8th March 1999 Archive
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AMD uses IBM Micro as back stop foundry
A year ago Second sourcing could spell further trouble
From The Register No.68, 2 March 1998 Two weeks ago, The Register learned from a source at a chip design company in California that AMD had decided to outsource some of its manufacturing to other companies with fabs. It came as not very much of a surprise, then, when at the end of the week AMD issued a terse statement saying it …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 08:01
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Windows ID numbers – how they work
The strange tale of the bug Microsoft has been calling a useful feature...
Further details of the identification system used in Windows 98 registration have emerged. In the past few days it has been revealed (see earlier story) that data gathered during the registration process gives Microsoft the means to track both individual users and the documents they produce across the Internet. Each copy of …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 08:49
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Intel-FTC battle starts tomorrow
But Tweedledum's rattle unlikely to be confiscated
The Register will begin its coverage of the FTC's case against Intel tomorrow. As with the Microsoft case, we will devote considerable resources to covering the trial in detail. But we can't help feeling it will be much more of a non-event than Uncle Sam versus Stan Software. To refresh your memory about the case, read the FTC …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 10:32
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Accounting for Sage's move on Tetra
Analysis It ain't over 'til the fat accountant sings
Accounting software is a market that is often forgotten in the PC business. But it shouldn't be. It's very important to many dealers. So the proposed acquisition of Tetra by Sage is a significant event. But will this acquisition finally give Sage what it has always coveted - the prized jewel of the mid-range market. It remains …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 10:53
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Team Register mourns another shock departure from DTI
intro
He was a good lad, our Graham…. The Register was saddened to hear that its favourite PR at the DTI has packed his souvenir dispatch box and is heading for a new and exciting job in Brussels. Obviously, Florence, Dougal, Brian the Snail, Dylan and all the gang here at your super soaraway Register wish young Mr Zebedee all the …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 11:40
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Creative finally comes clean on MP3 player
Nomad due in June with full Web content support
Creative Technology officially announced its upcoming portable MP3 player this weekend. Readers will recall that Creative first discussed the player, being developed under the codename Project Nomad and set to compete head to head with Diamond Multimedia's Rio PMP300, earlier this year. Then the company denied. Then it admitted …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 11:54
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Hayes sells family silver to get out of trouble
Modem giant finds taker for European business
Hayes - the name synonymous with the PC modem industry - has found a way out of its financial troubles by carving up the remaining pieces of its product portfolio and selling them off. The most notable result is that Zoom Telephonic - a company previously best known for its low cost modems - will step into Hayes' shoes in …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 11:58
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Compaq details Wildfire attack on Sun
Three OS to run on one Alpha box
An all-out battle between Sun and Compaq at the high end is set for later this year, with Sequent also likely to attract some of the flak from Alpha's Puma technology. Richard George, Alpha server product manager at Compaq UK, confirmed Wildfire was set to arrive towards the end of this year. (See stories: High end Alpha spreads …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 12:13
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Lexon accused of misleading customers
Assembler says it's not doing anything different from anyone else
UK PC assembler Lexon has hit back at accusations of damaging the market and selling PCs at less than cost price. Rivals and industry bodies alike have questioned the Croydon-based dealer's ability to sell such cheap kit. They also criticised Lexon's long delivery times. According to industry sources, Lexon has been winning …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 12:35
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Novell to vastly scale its NDS
Leap frogs Microsoft's Active Directory
Novell will later on today announce Scalable Directory Service, a system which will cope with millions of users on network. That is likely to give it an advantage over Microsoft. Its Active Directory project currently manages less than 10 million end users. More details will emerge later today, at 1700H GMT. ®
Business 8 Mar 1999, 13:15
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x.86 has big future after Pentium III
Group of MPU architects outline plans
A small consortium of chip architects has outlined its thoughts on the future of x.86 architecture post the Pentium III. The architects, who have a site here, say there's life in the old dog yet. According to the site: "The x86 architecture has longer time life than one can imagine just few years ago. Performance of the x86 …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 13:36
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UK unveils proposed crypto law
Key escrow no longer mandatory
The British Government has released its latest draft proposals for the regulation of strong encryption technologies, in preparation for the upcoming Electronic Commerce Bill. As anticipated (see earlier story), companies seeking to become licensed providers of encryption technology will no longer have to agree to key escrow. The …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 13:37
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Hard core multiple Cyrix chips found in cyberspace
Updated Now we're deluged with pix of new products.
Once again, Japanese Web sites seem to have pix of chips that few, if any of us, have seen in the West. This is the unofficial announcement of Cyrix 366/100 parts with new packaging. NatSemi obviously does things differently in the East, because its own Web site in Japanese has the details. (URL below). Between this morning and …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 14:01
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Cyber gambler takes credit card company to court
She, meanwhile, has been taken to the cleaners
A woman who blew $70,000 at 50 cyber-casinos is now trying to sue her credit card company for allowing the transactions to be processed. Unlucky Cynthia Haines, who lives in California where gambling is illegal, was sued by her bank for unpaid bills after her disastrous run of bad luck. But she is now gambling with her future by …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 15:00
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FBI warns of cost of hacking
This could be a case for Mulder & Scully...
Hacking is on the increase and it appears there is little companies and organisations can do about it. More than half of all companies that took part in the fourth annual Computer Crime and Security Survey reported unauthorised access by people from inside their organisations. And 60 per cent of companies said that Internet- …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 15:05
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Keane cuts jobs in Birmingham
But claims to be still in growth phase
Keane, the services and consultancy company, last week cut 21 jobs whilst remaining adamant of a growth strategy. The redundancies at the Birmingham-based company included 19 IT and two administrative staff. Announced last Thursday, Keane blamed the lay-offs on the fast moving nature of the industry. This leaves the company, …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 15:38
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Misys sells TIS Software in MBO
TIS MD leads the way - Lusty by name, etc…
TIS Software has been bought from Misys by a consortium consisting of five of its directors, backed by a venture capital firm. The management buy-out was led by TIS managing director Peter Lusty. Although terms were not discussed in an official release put out today, according to industry analyst Richard Holway, the deal is …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 16:06
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Intel case called off – as predicted here
But a degree of consent is required
The case between US .gov and Intel has fallen over, as first predicted here. As revealed here earlier, Intel would never go through with the public humiliation of a court trial. On the 22nd of February, The Register had information to this effect. (Story: Intel to surrender to higher US authorities) This leaves one question, and …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 16:07
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Compaq, Dell take VIA on board
But Intel is not quietly going into the night
The delay of Camino and Whitney chipsets is pushing major vendors, including Dell and Compaq, into using the alternative VIA chipset. But Intel is responding to the small Taiwanese firm's challenge by saying it will support both PC-133 and AGP in a new BX-2 chipset, a reliable source tells us. However, Intel is denying this …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 16:31
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Intel-FTC deal leaves Intergraph to square – $$$ needed?
The FTC might be happy, but Intergraph wants massive damages. Solution - buy it?
If Intel's settlement with the Federal Trading Commission stands, the chip giant still has one outstanding piece of business to deal with - Intergraph, and it could turn out to be a pricey business. Earlier today it was announced that Intel had struck a courtroom steps deal with the FTC, and provided that the terms (which are …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 16:48
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We are no geeks, say IT users
Survey reveals they're really rough outdoors types - no really
IT professionals are all action heroes who regularly flirt with danger just for the hell of it. They are happiest when surfing the leading edge of an avalanche or riding mountainous waves on the southern oceans. Far from being the timid anorak-wearing geeks that you bump into on the train in the morning, these square-jawed Rambo …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 17:00
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MP3.com to launch IPO
Best-known MP3 merchant to seek funding for further expansion
Net-based digital music distributor MP3.com is to leap onto the inflated internet stock bandwagon later this year with its IPO, company CEO Michael Robertson said this weekend. Speaking at the New York Music and Internet Expo, Robertson said the initial share offering would take before the end of the year, and was suitably …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 17:07
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Novell goes for gold with $2,995 fee for Platinum Vars
Scheme rolled out in US following European trial
US Resellers wanting Novell Platinum status will have to pay for it, following the success of a pilot scheme in Europe. US Vars will be charged almost $3,000 for the privilege of a Platinum gong, according to this week's Computer Reseller News (CRN) Web site. They will join their cohorts in Europe, where Novell has been charging …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 17:26
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MS to spend $15 million buying into online music market
Stake in Reciprocal to strengthen digital music delivery offerings
Microsoft is to announce a $15 million stake in digital content delivery specialist Reciprocal. The stake amounts to 15 per cent of the privately held Reciprocal, which is expected to launch an IPO sometime during the next couple of years, according to a report in today's Wall Street Journal. On Microsoft's mind is the need to …
Business 8 Mar 1999, 17:33
