^1                                EYEWITNESS NEWS

                                       by

                            Richard and Lavona Rann


                            NEW AND MAYBE WONDERFUL
                            -----------------------

MicroPro International Corp. and Instant Software Generation Inc. have agreed 
to electronically distribute MicroPro's word processing software through ISG's 
Hands On system.  The marketing agreement will allow potential buyers to view a 
brief video presentation before purchase.  If the customer wishes to buy a copy 
of the program, the software can be duplicated onto a diskette at the site of 
the Hands On display.  

                      CONROY-LAPOINTE FILES FOR CHAPTER 11
                      ------------------------------------

The large mail-order vendor from Portland, Oregon, has filed for protection 
under chapter 11.  The name is recognizable because it has been a major 
advertiser in "A+" and other national magazines.  Its problem stems from the 
industry wide slump that brought a drop in its mail-order revenues which could 
no longer support their other business endeavors such as manufacture of PC 
clones.  

                SEARS TO CARRY FRANKLIN APPLE II AND IBM CLONES
                -----------------------------------------------

The Franklin Enhanced 2100 computer made its debut in the Sears 1986 
Fall/Winter catalog.  It runs FDOS that allows users to run most //c and //e 
software.  The 384K model, expandable to 576K, sells for $799.99, and an 
expanded version with two disk drives, called the Ace 2200, sells for $949.99.  
The PC8000, IBM clone, retails for $999 with two disk drives and 512K memory.  

                             JAPAN SAYS IT'S SORRY
                             ---------------------

The chip dumping suit was settled with an agreement that Japanese chip makers 
will raise their prices, and that the US will drop anti-dumping actions on 256K
EPROM chips.  This will cause upward pressure on US computer prices, but will 
give US chip makers a chance at the coming 1 meg RAM chip market.  Only time 
will tell if all is forgiven.  

                      3-1/2 INCH FORMAT TAKING OVER MARKET
                      ------------------------------------

Software Publishing Corp. is only the latest to announce availability of its 
IBM version PFS line on 3-1/2 inch format.  When Apple's John Scully talks 
about one line of peripherals including disk drives, be certain he is not 
talking about the 5-1/4 inch format.  

                         SPACE COAST SYSTEMS/ICE UPDATE
                         ------------------------------

A Space Coast Systems User Group has been formed to help resolve reasonable 
support and repair problems for people with Space Coast Systems Equipment.  The 
group is being founded by ex-Space Coast Employees to help fill the void left 
by the demise of SCS.  For more information, write SCSUG, P.O Drawer 2767, 
Titusville, FL 32781 
