Doesn't it ever stop? PC price war looms again; weak companies get trampled as a battle of titans shapes up

Article Abstract:

The big dinosaurs are coming back to life and eating up their smaller cousins, whether onscreen in 'Jurassic Park' or in the cutthroat ranks of price-cutting microcomputer vendors. IBM and Apple are reorganizing and laying off numerous workers to maintain profitability while trimming prices to increase market share, after witnessing Compaq Computer Corp's success with this strategy in 1992. HP and DEC, which have stayed out of the microcomputer market until now, are drawing on their substantial cash reserves to get into it in a big way, HP with portables and DEC through direct marketing. Once profitable, smaller vendors such as Everex Systems Inc and Compuadd Corp have found it impossible to compete: both have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. While less adaptable companies are going extinct, a new species is evolving that may one day dominate the microcomputing environment: vendors that own the intellectual property rights to pen-based computers.

Electronic computers, Prepackaged software, Computer industry, Microcomputers, Compaq Computer Corp., CPQ, Prices and rates, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Column, AAPL, Market share, Hewlett-Packard Co., HWP, Intellectual property, Product development, Digital Equipment Corp., DEC, Apple Inc., Price cutting, Microcomputer, Competition, Economics of Computing, Financial Stability

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A solution to envelope printing, at a steep price: small businesses with large mailing lists are targets for Address Express

Article Abstract:

The Address Express On-Line Addressing System, $1,195, from Tidemark Inc, Newark, NJ, is intended for managing one of the office's most aggravating problems: addressing envelopes and labels. The device, which is the size of a breadbox, attaches to a PC or a Macintosh, or to a local area network. Address Express not only does envelopes and labels, but postcards, brochures, Rolodex cards or name cards, or almost anything similar. The device uses inkjet technology, which can be a drawback because its water-soluble ink can smear. Nevertheless, the product is said to be ideal for secretaries who do many letters. For the office that sends most of its mail to a few recipients, Jim Seymour suggests a simple solution to the envelope problem: preprint a stack of envelopes using a standard laser printer, and store the envelopes, to be used as they are needed.

Evaluation, Product information, Equipment and supplies, Inkjet printers, Printers (Computers), Printers (Equipment), Labels, Ink-jet printers, Mail preparation, Printers, Ink Jet Printer, Envelopes, Addressing of, Tidemark Corp., Tidemark Address Express On-Line Addressing System (Computer printer)

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Modem makers are picking up the pace; companies can slice phone bills and boost competitiveness with the latest devices

Article Abstract:

Modems can save companies money and reduce telephone charges because they offer high speed data transmission and can take over a lot of processing done by computer-based software communications protocols. The standard rate for modems, which has been around 1,200 to 2,400 bits of information per second (bps), is expected to leap to 9,600 bps. The use of data compression allows modems that transmit at 9,600 bps to actually throughput faster than 9,600 bps. A 9,600 bps modem theoretically transmits in one-fourth the times as a 2,400 bps modem and makes it economically feasible for companies to transmit large amounts of data. Long-distance telephone charges are reduced when companies need to access information that is stored in computers far away.

Usage, Data compression, Telecommunications transmission technologies, Modems, Modem, Multitasking (Computing), column, Multitasking, Data Communications, 9600 Bps

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