Amiga Computing - Commodore Is Awesome

NEWS
10
HSI retirement
The Federation Against Software Theft
has announced that its chief executive,
Bob Hay, is retiring after nine years of
service. He leaves to spend time with his
wife who has been seriously ill over the
last several months.
David Svendsen, board chairman of
FAST and managing director of
Microsoft Ltd. added, To many in our
industry, Bob has been the public face ol
FAST and everyone will miss his singleminded
goal of establishing a moral and
legal environment in which to use
software."
Svendsen concluded by saying: -
Under his leadership, Bob has taken
FAST from inception to the most successtul
anti-piracy body in the world.
-
Health (ORM
For those computer users who regularly
spend hours on the keyboard stanng at
a screen, the London Advice Services
have released a tactsheet on health and
safety when operating a computer.
The Computanews pamphlet offers
advice on what the risks are, what the
user needs to do to create a better environment
and what the laws say concerning
&mak:eters responsibility to its staff.
The factsheet costs E3 and is available
from LASA on 071-377 1226.
Ful house
After the somewhat troubled start of the
European Leisure Software Publishers
Association's IELSPA1 ratings system.
the group has announced that all 63
members of the association have given
their full support and adopted the
scheme.
This includes Acclaim, publishers of
the controversial Mortal Kombat. who,
after much publicised deliberation, have
agreed to carry the ELSPA age suitability
ratings.
Moto report
According to research company
Dataquest. US Robotics is now UK market
leader in high speed modems, with a
16.5% share.
"We have gone from 15th in 1990 to
number one in 1993. The figures tell
their own story." commented US
Robotics managing director, Clive
Hudson.
For more details on US Robotics
modems, call Lucy Brown on 0753
811180.
Amiga Computing
OCTOBER 1994
new bidder5
5tep
Forward
Alto the surprise announcement last month that various members
from Commodore were attempting their own buyout, a
rumour has surfaced that Steve Franklin. former managing
director of Commodore UK, is also making a bid for the
company.
Franklin declined to comment on the situation. David
Pleasance, the current UK managing director, thinks "it's highly
unlikely" that the former head is in a position to offer a
substantial bid.
Pleasance's own plans are apparently moving forward and
he hopes that the question of Commodore's future will be
resolved "In the next two to three weeks." He believes that their
offer is the highest and feels confident of a successful result.
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, both Amstrad
and Philips have lost interest in a buyout, partly down to the
legal delays. Samsung is interested in the intellectual-properly
rights of Commodore's products, but is dismissive with the
computer firm's inventory or other products.
A potential buyer has appeared in the shape of Creative
Equipment International based In Miami. who are in the process
of submitting a bid. 'There is a pent-up demand for the product,"
CEI president Alex Amor commented. I think it can be
very successful if it is brought back to the market:
The legal tanglings over the liquidation though are causing
serious concerns with people close to Commodore. -
The urgency arises because we are dealing with an asset which is
perishable," said Franklyn Wilson, a liquidator in Bahamas.
"It is an industry where change is the greatest constant. This
technology needs to be constantly updated to stay current."
Raptor intrea5e5 in
power and 5peed
With the reputation of Raptor's quality and results, makers ol
the graphics work stations, Desk Station. have released two
new models. The Raptor II and the Raptor Plus are seen by
many as the next step for serious graphic artists and television
production.
The Raptor Plus features MIPS RISC R4600/133MHz rendering
engine that the company
claims increases the
rendering performance by 50
per cent over the original
work station.
The Raptor range is available
to buy through Ramiga
International who can be contacted
on 0782 398840.
Raptor Roc Twice
the speed of the
original graphics
work station
Prirnera Pro, Offering the latest in printer technology
Printer paradi5e
Announced at the recent MACWORLD Expo in
Boston, the new PrimeraPro colour printer is a
high spec, low-priced machine that is compatible
with the Amiga.
Featuring dye-simulation and wax thermal output
at 600•300 dpi, Fargo - the company behind
the new hardware - claim that the printer is the
first in its kind to offer such a high dpi_
Costing $1895 in the States, the PrimeraPro
can also print on a variety of different surfaces,
from laser paper and transparency film to dyesublimation
media and T-shirt transfer paper.
Amiga Computing will be reviewing the product
next month and Fargo, the makers of the Primera
Pro, can be contacted on (612) 941 9470.
Competition! One or the many
entries already received
(ompetition boa5t5
hologram priae
In a bid to show PC users and high-priced Oatforms
what the Amiga is capable of, the 24 Bit
Club has launched a competition for Commodore
owners to send in their best 3D work. There are
three categories for entry - science fictionifantasy,
photo realism and organic/abstract.
The winner from each will have their rendered
masterpieces turned into a hologram by Munday
Spacial Imaging, and most entries will find their
way on to a video to be produced by the 24 Bit
Club of the best work they receive.
For more information and an entry form, phone
John Campbell on 041-946 2191.
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