Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Tue, Mar 3 1992 Date: Tue, 3 Mar 92 06:00:08 EST Message-ID: 03-03 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update March 3, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network INTEL STOPS SHIPMENTS: Intel Corp. said Monday it halted shipments of its LANSpool 3.01 print server utility. It has discovered that the software has been infected by the computer virus Michelangelo. The utility allows networks of personal computers to use the same printer. It has been out since Jan. 21. About 839 of the LANSpool diskettes are thought to be infected with the virus set to strike Friday. COMPAQ ENTERS JAPANESE MARKET: Compaq Computer, which opened a subsidiary in Tokyo last year, unveiled 10 new personal computers Monday aimed at the Japanese market. Japan is the second-largest computer market in the world. The computers are the first to allow users to switch from Japanese to English modes with a simple command, a benefit for users interested in worldwide networking. (For more, see special Compaq package below.) COPYRIGHT SUIT SETTLED: The Software Publishers Association announced Monday that a settlement has been reached in a software copyright infringement dispute filed against Ernest W. Hahn Inc., by Lotus Development Corp., and WordPerfect Corp. Hahn has agreed to remove all unlicensed software, warn employees about violating copyright law and contribute to the SPA Copyright Protection fund. NEW MODEM UNVEILED: UDS Motorola Monday unveiled a new high-speed network modem that provides remote LAN access over dial-up lines. The LanFast network modem supports Novell's NetWare LAN operating system and features a built-in network interface for Ethernet. It comes with UDS' LanFast communications software. The LanFast modem will be available in April and has an estimated list price of $1,995. LOCUS SELLING NEW INTERFACE: Locus Computing Corp. Monday began selling its latest personal computer interface for DOS. PC-Interface has a Novell NetWare coexistence feature that gives desktop users access to both Novell NetWare servers and UNIX servers simultaneously. PC-Interface for DOS retails for $235. With the Novell NetWare coexistence feature, it retails for $299. TWO SOUND CARDS ARE INTRODUCED: Media Vision Inc. Monday introduced two new sound cards that it says significantly reduce the cost of adding high-quality sound to personal computers. Pro AudioSpectrum-16, an add-on card for high-end sound applications, offers compact disc quality sound at a retail price of under $350. Pro AudioSpectrum Plus, targeted primarily at mainstream computer sound applications, costs $279. MARTIN MARIETTA GAINS CONTRACT: Martin Marietta Civil Space & Communications has been awarded a $2.4-million contract from Wheeling Jesuit College to perform systems engineering, integration and support services for the National Technology Transfer Center in Wheeling, W.Va. Martin Marietta will develop and implement a database of federal technology resources. SOUTHWESTERN TO TEST FETEX-150: Southwestern Bell said Monday it plans to test customer uses for advanced broadband telephone switching technology. The tests, to be conducted in St. Louis, are scheduled to begin in the fall. They will use Fujitsu Network Switching of America's All-Bandwidth FETEX-150 switching system. It provides switching at speeds that range from 64 kilobits per second to 622 megabits per second. LUCAS TO MOVE PLANT: Lucas Control Systems Products in Milford, N.H., said Monday it is moving its electronics plant from Milford to Hampton, Va. It says 120 workers will be retained, relocated or laid off. The Milford site will become the headquarters for Lucas Acoustic Instruments of Littleton, Mass. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON COMPAQ: COMPAQ NOT LOOKING FOR NICHE: Compaq's new personal computers aimed at the Japanese market will include eight products from its Systempro and Deskpro lines as well as two portable computers, the firm says. It's focusing on the business end of the Japanese market but also hopes to sell PCs to consumers. Compaq President Eckhard Pfeiffer says, "We don't want to be a niche player, we want to be a major player." NEC DOMINATES MARKET: Compaq rivals IBM and Apple already have entered the Japanese PC market, with a 7% and 3% stake, respectively, in 1990. Japan's NEC Corp. has captured more than half the market, but its computers have an operating system inconsistent with the IBM-compatible world standard. WORLD MARKET IS IN SLUMP: Japan has not been shielded from a downturn in the world market for PCs. Last month, the Japan Electronics Industry Development Association reported a 17% drop in domestic shipments the fourth quarter. Pfeiffer says he is confident a recovery in the worldwide economy is on the way. "It is just the right timing in being ready for the upturn," he says. RECOVERY EXPECTED TO BE SLOW: Industry analysts say growth in the PC market will be slow in coming. "Long-term PC growth should recover, and at the higher end, they should do quite well," says Nizam Hamid, analyst at UBS Phillips and Drew. But he adds, "It's not going to be like Europe for them." Compaq is the No. 3 computer maker in the USA and No. 2 in Europe. (End of package.) Technology Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. 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