THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 8, 1994 TAG: 9411080320
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LOS ANGELES TIMES
DATELINE: SAN FRANCISCO LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
IBM and Apple, with an assist from Motorola, set aside their legendary differences long enough Monday to formally unveil a new common personal computer standard for the PowerPC microprocessor that they began developing three years ago.
But machines based on the joint specifications and designed to run a variety of operating systems will not appear until 1996. Many wonder whether the machines will come to market soon enough to make more than a dent in the awesome power of industry giants Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp., whose chips and operating systems, respectively, appear in 85 percent of the world's PCs.
Already, however, some prominent companies have lined up to make the new PC. Canon has funded FirePower Systems strictly to make PowerPC systems. Software giant Novell, the leader in PC networking software, said it will prepare its products for the machine. Toshiba also has said that it will make the new PC.
Even so, developing a compatible design that will allow an array of software programs to run seamlessly could prove technically tricky. Moreover, the former archrivals cannot seem to come to terms on a plan for IBM to license Apple's user-friendly operating system, MacOS, for use on its machines. Analysts view such a licensing agreement as pivotal to enlisting software developers to write programs for the system.
Nobuo Mii, president of IBM's Power Personal Systems division, inadvertently shed a little bit of light on the issue, saying IBM would ship a machine with the MacOS in 1996. That would imply that some sort of pact may be imminent.
If they can pull off their merged technology, however, the companies could conceivably make big gains against Intel and Microsoft - especially among corporate computer buyers who have long shunned Apple. SIDE BAR TO THE STORY Q & A on the Agreement
IBM and Apple announced Monday they will make personal computers using a common design. The computers will be run by the PowerPC microprocessor, a computer chip they developed in a joint partnership with Motorola Inc. Some common questions about the new computers:
Q What kinds of software can I run on this machine?
A Any kind of software written for today's existing PCs can be run on this computer, but the speed and performance depends on which operating system you choose. If you choose IBM's OS-2 operating system, you can run software made for it and Microsoft's Windows and DOS, however you can't run software made for Macintosh operating systems. If you choose Macintosh's MacOS, you can run all Macintosh software plus Windows and DOS programs, but not as fast as if your computer had the Windows operating system. MacOS can't run programs designed specifically for OS-2.
Q What's the difference between OS-2 and Mac OS?
A Apple's operating system is simpler to understand and use and has been since it was designed for the original Macintosh in 1984. But OS-2 is able to do more things, including running Windows programs.
Q Will different accessories like printers and CD-ROM drives still be needed for IBM and Apple PCs?
A No. Keyboards, trackballs, modems and other accessories will be interchangeable on the future PowerPC machine as well as with existing Intel chip-based PCs. Q. What effect will the agreement have on computer-buying decisions ? A. None, said Michael Herbert, director of marketing for Electronic Systems, A Virginia Beach based computer sales and training company. "there's no reason to hold back," Herbert said, "because the average shelf life today of anything you buy is 90 days...Whatever happens is going to be a running change. by CNB