Attempts to speed up modem connections are off to a slow start
Article Abstract:
U.S. Robotics' $219 external Sportster X2 fax modem is significantly faster than standard modems but does not provide its promised speed of 56 Kbps. The company admits that X2 technology adheres to the FCC standard regulation limiting modem speed to a maximum of 53 Kbps. U.S. Robotics also concedes that its X2 modem can only achieve 53 Kbps on incoming data, keeping transmitted data limited to 28.8 Kbps. While the 56-Kbps modem provides greater connection speed, attaining connections that are faster than 48 Kbps is unlikely. All speed increases from 56-Kbps modems are dependent on the modems of on-line service or access providers which must be upgraded to be compatible with the 56-Kbps technology. Since the X2 standard and the competing 56-Kbps technology from Rockwell, named K56flex, are incompatible, consumers are wise to wait to buy new modems until these conflicting standards are clarified and more 56-Kbps services are available.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1997
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Software that can make taxes easier - well, a little easier
Article Abstract:
Block Financial Software's Kiplinger's TaxCut rates slightly higher than Intuit's TurboTax or Parsons Technology's Personal Tax Edge in a comparison of tax preparation software packages. TaxCut provides the clearest, most accessible interface, offering the ability to quickly alternate between working on a form and other portions of the program. TaxCut's help, guidance and advice sections are also more efficiently designed than the others. Intuit's TurboTax contains several errors that have not been identified by the company, but the market-leading product does provide the greatest number of state-tax utilities and the broadest connectivity to Quicken software. Personal Tax Edge offers more interactivity than the other programs but ultimately assumes too great a degree of user-knowledge and requires the most work.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1996
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With this little box, it's no big deal to make connections
Article Abstract:
Coactive Computing Corp's $149 Coactive Connector is a cigarette-pack-sized module that makes it easy to interconnect IBM-or-compatible microcomputers. The device also connects IBM machines with Apple Macintoshes. The Coactive Connector sets up in less than 10 minutes, plugging into a computer's parallel or printer port and requiring a simple software setup. As many as 32 machines can be linked using standard telephone cords, and a network can stretch for up to 1,000 feet. Files relating to each microcomputer can be placed in a special directory, and such files can be opened from any computer on the network. Other files remain private.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1993
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