NETWORKED VENDING MACHINES
Thanks to the Internet, empty vending machines may be a thing of the past. Digital Equipment Corporation and SAP AG are developing a Web server package that can be incorporated into vending machines. With this package, a soft drink manufacturer can call up its vending machines via the Internet to track sales and adjust their production schedule. This specialized server package will use Digital's Strong/ARM microprocessor and SAP's database running on Microsoft's WindowsNT operating system. Digital and SAP are confident that their product will be cheaper to use than some of the proprietary systems currently in place. (Source: InfoWorld, 10/27/1997).

MICROSOFT'S LEGAL WOES
Microsoft is facing a number of legal challenges. In addition to their legal troubles here in the U.S., Microsoft is being investigated by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission for possible violations of Japan's Antimonopoly Law and the European Commission regarding Microsoft's license agreements with the Internet service providers. Microsoft has settled one dispute with the European Commission by dropping a license agreement with Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) an independent producer of the Unix operating system. Under a 1987 contract with Microsoft, SCO was required to include Microsoft code in all furture versions of its Unix code for which Microsoft would received $15 per unit sold. SCO complained that the code was not longer needed and that it should not be required to pay Microsoft if it did not use the code. The European Commission agreed that the contract provision could hinder technology progress and SCO's ability to compete. (Sources: PC Week, 10/27/1997 and Wall Street Journal, 11/24/1997).

PENTIUM BUG
A flaw in the Pentium and Pentium MMX chips has been discovered. System crashes can be triggered by the user intentionally adding obscure code to their operating system software. Intel is working on a software fix. The Pentium II chips are not affected. (Source: PC Week, 11/27/1997).

WEB SITE OF THE MONTH
Having a bad day at work? If so, you may want to check out this site to see what others are dealing with. My Boss www.myboss is a collection of quotes and antidotes about bosses. Here is a sample: "My boss wanted to send a fax to our head office, but was afraid someone else would read it besides the President. So I told him to put it in an envelope before he faxed it. He did!" In addition to the humor, which is frequently updated, the site does have serious sections devoted to finding a different boss and entrepreneurial subjects. _________________________________________________________________
Technology Tidbits is published monthly by Jerry Price, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
© 1997 Jerry W. Price

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