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Intel and NEC, together on CMOS microcontroller
Floppy discs will still be on top in 1990 Rapid increases in the use of 5¼- and 8-in floppy discs together with the upsurge of the new minifloppies will push shipments of floppy disc media past the $I000M mark by 1984, according to report from International Resource Development. By 1990, the floppy disc will contribute almost 50 per cent of the total media market. Winchester hard discs will contribute around 30 per cent of the market. Optical discs, however, even though they will be commercially available by 1984, will only contribute 9 per cent says the report. This is because the optical disc will only find applications in very large memory system, says IRD. There will be a new round of opportunities for innovative start-up firms, says the report. This will be especially evident in the optical disc field. There will be a race between the Japanese manufacturers - particularly Sony - and a new set of Silicon Valley start-ups, says I RD's Ken Bosomworth, paralleling the success in the 1970s of such firms as Verbatim, Maxell and Dysan. IBM, who pioneered the floppy disc
Zilog strengthen sourcing agreement with AMD Zilog and Advanced Micro Devices have signed a crosslicensing agreement and dismissed speculation of a rift between the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, AMD will continue to manufacture the original Z8000 family of 16-bit CPUs and associated peripherals as well as the recently announced Z8003 and Z8004 virtual memory processors. In return, Zilog will manufacture a number of Z8OO0-based Z8000compatible AMD-designed peripheral circuits as well as certain advanced AMD communications devices. Zilog have welcomed the agreement with open arms. 'This is good news indeed for our 16-bit processor families', said the new Managing Director of Zilog (UK), Phil Pittman. 'The new agreement goes far deeper and greatly extends the second-source deal that
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concept and was the leading supplier of floppy disc drives and media for many years, have now been overtaken by Verbatim, according to IRD. The report points out that Verbatim and others manufacture floppies under 'private label' to sell through mail orders companies, etc. The report finds that the computer store, though, is the main distribution channel for floppy discs. The trend is expected to continue, both because of attractive pricing (some stores use discs as loss leaders to attract business) and because of convenience; when a user runs out of floppies, he tends to not want to wait for one or two weeks for a new supply, say I RD. A new market for 3½-in floppies will open up, according to the report as a consequence of the efforts to Sony, Hitachi and Maxell who introduced the microfloppy. IRD expect Verbatim and 3M to follow the others quickly and participate in this market. The report 'Optical and magnetic disc media' costs $I 285 and is available from International Resource Develop-
ment, 30 High Street, Norwalk, CT 06851, USA. Tel: (203) 866 6914) has existed between our two companies for some time now'. Commenting on the rumoured differences between the two companies, Mr Pittman said that the unfounded speculation of a rift between Zilog and AMD had been 'very firmly squashed'.
Intel and NEC, together on CMOS microcontroller Intel and NEC have signed a five-year crosslicensing and technology exchange agreement. Under the contract, the companies will ensure the compatibility of devices already mutually secondsourced or being developed by them. The devices are Intel's 8022 microcontroller, and NEC's 765 floppy disc controller, 7201 multiprotocol serial controller and 7220 graphics display controller. Intel will license and provide compatibility updates to NEC on their 8253 and 8259A peripherals, and both companies will work to ensure the compatibility of their independently-developed CMOS versions o[ Intel's 8048/8049 microcontroller architecture. NEC expect to sell around 300000 units of their PC-8000 personal computer in Japan alone during 1982, according to a recent announcement. This is double the number sold in 1981. NEC claims to supply 45 per cent of Japan's personal computer market. Intel have recorded an increase in net revenue for the second quarter over the first quarter in 1982. The sum, $8.2M, is down from :~9.7M for the same period last year. Revenues though have increased, with orders booked the highest in the companies history. Net revenue for the first half on 1982 were $423.5M compared to $385.8M a year ago.
Floppies within easy reach of the customer The American's love of fast no-mess no-questions-asked food has been transferred to the computing industry. Maxell, one of the biggest names in mass storage have come up with an 'exciting profit-making industry first' a floor-standing dispenser of 5¼- and 8-in floppy discs to cater for the 'impulse buyer'. The 'merchandizer' reflects the company's basic philosophy, to provide not only magnetic media but also strong support for their dealers, to help them to 'complete the sales process'. The new Maxell merchandizer -
provides a maximum amount of dramatic impact within a minimum amount of storage space, according to the company. 'Designed with tasteful colourful Maxell graphics, it is made of strong plastic that is long-lasting and easy to keep clean.' It stands 68 in high and occupies 16 in x 16 in of ground space. It has four tiers of shelves that hold 20 8-in disc boxes and 30 5¼-in disc boxes. The trays are interchangeable. The release of the merchandizer was designed to coincide with the ] 982 holiday season.
microprocessors and microsystems
Zilog strengthen sourcing agreement with AMD Zilog and Advanced Micro Devices have signed a crosslicensing agreement and dismissed speculation of a rift between the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, AMD will continue to manufacture the original Z8000 family of 16-bit CPUs and associated peripherals as well as the recently announced Z8003 and Z8004 virtual memory processors. In return, Zilog will manufacture a number of Z8OO0-based Z8000compatible AMD-designed peripheral circuits as well as certain advanced AMD communications devices. Zilog have welcomed the agreement with open arms. 'This is good news indeed for our 16-bit processor families', said the new Managing Director of Zilog (UK), Phil Pittman. 'The new agreement goes far deeper and greatly extends the second-source deal that
398
concept and was the leading supplier of floppy disc drives and media for many years, have now been overtaken by Verbatim, according to IRD. The report points out that Verbatim and others manufacture floppies under 'private label' to sell through mail orders companies, etc. The report finds that the computer store, though, is the main distribution channel for floppy discs. The trend is expected to continue, both because of attractive pricing (some stores use discs as loss leaders to attract business) and because of convenience; when a user runs out of floppies, he tends to not want to wait for one or two weeks for a new supply, say I RD. A new market for 3½-in floppies will open up, according to the report as a consequence of the efforts to Sony, Hitachi and Maxell who introduced the microfloppy. IRD expect Verbatim and 3M to follow the others quickly and participate in this market. The report 'Optical and magnetic disc media' costs $I 285 and is available from International Resource Develop-
ment, 30 High Street, Norwalk, CT 06851, USA. Tel: (203) 866 6914) has existed between our two companies for some time now'. Commenting on the rumoured differences between the two companies, Mr Pittman said that the unfounded speculation of a rift between Zilog and AMD had been 'very firmly squashed'.
Intel and NEC, together on CMOS microcontroller Intel and NEC have signed a five-year crosslicensing and technology exchange agreement. Under the contract, the companies will ensure the compatibility of devices already mutually secondsourced or being developed by them. The devices are Intel's 8022 microcontroller, and NEC's 765 floppy disc controller, 7201 multiprotocol serial controller and 7220 graphics display controller. Intel will license and provide compatibility updates to NEC on their 8253 and 8259A peripherals, and both companies will work to ensure the compatibility of their independently-developed CMOS versions o[ Intel's 8048/8049 microcontroller architecture. NEC expect to sell around 300000 units of their PC-8000 personal computer in Japan alone during 1982, according to a recent announcement. This is double the number sold in 1981. NEC claims to supply 45 per cent of Japan's personal computer market. Intel have recorded an increase in net revenue for the second quarter over the first quarter in 1982. The sum, $8.2M, is down from :~9.7M for the same period last year. Revenues though have increased, with orders booked the highest in the companies history. Net revenue for the first half on 1982 were $423.5M compared to $385.8M a year ago.
Floppies within easy reach of the customer The American's love of fast no-mess no-questions-asked food has been transferred to the computing industry. Maxell, one of the biggest names in mass storage have come up with an 'exciting profit-making industry first' a floor-standing dispenser of 5¼- and 8-in floppy discs to cater for the 'impulse buyer'. The 'merchandizer' reflects the company's basic philosophy, to provide not only magnetic media but also strong support for their dealers, to help them to 'complete the sales process'. The new Maxell merchandizer -
provides a maximum amount of dramatic impact within a minimum amount of storage space, according to the company. 'Designed with tasteful colourful Maxell graphics, it is made of strong plastic that is long-lasting and easy to keep clean.' It stands 68 in high and occupies 16 in x 16 in of ground space. It has four tiers of shelves that hold 20 8-in disc boxes and 30 5¼-in disc boxes. The trays are interchangeable. The release of the merchandizer was designed to coincide with the ] 982 holiday season.
microprocessors and microsystems