Industry News Bullets

May 1996 Info Systems Newswire

Professional Services Committee, LCCA

Computer Info Systems Committee, AGC

Higher performance Pentium notebooks are seeing 90 day shipment delays due to shortages of 12 and 11" display supplies requiring a next-generation manufacturing technique

New research indicates Web solutions may not be less expensive than Lotus Notes for intranet systems

Lotus tripled the number of Notes seats from first quarter 95 to first quarter 96

Microsoft stated recently that the planned life of Windows 95 has been extended six months to August 97 before releasing their next generation product - Microsoft's capitalization passed $63 Billion and IBM's street value

Compaq continues the long industry trend of competitiveness and activity with a June schedule of a complete product line revamping

Contrary to pre release Microsoft announcements that Windows 95 allows an upgrade path to Windows NT, officials confirmed late in April that there will be no automated upgrade to NT Workstation Version 4.0

To be available in the second half of 96, IBM demonstrated the next version of OS/2 Warp, called "Merlin", which will strengthen networking and voice command features and adds a "WarpCenter" styled after a blend of Lotus SmartCenter and Warp LaunchPad

Intel plans to release in the fourth quarter a new line of Pentium Pro "Klamath" chips starting at 200MHz, followed by 266-333MHz "Deschutes"

In 94, local reseller Computer Discount Warehouse's stock increased 143% to the low 40's, one of the top performers of the year. For the week ended April 19, they again were in the top risers for the week going from $53 to $65.

April 1996 Info Systems Newswire

Worldwide mobile computer market share estimates for 1994/1995 top 4 by Dataquest: Toshiba - 14.0%/15.0%; Compaq - 12.0%/11.0%; NEC 8.4%/10.0%; IBM - 9.8%/9.9%

Skokie,IL based US Robotics/Megahertz topped all other modem brands with a 21.9% share

In a recent chapter of the Internet soap opera pitting Netscape against Microsoft, America Online announced plans to bundle Netscape with AOL's Internet access software, currently with 100,000 users. Later, Microsoft agreed to include AOL service access; in exchange AOL with about 5 million customers will include Microsoft's Internet Explorer (a direct competitor with Netscape).

Large corporations select Windows 3.1 75% of the time over Windows 95 in a dual install situation, far below Microsoft's 50% predictions. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 3% of the systems in use in these environments run Windows 95 and 13% of the systems in small to mid sized companies. This accelerates the wait for a prepared move to Windows NT.

Naperville, IL based Spyglass, Inc, publisher of Mosaic, one of the first Internet browsers, is expected to announce this month it will drop further development of Mosaic.

IBM is engaging discussions and expects to join the Microsoft Solution Provider Program. They seek to improve their source of support for NT and Backoffice.

March 1996 Info Systems Newswire

IBM PC Co. posts a 1995 profit after a 1994 $1Billion loss

Recent moves by IBM indicate a strong cooperation with Microsoft, bundling Windows NT on IBM servers and training hundreds on NT.

During the week of March 4, Compaq announced a 20% price cut after slower than expected sales.

Due to uncertainty in its future, inventories of Apple units hit 75 days supply compared to the normal 30 days.

Novell's version of the 32-bit Client for Win95 is now available off Netwire on CompuServe or at [http://www.novell.com].

The Microsoft Network, originally conceived as a budding competitor to America Online, CompuServe, etc peaked at 850,000 and is now folded into an internal department.

WordPerfect V7 for Win95 set for release.

In late February, Novell announced that Netware sales declined due to low end pressure from Windows NT success.

Computer Reseller News Index predicts a computer industry slowdown in the second half of 96, probably more so in the consumer PC market. The January 96 book-to-bill ratio for semiconductors hit the lowest level of the last five years.

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