A glance inside selected Japanese computer magazines
ASCII (October)
The main theme of ASCII's October issue is "Complete Understanding! High-Speed Video Cards." Following an overview section that introduces the features of the "ideal" video card, this article covers "GUI Acceleration" (how to speed up the interface), "Video Acceleration" (the Display Control Interface), "Video Overlay/Capture" (the merits of PC video capture boards), "3D Acceleration" (acceleration techniques and 3D Blaster technology), and "Multimedia Solutions" (the multimedia strategy of prominent accelerator chip and video card manufacturers, and the future of multimedia accelerators). A wrap-up to the section gives benchmark test results for the acceleration cards discussed in each section.The secondary theme of this issue, entitled "Personal Computers Are Being Connected Through Networks," is intended to introduce users of stand-alone computers to the advantages and vital issues of networking. The top topic of the ASCII Express section is Windows 95, while the Show Reports section covers Microsoft "Launch 95" and SIGGRAPH95.
The New Model Impression section covers new computers by IBM, Digital , Fujitsu, Proside, Apple, and NEC. The Product Showcase section covers fax software, a graphic conversion tool, and a 3-D modeling package, as well as a scanner, printers, and a digital camera.
The Abyss of Technology column is "Panorama Movie," which explains Apple's QuickTime VR technology, compares it with Microsoft's Surround Video technology, and discusses the future of panorama movies.
--NT
Nikkei Personal Computing (Aug. 28)
The lead story of this issue of Nikkei Personal Computing is "A Super-Beginners' LAN Course for Businessmen." It explains the local area network as an "information co-ownership" tool that has a hold upon the business world. The article covers the jobs that can be done by a LAN, describes the necessary steps for introducing a LAN into an office, and introduces the essential equipment and software.The other cover story of this issue reports the 1994 sales ranking of software houses in the Japanese market. The total size of the 1994 Japanese PC market was ¥300 billion, an increase of 25% over the previous year). Microsoft Japan enjoyed the biggest sales, ¥38 billion (+68%), while runner-up JustSystem made ¥18.6 billion (+39%). In third and fourth spots, respectively, were Lotus (¥13.3 billion; +16.7%) and ASCII (¥12.6 billion; -5.7%).
Interviewed in this issue is Soichi Ohbe, president of Sotec Co., Ltd.
A special Product Watch section introduces multimedia PC cards, including 28.8K-bps fax/modem/voice cards, multi-function cards, video and sound cards, and the GPS (car navigation) cards.
The regular First Looks section introduces NEC's new Fellow PC-9821 BX4/U2 and the software DiskX Tools for Windows (AI Soft), NIFTY-Manager (Nifty-Serve), and New Aurora-Ace 2 for Windows (Something Good). This issue also reports on the Internet utilities of Ichitaro (JustSystem) and low-price PC sales, which are expanding to supermarket chains, department stores, and discount camera chain shops.
--SS
Nikkei Personal Computing (Sept. 11)
The lead cover story of this issue of Nikkei Personal Computing, "The Most Up-To-Date Models of Notebook PCs," compares the catalog specifications of 32 Notebook PCs. Benchmark test results are given for 24 models. The author selects top models in four categories: the Sotec WinBook Pro P75 (A4-size notebook), NEC PC-9821 Nx/C7 (CD-ROM-equipped notebook), Matsushita Pronote Jet Mini (subnotebook), and PowerBook 5300c (Mac notebook).Interviewed in this issue is Dr. Jun Murai -- assistant professor at Keio-Gijuku University and president of the Japan Network Information Center. Dr. Murai is one of the originators of the Japanese Internet and the founder of the JUNET academic information network and WIDE project. He expresses concern about Japan's high telephone charges, which he says are a bottleneck for promoting the Internet in Japan. "However, as NTT has started a fixed-charge telephone system recently, and will introduce a fixed-charge ISDN system within one or two years," he predicts that, "the 128K-bps communication environment will spread among individual users."
The regular First Looks section introduces two Power Macs and a Canon laser printer as well as MyTalk Internet (InterSoft), EGWord 6.5 for Windows (ErgoSoft), SoftWindows 2.0J (Mitsubishi-Shoji), and Fusen-shi 2.0 (Icon).
The Product Watch section introduces fax utility software for Windows. This issue also reports on NTT's fixed-rate telephone system and the Personal Handyphone System (PHS) as a device for PC communications.
--SS
