mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) (04/20/89)
A couple of days ago, I remember someone saying that the release of a new cheaper EtherTalk device was due shortly. Well, here is a press release for a device that is $495. I don't know if this is the device that was spoken of (I thought that the price mentioned was around $300 but my memory may be slipping at my old age of 20 :-), but the price is better than most. (I believe that it was Mr. Rosen who made the original posting.) -Michael Anyway, here is the information that I have: Compatible Systems Announces Ether+, SCSI to Ethernet Contact: Ann Beauprez Compatible Systems Corporation PO Box 17220 Boulder, CO 80308 (303)444-9532 AppleLink: D0921 COMPATIBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES ETHER+ A $495 SCSI TO ETHERNET CONNECTION FOR MACINTOSH COMPUTERS Boulder, Colorado, March,1989 Compatible Systems announces Ether+, a low cost SCSI(Small Computer Systems Interface) to Ethernet adapter for use with the Macintosh family of computers. Priced at $495, Ether+ is an external box that connects to the SCSI port of the Macintosh, or becomes part of a SCSI peripheral chain. Standard Ethernet and thin Ethernet("Cheapernet") are both supported by the same box. The product comes complete with driver software which conforms to Apple's link access specifications, allowing such popular networking software as AppleShare, TOPS, and Novell to run at full Ethernet speeds. In addition, Ether+ includes monitoring and management software which provides statistical information on network performance. "Ethernet provides an industry standard way to overcome the problems caused by LocalTalk's low data rates," said Jack Wehr, product manager at Compatible Systems. "Our product provides an economical method of taking advantage of that standard on the Mac." Although traditionally a method of connecting high-end workstations and minicomputers, Ethernet has more recently become heavily used in IBM PC compatible networks. At 10 million bits per second, Ethernet has a raw data rate approximately 40 times faster than LocalTalk/AppleTalk's 230 thousand bits per second. Scheduled to ship in June, Ether+ will carry both a 30 day money-back guarantee and a one year warranty. -- Michael Niehaus UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!mithomas Apple Student Rep ARPA: mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu Ball State University AppleLink: ST0374 (from UUCP: st0374@applelink.apple.com)
alexis@ccnysci.UUCP (Alexis Rosen) (04/23/89)
In article <6851@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) writes: >A couple of days ago, I remember someone saying that the release of a new >cheaper EtherTalk device was due shortly. Well, here is a press release for >a device that is $495. I don't know if this is the device that was spoken >of (I thought that the price mentioned was around $300 but my memory may be >slipping at my old age of 20 :-), but the price is better than most. (I >believe that it was Mr. Rosen who made the original posting.) No, this isn't what I was referring to. It may well be a good product, though. It is priced the same as Adaptec's Nodem, so it's not an immediate winner on price. The real question is how well it performs compared to the Nodem. I don't know anybody who actually uses either of these, and I'd sure like to find out... The device I was referring to was a $295 EtherTalk NIC (plug-in card), not a SCSI box. And I have heard confirmation from yet another source. So I really do think it's coming at MacWorld. Sure would be nice... --- Alexis Rosen alexis@ccnysci.{uucp,bitnet} alexis@rascal.ics.utexas.edu (last resort)