February 10, 1992 -- Austin, Texas -- Thomas-Conrad has added three Micro Channel Adapters to its 100Mbps TCNS family. These adapters support 100Mbps transmission over coaxial, shielded twisted-pair (STP), and fiber-optic cable. 100Mbps TCNS provides affordable workstation connections. At a cost of less than $1,250 per connection for coaxial or STP media, TCNS Micro Channel is significantly less expensive than other proposed 100Mbps solutions over copper- or fiber-based cabling, including FDDI. According to Robert Barton, TCNS product line manager for Thomas-Conrad Corporation, Many users in the IBM community with Micro Channel machines need TCNS to provide the extra bandwidth they don't see with 16Mbps token ring. For applications such as multimedia or image processing, TCNS Is at a definite advantage." TCNS is a token-passing, deterministic technology that is configured in a distributed-star topology for easy network maintenance. It supports a maximum of 255 nodes per network. The TCNS technology operates with standard linkable, ODI and NDIS ARCNET drivers. These drivers allow TCNS to operate in NetWare, LAN Manager, LAN Server, VINES, and POWER-LAN environments. In addition, TCNS is compatible at the OSI Network Layer with FDDI, Ethernet, token ring, and ARCNET LANs. The TCNS technology is optimized for use in imaging, document processing, database management, and other environments where large amounts of data need to move across the LAN quickly. TCNS first shipped one and a half years ago, and it has rapidly gained market acceptance because the speed it offers has not been available at an affordable cost previously. At present, TCNS operates on RG62/U coax, Type 1 STP, and fiber-optic media, offering a wide range of connection costs and distances. On coax and STP, TCNS offers an easy upgrade path for users of ARCNET and token ring networks. Three TC3046 adapters will be available for IBM Type 1 shielded twisted-pair, RG62/U coaxial, and fiberoptic media. The TC3046-STP will list for $995; the TC3046-CX will list for $995; and, the TC3046 ST will list for $1,395. The adapters will be available in the early second quarter of 1992. Thomas-Conrad markets its TCNS adapters and hubs through a worldwide network of distributors. -------------------------------------------------------- February 11, 1992 -- Thomas-Conrad has announced 8-bit 100Mbps TCNS adapters in coax and shielded twisted-pair (STP) implementations, which are significantly less expensive than other proposed 100Mbps solutions over copper-based cable, including FDDI. The 8-bit adapters allow good performance in the large population of 8088- and 286-based workstations presently installed. According to Jeff Chumbley, director of strategic planning for Thomas-Conrad Corporation, "Introducing TCNS for 8-bit processors on copper-based media brings 100Mbps technology into the reach of users for whom FDDI is too expensive and for whom upgrading to more powerful workstations is not an alternative. TCNS on copper satisfies distances of 150 meters on shielded twisted-pair and 100 meters on coax. It offers a feasible upgrade plan for existing token ring or ARCNET users that have coax or shielded twisted-pair already installed." TCNS Is a token-passing, deterministic technology that is configured in a distributed-star topology for easy network maintenance, and supports a maximum of 255 nodes per network. The TCNS technology operates with standard ODI or NDIS drivers and accelerated ARCNET drivers, and offers interoperability at the OSI Network layer with FDDI, Ethernet, token ring, and ARCNET LANs. Because TCNS uses ARCNET drivers and operates on media commonly Installed in ARCNET and token ring network, it offers an easy upgrade path for ARCNET and token ring networks. TCNS can operate in NetWare, LAN Manager, LAN Server, Banyan VINES, and Performance Technology s POWERlan environments, thus allowing easy system Interoperability. The TCNS technology has been shipping for one and a half years and is marketed worldwide through a network of distributors. The two 8-bit copper-based adapters, the TC3042-STP TCNS Adapter/AT for shielded twisted-pair cable and the TC3042-CX TCNS Adapter/AT for coaxial cable list for $595. The adapters will be available late this quarter. -------------------------------------------------------- February 11, 1992 -- Thomas-Conrad has added 16/32-bit bus-mastering Micro Channel 10BASE-T and 10BASE-2 Ethernet adapters to its Ethernet product family. The TC5046-T 10BASE-T Ethernet Adapter is one of the first 32bit Micro Channel adapter on the market. The TC5046-2 offers both a 10BASE-2 connection and an AUI connector. Because these adapters use a full 32 bits for addressing and data you can receive increased performance on your LAN when you substitute them for other Micro Channel Ethernet adapters presently available. Both the TC5046-T and the TC5046-2 adapters use the National Semiconductor SONIC chipset, which provides support for increased network management and diagnosis. The adapters have on-board LEDs that indicate collisions, transmission and receipt of data, and reverse polarity--features that help the network manager isolate and diagnose network problems. The Micro Channel adapters are software configurable for easy installation and comply with the IEEE 802.3 specification for Ethernet. According to Jeff Chumbley, director of strategic planning for Thomas-Conrad, "The TC5046 adapters offer superior performance with their bus-mastering design and full 32-bit driver support for both servers and workstations. These adapters are ideal for high-performance 32-bit file servers and workstations, and can also be used in 16-bit Micro Channel machines." The TC5046-T and TC5046-2 are also available in conveniently packaged six-pack bundles for $2,529, a savings of 9% over individually packaged adapters. The TC5046 Ethernet Adapter/MC will ship in early the second quarter in 10BASE-T and 10BASE-2 versions, both priced at $449. In addition, Thomas-Conrad manufactures 8/16-bit NE1000/2000 compatible adapters and bus-mastering, 16-bit Ethernet adapters. The 8- and 16-bit adapters support 10BASE-T, 10BASE-2, and 10BASE-5 environments. An eight-port 10BASE-T concentrator and 10BASE-T and 10BASE-2 transceivers are also currently shipping. -------------------------------------------------------- January 20, 1992 -- Starting February 1 and extending through March 31, 1992, Thomas-Conrad will give users $50 in exchange for each ARCNET adapter they trade-in for a 100Mbps TCNS RG62/U coax adapter. For those users that need extra performance or have applications that require more than ARCNET's 2.5Mbps transmission rate, TCNS is an ideal choice. With this offer, users can recoup part of their initial ARCNET investment. Approximately 4,000,000 ARCNET adapters are presently installed, many of which run on RG62/U coaxial cable. Because TCNS is also available for RG62/U coax, users can install it without rewiring their ARCNET LANs. Thomas-Conrad will accept any vendor's ARCNET adapters, regardless of the adapter's condition. According to Jeff Chumbley, director of strategic planning for Thomas-Conrad, "Many users bought ARCNET because it is reliable, Inexpensive, and easy to troubleshoot. These same users have been waiting for sometime for 20Mbps ARCNETPlus. With TCNS, they don't need to wait any longer--a high-speed ARCNET-like access method is available today." TCNS is a 100Mbps local area network technology optimized for high-volume and transaction-processing applications. The adapters work with most popular network operating systems including Novell's NetWare, Banyan's VINES, Artisoft's LANTastic, and Performance Technology's POWERLan. TCNS adapters require no software changes to existing ARCNET networks and use only 16KB of address space. The TCNS adapter drivers support multiple memory address and IRQ options to provide installation flexibility with other add-in cards. Thus, several network adapters, including TCNS can be internally routed in a file server or dedicated device. The adapters, which use fiber-optic, Type 1 shielded twisted-pair, or RG62/U coaxial cable, operate under currently available Novell RX-Net drivers or Thomas-Conrad's Accelerated ARCNET Drivers for NetWare. The TCNS adapters connect to the network via the TCNS Smart Hub, a diagnostic hub that supports Thomas-Conrad's HubTalkn', a network hub manager. To learn more about the trade-in policy, users should contact Thomas-Conrad at 1-800-332 8683. -------------------------------------------------------- January 23, 1992 -- Effective January 20, Thomas-Conrad is dropping the prices of its ARCNET adapters by 12-20%. The new prices will be $110 for TC6242 8-bit coax adapters, $120 for TC6242-OTP 8-bit industry-standard twisted-pair adapters, and $325 for TC6245 16-bit coax adapters. The company has also dropped prices on many of its "Six-Pack to Go" bundles. These bundled packs offer a savings of up to 30% over individually packaged adapters and include an offer for six free boot ROMs. The company's TC6242 8-bit coax six-packs are $595; its TC6242 8-bit industry-standard twisted-pair six-packs are $665; and The TC6245 16-bit coax six-packs are $1,325. According to Jeff Chumbley, director of strategic planning for Thomas-Conrad, "As a result of our commitment to World Class Manufacturing techniques and continual, rapid improvement, we have achieved cost savings in the manufacture of our ARCNET product line. In keeping with our corporate philosophy of offering high quality, technically innovative LAN products at affordable prices, we are passing these savings on to our customers." These ARCNET adapters include an on-bracket node ID switch and an activity LED for easy configuration and maintenance. Existing ARCNET drivers, including RX-Net drivers and Thomas-Conrad's accelerated ARCNET drivers, are compatible with the TC6242 and TC6245 family of adapters. As with other Thomas-Conrad ARCNET adapters, the TC6242s and TC6245s operate with Novell NetWare, Banyan VINES, Performance Technology POWERLan, Artisoft LANtastic, and the various implementations of Microsoft's LAN Manager. -------------------------------------------------------- February 11, 1992 -- Thomas-Conrad has announced plans to join Novell's Technical Support Alliance. The charter of the Technical Support Alliance (TSA) is to bring industry vendors together to provide customers with a network of comprehensive service and support. Both Novell and Thomas-Conrad customers will benefit greatly from this partnership. As part of the agreement, Thomas-Conrad and Novell will cross-train each others' technicians on their respective products. The companies will exchange both technical information and products to enable the other vendor to more easily solve problems in multi-vendor networks. Thomas-Conrad and Novell will also formalize joint escalation procedures for quick resolution of more difficult problems. According to Jeff Chumbley, director of strategic planning for Thomas-Conrad, "As a part of the TSA, we are able to provide a higher level of service to our users in Novell environments. Programs like the TSA, in addition to our toil-free 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a-week technical support, allow us to provide the best support in the industry to our customers." In addition to participation in the TSA, Thomas-Conrad offers technical support via its own bulletin board system (BBS), Novell's NetWire forums, and through ongoing distributor and reseller training. Thomas-Conrad Corp 1908-R Kramer Lane, Austin, TX 78758 512-836-1935 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | From the America On-Line & PC-Link New Product Info Services | +===============================================================+ | This information was processed with OmniPage Professional OCR | | software (from Caere Corp) & a Canon IX-30 scanner from data | | provided by the above mentioned company. For additional info, | | contact the company at the address or phone# indicated above. | | All submissions for this service should be addressed to | | BAKER ENTERPRISES, 20 Ferro Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080 U.S.A. | +---------------------------------------------------------------+