From: "Swisher, Bob" <bswisher@ou.edu>
To: "'it-fyi@listserv.ou.edu'" <it-fyi@lists.ou.edu>
Subject: it-fyi: Edupage, 1 September 1999
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 08:57:11 -0500
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Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, an international nonprofit association
dedicated to transforming education through information technologies.
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TOP STORIES for September 1, 1999
Sun to Challenge Microsoft 'Office' Suite
Intel's New Processor Line to Focus on Internet Links
IBM to Sell Technology to Cisco
Early, Apple Shows Off New Mac G4
ALSO
Professors Stressed over Technology
A Survey of Students Finds Some Support for Technology Fees
Computer Graveyard Gives PCs New Life
Postal Service Prepares to Compete for Delivery of Goods Bought
Online
SUN TO CHALLENGE MICROSOFT 'OFFICE' SUITE
Sun Microsystems today will officially announce its purchase of software
maker Star Division, in a move aimed at shifting word-processing and
spreadsheet applications away from the PC and onto the Web. Star Division's
StarOffice suite, much like Microsoft Office, provides a word processor, a
spreadsheet program, presentation software, email and calendar programs, and
the ability to read and write data in Microsoft file formats. Sun intends to
offer StarOffice as a free Web-based service and says it is not trying to
compete with Microsoft's PC applications. Sun wants to move the industry
toward Internet- based services--a shift that would significantly boost
Sun's computer server business. This trend could damage Microsoft's
revenue, 40 percent of which is estimated to come from Office sales, if
other companies follow Sun's lead and begin offering free Internet-based
office applications. (Wall Street Journal 08/31/99)
INTEL'S NEW PROCESSOR LINE TO FOCUS ON INTERNET LINKS
Intel today plans to announce a new line of processors for devices that
route information through the Internet as well as corporate networks. In
related news, the company previewed its 64-bit Merced chip on Tuesday. Both
moves indicate that Intel is moving its processor business to the Internet,
specifically in the areas of network processors, servers, and "bit
factories," which are Intel-managed computer networks that run electronic
commerce sites. The new processors will be based on the Intel Internet
Exchange Architecture (IX), an open specification that hardware
manufacturers can use to build components that can be tied together to form
a framework for Internet devices. Intel's specification will be available
to systems designers, who will use the blueprint to create products that
work with Intel technology. Intel has designed its new network processor to
allow manufacturers of Internet hardware, such as routers, switches, and
access concentrators to have more flexibility in adding features to devices
that have already been implemented. (New York Times 09/01/99)
IBM TO SELL TECHNOLOGY TO CISCO
IBM announced yesterday that it will sell its networking technology to
market leader Cisco Systems for $300 million. In addition, Cisco will
purchase $2 billion in parts from IBM over the next five years. In
exchange, IBM Global Services will sell and service Cisco routers and
switches produced using IBM technology. PaineWebber analyst Don Young notes
that IBM is "putting a pretty good spin on an exit strategy" by selling its
technology to Cisco. The deal with Cisco reflects a growing trend within
IBM to sell high-end intellectual property to other computing firms. So far
this year IBM reports that it has inked intellectual property sales deals
worth $30 billion. Cisco Systems says that IBM's technology will help it
create new systems that migrate IBM networking customers to Cisco products.
Cisco also reports that IBM will help it move 30,000 customers to IP
systems. (Wall Street Journal 09/01/99)
EARLY, APPLE SHOWS OFF NEW MAC G4
Apple Computer unveiled its new G4 Macintosh series, which offers a
significant power increase over the G3 line while maintaining the same price
ranges, at the Seybold Publishing Conference on Tuesday. Although the G4
line was not scheduled for release until next year, Apple interim CEO Steve
Jobs said the G4s began shipping on Tuesday. Also at the conference, Apple
announced a 22-inch flat-panel display, dubbed the Apple Cinema Display--the
biggest flat-panel display to date. The display will be released in
October, but will only be available to consumers who buy a 450 or 500 MHz G4
online. Jobs demonstrated that a 500 MHz G4 is at least twice as fast
performing processes in Adobe Systems' Photoshop as a PC using a 600 MHz
Intel Pentium III chip. The G4 chip can process 128 bits per cycle, rather
than the 32 bits or 64 bits per cycle of typical microprocessors. (New York
Times 09/01/99)
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PROFESSORS STRESSED OVER TECHNOLOGY
The stress of staying up-to-date with technology affects more professors
than traditional stresses such as teaching loads and publishing demands,
according to a recent survey conducted by University of California, Los
Angeles. The survey shows that 67 percent of professors are regularly
stressed by keeping up with emerging technology, compared with 62 percent
stressed by teaching loads, and 50 percent stressed by research or
publishing pressures. Researchers say fear may be preventing professors
from using new technology. Only 35 percent of professors use the Internet
for research purposes, while 38 percent use technology to prepare
presentations for classes. The survey results indicate that colleges should
work to improve instructors' computer skills in order to meet the needs of
students who have grown up using computers and are comfortable using new
technologies. (Associated Press 08/30/99)
A SURVEY OF CAL. STATE STUDENTS FINDS SOME SUPPORT FOR
TECHNOLOGY FEES
The California State University System recently conducted a survey that
suggests that 65 percent of students would be willing to pay a technology
fee to use campus computer equipment and services. Of the respondents
willing to pay a fee, 71 percent said they would pay $10 per month or more,
while 15 percent said they would pay over $20 a month. The university
system has been struggling with the issue of technology funding and future
state funding is uncertain. As a result, university officials proposed the
survey last year to see if students would accept technology fees. Although
the students generally responded positively to the fee in the survey, the
California State Student Association objects to the fee. The association's
university-affairs chairman Richard Ingram says the survey does not
accurately reflect the way students would respond to such a fee because, "A
lot of the questions on the questionnaire were leading." (Chronicle of
Higher Education Online 08/31/99)
COMPUTER GRAVEYARD GIVES PCS NEW LIFE
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) manages the Computers for Learning
program, which provides schools and nonprofit education organizations with
computers that have been discarded by the USDA and 17 other agencies. The
program, initiated by Vice President Gore almost two years ago, receives as
many as 1,000 computers a week which are repaired and upgraded before being
sent out. Schools or other groups that need computers can post requests on
the Computer for Learning Web site. Ron Cooper, who oversees the program,
uses the Web site's database to select schools with the greatest need for
computers. The program aims to provide Internet and computer access to
those who cannot afford it, and therefore targets schools in low-income
areas. (Washington Post 08/31/99)
POSTAL SERVICE PREPARES TO COMPETE FOR DELIVERY OF GOODS BOUGHT
ONLINE
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is boldly grabbing for the top position in
the shipping delivery market for electronic commerce with the announcement
of a Web site and corresponding national advertising blitz. The USPS
Priority Mail service is aimed at electronic commerce shoppers and
retailers, allowing them to download software that can be embedded in their
Web sites. The USPS accounts for 62 percent of two- and three-day
deliveries in the U.S., says Kim Parks of the USPS. UPS reacted to the
initiative by stating that it remains committed to keeping its top ranking
in the market and does not plan to change its services, at least in the
short term. UPS was responsible for 55 percent of e-commerce deliveries
during last year's holiday season, followed by USPS with 32 percent of the
deliveries, according to Zona Research. (Journal of Commerce 08/30/99)
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UPCOMING EDUCAUSE CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS:
EDUCAUSE '99
"Celebrating New Beginnings"
EDUCAUSE Annual Conference
October 26-29, 1999, Long Beach, California
http://www.educause.edu/conference/e99/
The EDUCAUSE '99 information technology conference promises to be one of
higher education's preeminent educational events. The conference will shape
and define the agenda for the transformation of education through
information technologies for the 21st century.
For more information on EDUCAUSE '99, please visit the conference Web site
at http://www.educause.edu/conference/e99/, or contact us at
conf@educause.edu or 303-449-4430.
For additional information on all EDUCAUSE conferences see
http://www.educause.edu/conference/conf.html
For information on other technology related educational conferences see
http://www.educause.edu/ir/events.html
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OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS
EDUCOM REVIEW is a bimonthly print magazine on information technology and
education. U.S. subscriptions are $18 a year.
CAUSE/EFFECT is a quarterly practitioner's journal about managing and using
information resources on college and university campuses. U.S. subscriptions
are $52 a year.
For additional information on these and other EDUCAUSE publications see:
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
News abstracts Copyright 1999, Information Inc., Bethesda, MD
Edupage Copyright 1999, EDUCAUSE
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EDUCAUSE, an international nonprofit association dedicated to transforming
education through information technologies