PC Trends To Keep In Mind For 1993
                                  (Part 1)
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                               John Kay, SysOp
                          the Dayton BOARDWALK BBS
                                Dayton, Ohio
                               (513) 228-1020

        If 1993 were new computer product, there would have been rumors and
rumblings about it in the early 1980's, it would have been announced as new
technology in 1986, had a company foundation in 1988-90, formally announced
in 1991, scheduled to ship in 1992, delayed until the first quarter of 1993,
actually available in stores in late 1993, upgraded to a bug-fix version 1.01
in 1994, upgraded in early 1995 to a faster, easier version 2.0, then 
improved to a truly revolutionary version 3.0 in 1996 or so.
        Such a drawn-out life for a program or peripheral, before it truly
becomes practical, can confuse everyone from novice to expert. Unfortunately
that's how things evolve; and then one must realize that most products stall,
or even die, somewhere along the way. 
        Probably the most prudent folks are those who "don't count their new
technologies before they hatch." Yet the 1980's were some heavy development 
years...a most fortunate happenstance for the dedicated PC user. It's a
"catch up and upgrade" year for us! If your "wish list" and goals are like
mine, we're going to end up with systems that use 486s with a local bus and a 
Windows accelerator chip, disk compression, 600-dpi laser printers, and 
24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year support. Some of us will even  
be into DOS 6 (although DOS 5 will be sufficient for most of us while the new
version goes through its shake-down period). A blossoming year for the PC
user! if you're a MAC user though, and feel you're left out -- that's because
you are.
        Speaking of DOS 6, that's a big story for 1993, but I wouldn't rate
it too highly at this point because though many people will snap it up
immediately, you won't really need to. As I mentioned, DOS 5 is good enough
until DOS 6 survives its shake-down period. DOS 5, Windows 3.1 and Macintosh
System 7 will get most of us through 1993 just fine, with few moving up to
DOS 6 or adding the latest touches to the MAC system.
        Now to the meat of things. Topping the list of goodies for 1993 is
the 486 microprocessor. It shares, with other items, the highest rating in 
new technologies. Don't buy a PC-compatible machine with less than a 486 chip.
And don't even bother with the crippled 486sx chip. Go for the real thing, the
486DX. 
        The megahertz (MHz) of your 486 doesn't matter so much as just getting
a 486. PCs with an 8088 or 8086 chip belong only in museums. The 286 might be
acceptable in a palm-top computer, but for a notebook or anything more, go
straight for the 486. Don't stop for the 386 along the way. The price wars of
1992 made the486s affordable sooner than anyone expected, and the additional 
speed you get from a 486 makes running DOS programs a breeze and makes running
Windows more tolorable.
        In 1993 we are going to see the first PCs based on the Pentium
processor from Intel. That's the official name for what would have been the
586 chip. Its the next microprocessor from Intel, able to tun all the
software written for 8086, 80286, 386 and 486 but run it much faster. Not many
of us will be able to afford a Pentium this year, which makes it relatively
unimportant. But the way it will push 486 prices even lower should give it
some of your mindshare in 1993.
        In the next issue of International Online, Part 2 of our PC Trends 
for 1993 will address the local bus, laser printers, disk compression, and 
touch briefly on a couple of other things to be aware of in 1993.
        We'l see you then...