Business Technology

Microsoft Gets Support on New System

The New York Times

SEATTLE, Feb. 26, 1991 -- AP -- Twenty-one computer makers say they plan to use a Microsoft Corporation operating system in notebook-sized computers that use a stylus rather than a keyboard, according to the company.

A statement issued on Monday by Microsoft said the plans were announced by manufacturers at a conference on the system, called Pen Windows, last week.

Pen Windows has been under development since 1988 and is based on the Windows computer-display program. Windows, Microsoft's latest operating system, uses small pictures and symbols called icons to identify various functions that a computer user can have the machine perform. It replaces systems that typically require users to type in words and codes to run different tasks.

Manufacturer support means "Microsoft can assure software developers and users that there will be numerous machines from leading vendors running Pen Windows," said Jeff Raines, vice president of office systems at Microsoft.

Manufacturers that announced intentions to build equipment using Pen Windows include Canon, Mitsubishi Electric, NEC, NCR, Seiko Epson, Sharp, Toshiba and Wang Laboratories.

Details on products and release dates will be announced by individual computer makers, the Microsoft statement said.

Copies of the Pen Windows software development kit were distributed for test use at the conference. The system will become more generally available by the end of the year, Microsoft said.

Copyright 1991 The New York Times Company