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Show The Salt Lake Tribune ‘TECH CONNECTION SATURDAY, February 27, 1999 CYBERSAVY BY JACOB S. SPECIALTO TH Compiled by Kim McDaniel May Be Best Bet For Surfing Net Back in the old days of the Net 1995) there were few options for getting online. A newbie either went $$$ “Large newspapers and local newspapers don't MSNBCBoss: Newspaper Is Here to Stay Web executive says print media should steer efforts toward morelocal news Portal Power D7 ANTINI TRIBUNE LOGAN — The Internet has forever changed how people get their news, but the newspaper will still be hitting doorsteps well into the future. That was what Merrill Brown, editor in chief of “MSNBC on the Internet” told an audience of students and faculty at Utah State University in Logan. Theonline edition is a joint effort between NBC News and Microsoft Corp.It draws news from papers, NBC V and stories from the 100 NBCaffiliates around thecountry, including KSL in Salt LakeCity. The online site has writersthat research and expandthe news stories with more information when needed24 hours a day everyday of the year. It is updated with news from around the world and customized news packages, including financial and haveto wait for the weather news, for various customers presses anymore.’ According to Brown, 21 percent of U.S. residents spend 3% hoursa weekgetting news from the Internet Merrill When independent counsel Kenneth Starr released his investigation of President Clinton, the MSNBC site had 8.8 million visits during the month. “We offer news when you want it, so you'renot wait- ing for a newspaper on your doorstep at 6 a.m.,”said Brown, a former Washington Post reporter and creator of “Court TV.” But, newspapersare catchingonto theidea of Inter- netsites as a way to disseminate information. ‘Large newspapersandlocal newspapers don't have to wait for the presses anymore,” Brown said. “They are breaking the traditional roles of newspapers by uploading information when theyhaveit.” He said newspapers andregional newscasts will survive because they cover local news. “That is what people want,” he said All news Web sites are having a hard time making by relying on revenue from the traditional ces publishers always have — advertising. Brown MSNBC aS “[MSNBC] is letting that happen because wehave to be self-sustaining by 2002,” hesaid. ““I don’t care how much money [Microsft Chairman Bill Gates] has, he is not going to continueaprojectlike thisif it is not selfsustaining. But Internet news sites arestill in their infancy, says Brown. “You haveto go fromone appliance to anoth- er,” hesaid. “We're moving to a world wherethetelevi- sion and Internet join Ted Pea who heads the communications depart- mentat USU, say depending on whoyoutalk to, Brown ) is “revolutionary or a w ither way, Peasesaid. His productwill change the face of news as weknowit.” with a service like America Online, Compuserve or Prodigy, or — if a bit gins. Thereis typically a screen with e-mail, news headlines and links to basic services. In aneffort to dupli- Intel Tiptoes Through Careful Balancing Act Fractured chip market means giant mustsellitself carefully cate this “home base” mentality, pages are popping up orreinventing SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS as Webportals. Theyof- fer many of the sameservices as those software-based providers, but often include features such as Webbased e-mail andsearch engines. Even AOL is getting in on the trend, offering Web-based users a page sim- ilar to what they might see on their service, These portal sites are essentially link farms — huge, confusing, crowded sites that try to cram as muchin- formation and as manyadvertisements into that first screenas they can. However, much useful information ean be found, if only you have time to wade throughthe mess. One optionis to usea site (like Netscape or Go.com) which allows customization of that portal page. Whenregistering, the user can set exactly what does and does not appear on that opening page, down to the topics of the newsitems, if any a CyberSavvy Links http://www.lyeos.com — Lycos http://www.aol.com — AOL http://www.netseape.com — Nets- cape Netcenter For two decades, Intel Corp. has been the PCindustry’s master of ceremonies. But these days, the chip company often looks morelike a high-wire act. The semiconductor marketis simultaneously Intel Corp. hasridden its dominanceof the PC industry to become one ofthe world’s largestprofit machines — and the numbersare even more impressivethantheyfirst appear.Intel's profit margins dwarf those at mostlarge companies; it earned twice as muchin 1998 as General Motors, even though GM 'S sales weresix timesIntel's. In addition, Intelis one ofthe very few highly profitable manufacturers whoseproducts aren't primarily sold directly to consumers. $180 fractur- ing and growing, as more powerful computers become commonplace and new families of chips power everything from cell phonesto cameras to TVs. Now Intel — which built its success on a devotion to selling microprocessors — must take a balanced approach if it is to meetthe challengeof a more complicated future. Fortheir part, Intel executivesinsist that personal computerswill remain the keyto the digital universe. But they do not wantto cede control over devices that could supplement the computer — or supplant it. Although Intel executives haven't clearly detailed their strategy, it appears to have these main elements: @ To expandits role in the PC market, Intelis investing in technologies such as audio and graphics processing, with an eye toward capturing an even greater share of the industry's profits. :a Ih | blll ‘intel “BF * To makequick strides in higher-end computers, Intel OnGrowth in Utah: People have the right to choose how manykids they are going to have. They also mustlive with the consequences and rewardsof that choice. I think Envision Utah is doing arelatively good jobat educating us about the consequences of our choices. — The Gov 2/19/99 OnRacism: Howcomeit’s never considered a racial murder when a black mankills a white man? Only the criminal is to blame, not the en- tire race. But when a white mankills cl Is that somehow — Cantus 2/24/99 If you have a comment, post it at www.tribtalk.com o Y2K Tip of the Week Downloadthe free BIOS check and fix from Norton's Web site (http://www.symantec,com/sa- bu/n2000r) and run it onall your computers. If your systemis too old to befixed, plan your upgrade and do it as soon as possible. nologythatoffers real benefitsto its users For consumers, perhaps the most potent promise of the coming digital revolution is connecti the ability to link oneelectronic device with others. For a phoneto sende-mail through a powerful server computer,or a television to displaysports statistics on demand, there must be commontechnical standards. Intel has the op- portunity to help define those standards through its processor design, muchasit did in the PCindustry. It is notat all clear that these standards willresidein the microprocessor — or that Intel has any advantage over MotorolaInc. or Texas Instruments Inc. in the race to dictate them. But Intel cannot afford to opt out of the competition, becauseit couldlose control of the microprocessor market HH uu Exxon Intel 1998 profitability cent per year. But manyindustry experts now expect annual PC sales to topout at around 100million units — prowessis to divide onlyslightly higher thantoday’s level WHI rival the PC market in size. General Electric General Microsoft Philip Motors Morris I Wal-Mart 8% ' 5% I y ' Coca-Cola 2% | Disney Exxon 31% | 11% \ Microsoft Mle Morris 7 new success, Even its PC empire might diminish, as manufacturers eventually design computers around the standards developedfor other digital devices. It's not going to be PCs that define the next genera tion of computing,” said Brian Halla, a former Intel General Electric executive who now runs National Semiconductor Corp It's going to be 600 million information appliances that See FRACTURED, Page D-11 General Motors Wal-Mart epee oe SOURCE: Bloomberg News Is Hot Pentium 3 Computer Worth It? Depends on the Name of Your Game over the Internet, can now addpre- scription medications, contraceptives and toothpaste to their virtual shop carts. BY VINCE HORIUCHI THE SALT LAKETRIBUNE For the next few months, you may be bombardedwith television, radio andprint ads touting the new Pentium The nation’s first full-service online pharmacy, Soma.com, opened for business Jan. 15. The Internet pharmacyis still in its fancy, but several other Internet 3 computer as thelatest can’t-live-without machine. tores are expected to be launched soon, including Rx.com and Drugstore.com. Intel, the maker of the new computer chip, trumpets the Pentium 3 as the fastest home desktop computer ever, with features to speed up video and enhance to answer questions, Orders in plain It is also the most expensive personal desktop com puter, With the fastest Pentium2 systems costing any ‘The online pharmacy is open 24 hours and pharmacists areavailable sound door packaging are shipped to your where from $1,500 to $2,500, expect to pay $500 or step, The site also sends ¢-mail re minders aboutrefills and, for custom moreontop of that for a Pentium3. Is the Pentium 3 worthit? Is it time to upgrade? ers who requestit, e-mail reminding Well, yes and no, depending on one simple factor them whento take their medication. how much you like playing games on your computer. Traditional pharmacists say it's cru COPY! | al Al Exxon 23% | intel 9% i If another company’s chip design came to dominate those markets, Intel wouldnot simply loseits chancefor LEXINGTON, Ky, — Online shop ‘The viability of an online pharmacy remains to be seen. \\| | Mi | | profits by sales appliance markets — and that annual sales of chip powered phor able set-top boxes, hand-held com: puters, and even computerizedcars each could cometo pers, whothese days are buying ev- thing about a patient's history Wal-Mart money-making Those experts believe growthwill come instead in the Online Pharmacies cial for all pharmacists to know some: | TM hit fl | WI Coca-Cola Disney erring ability to grow its core market at nearly 20 per Much of Intel's current success derives from its un- on Oll|!| General Microsoft Philip Morris Motors General Electric I|\ | | 0 One wayto compare erything from books to planetickets ping Disney WAL*MART another of the company’s stated goals: providing tech- Oo Coca-Cola Net income 1994-1998 (in billions) Andin markets beyond the computer, Intel is reinventing itself, stepping gingerly into unfamiliar realms where no chip companyhasa real advantage. If Intel can maintain its footing, the rewards will be singular. Extending its empire to include both the new generation of information “appliances” and the most powerful computerson the market would giveIntel the ability to shape the digital world — and ensureits own growth — for years to come. Andit might helpachieve TribTalk Posts ofthe Week | | Intel is pushing flexible hardware designs and broad alliances, even at the risk of alienating PC partner Mi- crosoft Corp. | tNNuaiidantll), = themselves HowIntel stacks up Sa hind is a solid home base on the Web. On AOL ora similar service, their softwaredirects where the user be- SN more popular, morepeople are migrating off the training wheel access to full-service ISPs. Whatis left be- CX more knowledgable — hooked up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). As the Internet has become Vaul Sahkuma’TWe Associated Pree Intel CEO Craig Barrett plays Ultra Speed, a so phisticated gamewith the naw Pentium 3 chip. Andfor you speed demons out there, there was never & question I would look at the [slower] Pentium 2 for home and the Pentiwm3 if the only reason would be for g ing,” said Bill Biggs, production manager for Salt Lake City game developer, Access Software, “It may give you that extra edge. That is because the only new features added to the Pentium $ computer are for speeding up 3Dgraphics, said Richard Ehlers, director of graphics software for Salt Lake City's Evans & Sutherland Computer Co; Graphics are coming intotheir stride, and things are going into 3D," Ehlers said, “Even your Powerpoint (Microsoft's presentation software) type of programs are getting moreof a SD feel to them,” Intel's push for better computer graphics was Appar. ent fromthe beginning of the new chip's development In 1996, the company hired Evans & Sutherland, a de. veloper of defense simulations, to help decide what to put into the Pentium3, Ehlers said, Thenlast year,Intel purchased 24 million shares of Evans & Sutherland stock to gain an 8,2 percent ownership in the company. See PENTIUM 3, Pie Dey |
