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July 31, 1999
News
- Just when
you thought 500 and 550 MHz were fast, Intel is rolling out its new
600 MHz Pentium IIIs on Monday. And, as usual, all the major computer
companies, including IBM, Dell, Compaq, Gateway and so on, will have
systems based around the new fast processors. In fact, in this case,
I’ve actually seen product announcements from companies before the
official release from Intel, which is a bit odd. Regardless, as of
today, Dell will sell you a Dimension XPS T600 600 MHz Pentium
III-based system complete with 128 MB of RAM, 13 GB hard drive, DVD-ROM,
17” monitor, 16MB Diamond Viper nVidia TNT AGP graphics card, 40X
CD-ROM, 56K WinModem and a small software bundle including Microsoft
Works for $1,999. Look for more systems from other vendors on or
before Monday.
- This
isn’t the only big chip news Intel has for Monday or the near
future—several other developments are in the works. The desktop
version of the Celeron, for example, is being kicked up to 500 MHz as
of Monday as well. On September 15, mobile Celerons will be available
in 433 and 466 MHz versions, offering even more options for low to
medium-cost notebooks. Finally, on September 27, Intel will finally
unveil the next-generation 820 chipset for the Pentium III. This new
chipset will support a 133 MHz front-side bus for connecting the
processor and the chipset as well as support the new Rambus memory
technology, which can theoretically offer much faster access to a
computer’s memory. As we’ve learned from the past, these types of
architectural changes don’t always make an enormous difference in PC
performance, but ever few percentage point increase helps.
- Mac users
curious to try out one of the many free PC deals will finally have a
choice when the FreeMac web site/company is officially announced next
week. Apparently the company is hoping to ultimately give away
1,000,000 iMacs to consumers who fill out an online order form and
meet the right demographic. Like the PC counterparts, FreeMac is
apparently counting on long-term ISP contracts and targeted
advertising to offset the cost of the computer.
- In related
news, the company that first started this trend, FreePC, claims that
they will be shipping out another 20,000 new free computers to
qualifying customers over the next few weeks. They seem to be the
exception, however, because many of the low-cost/free PC companies
look to be in trouble already. MicroWorkz, for example, apparently
lost their deal with ISP partner Earthlink, which some analysts view
as a bad sign for MicroWorkz’ health. Similarly, a company I
mentioned called Enchilada disappeared almost quickly as they
appeared.
- More good
news for Mac users this past week as companies continue to announced
more Mac versions of existing PC software products. Netscape/AOL, for
example, announced that they will be developing a version of their
popular Messenger instant-messaging product for the Mac. This is the
real-time communication software that’s currently part of a big
controversy between AOL and Microsoft. On the entertainment side,
Electronic Arts announced that they will be doing a version of SimCity
3000 for the Mac. This is the latest iteration of the company’s
popular simulation game for building up your own societies.
- Microsoft
this week released an early beta version of yet another version of
Windows. This will be another update to Windows 98, although it’s
not clear what the product’s going to be called. Microsoft
originally planned to blend Windows 98 and Windows 2000 into a single
product that was based on Windows 2000, but they’ve now pushed that
plan out and plan, instead, to have one more version of a
consumer-oriented version of Windows based on the Windows 98 code.
Details on the new version, which is supposedly scheduled for release
some time next year are still sketchy, but it looks to be a relatively
minor upgrade, along the lines of Windows 98 2nd Edition.
One interesting thing I have heard is that it may drop support for
“legacy” technologies, which translated means older non-Windows
95/98 drivers and DOS itself (as well as DOS-only applications).
- There
was/is an interesting battle going on in San Francisco over rights to
cable lines for high-speed Internet connections. New TCI Cable owner
AT&T now owns the cable and they claim that they shouldn’t have
to open up those lines for competition. AOL and other groups, however,
want to force AT&T to open the lines up so that SF customers are
not stuck with AT&T’s @Home ISP. The SF City Council actually
sided with AT&T and, for now at least, will not require that the
lines be opened up. Despite all these developments, there’s still no
word on when SF citizens will have access to cable modem service, but
I get the impression it’s still going to be a while.
- The Home
Phoneline Networking Association (HPNA) announced the ratification of
a new faster data 10 Mbps data rate for HPNA 2.0 and later-compliant
products. Products supporting this new faster standard are expected to
be available by the end of the year and will be backwards compatible
with existing 1 Mbps products. Look for more and better home
networking products that use this technology then, although I think
they’re all going to get a run for the money from Apple’s AirPort
technology. This is the high-speed, low-cost wireless networking
technology that Apple introduced along with its iBook. The AirPort
provides up to 11 Mbps data transfer rates and uses the IEEE 802.11
standard.
- Last
Monday, Compaq unveiled a new line of notebooks, including their first
ultrathin products. The three-pound M300, which starts around $2,000,
includes a 333 MHz Celeron or Pentium II, 64MB of RAM, 11.3” LCD
screen, 4MB of video memory, CD drive, 10/000 network connection,
56-kpbs modem, and your choice of Windows. The keyboard is 95% of full
size. The slightly heavier M700, is also considered light at 4.8
pounds. On the high-end, the E700 is being marketed as a desktop
replacement, complete with a three-spindle design, which means it can
hold a floppy, CD/DVD-ROM and hard drive all at the same time. One
unique thing about this new line is that Compaq has designed the bays
and other peripherals to work across all their product lines, which
makes it easier to find replacements.
-
Finally,
an item I didn’t get to last week. At MacWorld Expo in New York, Epson
announced the debut of three, color multifunction devices that will work
as combination color printers, scanners and copiers with both Macs and PCs
via USB and/or parallel port connections. All three of the new Stylus Scan
models will be released around October and will be based on the
company’s 740 color inkjet print engine. For $349, the Stylus Scan 2000
includes a 300 x 600 dpi sheet-fed scanner. Jump to $499 and you’ll get
the Stylus Scan 2500, which features a 36-bit, 600 x 2,400 dpi flatbed
scanner as part of the package. Finally, for $699, the Stylus Scan 2500
Pro adds an automatic document feeder.
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