Agreement called major step in computer's evolution.

• Author: Krejlgaard, Chris
• Position: Apple Computer Inc., International Business Machines Corp. and Motorola Inc. sign five agreements

A recent series of agreements between Apple, IBM and Motorola is being touted as a major step in the evolution of the computer.

Under five agreements signed late last fall, the three companies will jointly develop PowerPC microprocessors for use in low-cost RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) systems, an open-systems operating platform, object-oriented software, multimedia technologies and Apple to IBM systems networking.

"We like to think of it as a marriage where everybody wins," notes IBM spokesman Stan Didzbalis.

According to Didzbalis, the agreements give his company an opportunity to take advantage of Apple's expertise in desktop publishing and user-friendly programs.

Apple benefits with increased access to the business computer market.

PowerPC microprocessors, which reduce the number of instructions required to carry out a single command, will be incorporated into Apple's Macintosh computers and into IBM's workstations and servers. IBM will manufacture the chips for its own use, while Motorola will manufacture the chips for Apple and will market the chips to other companies.

PowerPC is the hardware portion of what the three companies call PowerOpen - a system which will allow Apple and IBM applications to be used on PowerPCs.

PowerPC products are expected to hit the market in two or three years. They will give Macintosh PC users access to IBM mainframe and PC networks.

To make this possible Apple has licensed Token-Ring from IBM, while IBM has licensed the source code for AppleTalk protocols.

"The advantage is that new technology will complement current products rather than exclude them," says Julian Daniel of North Star Computers in Sudbury.

However, Daniel admits that not everyone will be happy with the new arrangement.

"(IBM) Clones are dead in the water," he says.

Daniel...