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25th January 1999 Archive

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  • Four years ago: Intel-AMD settle

    After the war is over...

    Both companies are claiming to be winners following the settlement between Intel and AMD, and both have a right to do so. But the biggest winner was AMD, despite the fact that it will end up paying Intel more than Intel is paying it. AMD, you see, is still alive, and has a coherent business plan. Intel's aim throughout the long- …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 08:33

  • The Intel and MS wrangle over MMX IP

    Not the right time to help Intel make x86 more proprietary - Maritz

    Intel and Microsoft were locked in wrangles over NSP and Java in 1995-96, and Microsoft has denied pressuring Intel to drop NSP and downplay Java. But internal Intel and Microsoft documentation from the period points to a situation rather different from what either company has been claiming - basically, they were wrangling over …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 09:24

  • MS to see AOL-Netscape deal documents

    The works, including a tempting 'advertising services agreement'

    Microsoft won a small victory from Judge Jackson late Friday when he agreed that Microsoft could see certain documents connected with the AOL/Netscape/Sun deal. Microsoft had filed for discovery, since the DoJ automatically got to see the documents because of its separate role in approving the merger. The documents were …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 09:43

  • Intel introduces PII/mobiles, PII/Celerons

    Level two cache on die

    Intel today introduced its mobile Pentium II processors as well as Celeron chips aimed at the notebook market. The mobile PIIs come at speeds of 333MHz and 366MHz, have smaller packaging, use less power and include 256K of level two cache on one die. That combination produces high performance than the Slot One Pentium II design …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 09:58

  • Dixons restructures – Freeserve goes it alone

    Currys, PC World, Dixons Retail have separate management

    Giant retailer Dixons this morning announced it is restructuring the group. Its successful Internet subsidiary, Freeserve, will be spun off as a separate unit. John Clare, chief executive of the group, said three strategic business units have been created, each with its own group managing director. At the same time, Clare said …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 10:06

  • How MS feared Intel would ‘stomp’ on AMD 3D instructions

    And how Bill might have traded AMD support for a Java-free Intel

    Microsoft played an unexpected good fairy role in the adoption of AMD's 3DNow! graphics technology. But then Bill Gates went and spoiled it all by suggesting he'd dump the technology if Intel dumped Java. AMD had explained what Microsoft was then describing as "3DX" to Microsoft executives in early 1997, against a background of …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 10:20

  • Intel and whole world confused over Celeron Slot One direction

    300A is overclockable and will disappear. Slot One will stay. And there's a shortage of 370 Socket parts...

    It now appears that chip giant Intel is in a considerable state of confusion over the future of Slot One Celerons. Last week we reported, on the basis of Intel information, that Slot One Celerons will continue until the year 2000. (see Intel to keep S1 Celerons until year end). But now information from an internal document Intel …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 10:45

  • OEMs can switch off PIII serial numbers – Intel

    Meanwhile, US privacy furore roars on

    Chip giant Intel now says that OEMs will have the ability to switch off a registration number embedded in Pentium III chips. That means the Compaqs, Dells and HPs of this world could ship product without antagonising US privacy groups. There is already an ability to switch off the identification number using software shipping …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 11:15

  • nVidia IPO a success

    Shares nearly double in value before close of first day's trading

    NVidia went ahead with its IPO on Friday, as predicted by The Register (see earlier story). The day's trading saw the $12 shares begin trading at $21, rise to over $23 and close at just under $20. Not bad for a stock initially believed to be issue at just $7. ®

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 11:33

  • MP3 companies to launch anti-piracy coalition

    UPDATED Is it just part of Liquid Audio's plan for world domination?

    Nearly 50 players in the MP3 digital music distribution business, including the influential MP3.com, have joined forces to form the Genuine Music Coalition (GMC), a partnership geared to promoting the MP3 format in the face of increased pressure from the recording industry's major labels. This is the second such body formed by …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 12:16

  • Web service acts as dating agency for resellers and disties

    Everyone sounds keen, but will they do the business?

    A week-old company is offering resellers the chance to use an on-line forum to source products. The site, run by Zygonet, hopes to persuade distributors to register so they can be emailed resellers' requests. Distributors will then e-mail their quotes to the resellers and compete on pricing. The service will be free for both …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 12:26

  • Adaptec, GoodNoise develop consumer MP3 system

    Allows manufacturers to offer MP3-aware hi-fi

    Digital music distributor GoodNoise is to work with Adaptec, developer of the best-selling Toast CD authoring application, to create a system that will allow consumer CD players to read MP3 files stored on CD-ROM. Currently, digital music buffs who want to play downloaded tracks when their away from their PCs have to either copy …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 12:51

  • ISP set to win an Oscar

    The Register goes to the movies

    AOL, the online service provider that boasts more than 14 million members worldwide, could be up for an Oscar for its outstanding performance in the new romantic comedy You've Got Mail. AOL co-stars in this remake of the 1940 movie The Shop Around the Corner acting as the conduit that unites Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In the movie …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 12:52

  • BBC proves content is king on the Web

    But portals seen as starting point when it comes to surfing

    The BBC may be losing its audiences among the UK's army of TV-watching coach potatoes but on the Web it's a different story. BBC Online has been named the second most popular Web site in the UK beating portals, including Lycos UK, Excite UK, MSN UK and AOL UK. Yahoo! UK & Ireland was the only site with a larger audience reach. …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 14:11

  • Anti-Apple FireWire firms propose alternative spec

    Developers eliminate Apple patents -- but how quickly can they deploy it?

    Peripheral and PC vendors are believed to be developing a modified version of FireWire, aka IEEE1394, in an effort to sidestep Apple's latest '1$-a-port' licensing fee (see Apple caught charging crafty FireWire fee). According to a report in, a number of developers are proposing what they call 1394B. Not only is the …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 14:16

  • Judge tangles with MS witness over ‘monopoly’

    Analogies become more and more bizarre, as Schmalensee finishes up

    For Microsoft, Richard Urowsky last week conducted a redirect examination of defence witness Richard Schmalensee. His objective was to convince Judge Jackson that Microsoft was not a monopoly, that it was threatened at every turn by powerful rivals, and that the barriers to market entry in the most valuable monopoly in the world …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 15:58

  • AMD Dresden to produce K7s only

    Fab 30 on a roll, Fab 25 on Sharptooth, so maybe Compaq will use it...

    AMD confirmed it is in the final stages of producing silicon at its Fab 30 plant in Dresden, Germany. According to a senior PR officer at the fab, Dresden started production of K7 silicon on the first of November. He said: "We are now in the final testing stages." He confirmed: "The products we will produce in Dresden are the …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 16:27

  • Intel's lousy software III – MS says it has enough of its own

    Sunk in VXD hell, Microsoft felt it just couldn't deal with any more crap...

    When the claims that Microsoft had strong-armed Intel into dumping NSP first arose, Microsoft retorted that it had opposed NSP because of the low quality of Intel software. Bill Gates took the lead on this (see Intel writes lousy software, says Gates). The line is being repeated now by Gates' lieutenant, Paul Maritz, who says: " …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 16:41

  • Rock Group plays sweet music to woo channel

    Direct notebook vendor sniffs out indirect route

    Direct sellers Rock Computers will launch a new range of notebooks which it is planing to sell exclusively through resellers to avoid conflict with its direct sales business. The Warwickshire-based manufacturer will offer its Iridium range of notebooks to the channel in around 4-6 weeks' time. Rock currently has around 700 …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 16:45

  • Apple UK to terminate reseller contracts

    Dealers can re-sign, but only if they guarantee sales

    Apple is to terminate all contracts with its UK resellers at the end of February, The Register has learned. The vendor will then re-sign them provided they match a specific set of sales criteria. According to sources, Apple is demanding a minimum quarterly sales target that totals £60,000 per annum, and expects resellers meet …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 16:51

  • Sex change op to be broadcast on the Web

    There's hacking, and then there's hacking off...

    A sex change operation due to be broadcast live on the Web this Thursday is a definite no-no for anyone remotely squeamish. Doctors will take from between four to six hours to remove a penis and construct a vaginal canal for a 49-year-old person born with "ambiguous" sexual organs. A man once known as "William" who has been …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 16:51

  • AMD a reluctant serial number player

    Cyrix does not say yes -- there's no decision yet

    AMD is showing marked reluctance to follow Intel's lead in putting serial numbers in its chips. (Previous story today with links to more previous stories: OEMs can switch off PIII serial numbers) That emerged after Cyrix spokespersons in the US said they would follow Intel's lead with the Pentium !!! (Katmai). According to US …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 16:52

  • Rest of European press get trashed by Intel

    Holland, Hungary, Scandinavia, SA, Poland et al -- this is the Full Monty

    Hungarian, Dutch and Italian journalists have also come in for special treatment according to Intel press guidelines. And Polish, Scandinavian and South African journalists are also treated in a document The Register has seen. According to the document, which unfortunately we were only shown at a Computer Trade Show in …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 17:25

  • Datatec snaps up US dealership

    Willing to pay more than $100 million

    Datatec is making its debut in the US reseller market through the acquisition of HP specialist dealer Bloomfield Computing Solutions. South African-based Datatec is divvying up $30 million upfront for BCS, and will pay a maximum up to $102 million, if BCS meets profit targets. Based in Michigan, BCS sells exclusively HP …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 17:52

  • AOL to spread the word through your letterbox

    Wants to eat Freeserve's lunch

    The UK's second largest Internet access provider has begun distributing more than five million copies of its latest software as part of a multi-million pound marketing campaign. Gold copies of the final version of AOL's 4.0i for Windows 95 and 98 will be dropping through people's letterboxes in the next three months or so as AOL …

    Business 25 Jan 1999, 18:17