On Monday, December 19, 1994 at 11:38:49 AM UTC-8, Robert H. McIver wrote:
> ************************************************************************
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> ************************************************************************
> The HiTek Report, a summary of news releases on information technology,
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> Communications. The complete news releases of the summaries in this
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> ************************************************************************
> Vol 1 December 19, 1994 Number 20
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> In This Issue
> ---------------
> -COMPUTER HARDWARE-
> 1525 - IBM Halts Shipments Of Pentium-Based Personal Computers
> 1526 - AST Computer continues to ship Pentium systems
> 1528 - Intel says IBM shipment halt is unwarranted
> 1535 - Lotus 1-2-3 Users with a Pentium are Assured of Accurate Calculations
> 1537 - Digital Continues Shipping Pentium Systems
> 1538 - Gateway 2000 Pentium Sales, Shipments Full Speed Ahead
> 1540 - Smith Barney has demanded that IBM replace flawed Pentium chips
> 1542 - Hewlett-Packard issues statement on Pentium processor
> 1543 - Sales of Pentium computers strong
> 1544 - Compaq continues to satisfy demand for Pentium-based PCs and servers
> 1549 - Zenith Data Systems Supports Pentium Customers
> 1550 - Cray Research CEO Says Japan Business Good And Growing'
> -PERIPHERALS-
> 1529 - Global Village offers easy, economical network modem solution
> 1531 - Genicom Delivers 12 PPM Laser Printer To Small Workgroups
> -SOFTWARE-
> 1533 - Online Banking With Microsoft Money Draws Tremendous Response
> 1536 - dBASE for Windows now available in ten languages
> 1539 - PerfectOffice 3.0 Sweeps First Place Awards
> 1541 - Galactic Civilizations tops the PC games user play list
> 1545 - IBM's OS/2 for the PowerPC enters beta cycle
> 1546 - Backup Software Certified By Novell For Use On NetWare 4.1 Servers
> -MISCL-
> 1527 - SCO acquires Visionware
> 1530 - Apple Computer to subpoena Microsoft and Intel Software Code
> 1547 - Spindler on Apple: Up close and personal
> 1548 - Computer Bulletin Board Operator Pleads Guilty
> 1551 - The Do's and don'ts of the company holiday party
> -BOOKS-
> 1532 - Book Provides Reviews Of The 100 Best Educational Software Titles
> 1534 - Inside Windows 95 - Previews Next Generation Of Windows
> ---
> =======================================================================> ******* Computer Hardware - Software - Peripherals - Books *******
> Press Releases from week of: 12/12/94
> =======================================================================> #1525
> IBM HALTS SHIPMENTS OF PENTIUM-BASED PERSONAL
> COMPUTERS BASED ON COMPANY RESEARCH
> SOMERS, N.Y. - Dec. 12, 1994 - IBM today announced it has stopped shipment
> of all IBM personal computers based on the Intel Pentium(a) microprocessor.
> The action is based on tests conducted by the IBM Research Division
> stimulated by growing customer concern that Pentium-related problems are
> more frequent than previously estimated.
> Results of IBM Research Division tests indicate that while Intel's
> descriptions of the flaw are technically accurate, there are many customer
> situations in which the risk of error may be significantly higher.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1526
> AST COMPUTER CONTINUES TO SHIP PENTIUM SYSTEMS
> December 12, 1994
> AST Computer, a leading manufacturer of personal computers,
> is continuing to ship Pentium(TM)-processor-based systems
> and is taking additional steps to resolve any potential
> customer issues relating to AST(R) Pentium-based systems.
> "Intel has assured us that the frequency of encountering
> reduced precision in floating point divide operations is
> rare and that average users will not be impacted in their
> applications," said Jim Schraith, AST's president and chief
> operating officer. "We want our customers to feel confident
> in using our Pentium-based products and will take the steps
> required to provide satisfactory products."
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1527
> SCO ACQUIRES VISIONWARE
> ... extends lead in race for Windows-
> friendly client/server solutions
> SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Dec. 12, 1994 - SCO the leading supplier of business
> critical UNIX server and host systems, has made the next major step toward
> integrating the Windows and UNIX environments by acquiring Visionware Ltd..,
> the world's leading supplier of Windows-to-UNIX integration solutions.
> info: tel. 408/427-7252
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1528
> INTEL SAYS IBM SHIPMENT HALT IS UNWARRANTED
> SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Dec. 12, 1994 - In response to an IBM press release,
> Intel reiterated that it has studied the Pentium processor flaw for months
> and has concluded that the frequency of encountering reduced precision in
> floating point divide operations is once in every 9 billion random divide
> operations.
> Intel said it regards IBM's decision to halt shipments of its Pentium
> processor-based systems as unwarranted.
> "Based upon the work of our scientists analyzing real world applications,
> and the experience of millions of users of Pentium processor-based systems,
> we have no evidence of increased probability of encountering the flaw,"
> said Andrew S. Grove, president and chief executive officer.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1529
> GLOBAL VILLAGE OFFERS EASY, ECONOMICAL NETWORK
> MODEM SOLUTION FOR MAC NETWORKS
> SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Dec. 12, 1994 - In its effort to enable users to
> communicate directly from their networked personal computers, Global Village
> Communication Inc. has announced OneWorld Network Modem, a next generation
> product that expands its OneWorld family.
> OneWorld Network Modem is a fast, easy-to-install, competitively priced,
> shared dial-out solution targeted towards small-to medium-sized businesses
> and workgroups in large organizations.
> info: tel. 800-736-4821
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1530
> MacWEEK REPORTS APPLE COMPUTER TO SUBPOENA
> MICROSOFT AND INTEL SOFTWARE CODE
> SAN FRANCISCO - Dec. 11, 1994 - MacWEEK, the only newsweekly covering the
> Mac market, has learned that Apple Computer has been granted the right to
> subpoena software source code from Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp.
> MacWEEK's Dec. 12th issue will report that Apple Computer has filed
> a motion in U.S. District Court in San Francisco alleging copyright
> infringement and has been granted the right to subpoena a digital video
> source code developed by the San Francisco Canyon Company and used by Intel
> Corp. and Microsoft Corp. as evidence in its motion.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1531
> GENICOM DELIVERS 12 PPM LASER PRINTER TO SMALL WORKGROUPS
> CHANTILLY, Va., Dec. 12 - GENICOM Corporation a multinational leader in
> high-technology printing and service solutions, is pleased to introduce
> the GENICOM 7612, a feature-rich laser printer designed for small
> workgroups and desktop applications. General availability is scheduled
> for first quarter 1995.
> When the printers optional second 500-sheet paper cassette is added,
> users have the added benefit of printing 1,150-sheets from three paper
> sources for letterhead, legal paper and/or envelopes.
> info: tel. 800-GENICOM (436-4266)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1532
> 'THAT'S EDUTAINMENT!' BOOK PROVIDES REVIEWS OF
> THE 100 BEST HOME EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE TITLES
> Free Bound-in CD-ROM Allows Parents to Try Before They Buy
> BERKELEY, Calif., Dec. 12 - With public schools in trouble nationwide and
> parents concerned about the effects of TV and video games, entertaining
> learning ("edutainment") software is emerging as a healthy alternative and
> supplement. "That's Edutainment! A Parent's Guide to Educational Software"
> explores the world of fun learning software in a comprehensive sourcebook --
> complete with a CD-ROM full of demos and full-working versions of
> educational software.
> To be published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill in early January 1995, "That's
> Edutainment!" will help parents choose the right programs to supplement
> the skills their children learn at school.
> info: tel. 510-549-6602
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1533
> ONLINE BANKING WITH MICROSOFT MONEY
> DRAWS TREMENDOUS RESPONSE
> REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 12 - Less than two months after Chase Manhattan became
> the fourth bank to offer online banking through Microsoft(R) Money, the bank
> is reporting a tremendous response to its new PC Banking service. Since
> Chase Manhattan began supporting Microsoft Money's Bank On-Line capability
> in mid-October, the bank has responded to more than 15,000 inquiries to
> Chase's 24-hour online banking information line. The bank has had to add
> five new employees to their fulfillment department just to handle consumer
> interest in the new service. The other banks have had a similarly strong
> response to their online banking capabilities through Microsoft Money.
> Money 3.0, the award-winning financial management product released in
> February 1994, is the first major personal finance package to offer
> fee-based online banking.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1534
> INSIDE WINDOWS 95 - NEW BOOK FROM MICROSOFT
> PRESS PREVIEWS NEXT GENERATION OF WINDOWS
> REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 12 - Strong sales of INSIDE WINDOWS 95, a new book
> written by former Microsoft developer Adrian King, indicate growing
> interest in and support for the upcoming Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) 95
> operating system. Since the publication of INSIDE WINDOWS 95 last month,
> Microsoft Press has shipped more than 200,000 copies of the 512-page book,
> which has appeared on nearly every major computer-book best-seller list.
> Translations into eight languages are under way to meet rapidly growing
> international demand.
> (ISBN 1-55615-626-X)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1535
> LOTUS 1-2-3 USERS WITH A PENTIUM ARE ASSURED OF ACCURATE CALCULATIONS
> CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Dec. 13, 1994 - Lotus Development Corp. today said that
> Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet users working on personal computers with Pentium
> microprocessors can still perform accurate floating point calculations,
> despite reported flaws in the microprocessor. A minor change in 1-2-3, made
> by the user, circumvents the floating point flaw in the microprocessor.
> Once the user makes the change, floating point calculations are handled by
> the 1-2-3 software instead of the Pentium microprocessor.
> info: tel. 617-693-1283
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1536
> dBASE FOR WINDOWS NOW AVAILABLE IN TEN LANGUAGES AND OVER 65 COUNTRIES
> New Borland database wins two more European
> Awards; Kanji Version ships
> SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. - Dec. 13, 1994 - Borland International Inc. continues
> to introduce the world to the power of dBASE 5.0 for Windows by releasing
> a Kanji version to the Japanese market. Since shipping the English version
> of this award-winning database software in August, the company has also
> released translations in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese,
> Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese. According to estimates by Computer
> Intelligence InfoCorp, dBASE is used by over 15 million people around the
> world -- more than all other PC databases combined.
> info: tel. 408/431-4863 Internet: scu...@wpo.borland.com
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1537
> DIGITAL CONTINUES SHIPPING PENTIUM SYSTEMS
> MAYNARD, Mass., Dec. 13 - Digital Equipment Corporation stated today that
> Digital will remain a reliable supplier of Pentium products. The company's
> Personal Computer Business Unit is continuing to market and ship Pentium-
> based PCs.
> "Although we are receiving some requests for information about the current
> Pentium situation, customers continue to choose Pentium systems," said Howard
> Elias, Vice President of Desktop Systems for Digital's Personal Computer
> Business Unit. "We intend to fully honor their choice by supplying Pentium
> PCs.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1538
> GATEWAY 2000 PENTIUM SALES, SHIPMENTS FULL SPEED AHEAD
> NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D., Dec. 13 "Gateway 2000 is going full-speed ahead
> with sales and shipments of our Pentium-based PCs," said Ted Waitt,
> chairman and CEO of Gateway 2000. "We've sold more Pentium-based PCs than
> any company in the U.S. market, and before this story broke in the news,
> we had not received one call from a customer complaining of any errors
> related to a flaw in the floating point unit. If this had been a problem
> with real world applications, we would have heard from our customers
> immediately because we're in constant contact with them."
> Waitt's comments came in response to an IBM announcement Monday of a halt
> in shipments of IBM's Pentium-based PCs.
> info: tel. 605-232-2723
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1539
> PerfectOffice 3.0 SWEEPS FIRST PLACE
> AWARDS IN SOFTWARE SUITE SHOOTOUT
> OREM, Utah - Dec. 14, 1994 - Novell, Inc. Wednesday announced that
> PerfectOffice 3.0, its new desktop applications suite, was preferred by 6
> out of 10 attendees at a recent Software Suites SuperStars Forum sponsored
> by ASAP Software Express.
> ASAP Software is one of the country's largest and fastest-growing resellers
> of PC software, serving more than 20,000 corporate and government customers
> nationwide. The Forums took place in four major U.S. cities: Phoenix,
> Arizona; Raleigh, North Carolina; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Tampa, Florida.
> Representatives from Novell, Microsoft and Lotus were invited to participate
> and highlight benefits of their respective suites: Novell's PerfectOffice,
> Microsoft Office and Lotus SmartSuite.
> info: tel. 800/451-5151.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1540
> SMITH BARNEY HAS DEMANDED THAT IBM REPLACE FLAWED PENTIUM CHIPS
> NEW YORK - Dec. 14, 1994 - Wall Street trading firm Smith Barney has
> demanded that IBM replace flawed Pentium chips in some 600 personal
> computers with new processors flown in directly from Intel manufacturing
> plants, according to the Dec. 26 issue of InformationWeek, available on
> newstands on Friday, Dec. 16.
> The New York-based company, one of IBM's biggest customer sites, is taking
> the processor flaw very seriously because of Security and Exchange
> Commissions (SEC) regulations that demand an extremely high degree of
> computational accuracy.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1541
> GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS TOPS THE PC GAMES USER PLAY LIST
> SANDY, Utah - Dec. 14, 1994 - One of the biggest PC software hits this
> holiday season among hard-core gamers is the innovative computer strategy
> venture Galactic Civilizations(c), the first commercially available game
> for IBM's OS/2(a) Warp.
> Offering a galaxy of alien encountering challenges, Galactic Civilizations
> is currently the most popular PC game on the Net PC Games Top 100(b)
> worldwide preference list for the week of Dec. 12, 1994. Net PC Games Top
> 100 is an independent internet poll conducted worldwide each week on the
> most popular games. Since the list is compiled from votes by the world's
> avid gamers, many in the PC game industry consider it the most objective
> compilation available.
> Available at: 800-776-8284
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1542
> HEWLETT-PACKARD ISSUES STATEMENT ON PENTIUM PROCESSOR
> ed.note: HP has issued the following statement by Richard C. Watts, HP vice
> president and general manager of the Personal Information Products Group.
> "At this time, HP believes there is no compelling
> reason to halt shipments of our Pentium(tm)-based PC
> products. Specifically, these HP products include 10
> models from the HP Vectra XU, Vectra VL desktop PC
> family and from the HP NetServer LC, LF and LM network
> server family.
> "We will continue to evaluate the validity of data from
> any source concerning the floating point bug in the
> Intel Pentium processor, including our own analysis, to
> ensure that the best interests of HP customers are
> served.
> "I'm pleased to report that to date HP customers have
> reacted very positively to our initial public response
> (Dec. 2), and I want to reiterate our intent to ensure
> the satisfaction of HP customers who may be affected by
> the floating point bug. HP and Intel remain committed
> to providing replacement processors as needed when
> redesigned Pentium processors become available."
> Richard C. Watts
> info: faxback service at 1-800-333-1917 or ph: 208-344-4809
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> SALES OF PENTIUM COMPUTERS STRONG
> FORT WORTH, Texas - Dec. 14, 1994 - Tandy Corporation sells Pentium
> computers through Computer City(R), Incredible Universe(R) and Radio
> Shack(R). Sales of Pentium computers are increasing significantly each
> week in our stores.
> "Pentium platforms for multimedia are clearly becoming the machine of choice
> for many consumers. We have received questions but not complaints from our
> customers about Pentium performance. We will continue to sell and recommend
> Pentium-based computers in keeping with our experience in the marketplace,"
> said John V. Roach, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of
> Tandy Corporation.
> (end of PR)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1544
> COMPAQ CONTINUES TO SATISFY DEMAND FOR HIGH-
> PERFORMANCE PENTIUM-BASED PCs AND SERVERS
> HOUSTON - Dec. 15, 1994 - Compaq Computer Corporation has been thoroughly
> examining all available data and studies relating to the flaw in the Intel
> Pentium microprocessor.
> The company has decided to continue shipping Pentium-based PCs and servers
> to satisfy those customers who require the higher level of performance
> offered by the Pentium.
> "In fact, our examination has only reinforced our belief that the vast
> majority of our customers are unlikely to encounter the flaw in their
> calculations. For those who are affected, we will work with them to replace
> the Pentiums in their Compaq PCs," said John Rose, Senior Vice President
> and General Manager, Desktop PC Division, Compaq Computer Corporation.
> info: tel. 800-345-1518.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1545
> IBM's OS/2 FOR THE PowerPC ENTERS BETA CYCLE
> Beta 1 released to developers this week
> AUSTIN, Texas - Dec. 15, 1994 - IBM today announced that it will begin to
> distribute its beta for the OS/2 for the PowerPC operating system and
> software developer kit to 150 select software vendors and corporate
> developers, marking the start of its OS/2 for the PowerPC beta program.
> The first beta of OS/2 for the PowerPC includes features of OS/2 Warp plus
> a complete application development environment. This confidential beta is
> designed to give developers a head start on porting their existing 32-bit
> Intel applications to the PowerPC and allow them to begin to develop new
> applications that exploit the benefits native to the RISC architecture.
> info: tel. 800/354-0978
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1546
> REMEMORY'S REMSERVE NLM IS FIRST BACKUP SOFTWARE CERTIFIED
> BY NOVELL FOR USE ON NetWare 4.1 SERVERS
> COSTA MESA, Calif. - Dec. 15, 1994 - Rememory Corp. Thursday announced that
> REMSERVE software version 1.96 has become the first backup application to
> be certified by Novell Labs for use in NetWare 4.1 environments (Novell
> Certification Bulletin numbers B191 and N168).
> REMSERVE is an enterprise-wide backup and restore application for NetWare
> networks. Fully SMS (Storage Management Services) and SIDF (System
> Independent Data Format) compliant, REMSERVE archives NetWare 4.x and 3.x
> servers and workstations using Novell standard Target Service Agents (TSAs),
> no proprietary software agents are required.
> info: tel. 800/644-2300
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1547
> SPINDLER ON APPLE: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
> DEDHAM, Mass. - Dec. 15, 1994--Michael Spindler, chairman and CEO of Apple,
> will share his candid opinions and perspectives on the Macintosh and where
> its going at MACWORLD Expo's Industry Interchange on Jan. 6 in San
> Francisco.
> In an informal session led by InfoWorld Editor-in-Chief Stewart Alsop,
> Spindler will discuss Apple's present strategies and its plans for the
> future. This close encounter is part of a day-long forum at which people
> who develop, produce or sell Macintosh software, hardware and peripherals
> meet with Apple and key industry analysts to discuss current issues.
> info: tel. 617)361-8000
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1548
> COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARD OPERATOR PLEADS GUILTY
> BOSTON, Dec. 15 - The operator of a computer bulletin board pleaded guilty
> to criminal copyright infringement today.
> United States Attorney Donald K. Stern announced that RICHARD D. KENADEK,
> aged 43, of 46 South Oxford Road, Millbury, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty
> to violating the copyright protections of commercial computer software
> programs. In proceedings before United States District Judge Mark L. Wolf,
> KENADEK admitted that he operated the Davey Jones Locker bulletin board,
> charging fees to give subscribers access to dozens of copyrighted computer
> software programs.
> info: tel. 617-223-9445 U.S. Attorney's Office
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1549
> ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS SUPPORTS PENTIUM CUSTOMERS PENTIUM-
> BASED PRODUCT SALES AND SHIPMENTS REMAIN STRONG
> BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Dec. 15 - Zenith Data Systems today announced
> that in support of its Pentium-based PC and server customers, the company
> will replace the Pentium processor free of charge for those who request
> a new chip.
> "It has always been ZDS' policy to support and satisfy our customers, and
> this situation is no different. We will do whatever it takes, including
> replacing the Pentium microprocessor if that's what the customer wants,"
> said Cliff Jenks, ZDS' executive vice president of sales and marketing.
> "Our customers and their concerns are our top priority, so we will
> continue working closely with them and with Intel to make sure they are
> completely satisfied with their purchases.
> info: tel. 800-CARE-360
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1550
> CRAY RESEARCH CEO SAYS JAPAN BUSINESS GOOD AND GROWING
> Says Company Plans To Launch Newest Product From Tokyo Next Quarter,
> CEO Carlson Named To Clinton's Export Advisory Committee
> TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 15 - Cray Research, Inc. chairman and chief executive,
> John Carlson described the supercomputing company's business in Japan as
> "good and growing," during a meeting with media today.
> Carlson, visiting Japan this week to confer with customers and employees,
> said he hoped that Cray Research Japan (CRJ) would win at least one
> additional competition for a small system before year-end.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> #1551
> THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF THE COMPANY HOLIDAY PARTY
> ... by Richard A. Moran, author of Never Confuse A Memo
> With Reality and Beware Those Who Ask For Feedback
> 1. Do attend. They are almost always a spectacle of excess. If your
> annual raise was less than 3%, make sure you go through the buffet
> line twice.
> ed. note: Subscribers, if you would like to receive the other 9 DO's and
> DON'TS, send request.
> ---
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chitard