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Motorola, EFCIS and Nat Semi
Nashua claim error free floppies Nashua Corporation's computer division is claiming 1 O0 per cent error free reliability for their new range of 5¼-in floppy discs. The claim is that they meet or exceed all industry standards. They are available in three single-sided single-density models; the soft-sectored MD-1, the MD-110 with ten hard sectors and the MD-116 with 16 hard sectors. The discs are compatible with the Apple Disk II, Radio Shack TRS-8 and -80 and the Wang PSC II among others. For increased life, the floppy discs are permanently housed in a rugged polyester sleeve that keeps out lint, dust and static electricity. A self-cleaning liner helps to eliminate data errors and reduce media wear and tear. The magnetic coating on the discs is precision formulated and uniformly applied to exceptionally fine tolerances. The surface is burnished smooth to provide improved head-to-media contact and double lubricated to minimize head wear and friction. Each floppy is individually tested at every bit position on every track. The discs store 0.9 Mbit of information and have 40 tracks per side.
Rockwell reductions Price reductions averaging 37 per cent have been announced by Rockwell International for their single Eurocard microcomputer family. The price cuts apply to all quantity categories in the price list and even larger cuts are available on some of the RM65 range. Representative RM65 price reductions (at unit price) are: •
•
•
RM65-100 single-board computer cut 46 per cent to £91 RM65-3216 PROM/ROM board cut 51 per cent RM65-3132 32k dynamic RAM board cut 41 per cent to £160
At the same time Rockwell has
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extended its warranty period on the RM65 range from 90 days to one year. Rockwell are also now making available a newsletter for owners of AIM 65 microcomputers on a subscription basis. Named Interactive, the newsletter is edited by Eric Rehnke and was launched in response to results of a survey of AIM 65 owners. (The survey indicated that 96 per cent were willing to pay a nominal subscription price to receive updates on hardware, firmware and special programs.)
A M D to second-source Zilog's 2 8 0 0 0 0 Zilog and AMD have signed a letter of intent for a licensing agreement under which AMD will manufacture and market the new 32-bit microprocessor being developed by Zilog as well as a virtual memory version of the Z8000. The agreement is still under a letter of intent because the 32-bit device, designated the Z80OOO, is not yet complete. The virtual memory device devices are designated Z8003 and Z8004. Zilog, in turn, will second source some of AMD's proprietry peripheral devices and single-chip microcomputer. Other new parts have been jointly developed under the terms of the licensing arrangement include a paged memory management unit, a floatingpoint extended processing unit, CRT controller, graphic display unit and Winchester disc controller. As far as the consumer is concerned this agreement means an improvement in the timetable at which these products are brought on to the market.
Motorola, EFCIS and Nat Semi Motorola and EFCIS, a [ homson-CSF subsidiary, have announced a joint manufacturing agreement to produce the CMOS 8-bit microprocessor. EFCIS will now produce the 146805 at its plant in Grenoble, France. CMOS technology has also seen an agreement between Motorola and National Semiconductor. The agreement will enable both companies to become suppliers of a new family of low power high speed small and medium scale CMOS logic circuits. The family, designated 74HC XX, offers devices with low power Schottky logic speeds and pin-outs, combined with the low power consumption and higher noise immunity of the CMOS logic. The technology agreement provides for the exchange of photomasks of previously unannounced independently developed CMOS devices. Initially, 25 circuits will be available, but both companies expect their product lines to grow over 100 part types.
MicroProducts company MicroProducts Software Ltd (MPS), recently demerged from CAP-CPP to develop and market MicroCOBOL software has announced the formation of a new subsidiary company. MicroProducts Programming Ltd (MPP) is being set up to cater for the growing demand for MicroCOBOL services work. The company has four main objectives: •
Commodore software
•
Commodore Business Machines are setting up a new company, Commodore Supply Company, to export the best of UK-produced application software and peripheral hardware for the Pet range of microcomputers.
•
to provide a tailoring service for MicroCOBOL applications products to undertake bespoke software development work using MicroCOBOL to develop or acquire a range of applications products to suit particular vertical markets such as for solicitors or accountants
An agreement between MPS and MPP gives MPP availability of machine time.
microprocessors and microsTstems
Rockwell reductions Price reductions averaging 37 per cent have been announced by Rockwell International for their single Eurocard microcomputer family. The price cuts apply to all quantity categories in the price list and even larger cuts are available on some of the RM65 range. Representative RM65 price reductions (at unit price) are: •
•
•
RM65-100 single-board computer cut 46 per cent to £91 RM65-3216 PROM/ROM board cut 51 per cent RM65-3132 32k dynamic RAM board cut 41 per cent to £160
At the same time Rockwell has
336
extended its warranty period on the RM65 range from 90 days to one year. Rockwell are also now making available a newsletter for owners of AIM 65 microcomputers on a subscription basis. Named Interactive, the newsletter is edited by Eric Rehnke and was launched in response to results of a survey of AIM 65 owners. (The survey indicated that 96 per cent were willing to pay a nominal subscription price to receive updates on hardware, firmware and special programs.)
A M D to second-source Zilog's 2 8 0 0 0 0 Zilog and AMD have signed a letter of intent for a licensing agreement under which AMD will manufacture and market the new 32-bit microprocessor being developed by Zilog as well as a virtual memory version of the Z8000. The agreement is still under a letter of intent because the 32-bit device, designated the Z80OOO, is not yet complete. The virtual memory device devices are designated Z8003 and Z8004. Zilog, in turn, will second source some of AMD's proprietry peripheral devices and single-chip microcomputer. Other new parts have been jointly developed under the terms of the licensing arrangement include a paged memory management unit, a floatingpoint extended processing unit, CRT controller, graphic display unit and Winchester disc controller. As far as the consumer is concerned this agreement means an improvement in the timetable at which these products are brought on to the market.
Motorola, EFCIS and Nat Semi Motorola and EFCIS, a [ homson-CSF subsidiary, have announced a joint manufacturing agreement to produce the CMOS 8-bit microprocessor. EFCIS will now produce the 146805 at its plant in Grenoble, France. CMOS technology has also seen an agreement between Motorola and National Semiconductor. The agreement will enable both companies to become suppliers of a new family of low power high speed small and medium scale CMOS logic circuits. The family, designated 74HC XX, offers devices with low power Schottky logic speeds and pin-outs, combined with the low power consumption and higher noise immunity of the CMOS logic. The technology agreement provides for the exchange of photomasks of previously unannounced independently developed CMOS devices. Initially, 25 circuits will be available, but both companies expect their product lines to grow over 100 part types.
MicroProducts company MicroProducts Software Ltd (MPS), recently demerged from CAP-CPP to develop and market MicroCOBOL software has announced the formation of a new subsidiary company. MicroProducts Programming Ltd (MPP) is being set up to cater for the growing demand for MicroCOBOL services work. The company has four main objectives: •
Commodore software
•
Commodore Business Machines are setting up a new company, Commodore Supply Company, to export the best of UK-produced application software and peripheral hardware for the Pet range of microcomputers.
•
to provide a tailoring service for MicroCOBOL applications products to undertake bespoke software development work using MicroCOBOL to develop or acquire a range of applications products to suit particular vertical markets such as for solicitors or accountants
An agreement between MPS and MPP gives MPP availability of machine time.
microprocessors and microsTstems