Antitrust/Microsoft
WP: Microsoft Informed of States' Concerns
NYT: 13 States Plan Antitrust Move Over Microsoft
WSJ: States Rejoin Federal Effort in Case Against Microsoft
NYT: Windows 98, The Tuneup
Minorities
NYT: Senate Panel is Told Disabled May Fall Behind in Information Age
NYT: Microsoft Donates to Senior
Internet/Services
NYT: White House to Release 'Net Plan
WSJ: CybeRx: Getting Medical Advice and Moral Support from the Web
NYT: It Is for You Defective Day of Hats, No? [huh?]
EduTech
WSJ: America Online to Buy Stake in Boston Firm
NYT: Instead of School Desks, A Learn Station for Tykes
Technology
WSJ: Some Firms, Let Down by Costly Computers, Opt to 'De-Engineer'
NYT: Modem 'Lite' Offers Fast Web Access at Low Rates
** Antitrust/Microsoft **
Title: Microsoft Informed of States' Concerns
Source: Washington Post (D1,D2)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-04/30/209l-043098-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Last Thursday and Friday attorneys general from over a dozen
states met with top-level executives from Microsoft Corp. to learn more
about the company's latest software package, Windows 98, and to discuss
concerns that the software giant is using its "market clout" unfairly. Both
state and company officials say that the talks were inconclusive but
descriptions of the meetings also demonstrate a "widening chasm" between
state law enforcement officials and Microsoft. "Throughout this process,
we've asked the AGs to tell us their specific concerns," said Mark Murray, a
spokesman for Microsoft. "They haven't provided us with any specific
concerns. We'll continue to work with them, to help [meet] with their
requirements for information." A much different account was offered from
among the state attorneys general. "They don't get it," said one state
attorney general who declined to be identified. He said that the state
officials have given Microsoft "clear indications of their concerns" about
the software giant's business practices.
Title: 13 States Plan Antitrust Move Over Microsoft
Source: New York Times (A1,D20)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/biztech/articles/30microsoft.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Attorneys general from 13 states are in the final stages of
preparing "a joint antitrust action" against Microsoft. They are "apparently
intent" on blocking the release of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 98 operating
system. "The decision on our action is imminent, and in my opinion some
action is likely," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. "I
think it will be in the next couple of weeks." While several of the state
officials said that they would rather "act in conjunction" with the U.S.
Dept. of Justice, they are prepared to proceed without the federal agency.
The states "intend to work quickly" because Microsoft plans to begin
shipping its software package to computer makers in mid-May and release it
to consumers by late June.
Title: States Rejoin Federal Effort in Case Against Microsoft
Source: Wall Street Journal (B11)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Staff Reporter
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Several states are again coordinating the Dept. of Justice
and are likely to join with the federal government if it files an antitrust
lawsuit against Microsoft. Charges may include "illegal maintenance and
extension" of a monopoly on desktop computer operating software, seeking to
push that monopoly into new markets, through linking Windows software to
its Internet software. Actions might go as far as to seek to block the
release of Windows 98.
Title: Windows 98, The Tuneup
Source: New York Times (E1)
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30windows.html
Author: Peter H. Lewis
Issue: Microsoft
Description: Barring late intervention by Federal or state antitrust
officials, Microsoft will release Windows 98 on June 25, but it's not
expected to attract the legions that lined up in August 1995 for the
release of Windows 95. The article sites January 1998 statistics that say
that 24% of DOS- and Windows-based computers in homes were still running
Windows 3.1, and 10% using the ol' text-based DOS ancestor of Windows.
General sentiment (according to the Times) is that Windows 98 is more an
upgrade than an overhaul of Windows 95.
** Minorities **
Title: Senate Panel is Told Disabled May Fall Behind in Information Age
Source: New York Times (CyberTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/cyber/articles/30disabled.html
Author: Jeri Clausing
Issue: Minorities
Description: Advocates for the disabled told the Senate Committee on Labor
and Human Resources yesterday that the information technology explosion
threatens to leave the disabled behind and thus Congress must ensure that
the infrastructure now being built will include accessibility features from
the outset. "Just sit down at any computer or walk up to a public
information kiosk, close your eyes, and try to use it," said James Gashel of
the National Federation of the Blind. "Then, think about the fact that
devices such as these are rapidly becoming the centerpiece of information
exchange." Gashel was among a number of witnesses testifying before the
committee about "extending and redefining the Technology-Related Assistance
for Individuals Act, or Tech Act, which has provided grants to states to
improve access to technology, services and information for the disabled. The
committee is now drafting a sequel to the act."
Title: Microsoft Donates to Seniors
Source: New York Times (AP-Breaking News)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/biztech/articles/30microsoft.html
Author: The Associated Press
Issue: Minorities
Description: Microsoft Corp. donated $350,00 today to the non-profit Green
Thumb Inc., a group that trains seniors and welfare recipients for high-tech
jobs. The grant will expand three pilot projects in Baltimore MD, Sacramento
CA, and Austin TX that had been funded by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. "The
Microsoft grant is helpful, but certainly won't cover total cost of these
kinds of things," said Allison Ann Toole, a spokeswoman for Green Thumb.
"We're sort of priming the pump a bit." Toole said that the program is
swamped with applicants, proving false that members from these groups aren't
interested in learning about technology. "The problem is, it did bypass some
people," said Toole. "They may have left the workforce and never got
trained. But that doesn't mean they're incapable or don't want to. Many of
them can't afford to just write a check and go take a course." Green Thumb
said it hopes to establish programs in at least 20 cities around the nation.
** Internet **
Title: White House to Release 'Net Plan
Source: New York Times (AP-Breaking News)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-Internet-Management.html
Author: The Associated Press
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: The Clinton administration plans to release its final proposal
to end the government's role as "data traffic cop" on the Internet within
the next two weeks, said the White House. The plan will hand the majority of
management over to an international non-profit group that has yet to be
formed. The changes will be "virtually transparent" to users but will
radically change how the "burgeoning" Internet is organized. Ira Magaziner,
the White House senior policy advisor responsible for the changeover, told
an Internet conference in NY yesterday that the final proposal is expected
to be finished within two weeks but may be completed as soon as next week.
The government's contract with Network Solutions Inc., the Herndon-VA based
company that is currently responsible for assigning addresses on the Web,
was extended for six months past its March 31st expiration date. There are
no provisions for another contract extension.
Title: CybeRx: Getting Medical Advice and Moral Support From the Web
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Rebecca Quick
Issue: Health
Description: The article reviews good health- and medical-related services
and resources available on the Web, including:
Medical World Search (http://www.mwsearch.com) and Mental Health Net
(http://www.cmhc.com) both are good starting points and have been screened
by health-care professionals.
Health on the Net Foundation (http://www.hon.ch) provides "seals of
approval" to medical-related sites that meet the Swiss group's guidelines.
Wellness Web (http://www.wellweb.com) provides information on conventional
as well as alternative treatments.
Medline (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) from the National Library of Medicine
offers free abstracts of articles published in 3,800 biomedical journals.
American Hospital Association (http://www.ama-assn.org) offers a
physician-search database with info on doctors' schooling, residencies and
specialties.
The Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov/cder/) includes info
on approval of new products.
RxList (http://www.rxlist.com)provides an online drug index, searchable by
generic or brand name, with side-effects information and more.
MedEc Interactive (http://www.medecinteractive.com) is published by the
folks who produce the Physicians' Desk Reference. No charge for registered
doctors; we lay-folk must pay $99.95 per year.
HealthAtoZ (http://www.healthatoz.com) offers discussion boards where
consumers ask questions and share advice.
Title: It Is for You Defective Day of Hats, No?
Source: New York Times (E1)
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30tran.html
Author: Tina Kelley
Issue: Online Services
Description: Yet another WSJ article (see below) questioning the value of
technology over humans, this one reviews AltaVista's and others' nearly
instantaneous translation services. Example: "I am a reporter for the 'New
York Times'" becomes "I am a journalist during times of New York." And if
you're wondering what the title of the article means, it's a translation of
"She is having a bad hair day" in Italian. See Alta Vista's translation
service at http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/ translate?.
** EduTech **
Title: America Online to Buy Stake in Boston Firm
Source: Wall Street Journal, B9
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Jon G. Auerbach and Jared Sandberg
Issue: Online services
Description: In a push to boost its image among parents, AOL is taking on a
20% stake (for $14 mil in cash) in Family Education Co, an
Internet-oriented company that lets parents connect with their children's
schools for a variety of information. The site has signed partnerships
with about 330 school districts that let schools customize part of the site
for their constituent parents and students.
Title: Instead of School Desks, A Learn Station for Tykes
Source: New York Times, Circuits, E3
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30geek.html
Author: Michel Marriott (News Watch)
Issue: EduTech
Description: IBM and a subsidiary of Rubbermaid are seeking to replace
computers in classrooms and libraries with durable plastic workstations
that seat two or three budding computer jocks. Brightly colored, and with
juice-retardant keyboards, the Young Explorer includes an Intel Pentium
processor, internal CD ROM, and at least 2 gigabtyes of hard drive capacity.
** Technology **
Title: Some Firms, Let Down by Costly Computers, Opt to 'De-Engineer'
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Bernard Wysocki Jr.
Issue: Technology in the Workplace
Description: A great article about the costs of today's rush to have
more/better computer technology. Due to the "deadly" combination of a
fast-changing landscape, an increasingly complex array of software, and
technology boosters' can-do mentality (even when they can't), some
companies are abandoning plans for newer -- high-end computing options, and
returning to older -- work-horse systems, searching for better balance
between man[sic]power and computer power. The article describes a failed
collaboration between IBM and Pacific Gas & Electric, in which IBM's new
system couldn't meet the demands of PG&E's changing service environment.
Many companies are refusing costly and complex upgrades as they realize
that employees are using only a fraction of available computing power.
Aeroquip's president calculated that the full cost of upgrading his
company's 50-person research lab from Windows 3.1 to Windows95 was $20,000
per person. The article also cites a 1996 survey that found that 42% of
corporate information-technology projects were abandoned before completion,
and that US companies spend about $250 billion annually on computer
technology. [We selected this story as a heads-up to nonprofit
professionals who may be dealing with similar issues.]
Title: Modem 'Lite' Offers Fast Web Access at Low Rates
Source: New York Times (E3)
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30modem.html
Author: Ian Austen
Issue: Computer Technology
Description: Northern Telecom, based in Ottawa, Canada, has introduced the 1-meg
modem, half the speed of Assymetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service,
but 17 times faster than a conventional 56kbps modem. ADSL is traditionally
$40-$80 per month, but the new product will cost as little as $20 per month
(although no one is offering that yet). ADSL is expensive due to the cost of
hooking up special wiring, new equipment and expensive service calls, but
the 1-Meg
modem shares existing voice lines, and requires only the purchase of a
special modem ($200) and a relatively inexpensive network card (cost not
provided).
** Quote of the Day **
"Y2K will not derail corporate America.. while not everything will go
smoothly, common sense should prevail." -- Edward Kerschner, chief
investment strategist at PaineWebber in response to a report of possible
chaos when computers try to deal with the year 2000. WSJ (A1)
And just one more...
According to the NYTimes (E3), Starbucks Coffee Company, hardly
satisfied with conquering every downtown corner, is bringing the "Starbucks
experience" online, so you can buy their beans directly from your desktop.
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