New modems are fast, cheap, and incompatible

Article Abstract:

56-Kbps modems will be available by mid-1997, are expected to be quickly adopted, given their under $200 price. However, modems from industry leaders US Robotics and Rockwell International will not be able to connect with each other at the highest possible speeds. Both companies are lining up allies for their competing technologies: Rockwell sells chips to many other modem makers, including Boca Research and Ascend Communications. US Robotics, the leading modem maker, with 25% of the U.S. market, will begin shipping its 56-Kbps modems in late Feb 1997, along with software upgrades for all recently sold modems. While the US Robotics chip is upgradeable by software to its own or a competing standard, the Rockwell chip is not upgradeable, although plans are underway to make some chips reprogrammable. Lucent Technologies has announced that their chips will be compatible with the Rockwell chips.

Telephone and telegraph apparatus, Forecasts and trends, Standard, Standardization, Telecommunications equipment industry, Design and construction, Modems, Modem, Market Trend/Market Analysis

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The home advantage: Does having a PC in the house make a difference for students? A lot of parents think so

Article Abstract:

Parents seem to believe that owning a computer at home gives their children an advantage in preparing for future success. These families account for barely more than 50% of the approximately 40 million US households that own computers, according to market-research firm Access Media Technology. No solid evidence supports the parents' reasoning, but some experts believe children can acquire important computer skills. Corporation for Educational Technology is a nonprofit group that donates home PCs to all fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in targeted indiana school districts. Its 1994 study reported that students in the program demonstrated better writing improvement than nonparticipants. Marketing, peer pressure and the influence of workplace PCs are driving parents to rate computers ahead of other learning aids such as encyclopedias and educational videodisks.

Technology application, Technology in education

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Sony's U.S. electronics unit readies new, $30 million MiniDisc campaign

Article Abstract:

Sony Electronics this week will roll out a $30 million campaign marketing its MiniDisc optical disk. A new strategy will position the audio product, which is less expensive and more durable than cassette tapes. By comparison, campaigns in 1994 and 1996 touted the MiniDisc as a smaller version of the prerecorded compact disk. The 2.5-inch MiniDisc, popular in Japan and Europe, has yet to gain favor in the US. MiniDisc sales sold five million hardware units and 28 million disks in Japan in 1997. European sales totaled more than 1 million in 1997, compared to only 250,000 in the US. Sony is targeting the 'Make it with MiniDisc' campaign primarily at teenagers and young adults in hopes of doubling its 1998 US MiniDisc hardware sales.

Magnetic and Optical Recording Media Manufacturing, Electronic components, not elsewhere classified, Standard Magnetic Disks, Product information, Marketing, Computer peripherals industry, Product marketing strategy, Sony Electronics Inc., Magnetic disks, Data disk, Sony MiniDisc (Data disk)

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