Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech,americast.usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Mon, Oct 5 1992 Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 04:46:08 EDT Message-ID: 10-05 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update Oct. 5, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network AEROSPACE PLANE IN TROUBLE: The National Aerospace Plane's scheduled two-hour flight to outer space and Tokyo has been delayed; cancellation may follow. President Reagan dubbed it the "Orient Express" in his 1986 State of the Union speech. But the joint undertaking of NASA and the Defense Department hasn't gotten off the ground. With projected development costs at $10 billion, critics question its worth. (For more, see special Aerospace package below.) GATES IS RICHEST IN USA: The most powerful man in the computer industry is also the richest man in the USA. Microsoft CEO William Henry Gates III is the youngest person to ever lead the Forbes' 400 list of the richest Americans. In its Oct. 19 issue out Wednesday, Forbes says stock profits boosted Gates' fortune to $6.3 billion from October 1991 through August. That's $1.5 billion more than last year. IBM UNVEILS THINKPADS: IBM unveils a new line of notebook personal computers Monday, the ThinkPads, starting at $2,500. IBM says that at about $4,300, its 700c ThinkPad is the least expensive notebook PC with an active-matrix color screen, a technology that gives super-sharp pictures. IBM says the screen, at 10.4 inches diagonally, is also the largest among notebook PCs. GENERAL DYNAMICS SUIT DISMISSED: A federal judge Friday dismissed a $300 million federal government lawsuit filed in 1985 against General Dynamics Corp. The government said the defense contactor gave false estimates of costs for ship construction in the 1970s for federal shipbuilding subsidies. The judge said that while General Dynamics raised estimates, there was no evidence of fraud. NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE SHOWN: A federal judge Friday cited lack of evidence in dismissing a federal government suit against General Dynamics over shipbuilding. Between 1972 and 1977, GD's Quincy Shipyard Division applied for and received Construction Differential Subsidies from the U.S. Maritime Administration to support its construction of liquid natural gas carriers. The government said QSD inflated costs. U.S. SEEKS JAPANESE TECHNOLOGY: The U.S. government is seeking Japan's cooperation in upgrading U.S.-made weapons used by the Japanese Self Defense Forces and the U.S. military, the Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai reported Friday. Japan and the USA plan to jointly develop the next-generation FSX fighter aircraft, which will be used by Japan's Self Defense Forces. NEW SOUND BOARD AVAILABLE: Advanced Gravis has begun shipping a new sound board for the IBM personal computer. The 16-bit, 32-voice UltraSound card uses all digital wave table synthesis. It is compatible with Sound Blaster and Ad Lib and Windows Multimedia software. It has a suggested retail price of $199.95. COMMUNICATIONS ADDED TO TEST: Entergy Corp. says it has expanded testing of its fiber optic-based residential energy management system. The expanded test, called Customer Choice 2000, will now include digital telephone, computer, and television communications. When the project began last fall in Chenal Valley near Little Rock, Ark., it involved only energy management features. FRANCE TELECOM OFFERS DEAL: France Telecom has launched a new promotion. Users can save more than 30% on leased lines between North America and France. To qualify, users must order service or upgrade to higher speed digital circuits between now and Dec 31. France Telecom will waive the installation charge and provide three months of free service for firms that order 64,000 or 128,000 bits per second circuits. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON AEROSPACE: PLANE IS FIGHTING FOR ITS LIFE: Researchers have made progress developing new materials for the National Aerospace Plane (NASP), but prototypes aren't even on the assembly line. The program has been plagued by redesigns and missed deadlines. With critics questioning whether the project's vaguely defined mission is worth its beleaguered balance sheets, the plane is now fighting for its life. NEW APPROACH IS NEEDED: "We seem to be no closer today than we were six years ago to achieving the first orbital flight of an experimental vehicle," said Rep. George Brown, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. "There is concern about where this program is heading. ... NASP could be permanently grounded unless we develop a new approach." BROWN PROPOSES LEGISLATION: Brown has unveiled legislation to redefine the aerospace plane's mission, schedule and requirements. The bill, to be considered next year, spells out a five-year, $5 billion effort to put a prototype in the air. The goal: Develop a prototype that can go 25 times the speed of sound and move into space faster and cheaper than the space shuttle. CONGRESS IS CUTTING FUNDS: The plane would be a lighter, stripped-down version of the NASP now envisioned by program managers, who have been criticized for spending too much time and money trying to develop a finished project with no defined mission. Congress has become increasingly unwilling to spend money on the program. For fiscal 1993, it is likely to get about $150 million, all from the defense budget. NASA AIMS AT PRACTICAL PROGRAMS: Capitol Hill critics of the program say NASA's limited resources should be focused on advancing civil air transport - technology that can help commercial airlines move people faster and more efficiently. The Pentagon, while committed to the program, is unlikely to carry it alone in the face of dwindling - or nonexistent - NASA contributions. (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. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM