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RAndY's RumOR RaG
October 1994
NEWS IN YER FACE
By the time you read this, HP will have introduced a couple
of "monochrome killers" which will sell in the $350 range for
color inkjet printing. The DeskJet 540C will print at 300 dpi in
color and 600x300 for black-and-white printing.
The OfficeJet (at $799) will let users print, copy, and fax
documents with one machine. They will also introduce the Color
LaserJet with an anticipated street price in the $6,300-$6,500
range. The printer will be based on an AMD 20mhz 29030 processor
with 300 dpi resolution (Resolution Enhancement Technology gives
it a perceived resolution of 600 dpi).
Another new printer called the LaserJet 4V, a Canon LBP-BX
II based unit which prints on 11x17 paper at 600 dpi at speeds of
16 ppm for letter-size paper and 9 ppm for tabloid-size paper.
It has dual trays including a 250-sheet input tray and a 100-
sheet multi-purpose tray. The street price will be in the $2,800-
$2,900 range.
---------------
Microsoft is continuing it's hardware line with the
introduction of the Natural Keyboard. There are three new keys,
two of which are for accessing the Task Manager and the third is
an apps key. These keys will automatically map to the START
button of Chicago (when and if it's ever released). If you
thought their At Home Mouse was ugly, wait until you see this
thing. Imagine what your keyboard would look like if you left it
on top of the stove - the Natural Keyboard is a squiggly looking
thing with the primary keys split down the middle.
---------------
Creative Labs is getting into the software business with
five edutainment titles for the holiday selling season - marketed
under the moniker of BlasterWare. They're also getting into the
musical keyboard market with a product called BlasterKeys.
---------------
Hayes president Dennis Hayes recently stressed self-
censorship in the BBS sector. Hayes said that if the industry
doesn't police itself, the government "will go after everyone in
the guise of protecting your children from violence and nudity."
---------------
IBM recently urged employees to strongly oppose the two
health care bills now in Congress. It's about time a major
corporation took a stand against socialism.
---------------
New York City recently bought some electronic voting
machines. No big deal, except the machines use the long-obsolete
Z-80 processor - and cost $6,000 each! Some wonder if the city
will tabulate ballot results with VisiCalc.
---------------
Earlier this year, Carl Sagan got mad at Apple when he found
out they had a product code-named in his honor. Apple changed
the name of the product but Sagan sued for defamation when he
learned that the new name BHA stood for "Butt-Head Astronomer."
---------------
Officially IBM says they will only build Chicago support
into OS/2 if users demand it, but insiders say that OS/2 will be
able to run 32-bit Chicago apps sometime in 1995.
---------------
Cyberspace has a new job coming for notary publics. The
American Bar Association is working on guidelines for the
position of cybernotary. They describe the position as an
"international computer-based transaction specialist."
---------------
Look for Quarterdeck to enter the Internet business with
products which make it easier for users to access Internet as
well as authoring tools for Word and WordPerfect.
The authoring tools convert text into Hyper Text Markup
Language without awkward coding. (HTML lets viewers see
information as the author intended regardless of the software or
computer they're using.)
---------------
Symantec has discovered a problem with their Norton
Utilities Speed Disk for the Mac which can result in a loss of
data. They've suspended shipments of the product and will fix
the problem and update the product within the next three weeks.
The product has only been out for a month.
That's what you get for not using a REAL computer <snicker>.
---------------
Problems continue with the PCI bus, but the original
problems have been corrected. Some users are having problems
with video and audio cards. Intel claims that the problems are
with third-party vendors who don't fully understand the
technology, and that the problems are not Pentium related.
The PCI specification is only two years old, but it seems
that it is emerging as the de facto standard for Pentium-class
machines.
Intel claims to have corrected problems with PCI SCSI cards
which they blamed on incorrect BIOS settings. They've issued a
BIOS update to vendors who have experienced problems.
---------------
CHICAGO NEWS
While the industry press continues its masturbatory frenzy
over the next version of Windows, here's what's really happening.
WHAT!!!??? Another delay??? Now they're saying that
Chicago won't ship until the second quarter of 1995 and even then
only as an upgrade. "We're no longer racing for an end-of-1994
delivery" said one Microsoft spokeswoman. Microsoft is telling
retailers that the Beta 2 will go out by about December.
Microsoft hasn't decided to whether to let retailers sell full
versions of Chicago designed to be installed on "naked"
computers.
Security is being beefed up. To have access rights to a
shared folder or printer, you'll need not just a password, but a
valid user name and password. This will eliminate the need to
log in multiple passwords depending upon which service a user is
accessing. Windows NT will continue to offer maximum security,
though.
Surely you've heard about the Microsoft decision to rename
the commercial product from Chicago to Windows95. I think this
is a mistake and will only cause more confusion with end users.
Who wants to buy a 1995 product in 1996? The present system of
version numbers is much more accurate and less confusing. What
happens with interim releases?
Jesse Berst, editor of Windows Watcher, said that they
should have called it Windows 95.5 since it won't ship until at
least next May.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is toughening their certification
process for hardware vendors to use the new "Windows-compatible"
logo. Hardware vendors will have until the middle of next year
to meet the requirements for Windows95, including support for its
pre-emptive multitasking architecture, plug-and-play
compatibility, support for SCSI peripherals, and fax support.
Computer manufacturers are not required to display the
certification logo on their systems, but meeting the requirements
will still be necessary because only compliant systems can
preload Windows95.
Microsoft is expected to spend more than $100 million to
promote Windows95 by the time it hits the shelves.
Rumor has it that Microsoft may put out DOS 7 in time for
Christmas delivery. They've already said that DOS 7 would be a
part of Windows95 for compatibility reasons, but releasing it at
the end of the year would make them look a little better for
delaying Windows95. Novell has already conceded the DOS market
to Microsoft by halting development of DR-DOS. Microsoft has
denied the upgrade rumors but Brad Chase, general manager of
their personal operating systems group, said at the recent
Windows World trade show in Dallas, "There are no plans today
(for an MS-DOS upgrade), but it would be foolish to close the
door to any possibilities."
---------------
OS/2 NEWS
IBM is close to signing a deal to bundle a Footprint
applications suite with the next version of OS/2 which will
include fax/communications, PIM-based scheduling, and spreadsheet
applets. Footprint would retain development responsibility while
IBM would acquire rights to market the product.
Also included with the next OS/2 release will be a new OS/2
version of the CompuServe Information Manager. It's in the Warp
Beta 2 release, but since I don't subscribe to CompuServe, I
can't try it out. Some people have criticized IBM for not
including Golden ComPass instead of the CIS-developed software.
The CIS software lets users get to know the service interactively
which is more difficult with Golden ComPass.
Athena Design's Mesa 2 spreadsheet should be shipping by the
time you read this. The price for the first three months of
release will be just $99. Considering that it is a full 32-bit
multi-threaded application with a wealth of features, this is a
sweet deal.
IBM has dedicated "tens of millions of dollars" to launching
the next version of OS/2 with an additional $500 million for
worldwide support. Lotus and IBM are negotiating to bundle Warp
with SmartSuite for OS/2. I have been using the Warp Beta II and
it's definitely faster. You still don't want to run it on a 4MB
machine even though you can. It uses your existing Windows and
for once, it doesn't feel jumpy.
OS/2 is finally pretty. The new feature that I like is the
LaunchPad, a moveable toolbar on which you can place your
favorite applications for faster launching of programs. One of
the things that I don't like about object-oriented operating
systems is that you end up with open windows and folders all over
the place. The LaunchPad makes keeping a clean desktop much
easier.
When you open a folder, the folder opens visually and is
helpful for keeping track of where you are. Windows open and
close with considerably more speed. The BonusPak includes
slightly crippled faxing software along with other add-ins
mentioned previously.
With Microsoft's continuing delay in releasing Windows 95
(still doesn't feel right to type that), IBM has a golden
opportunity to cash in. The key will be having third-party
vendors writing native OS/2 applications in significant numbers.
OS/2 for the PowerPC won't be completed until at least mid-
1995 and applications for it won't arrive until late 1995. Later
this year IBM will unveil their first PowerPC computers which are
jointly designed by IBM, Apple, and Motorola. Until their
operating system is ready, they'll run IBM's version of UNIX,
called AIX as well as Windows NT, which IBM is porting to the
PowerPC chip.
---------------
MORE NEWS IN YER FACE
Corel has delayed the release of Ventura Publisher 5 until
October. Said one Corel executive, "The worst thing a company
can do is not acknowledge the fact that it has problems. As long
as you take the time to help the customer resolve the problem, he
or she will be quite satisfied."
---------------
America Online is changing their interface. A new opening
screen will give you a list of 14 subsections. Upgrade kits for
their access software will be sent to members with Macintosh
getting the first upgrade. America Online calls it a MultiMedia
User Interface because it will give access to sounds and
photographs. So do we call this a MUI?
---------------
The developers of the popular Myst game are working on a
sequel but say it won't be ready anytime soon.
---------------
In case you aren't aware, many celebrities are now on-line
through CompuServe, America Online, Delphi, and Prah-duh-gee.
Fans can question them and get answers, often in real time,
download GIFs, and more. You can find everyone from Mick Jagger
to ex-Governor Jerry Brown online.
---------------
Incoming students at Humboldt State, Sonoma State, and Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo could be required to own a PC before being
accepted for admission. Some educators are concerned about the
affordability aspect, especially for low-income students.
---------------
Industry pundits are predicting soft sales of Pentiums for
the fourth quarter due partially to the delay of Windows95.
---------------
There are rumors of a Taligent-like joint venture between
IBM and Lotus. The scenario is that Lotus would develop much-
needed apps for OS/2 and IBM would provide the bucks. Both sides
deny it.
---------------
dBase for Windows has not exactly been flying off the
shelves, despite the presumption of a pent-up demand for the
product. While the product has been selling fairly well,
customers seem to be adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
---------------
The Interface Group, which produces COMDEX, has added to
their contract a provision which prohibits the display of nudity
and sexually explicit materials from their shows. November's Las
Vegas COMDEX is already covered by the new ruling and offenders
will get one warning before having their display closed. This is
in response to complaints from exhibitors and show attendees.
---------------
A couple of interesting things - AT&T, in promoting their E-
mail services, produced some bumper stickers with the slogan "E-
Mail Saves Trees" - printed on paper bumper stickers.
Microsoft gave cabbies customized receipts at the recent
Networks Expo which displayed the Windows logo prominently along
with the slogan "We Take You Where You Want To Go!" Uh-huh. . .
---------------
A recent demonstration of Personal OS/2 and Windows95 at the
Vancouver PC Users Society saw OS/2 run flawlessly and Windows95
crash. Hmmmmm . . .
---------------
Intel recently donated $1 million of unsold Pentium chips to
a Sunnyvale, CA charity named Arkenstone, creating a tax
deduction from what would have been a writeoff.
---------------
Police in Santa Ana found some marijuana plants growing at a
Hewlett-Packard factory compound. Far out, man.
---------------
A NEW OFFICE
Look for a new Office bundle in the near future. A CD-ROM
version will include Bookshelf and the Microsoft Office
Assistant, a set of 54 templates for small business and also sold
separately. A program called CapScreen is a multimedia feature
for recording and playing back all actions performed on the
computer as well as online documentation and a search engine for
the reference books.
Microsoft is considering a mix-and-match approach with some
of the applications requiring an unlock code.
The Notes F/X version of Office includes import and import
filters for Excel.
---------------
QUATTRO PRO 6
Novell will soon release version 6 of Quattro Pro for
Windows (probably by the time you read this).
This new version is designed for corporate users. It
supports OLE 2 in-place editing and drag and drop, has a new
interface, and is of course integrated with NetWare. There are
improved DDE links with Paradox as well as its graph library.
There is a set of pre-made graphs and backgrounds which users can
transfer to slides for presentations as well as advice on
creating effective presentations.
The Formula Composer "does for formula editing what word
processing did for text creation" according to product manager
Marshall Moseley. The composer breaks down formulas into
hierarchical outlines that reflect changes as they are edited.
Novell will be selling the spreadsheet for $99 through the
rest of the year, when the MSRP will jump to $395.
---------------
WINDOWS TUNE-UP
There are a variety of products out there that claim to tune
up your Windows installation. Most of them are miserable in
terms of giving you accurate information.
The people at Central Point have released a product called
Speed Tools which contains a program called System Consultant.
Like others of its kind, it gives you suggestions on how to fine
tune your installation of Windows for maximum performance.
Actually, it doesn't do a bad job although some of the
information is pretty generic. For example, it told me that I
had a video card with 256K or more of RAM - well duh!!! It told
me I was running Windows 3.10 when I'm actually using Windows
for Workgroups 3.11.
But I've seen worse. The only advice the program gave me
was to put a TEMP environment variable in my AUTOEXEC.BAT. I've
had some of these kinds of programs tell me all kinds of inane
things.
Also part of the package is a disk optimizer. Yeah, I know
we really need another one. But this one will let you set it up
to continuously optimize your hard drive whenever there is free
CPU time. I think that would be an annoyance. You can also set
up drive optimizations for regular intervals, like daily, every
hour, every Tuesday, whatever.
This isn't a bad package, but a knowledgeable Windows user
could do the same thing with common sense and a study of INI
settings.
---------------
NEXT MONTH
Well, if Microsoft ever starts cranking out those goofy
looking keyboards, I'll have one here to play with. And if IBM
stays on track I'll be doing a review of Personal OS/2. In the
maybe category is Mad Dog McCree II and who knows what else.
Looks like a lot of "ifs" to me.
=================================
DISCLAIMER
RAndY's RumOR RaG is published on a monthly basis by
AINSWORTH COMPUTER SERVICES and is available on various local
BBS's, GEnie, and in Modem News.
In case anyone cares, RAndY's RumOR RaG is produced on a 486-
50 with 8 megs of memory, 420 MB Connor IDE hard drive, 105 MB
Toshiba IDE hard drive, TEAC 1.2 MB and 1.44 MB floppies, Pro
Audio Spectrum 16 running a Hitachi 3750 CD ROM drive, Trident
VLB video card, Sceptre SVGA display, Microsoft mouse, Word for
Windows and transmitted through a US Robotics HST Dual Standard
modem.
Opinions expressed are those of the author. Comments should
be addressed to Ainsworth Computer Services on GEnie, via phone,
analog mail, or whatever method makes you feel good.
AINSWORTH COMPUTER SERVICES
605 W. Wishkah
Aberdeen, WA 98520-6031
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