This edition announces the movement of VNS distribution from direct email to Readers Choice. The announcement indicates from VNS is now published as a Web edition as well as continuing on DEC VTX.

<><><><><><><><>  T h e   V O G O N   N e w s   S e r v i c e  <><><><><><><><>

 Edition : 3734              Tuesday  4-Feb-1997            Circulation :  3761 

        VNS ANNOUNCEMENT ..................................   23 Lines
        VNS COMPUTER NEWS .................................  215   "

    For information on subscribing to VNS, backissues, contacting VNS staff
    members, etc, access our Web service at http://expat.zko.dec.com/vns/ or
    send a mail to EXPAT::EXPAT with a subject of HELP.

VNS ANNOUNCEMENT:                                   [Colin Blake, VNS Publisher]
=================                                   [Nashua, NH, USA           ]

ere is an important message for readers who receive VNS by email. Note
that this only affects readers who receive their VNS via mail each day.
The VTX and Web editions of VNS are unaffected.

Starting Monday 17th February, the VNS mail distribution list will be
maintained by Reader's Choice. This means your VNS will be delivered to
whatever mail address you have defined in your Web Reader's Choice 
Profile.

If you already have a Reader's Choice Profile, you should check that VNS
is selected. If you don't already have a Reader's Choice Profile, you
need to obtain one by accessing Reader's Choice (see below).

You have until February 17th to make sure that you are registered with
Reader's Choice and that VNS is selected, otherwise you will stop
receiving VNS.

Reader's Choice can be accessed on the internal web at
http://webrc.das.dec.com and via VTX using the keyword PROFILE. Using the
web you will find VNS in the "Employee Interests" section. Using VTX you
select "Topics of Interest" from the Main Menu. You will then find VNS in
the "Newsletters, Publications/Tools" section and
"WORLDWIDE - ELECTRONIC"  sub-section.

VNS COMPUTER NEWS:                            [Tracy Talcott, VNS Computer Desk]
==================                            [Nashua, NH, USA                 ]

Monday's Market					Fair Market Value
	 Quote		Change  Dow Jones	Change   3-Jun-1996   $51.235
 IBM	 154 7/8	-2				29-Nov-1996   $36.812
 HPkd	  52 1/8	-  1/2				 85% of lower $31.50
 Msft	 102 3/8	+  3/8				 2-Dec-1996   $39.344
 DEC	  36 3/4	-1	6806.16		- 6.93
 DEC PRa  25		unch.

 Kodak - To pay Wang $260 million in cash for software unit; 700 keep jobs
	{The Boston Globe, 30-Jan-97, p. C2}
   The unprofitable software business will operate as a separate unit under
 Kodak's Business Imaging Systems division.  Robert Weiler, president of Wang's
 software operations, will become president of the new entity.  The companies
 first said they were talking about the transaction in October.  Kodak said it
 plans to retain the 700 employees now working at Wang's software unit.  The
 business will continue to operate out of its current headquarters in
 Billerica, Mass.  The purchase gives Kodak access to Wang's workflow
 management software, which lets companies update and track huge amounts of
 paperwork.  It also helps make up for the decline in Kodak's traditional
 microfilm business and boost its relatively new commercial digital imaging
 business.  Software is replacing Microfilm as a way to quickly retrieve
 archived documents.  For Wang, the sale will free the company to focus on its
 main business of integrating network and desktop computers and give it extra
 cash to buy a company in its main computer services business, analysts say.

 America Online - Users getting a nudge to avoid idle time
	{The Boston Globe, 31-Jan-97, p. D2}
   AOL has begun flashing a message on the screen of customers who've been on
 line for 45 minutes.  The message asks whether they plan to keep using the
 system.  Users who reply by clicking a "yes" button can continue.  But those
 who don't respond will be logged off 10 minutes later.  AOL has long had an
 automatic feature that disconnects active users after 15 minutes of idle time.
 But now it will ask even the most active users to consider hanging up.

 MCI - Develops phone line to carry voice and data
	{The Boston Globe, 30-Jan-97, p. C7}
   MCI Communications unveiled technology it says will let customers use their
 PCs to simultaneously surf the Internet and make a telephone call over a
 single phone line.  MCI said it will introduce several products using the new
 technology in an effort to generate $2 billion in sales from the Internet by
 2000.  MCI said it didn't have to install equipment to combine the voice and
 data traffic.  Instead it changed the way it transmits calls over phone lines.

 Microtouch - Loses case against Japanese firm
	{The Boston Globe, 30-Jan-97, p. C7}
   Microtouch Systems said an international arbitration panel in Paris ruled
 that the maker of computer touch screens will have to reimburse its Japanese
 distributor despite proving the distributor breached its agreement with the
 company.  Although the panel has not determined the costs Microtouch must pay
 Nissha Printing Co., the reimbursement could exceed the $2 million Microtouch
 has spent on the case.  The panel ruled that while Nissha breached its
 distribution agreement with Microtouch by selling competing screens, a statute
 of limitations clause prevented Microtouch from collecting damages.  Late last
 month, Microtouch restated and lowered its 1995 and 1996 earnings because of
 higher than expected costs from the protracted legal battle.

 Systemsoft - Lashes out at Forbes article
	{The Boston Globe, 30-Jan-97, p. C5}
   Systemsoft officials issued a statement yesterday saying the article, which
 appears in Forbes' Feb. 10 issue "incorrectly and unfairly criticizes the
 company's accounting practices."  Systemsoft is the leading maker of software
 that controls the PC cards used as modems and network interfaces in laptop
 computers. ... As for the Intel royalty question, a tax expert who criticized
 Systemsoft's policy in the Forbes article has changed his mind.  Robert
 Willens, a tax and accounting analyst for investment firm Lehman Brothers, now
 says, "I didn't get quite as much information as I needed to adopt a view on
 their accounting."  Willens said he had not studied Systemsoft's records in
 detail, but simply responded to information he was given over the telephone by
 a Forbes reporter.  "I have to admit I kind of reacted based on our phone
 conversation."

 Apple - Plans to unveil major reorganization on Monday
	{The Boston Globe, 1-Feb-97, p. F3}
   The reorganization will include a spot on the decision-making executive
 council for Apple's co-founder Steven Jobs, who returned in December as part
 of a deal to buy Jobs' Next Software Inc.  As part of Amelio's restructuring,
 sources say, Apple's half-dozen business units will be streamlined into three
 divisions focusing on key market segments: desktop publishing, Internet
 content creation, and education.  Amelio will create an umbrella marketing and
 research and development organization to serve the divisions.

	{The Boston Globe, 3-Feb-97, p. B7}
   The restructuring may include job cuts of up 25% of Apple's 13,000 work
 force, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. ... To meet its goal, Apple
 has to cut another $400 million in costs this year to break even, Apple
 executives have said.  Last year, Apple laid off 1,500 employees.  But as
 customers avoid buying computers from the troubled company, revenue has
 declined faster than Apple executives expected.

 Nets Inc. - Jim Manzi's Internet firm to cut 54 jobs in Pennsylvania
	{The Boston Globe, 1-Feb-97, p. F1}
   Some of those dismissed were in telemarketing, sales and marketing.  The
 company is hiring engineering and marketing people in Cambridge, a Nets
 spokesman said.  The company is also consolidating its marketing, sales and
 editorial functions in Cambridge.  The Pittsburgh office is a production and
 operations center with some engineering functions.

 Fiscal News - Wang
 Wang - 4th quarter earnings drop on sales increase
	{The Boston Globe, 30-Jan-97, p. C5}
   Wang said its earnings dropped 35% to $4.5 million in the last quarter of
 1996 compared to $6.9 million a year ago.  Quarterly sales rose 24.3% to
 $363.7 million from $292.5 million.  Foe the year, Wang lost $8.7 million
 versus a year-ago loss of $81.4 million.

 Digital - New Prioris Servers offer big-business performance at small-business
	prices
	{Livewire, Worldwide News, 3-Feb-97}
   DIGITAL rounded out its award-winning Prioris Pentium Pro processor server
 line today with the introduction of two new entry-priced server series.
   Priced significantly below similar competitive products, the new DIGITAL
 Prioris XL 6000 series entry-level and DIGITAL Prioris MX 6200 departmental
 servers are ideal for Microsoft Windows NT Server deployment of
 Inter/intranet, mail and messaging, and business applications as well as for
 file/print and shared-resource services.  Both servers are available this
 month.
   The company also introduced a 19-inch rackmount enclosure, which is designed
 to support the complete DIGITAL Prioris line; Revision Manager, an optional
 CD-ROM subscription service that provides channel partners and LAN
 administrators with a complete revision history of system software and driver
 updates; and support for Tivoli's TME 10 NetView.

   Easily managed with ServerWORKS

   Included with the new Prioris XL 6200 and Prioris MX 6200 systems -- at no
 extra cost -- is DIGITAL ServerWORKS Manager, an easy-to-use software package
 that extends the capabilities of traditional server management to provide
 critical network management functionality.  Also included with the systems is
 ServerWORKS Quick Launch, an installation and configuration utility designed
 to save customers hours of installation by auto-replicating customized server
 configurations in distributed computing environments.
   The company also announced new advances in enterprise management integration
 resulting from Tivoli Systems' agreement to assume development of the
 POLYCENTER NetView enterprise management product.  DIGITAL's ServerWORKS
 Manager product now features tight integration with TME 10 NetView allowing
 customers to retrieve detailed data on their DIGITAL Prioris and DIGITAL Alpha
 servers from within the TME management environment.  Customers can "snap in"
 ServerWORKS Manager software into their TME 10 NetView management console,
 allowing them to perform queries and set alarms directly from the console.
   The Prioris MX 6200 series includes DIGITAL's Intelligent Server Management
 for proactive monitoring of critical subsystems, such as CPUs, RAID, fans,
 power supplies and memory based on the company's innovative design and use of
 inter-integrated circuit technology to provide system administrators with
 up-to-the minute status and alerting.  The Prioris MX also includes optional
 support for Remote Server Manager, the company's out-of-band system management
 for remote sites or "lights-out" environments.

   Performance Pro

   Priced at Pentium processor-based levels, the new systems come with a number
 of high-end features for value and investment protection.  Both lines
 incorporate 200 MHz Pentium Pro processors with 256KB on-chip cache with
 double the performance of equivalent Pentium processor-based systems in
 Windows NT application environments.  Other standard features include an
 integrated Ultra/Wide SCSI controller, PCI Fast 10/100 Ethernet controller,
 and 12X SCSI CD-ROM drive.  Available in single and dual processor
 configurations, the Prioris MX 6200 supports up to 1 GB of ECC memory,
 integrated 32-bit graphics and hot-pluggable drives.
   U.S. estimated street prices for the new services start in the mid-$2,000
 range for a typical configuration of the DIGITAL Prioris XL 6000 series, based
 on configuration.  For a typical configuration of the DIGITAL Prioris MX 6200
 servers, U.S. estimated street prices begin in the mid-$3,000 range, depending
 on the configuration.  The DIGITAL Prioris Rackmount estimated street price
 starts at US$2,000.  DIGITAL ServerWORKS Quick Launch Revision Manager is
 available at a nominal charge for shipping, handling and media.

 DIGITAL - To operate Asia Pacific's most advanced computer helpdesk from
	Singapore
	{Livewire, Worldwide News, 31-Jan-97}
   Digital Equipment Asia Pacific Pte Ltd has formally opened its multimillion
 dollar customer helpdesk in Singapore.  The multi-lingual center will be the
 most advanced available in Asia and will offer real-time support and advice to
 DIGITAL customers.
   DIGITAL anticipates committing over S$5 million to the facility by the end
 of 1997, serving more than 10,000 regional users.
   In Singapore for the official opening of the facility, Tim Leisman, vice
 president, Operations Management Services said, "Businesses in Asia Pacific
 are leapfrogging in their use of information technology and bypassing entire
 generations in computing development. The result of these advances is an
 increasing shortage in support resources as computing requirements become more
 complex.
   "DIGITAL can meet these needs exactly," he went on.  "A single point of
 contact will help customers whether they are calling from North Korea or New
 Zealand in South Asia, providing real-time support with rapid solutions.  Each
 DIGITAL analyst has a computer running the software applications that
 particular helpdesk is set up to handle.  An analyst can access the respective
 applications and customer's corporate network in order to understand a problem
 described by a caller," he said.
   "Besides offering helpdesk services, DIGITAL helps to monitor customers'
 networks and take corrective action when necessary, such as re-routing servers
 in an emergency. The Singapore helpdesk is a single point of contact for
 first-line support. However, if a Hong Kong caller needs an engineer to do
 maintenance work, local resources are used.  DIGITAL's analyst in Singapore
 will inform the engineers in Hong Kong and track the call through completion,"
 Leisman explained.
   Bobby Choonavala, corporate vice president and president of Digital
 Equipment Asia Pacific said, "The helpdesk will offer three primary benefits
 to users. First, it will help clients boost profitability. The helpdesk
 represents an operating expense rather than the much heavier capital expense
 of companies creating individual system support infrastructures.
   "Second, the team that responds to client calls is multi-lingual with both
 hardware and software expertise. Clients will feel they have their own
 computer experts on hand, wherever you are in Asia-Pacific, in whatever
 language they choose.
   "Finally, DIGITAL offers the best-in-class technology infrastructure to
 customers. Presently, no facility in Asia comes close in terms of the
 technology or support that the DIGITAL helpdesk is able to offer to clients,"
 he concluded.
   DIGITAL's helpdesk service offers customized solutions to meet specific
 requirements. The service is unique in that help is also extended to customers
 of the subscriber companies. Users who face difficulties while working with
 computers can call DIGITAL and obtain specialist advice from employees
 regarding their particular software applications or hardware equipment.
 Helpdesks in Asia, Europe and the U.S. are interlinked so that DIGITAL can
 provide 24-hour support to customers, 365 days per year.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
    For information on subscribing to VNS, backissues, contacting VNS staff
    members, etc, access our Web service at http://expat.zko.dec.com/vns/ or
    send a mail to EXPAT::EXPAT with a subject of HELP.

    Permission to copy material from this VNS is granted (per DIGITAL PP&P)
    provided that the message header for the issue and credit lines for the
    VNS correspondent and original source are retained in the copy.

<><><><><><><><>   VNS Edition : 3734     Tuesday  4-Feb-1997   <><><><><><><><>