoppers in their TV advertisements, but the only place
I have seen disabled "employees" portrayed on TV is in the Murphy
Brown show. I know that I must have missed some - I don't watch
that much television, but I certainly don't remember any TV
advertisements showing a disabled employee serving a customer -
in other words holding down a job rather than just spending
money.

There were no major new advances in adaptive computer technology
this year, but there were refinements and prices appear to be
coming down on many products such as speech recognition hardware
and software.

The big push by Compaq, Apple, and IBM, who are all pushing
ready-to-go speech recognition computer systems in TV ads, may
have some benefits by making these products more acceptable in
mainstream office use. It is even possible that a few executives
will eventually notice that since they can use speech recognition
to help them operate computers it might, just might be possible
for disabled job applicants to do the same, but I am not holding
my breath for this revelation to strike.

I spoke at the first ADA Technology Conference in Washington, DC
this past summer and noted a relatively strong attendance for
this small show, but unfortunately none of the top Clinton
Administration officials who had been invited actually showed up
for the conference or trade show. I guess it was just too far for
them to travel since the show was held nearly a mile from the
White House.

Not too many of us who spoke or exhibited were happy with the
trade show organizer, but it looks like the conference and expo
will be a continuing event under new management - I will keep you
posted.

Two books providing a guide to computer technology for employers
of disabled workers were published, up from zero for the entire
previous decade (that is as far as my records go). One was mine
and the other came from Joseph J. Lazzaro, a visually impaired
writer in Massachusetts.

A new enabling technology newsletter hit the market and a
different version of this Enabled Computer column now appears in
John William's latest project. Mr. Williams has long written on
this topic and previously published SAINT, a magazine for
professionals interested in enabling technology.

For details on the new publication write John Williams, 19
Crescent Court, Sterling, VA 22107.

The Enabled Computer Column no longer appears in Vulcan's
Computer Monthly Magazine, mostly because the magazine itself no
longer really exists, but it is available in many other outlets,
including print, and on all the online services which carry
Newsbytes. I have been getting some letters sent to the column
and recently tried to answer some questions which had been
forwarded by Portland Computer Bits, a Newsbytes subscriber which
publishes this column.

I certainly hope that other Newsbytes print subscribers begin to
carry the column because I think it is important to their readers
whether they are themselves disabled or manage businesses. This
isn't very self-serving because I don't get paid any more if
Newsbytes commercial subscribers republish my column - except in
the extra satisfaction of helping to get the word out to more
employers that disabled individuals can make excellent employees
- or not, but that depends on the worker, not on the disability.

Another bright spot is the Clinton Administration's apparent
backing for subsidized universal access to basic
telecommunications which may help put wheelchair ramps on the
path to the Information Superhighway.

Texas appears to be out in front on employment of the disabled.
Ann Richards, Governor of Texas, wrote me a nice note about my
book, "Computers and the Americans with Disabilities Act: A
Manager's Guide," Windcrest/McGraw Hill (#4422).

(John McCormick/19931223)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00027)

Object World Set For Boston, Jan 10-13 12/23/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Object World
Boston '94, a four-day event to be held in mid-January, will take
a multi-faceted look at the emerging arena of object technology
(OT) through keynotes by well-known experts, case studies by users,
the "Best New OT Products Awards," book signings, and a spectrum
of other activities.

A joint venture of the Object Management Group (OMG) and IDG World
Expo, Object World will feature a full day of tutorials on Monday,
January 10, followed by a three-day exhibition and conference
program from Tuesday, January 11 through Thursday, January 13.

Headlining this year's conference program is a trio of keynoters:
Gresham T. Brebach, vice president of Digital Consulting at DEC;
Joe Guglielmi, chairman and CEO of Taligent; and John Rymer, vice
president of the Patricia Seybold Group.

The more than 40 conference sessions slated for the event are
organized into three tracks, each addressing a particular aspect of
how OT is being used to solve real-world problems today.

The Objects in Business track will show attendees how OT can boost
business productivity, shorten application development time, and
reduce costs. "Thinking in Objects," "Training the Organization,"
"Promises and Pitfalls," "Business Process Re-engineering," and
"Case Study: Objects in Business," are a few of the topics on the
list.

The Technology and Objects track will examine issues related to
technical development on both the basic and advanced levels. Areas
to be covered include: "Object-Oriented Technology Overview,"
"Making Object Technology Work in a Mainframe Environment,"
"Choosing a Distributed Object System," and "CORBA (Common
Object Request Broker Architecture) Case Studies."

The Software Developers' track will hone in on the particular needs
of programmers and developers -- those who are already using OT,
as well as those who plan to do so in the future. Subjects on the
agenda include: "Object-Oriented Languages Compared,"
"Incorporating Rules in an Object Program," "Caching and Clustering
Strategies and Tactics," and "Case Study: Objects in Multimedia."

Beyond these three conference tracks, John Slitz, vice president of
marketing for the OMG, will host a series of special presentations
on "Trending Toward Objects." The series will focus on such areas
as the OMG, CORBA, "Objects in Our Future," "Distributing Objects,"
and "The Future of Software."

In the exhibition hall at Object World, more than 50 vendors will
display their wares. Exhibitors will include companies
specializing in database management systems, window management
systems, desktop environments, language and programming
environments, class libraries, training, consulting services, and
market research.

More than 20 of the vendors will present product developers'
perspectives in a series of Exhibitor Seminars. The following
companies are scheduled to take part in the series: IBM, SunSoft,
Symantec, DEC, Cadre, NCR, Poet Software, Ilog, Intellicorp, Object
Design Inc, Inference Corp., Expersoft, The Clarity Group, General
Research Corp., ADB Inc., SES, Protosoft, Syrinx Corp., Hatteras
Software Inc., Objectory, and Interactive Development
Environments.

Also at Object World, authors Joe Weiss, Rick Cattell, Rob
Mattison, Steve Halladay, and Peter Norvig will be on hand during
certain time slots on Tuesday and Thursday to sign their books
about object technology.

Wednesday will feature the announcement of both, the Industry
Judges' Award, and the Attendees' Choice Award in the first annual
Object World Boston Best New OT Products Awards.

In the keynote sessions, Brebach will explore the subject "From
Vision to Reality: Distributed Computing Through the Use of
Objects" on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. During his talk,
Brebach will provide advice on the proper selection of OT
products, services, architectures, and people resources.

Guglielmi will speak on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 am about
Taligent, a joint venture between Apple and IBM. The Taligent
chairman and CEO plans to include discussion of Taligent's product
strategy and the impact OT will have on end users and developers.

The keynotes will wrap up on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 am
with "From Records to Objects: Commercial Perspectives on OT
in Financial Services," a keynote panel to be moderated by Rymer.
Panelists Jim Dykas, senior technical consultant of Cigna Systems,
and Amarjeet S. Garewal, senior systems engineer and vice president
of the Bank of America, will present their companies' experiences
in applying OT.

For information on attending or speaking at Object World Boston,
call IDG World Expo at 800-225-4698 or 508-879-6700. For
exhibiting information, call Deborah Paul or Dru Montgomery at
800-545-EXPO.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931223/Press Contacts: Rachel Winett, IDG
World Expo, 508-879-6700; Bill Hoffman, Object Management
Group, 508-820-4300)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00028)

Japan - Apple/Toshiba Abandon Multimedia Player? 12/23/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Toshiba and Apple Computer
have given up the development of a multimedia player, which
was planned to be released by the end of this year.

Under an agreement signed in June 1992, both firms were
developing the multimedia player. The major reason for the
decision is reportedly due to the continuing slump in the
industry.

Toshiba and Apple started developing the multimedia player
last year. The device is based on a CD-ROM and a small LCD
(liquid crystal display). It reportedly supports voice data
and comes with business organizing features. The device is
handheld, and a major advantage is that it supports the
multimedia data description language -- Script X, which was
developed by Kaleida, a joint venture of Apple and IBM.

Some observers contend that the decision to scrap the development
of the multimedia player may affect the firms' relationship
concerning the joint development agreement. However, the two
companies have not announced a cancellation of the deal.

Toshiba's Director Shoichi Koga was quoted by the Nikkan Kogyo
newspaper as saying that both firms will continue the agreement.
Currently, Apple has agreements with Sony and Sharp concerning
the development of multimedia devices. Apple and Sharp have
already released the Newton personal digital assistant.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931220/Press Contact:
Toshiba, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00029)

IBM Japan's Open Client Server System Partners Group 12/23/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- IBM Japan has officially
announced the creation of a non-profit group, called the "Open
Client Server System Partners Group," or OSPG.

A total of  63 firms have got together under the leadership of
IBM Japan. The group aims to seek ways to develop various
advanced products under a unified system.

IBM Japan advocated the creation of the organization in
October. At that time, IBM Japan expected about 50 firms and
organizations to join the group. A number of major computer
firms have joined in the group, including NEC, Fujitsu, Sharp,
Matsushita Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Sony, Canon, Oki, Omron,
Hitachi, and Ricoh. Major software makers include Borland, Lotus,
and ASCII.

Other members come from a variety of fields, such as the research
laboratories of banks and securities firms, car firms, a security
guard firm, a whiskey firm, and trading firms. These firms are all
involved in the development of their own in-house computer
systems.

The group's headquarters is located at IBM Japan's Tokyo office
in Hakozaki. The group has five research divisions: decentralized
transaction processing; message processing; object-oriented
processing; information warehouse; and open networking.

The annual participation fee is 500,000 yen ($5,000), which
includes membership to one research division. Members need to
pay an extra 150,000 yen ($1,500) to join each additional
research division.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931014/Press Contact: IBM
Japan, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00030)

Japan - NTT Intros ISDN Videophone 12/23/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Japan's former telecom
monopoly, NTT, has released a color videophone system,
which is based on ISDN (integrated services digital network)
technology.

The phone can be used to connect a maximum of five locations
for videoconferencing. NTT's color videophone is just as small as
a regular phone -- it measures 24-centimeters (cm) by 23-cm
by 22.7-cm.

A 5.6-inch color TFT (thin film transistor) display is attached
to the phone. The display can be folded onto the phone when it
is not used. A built-in camera is attached at the top of the
display. The screen is refreshed 15 times a second.

A major advantage of the color videophone is that it supports
multiple conferences. The screen can be divided into four small
screens, with the user being able to switch between them.

The phone can also be connected with a TV monitor, a VCR, a
video camera, and a fax machine or printer.

NTT's videophone is based on both the international and the
domestic phone standards -- ITUT and TTC. As a result, the
company says it can be used not only in Japan, but other
countries as well.

Called the Picsend, a single device costs 670,000 yen ($6,700),
with three units costing 1,850,000 yen ($18,500).

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931214/Press Contact: NTT,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00031)

Electronic Post-It Notes With Credit-Card Sized Device 12/23/93
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Have you ever
just given up on leaving a note for someone because you didn't
want to scramble around hunting for a paper and pencil? Voice It
Technologies of Fort Collins, Colorado says you will never have
that hassle again with its credit-card sized record and playback
unit that uses a computer chip to take fast, easy messages.

The company claims its new Voice It Personal Note Recorder can
be used to quickly record the great idea that popped up during the
drive to work, tell the kids to look in the refrigerator for
their after-school snack, remember those grocery list items, and
record sales leads without wasting time and energy.

The message "call your office," can be left faster than it takes to
find a pencil and paper, with a more personal and informative touch
such as: "I think you should call your office right away -- your
assistant said there were several urgent messages for you,"
according to company President Michele Morgan.

Morgan said the unit has a magnetic back and a detachable clip so
it can be stuck to the refrigerator, clipped to a car visor, or
just about anywhere else. An erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM) chip housed in the Voice It's quarter-inch
thick case stores recordings in an analog digitized format that
can be accessed almost instantaneous because there is no tape
to wind back. The analog digital recording also provides for a
better quality message on playback, Morgan added.

The tiny recorder is equipped with record, playback, and erase
buttons, as well as allowing replay of all the messages or just
the last one. As many as 10 to 12 recordings as long as 75
seconds can be made, though most messages end up being just a few
seconds, allowing for as many as 15 to 20 messages. A light on
the front of the unit signals waiting messages.

The catch is the price. Voice It Personal Note Recorder is retail
priced at $79.95, but that does include batteries. What is pricey
is the new technology, but as the price of the technology comes
down so will the price of Voice It, Morgan told Newsbytes.

The company has Voice It in retail distribution via The Sharper
Image stores. Voice It will also be on display at the Winter
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas January 6 through 9,
1994.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931223/Press Contact: Michele Morgan, Voice It
Technology, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Susan Pizzuti,
Julie Davis Associates for Voice It Technology, tel [phone],
fax [phone]; PHOTO)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00032)

PC Software Suite Market Up 200%, Says Dataquest 12/23/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Market research
firm Dataquest claims for the first time ever, a business
application has made it into the number one slot in its
preliminary worldwide personal computer (PC) application top ten
list of software titles. In 1993, In addition, the market for PC
software suite applications saw the phenomenal growth rate of
over 200 percent reaching $844 million.

The number one software title was the suite of applications
bundled together as Microsoft Office for Windows, kicking word
processing application Microsoft Word for Windows out of the
application software lead.

Dataquest expects the suite application market will easily
surpass the $1 billion mark in 1994. Microsoft realized $762
million in worldwide revenue from software suites, while Lotus
earned $68 million and Borland made $14 million.

In fact, the trend toward suite software products may make stand-
alone software obsolete. Chuck Stegman, principal analyst of
Worldwide Personal Computing Software at Dataquest said: "PC
software makers are bundling and integrating their business
applications in suites and are changing the rules of the software
game. It is no longer enough to build a better word processor,
core business application developers must offer a portfolio of
powerful and consistent business applications."

Microsoft Office for Windows -- combining Windows versions of
word processor Microsoft Word, spreadsheet Excel, graphics
presentation program Powerpoint -- took number one with a
revenue of $493 million and sales of 1,642 million units.

Microsoft, as expected, has the lion's share with four of the top ten.
Microsoft Word for Windows was number two at $407 million and
unit sales of 2,750,000. Spreadsheet application Microsoft Excel
for Windows nailed the number four slot with sales of $292
million and shipments of 2,100,000 while Microsoft Office
Professional for Windows was at number eight with $177 million
in sales and 500,000 units.

Wordperfect for Windows was number three grossing $390 million
and 2,900,000 units, while its DOS counterpart placed seventh
with $204 million in sales and 1,900,000 units.

Lotus gained the fifth, sixth, and ninth slots with Lotus 1-2-3
and Lotus Notes. Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS bested the Windows 1-2-3
version by taking the fifth place at $257 million and 1,490,000
units versus while the Windows version carried sixth place with
revenues of $207 million and 1,200,000 units.

At number ten was Borland's DOS database application, dBase IV,
with $117 million in revenue. However, dBase IV shipped more
units to gain that revenue with numbers of 740,000 than
Microsoft's Office Professional for Windows at number eight and
Lotus' Notes at number nine. In addition, Borland and Wordperfect
have teamed up to bundle their respective applications to fight
the Microsoft Office combination.

In a final note, analysts at the market research firm observed
that Microsoft and Lotus were the only software makers to reach
the top 10 with applications in different software categories,
and Lotus Notes is the first workgroup application to make the
top 10 list.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931223/Press Contact: Paul Wheaton,
Dataquest, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00033)

Quicken/Turbotax Bundle For DOS/Windows/Mac 12/23/93
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- Now that the
merger of the two companies is complete, Intuit and Chipsoft are
jumping into integrating their accounting and tax software
applications. As a first step, the companies are offering the
Quicken/TurboTax combination software package.

For some time, users of Quicken as well as other accounting
programs have been able to transfer data directly to the software
tax program Turbotax from Chipsoft. However, now users can get
the latest versions of both programs for an estimated retail
price of between $49.95 - $59.95, a significant discount over the
stand alone prices of both products.

The two companies have teamed up to stave off software giant
Microsoft, who has not entered the tax preparation market, but is
moving strongly into the electronic accounting product market.
Microsoft is working with banks to offer customized electronic
banking services to Microsoft Money customers.

Scott Cook, chief executive officer and president of
Intuit said: "With ever-tighter integration of both programs, the
special Quicken/TurboTax combination is an unbeatable proposition
for consumers who prepare their taxes with a computer."

While the data still has to be entered into Quicken, once it is
there, the year-long work of keeping financial records can be
transferred to Turbotax, a few additional pieces of information
added, and a tax return can be in hand in a single sitting.

The Quicken/Turbotax bundle is available in DOS, Windows, and
Macintosh formats. The DOS bundle requires an IBM or compatible
computer with one floppy drive and one hard disk drive, 640
kilobytes (KB) of random access memory (RAM) and 512KB of user-
available memory, and DOS 3.0 or higher. For the Windows bundle,
users need an IBM compatible 286, though a 386 is recommended, 2
megabytes (MB) RAM although 4MB is recommended, 1MB user-
available memory, a hard disk with 5MB free disk space, and
Windows 3.1 or higher running in standard or enhanced mode.

The Quicken/Macintax bundle for Apple Computer's Macintosh
system line requires a Macintosh Plus or higher computer with a
hard drive, 2MB RAM with 1MB user-available memory, a hard
disk with 2MB free, and System 6.0.5 or higher.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931223/Press Contact: Debra Kelly, Chipsoft,
Debra Kelley, tel [phone] ext 482, fax [phone]; PHOTO)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00034)

Customers Use Motorola Paging To Flag Down Waiters 12/23/93
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1993 DEC 23 (NB) -- At some point,
almost everyone has been in the situation of having to wait in a
restaurant for the waiter's attention.  But now, at a couple
of restaurants, customers are flailing their arms no longer.

Motorola's new Table Paging system, being beta tested at two
outlets in the Friday's restaurant chain, uses the inventive
vehicle of a sugar, salt and pepper caddy to let patrons
discreetly send messages to restaurant staff.

The system revolves around a small button, built into the caddy,
that, when depressed, causes the waiter's pager to vibrate and
display the table number requesting attention.

In one of a series of alliances Motorola has forged for its Site
Connect paging technology, Table Paging system integrates
call system technology for the restaurant industry produced by
ServiceAlert, a manufacturer and system integrator of call
system products.

"Combining ServiceAlert's experience in the restaurant industry
with Motorola's commitment to Diner Delight, a concept developed
to create new value for the restaurant industry through paging
technology, greatly improves communication between the customer
and his or her server," said Steve Spiro, director of Motorola's
Customer Owned Paging.

"As focused on patron satisfaction as a server may be, he or she is
not a mind reader. The Table Paging system provides a 'fail safe'
system to ensure that the customer is heard," observed Leonard
Schlesinger, previously COO of Au Bon Pain Company and now a
professor of business administration at Harvard Business School,
specializing in service management.

Schlesinger added that research he has conducted shows service
worker effectiveness to be heavily influenced by feedback, training
and support tools. "The Table Paging system provides two of the
three primary influences," he noted.

The Table Paging system is slated to become widely available in
January. The system may be purchased or leased. Pricing varies
according to the number of call buttons and pagers.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931223/Reader Contact: Rosalie Wyatt,
Motorola Customer Owned Paging Services, 800-382-9336;
Marianne Radwan, Hi-Tech Communications for Motorola,
415-904-7000)