The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 20

20 The Sydney Morning Herald a Kin npnrc Monday, September 19, 1988 TECHNOLOGY LJVM EDITED BY GARETH POWELL declares war on tlie bus Apricot could be holding the key TMFN A syndicate of computer manufacturers has challenged IBM's supremacy of micro channel architecture with a rival version, leaving Big Blue with a major battle on its hands. 32-BtT 1 a I 2 6 IBM will go hell for leather to establish the micro channel standard before the EISA machines start appearing in a year.9 Til USE pages appear to have signalled the news correctly. Apricot has released a new range of computers called the Qi series and, jes, they have the controversial micro channel architecture licensed from IBM. The Qi series has six models, all with 32-bit microprocessors, rang-ing from the 16-megahertz Intel 80386SX a cut-down and substantially cheaper-to-use version of the standard 386 up to the 25-mega hertz 80386 screamer. All the computers in this series come with VGA graphics, one megabyte of random access memory (expandable to 16Mb), on-board Ethernet for linking into local area networks, three serial ports and one parallel port fitted as standard.

This range of computers would appear to be designed specifically for the personal workstation market, with financial overtones. This seems likely because of the large number of security items built into each machine, including the hightech wizardry of an infra-red dongle. It is this that has given the system the name Qi, which is pronounced the same as If the dongle is not inserted in the machine, it will not operate. This Qi system does not replace Apricot's existing Xen-I series, but complements it. The most interesting aspect of this announcement is that Apricot has gone with the IBM micro channel architecture, while the woods are full of other compufcr manufacturers scurrying the otl er way towards EISA standard architecture.

Easy to say that Apricot has made the wrong choice. But consider that Apricot now has a 12-month march on its competitors while it offers customers a true 32-bit bus. IT the EISA standard becomes the go, retrofitting the machines to handle it will be no great trick. EISA one way or the other, Apricot would appear to have it made. IT IS wrong to say that all hell is about to break out in the world of personal computers.

Wrong, but not totally inaccurate. What is happening is that a syndicate of major players has decided that enough is enough already with IBM's PS2 system of personal computers, the associated micro channel architecture and, especially, with IBM's demands for back royalties on clones made since 1981. The syndicate has decided that it will now have its own rival to the IBM micro channel architecture. And that this new architecture will be backward-compatible with all of the boards and slot-in accessories that have been designed for the AT range. The major selling point on this new standard is that the new 32-bit data bus, to be called the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), will accept standard AT boards.

These are boards which consumers already own in their hundreds of thousands, possibly millions. These boards will not, under the EISA system, became scrap. EISA, the clone makers hope, will lure buyers away from the micro channel architecture of the PS2 line of computers. The supporters of EISA say it is an enhancement to the existing AT architecture, which has three key components: 1. Microprocessors like the Intel 80386.

2. Operating systems such as MS-Dos. 3. Inputoutput bus, which consists of the expansion slots at the back of the personal computer which are used for inserting extra cards. For IBM this is a serious challenge.

In IBM's favour in this coming battle: None of the nine computer manufacturers which support the EISA standard believes it can get a new computer line out in less than a year. The new EISA standard, because of its compatibility with all current AT cards, is alleged to be inherently slower than the IBM micro channel architecture. This could become a serious problem in the future, with the development of super high-speed chips. IBM still holds some of the key patents as far as bus design is concerned (including the so-called Christenson patent 38124751 which laid down the basic design of the bus), and it could be argued, and no doubt will be by IBM, that the EISA design infringes these patents. Against IBM and for the clone makers that support EISA: A large number of hardware and software companies my count is 54 have said they will support EISA.

And think not that we are dealing with minor league players here. The syndicate with the initiative is headed by. Compaq and is supported by Tandy, AST Research, Hewlett-Packard, Epson America, NEC, Olivetti, Zenith, Wyse, Uncle Tom Cob-bley and all. These are the serious players in personal computers. Few are missing.

While it is true that talk is cheap and some of the companies listed could scarcely be expected to resist twisting IBM's tail, this is a most formidable array of opponents. The new EISA standard is basically an extension to the standard personal computer architecture which IBM so successfully launched in 1981, but it has been adapted to work with the Intel 80386 family of central processing units the superfast chips that drive the new generations of computers. Meanwhile, as if supporting the view that the AT-based computers still have a major future, IBM has introduced a new model, the PS-2 286 Model 30, which uses the Intel 80286 16-bit microprocessor and is based on the AT bus. Which makes it appear that some IBM executives have been telling little porkies to the world's press. This new machine was forecast in these pages three weeks ago.

There was an immediate flurry of denials from IBM in the United States. Jim Monahan of IBM, speaking in an official capacity, said: "If anyone expects IBM to re-introduce the PC AT, they are sadly mistaken." And what, pray, would Mr Monahan describe a computer that uses the Intel 80286 chip and has an AT bus? A duck? Now, William Lowe, the head of IBM's personal computer division, says: "We said that we were going to provide improvements across our entire product He also said the company's decision to cancel the IBM PC-AT had not been a mistake. "If I had to do it over again I would do it the same way," he said. "We had to let our customers know that the micro channel was the strategy." The PS2 has sold well three that its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages. Robert Miles, personal computer group marketing manager for Hewlett-Packard in Australia, said: "As the computer industry continues to advance technologically, high-performance PCs are being used for high-end applications such as workgroup computing and computer-aided design.

Customers moving to more powerful computer systems want to protect the investment they have made in software and accessory hardware. H-P believes PCs based on the EISA standard will meet these customer needs because it is fully backward-compatible with today's software and accessory boards." Graeme Poulsen, who is managing director of NEC computers in Australia, said: "I think it is a great move. The market has not accepted PS2 and its micro channel. This new standard maintains AT compatibility which is great." Impossible to guess at this stage what the eventual outcome will be, but it does appear that IBM has a major battle on its hands. And it does appear that IBM asked for the fight by demanding royalties which clones manufacturers were either unwilling or unable to pay.

beneficial as is claimed? Will it sweep the industry? Should IBM's shares be written down? Does confusion reign? "The industry is more confused right now than personal computer users," said Andrew Seybold, publisher of the Seybold Outlook on Personal Computing. "It's a short-term fix so the manufacturers can say to the customer 'We have a 32-bit bus'." Esther Dyson, publisher of Release 1.0, an industry newsletter, said: "Most people never worried about this and now they're confused. Now the people who were worried have an answer." But Tom Murtha, of James Capel Pacific, said: "Everyone will jump on the bandwagon for this one. Anything to get around having to adopt a proprietary IBM standard." Carl Warren is principal engineer of WGL, a testing and analysis firm in California, and he is one of the world's most informed people in this area. He said: "Since the EISA design supposedly offers the features described for the micro channel architecture, Compaq is expected to claim that its performance is comparable to micro channel.

I find this difficult to believe." He also gives some history of this new bus. "The EISA goes back to 1986, when an industry ad-hoc committee, which was originally chaired by me, was formed for the purpose of standardising the AT bus and extending it to 32-bits. This committee was known as PCET (PC Extended Technology) and grew into the IEEE P996 standards group." Carl Warren is worried that the new standard will not be able to handle the high speeds and throughputs of future chips. On the other hand, the nine manufacturers concerned in this new development believe that it will not only handle those speeds, but speeds undreamed of. And million so far but IBM appears to have lost some market share in PCs.

The new bus is a major challenge to IBM, who will, no doubt, go hell for leather to establish the micro channel standard before the new EISA machines start appearing in a year's time. Not unexpectedly, the announcement of the new bus standards drew an angry response from IBM, which charged that two competing data buses would only confuse customers. "The industry doesn't need two 32-bit buses," said Mr Lowe. He said that by attempting to design a 32-bit bus that could still work with 16-bit peripherals, the rival group would necessarily have to compromise performance. "That's smoke," said Rod Can-ion, Compaq's chief executive, in reply.

"Our bus will outperform micro channel and still allow users to keep their software and peripherals." But is this new EISA standard as fast, as efficient and as Telecom Australia wants to encourage entrepreneurs and inventors in the telecommunications field. Shortage of chips delays three new Am trad models LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL SUPPLY OF COMPUTER SOFTOAEEHARDWME very possibly exclusively A forecast in these pages last week, Amstrad has released some new high-end comput 3Jk ifi ers. i K'- 1 bJL v. I Applications dosing at 2.00 pm on Tuesday, 25th October, 19.S8, are invited from persons interested in tendering for the supply, delivery, installation and maintenance of software andor hardware to satisfy Council's data processing needs into the 1990s. It is anticipated that formal tenders will be invited in December, 1988.

Counc il is currently reviewing its requirements and in the first instance will conduct an investigation into the software on offer. Thereafter the hardware requirements will be determined and tenders invited. SOFTWARE Suitable proven software is required covering all local government applications in the following broadly defined areas: ieneraLTtility Systems (eg Word Processing, Electronic Mail etc). Financial Systems (eg Ledgers, Payroll, Kates etc). Services Facilities (eg Dog Registrations, Parks, liecreat ion etc).

Property Systems (eg Building Applications, Property Index etc). Engineering Systems (eg Plant Maintenance, Project Control etc). The application should briefly outline the main features of the systems being proposed including: (a) host machineoperating system options. (b) level of integration with other systems where relevant. Applicants proposing hardware only should briefly indicate proposed software alternatives eg conversion, rewrite etc and the name and experience of associated sub contractors if any.

A basic requirement of software proposals is that the system lx currently installed and operational at a Ixx-al Government site in Australia. Software suppliers should provide a schedule of contacts and details of all sites at whic the systems are operational. HARDWARE Council presently uses a Fujitsu MK50-F as a mainframe system with eight (8) Mb memory and three (,) gigahvtes of disk. There are se venty five terminals, PCs, printers and micros connected, both local ami remote. In addition, word processing is performed on a dedicated WANG Model VS15 with ten (10) local terminals.

It is anticipated that over the next five (5) years the requirements will expand to: lfv20 Mb memory )-8 Gigabytes of Disk 150 Terminals (expandable to 1300) CONDITIONS Sec tion 517A of the Local Government Act, 1919, as amended shall apply and tenderers shall specify the country of manufac ture of the hardware proposed. The Counc il shall consider all applications received pursuant to this advertisement and may: (a) Invite from all applic ants, or suc of them as are considered by the Council to be apable to its satisfaction of furnishing the software and' or hardware; or (b) Decline to invite tenders from any of the applic ants. Applications are to be lodged in a sealed envelope endorsed "Application -EDP Systems" in the Tender Box loc ated at the Administration Centre on or before 2.00 pm on Tuesday, 25th OctolK-r, Alternatively applications may le submitted in a suitably endorsed envelope by post (but regard must be had for the uncertainty at various times in respect of mail deliveries) so as to reach the undersigned by 2.00 pm on Tuesday, 25th October, 1988. Applications will be accepted by telegram or facsimile. PROVIDED THAT: 4 1.

The telegram or facsimile is received by Council prior to the closing of tenders; AND 2. The telegram or facsimile provides all essential information required including details of the lodgment for delivery of the formal application documents; AND 3. The applicant can show that the formal documents were lodged at a Post Offic or Courier Service before the advertised losing time for delivery AND 4. The formal documents are received by Council within a reasonable time. The canvassing of Aldermen by tenderers does not meet with the Council's approval.

All enquiries should be direc ted to the Deputy Town Clerk, Mr T. S. Saunders. Alan Sugar, the man who has driven this company to amazing success, said that a world shortage of memory chips would delay their availability. "Normally we stand up and say, 'Here's a new product," and it's available tomorrow." Sugar, the bear with a beard, left school at 16 to sell car radio aerials from the back of a truck.

He has built up Amstrad over 20 years into a leading British electronics firm, with products ranging from personal computers to compact disc players. Sugar said the PC2086, the lowest powered of these new computers, would be available in Britain within the next few weeks. The two models at the top end of the range would not be released until early next year. Amstrad uses the equivalent of 5.5 million 256k DRam chips a month, and is currently some two million short each month. Alan Sugar said: "I do not foresee the situation cleaning itself up until the third quarter of next year." Sugar also announced that a new range of IBM-compatible home computers under the Sinclair name would be in the shops in Britain before Christmas.

Finally, Sugar said that Amstrad was part of the group of personal computer makers which is backing the new standard EISA against IBM. This is a right turn-up for the books because it was only a few weeks ago that he was telling me that Amstrad had done a deal with IBM and each company would have access to the other's patents. These are the machines that Amstrad has announced: Bottom end of the range is the PC2086, which is driven by an 8MHz 8086 microprocessor. It has 640K of Ram and a Paradise PCGAIA graphics card. The card will provide VGA and MCGA screen displays, including 640x380 pixel resolution in 16 colours and 320x200 pixels in 256 colours.

There is also a 640x400 pixel mode in 256 colours. Storage options on the PC2086 include one or two 720K 3.5-inch floppies, or a single floppy plus fast 30Mb hard disc. This model has a compact case with three PC expansion slots. Price is not confirmed for Australia, but it should be well under $1,500. In the middle range is the PC2286, which has similar display specifications to the PC2086, but is driven by a 12.5MHz 80286 microprocessor.

It comes with one megabyte of random access memory as standard, which can go up to four megabytes. There is a choice of 3.5- and 5.25-inch LET'S PUT 'THEM TOGETHER. Alan Sugar backing EISA. floppies and a 40-megubvte hard Price should start at a tad over tl.e S2.300 mark and then mov up. The flagship of the PC20no series, the PC23N6.

is run an Intel 80386 microprocessor at a briskih 2 megahertz. There are four megabytes-of random access memory and tins model comes with a single 1.44Mb 3.5-inch floppy and 6Mb hard disc with a reasonable, but not ovcrqunk, 40-microsecond access time. I expansion slots are available. Opening price should very possibly shade over "s6.t MK To go with these computers is a new range of VGA monitors with apparently excellent resolution. None of this is good news for the opposition.

hills will be felt down assorted spines. At the same time as announcing these models, Amstrad's Australian management. in Britain for the big event announced a restructuring of the Amstrad dealer network. This is understandable as considerable expertise is needed to sell these high-end machines. Borden Tkachuk, the sales and marketing manager ft Australia, said that the full range of Amstrad computers would be marketed through a range of different dealer and distribution channels Advanced Systems centres, authorised business dealers, authorised computer dealers and mass market retail outlets.

What then of the impending Sinclair machine? According to the latest Microscope a trade computer weekly in Britain the Sinclair Professional is now unlikely to be widely available until early next year. As I understand it, the basic Sinclair Professional is a stripped-down PC with four-colour C'GA in an Atari 520 STI M-style case. No one knows how it will be- priced, but undoubtedly it will be cheap enough to change people's ideas on the prices that should be paid for personal computers. Companies; individuals with new telecommunications-related products in development are also We have established the Product Development Fund, to support Australians who need funds to develop an idea, an invention or a system related to the telecommunications network. Too often we have all seen the potential of Australian expertise languish or be taken up and developed by other countries.

Telecom wants to do something about this and the Product Development Fund will provide the opportunity to get projects up and running. This means that we will not only fund approved projects, but that we may also support it with our technical and marketing resources both locally and overseas. In return Telecom will seek some rights to the product according to the degree of our support. This initiative is aimed at small and medium-sized Australian welcome to apply. If you think that we can help you or your company, call Telecom's Technical Liaison Office on 008033673 I.

R. RANKIN TOWN CLERK Administrative Centre Main Road BOOLAROO, NSW 2284 PO Box 21, BOOLAK0O2284 FAX (049) 58 7257 Telephone (049) 58 53: $3 Telecom Australia TM023.