Giveaways And Goodies In Modem War

The Age

Monday August 8, 1994

WITH the modem market becoming such a crowded place, companies are trying everything from price reductions to free Internet access to give them a competitive edge over their opposition.

US Robotics, in conjunction with Oz-Email, is offering free registration and five months off-peak Internet access to buyers of its modems.

The company has chopped $100 off the price of its Sportster 14.4kbps Fax/Data modem, down from $599 to $499. The modem comes bundled with a choice of Winfax Lite or Quicklink 11 for DOS and Windows. For information telephone Data Direct on (03) 210 3330.

``We didn't begin the price war, but we are determined not to be outgunned," said David Stewart, managing director of Banksia Technology, as he announced price cuts on a number of his company's modems.

Banksia has slashed the price of its 14.4kbps MyModem from $599 to $416 and the 28.8kbps MyFastModem from $899 to $720. Telephone Banksia Technology on (02) 418 6033 for further details.

New AIX.

IBM says AIX 4.1 is the first completely new version of the company's Unix operating system since the release of the original AIX 3.0 in 1990. Key features of the product include SMP (symmetrical multiprocessing) support and binary compatibility with AIX 3.2.5 based applications.

Using the new Common Mode Feature, developers can compile their applications to support IBM's current and future Power-based processors, including PowerPC, Power2, and Power from a single binary.

Other capabilities of AIX 4.1 include a new graphical design assistant for simplifying the process of loading AIX on to the system, and a new Network Install Manager (NIM). The new NIM allows system administrators to install new applications and update existing applications directly from the server to all AIX clients on a network.

The client and server components are now marketed separately. AIX 4.1 Client sells for $1300 while the Server component ranges in price from $2440 to $23,985. Both components will be available in late August.

Telephone IBM on 132426 on further information.

Windows keyboard.

You've got the operating system, now get the keyboard. That's the philosophy behind Microsoft's plans to release a modified version of the standard 101-key AT keyboard that adds three keys designed to activate features within Windows 4.0 and NT.

The three added keys are an Application key, a Left Windows key, and a Right Windows key. The latter two keys will be embossed with the Windows logo, according to sources. Microsoft says users will have access to all Windows 4.0 features, even if they don't have keyboards with the extra keys.

The integration of operating system and hardware features is part of Microsoft's Nexus project, designed to simplify Windows and make it easier to use, reports said. Microsoft's mouse hardware division will design the keyboard, but assembly will be subcontracted to Key Tronic.

Digital NetWare.

Novell's new entry-level, eight-user software version of NetWare for LAT offers simultaneous and transparent access to host resources running on Digital computers. Netware for LAT can handle eight concurrent users and up to 32 session.

Access is available from all popular desktops (eg DOS, Windows, Macintosh), anywhere on the network, and NetWare for LAT supports the most popular terminal emulators using industry-accepted protocols (IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and TCP/IP). For pricing and information telephone a Novell Authorised Reseller or Novell on (02) 925 3000.

Software snooper.

Rod Harmer Consulting has released a suite of four programs designed to track down illegal software or suspicious files stored on a stand- alone PC or network. Audit Manager identifies software installed on the system, Audit System tracks files on the system, Findel will point to deleted files and Audit Net creates an inventory of files that exist on each client workstation.

Software Inventory System can be used on Novell networks (versions 2.x and 3.x) or a stand-alone PC. For prices and further details telephone Rob Harmer Consulting on (08) 396 5173.

SCO support.

Hoping to attract a larger slice of the Australian UNIX server market, SCO Australia has launched a support program for local software developers, that will provide more timely information.

Developers joining the SCO Pacific Rim Developer Program receive SCO products and services at discounted prices as well as free registration for Australia's inaugural developers' conference. As an introductory offer to program members, SCO has cut the price of its 16 user SCO UNIX Development Kits from $4700 to $990. Telephone SCO on (02)9661999 for information.

Surf disk.

Yo, dudes and grommets! Electric Book has released the Surf Disk Series, a software package aimed at helping surfers catch the choicest waves. Using 100 million weather recordings of wind and swell, the Surf Disk Series shows which regions are the best and most consistent for surf, where to go for surf at what time of year and the probability of getting surf at a particular location during any month.

Other filthy features include some gnarly pictures, maps, an explanation on how tides work and safety and lifesaving hints. The first edition covers the entire ``surfable" east coast of Australia, from Wilson's Promontory to Sandy Cape. Priced at $30 it is available from Electric Book on telephone (03) 428 9638.

Legal disk.

R.P.Emery and Associates has just released on disk 101 of the most frequently needed business legal documents and agreements. Documents include employment contracts, promissory notes, powers of attorney and trademark and copyright documents. Prepared by a solicitor, the documents comply with legal requirements in all states of the Commonwealth.

The documents are stored in ASCII format, and users can navigate through them using a text utility and quick reference index. Priced at $150, the disk is available from R.P Emery and Associates on (075) 94 0656.

Printer/fax combo.

At PC 94, Canon will introduce its FAX-B340, a unit combining a fax, printer and answering machine. The new machine can serve as a 360 dpi resolution, plain paper printer by incorporating a parallel printer interface and emulation for Canon BJ200/BJ-10e, Epson LQ-510 and IBM X24E printers.

Canon has also released the B320, a unit with the printing and facsimile functions of the B340, but an answering machine connection instead of a built in facility. The B340 is priced at $2995, while the B320 costs $2795. Both machines will be available late in August.

Telephone Canon on (02) 805 2000 for further details.

New V.Fast.

Microcom has expanded its V.Fast modem range with the release of two new products. The $890 DeskPorte FAST EP 28.8 uses a PC's parallel port, thereby bypassing the Windows serial port bottleneck. Priced at $690, the DeskPorte ES 28.8 uses the PC's serial port.

The company also announced a new version of the Carbon Copy for Windows version 2.5 communications package. Carbon Copy 2.5 offers PC- to-PC, PC-to-LAN and LAN-to-LAN connectivity in a single software package. It is available now and carries a price-tag of $279. Users of earlier versions or competing packages can upgrade for $95. For further information telephone Microcom on (02) 410 9953.

What's on.

The next meeting of the Victorian Macintosh Users' Group will be held at 6pm on 15 August at the Apple Office, level 2, 55 Southbank Boulevard, South Melbourne. Representatives of Symantec will be at the meeting, holding a presentation of SAM 4.0, Norton Utilities 3.0 and DiskDoubler Pro 1.1. For information telephone the administrator on (03) 654 7322.

You can fax details of upcoming user group meetings or conferences to Computer Age on (03) 866 5486.

Look hip in a wearable PC.

FORGET the grunge look. This spring the freshest fashion accessory is the wearable PC.

Spatial Systems Integration (SPASYS) has just released what it claims to be the first truly wearable, portable, fully integrated PC with head-up display.

The Rugged Portable Virtual Reality Computer (RPC-2), as it is known, has a monochrome VGA head-up display that sits just below the user's eye.

Although it is only one inch square, the display fools the brain into thinking that it's much larger; either 12 inches or 19 inches, depending on the display option chosen. Users operate the PC via IBM's voice recognition system, or using a standard, sub-miniature or hand- held keyboard.

The base-level RPC-2 is powered by an Intel SL enhanced 486DX running at 33MHz with 2MB RAM (expandable to 32MB). Standard internal hard drive capacity is limited to 340MB, although storage capacity can be increased using the SCSI adapter and two PCMCIA slots.

Options include a docking station, rugged printer, rugged optical disk, modem, camera and radio. Pricing starts from around $9000 and volume discounts are available.

The company says the product would be useful for workers in maintenance, emergency services, military and industrial sectors.

SPASYS has also recently released a display device to receive and view faxes on a cellular phone. For information telephone Spatial Systems Integration on (03) 315 9133.