News
Recap

• In an increasingly brutal market, PC makers are employing very different strategies. Hewlett-Packard is developing its own entry into the Java-capable NC market and is releasing a sub-$1,000 PC with a K5 processor from Advanced Micro Devices. Compaq is lowering the bar even further, with a sub-$800 machine featuring a Cyrix chip; the company also plans to sell directly into the corporate market. Meanwhile, financially beleaguered AST abandoned the consumer market and was fully acquired by Samsung.

• Groupware vendors beware: A new study shows large organizations using Internet mail pay significantly less than those with elaborate installations of Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes.

• Intel and AMD settled their ongoing trademark dispute; the latter is now allowed to promote its products as being MMX-enhanced.

• Look for 24X CD-ROMs to become the standard; Panasonic and Pioneer New Media have already released their products in this category and others are set to follow suit.

• Continuing to make inroads in the Java arena, Sun launched a Java Systems Desktop unit to develop new types of Java devices. However, the target date for volume shipments of JavaStations has slipped.

• At press time, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison had backed off from his bid to buy Apple.

• In a new report, research house International Data Corp. claimed users spent $19 billion on Internet- and intranet-related products and services in 1996.

Windows Magazine, July 1997, page 47.

[ Go to July 1997 Table of Contents ]