Microsoft Corp. Unveils Computer Enhancements

Dow Jones News Service - Ticker

June 28, 1988

REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft Corp. announced its Microsoft Windows-286 version 2.1, the newest version of the Microsoft Windows operating environment featuring additional memory, improved performance and easier installation.

The same enhancements have been implemented in a new version of Windows-386, announced at the same time, and in a new version of the Windows Software Development Kit. A new version of the Microsoft CodeView debugger was also announced.

In AT-style personal computers, Microsoft Windows-286 provides up to an extra 50K of addressable memory when more than 1 MB of extended memory is available. In effect, the 640K limit for DOS now becomes 690K. For PS-2 style machines, this same extra memory is achieved with only 1 MB available, the company said.

In addition to the extra 50K of memory, improved performance and easier installation, Windows-286 and Windows-386 feature other enhancements as well.

A new Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit also was announced. The new kit provides Windows developers with powerful tools for building graphical applications that run on Windows-286 and Windows-386 and that can run under OS-2, the company said.

Microsoft Windows-286 will be offered as a retail product that will run on most 80286-based computers. Windows-386 will run on the COMPAQ DESKPRO 386 and compatibles, as well as the IBM PS-2 Model 80, the company said.

Windows-286 is available for a suggested retail price of $99. Windows-386, also available, is retail-priced at $195. The Windows SDK is $500.

Copyright (c) 1988, Dow Jones & Co., Inc.)