New Performas -- Expect three new models of the Performa to appear in mid-April, the 405, 430, and 450. The Performa 405 will be exactly the same as the Performa 400 (essentially a 4/80 LC II) with a new Apple Mouse and System 7.1P replacing 7.0.1P

BCS Clarification -- Roz Ault writes to clarify "A Tale of Two Cities" in TidBITS #170, "BCS Mac is starting its own FirstClass system this week

Duo Price Drop -- Mark Anbinder passed on news of a price drop on Duo suggested retail prices. The Duo 210 4/80 fell $410 to $1,839; the 230 4/80 dropped $310 to $2,299; the 230 4/120 descended $310 to $2,659, and the 230 4/120 with Express Modem sunk $320 to $2,899.

CeBIT is the world's largest computer fair, held in Hannover, a town in northern Germany. CeBIT means a lot of people, a lot of companies, and a lot of stress

Technical Support Coordinator, BAKA Computers Announcing a new suite of on-site repair services, Apple Computer today responded to complaints that they had fallen behind the pack in service offerings

Apple is mystifying the public again. Pushing out new models in multiple configurations virtually every month, it seems that Apple has launched more new Macintoshes in the last six months than in all the previous years that the Mac has existed put together

Technical Support Coordinator, BAKA Computers Late last month, CE Software released a long-awaited upgrade to its popular QuickMail software. Version 2.6, available to 2.5 or 2.5.1 owners for $40, has three primary areas of enhancements: server architecture, administrator tools, and a new Windows client

I called the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today - just for some forms, thank goodness - and it brought some programs to the front of my mind. One of the IRS's more irritating habits is making you account for the percentages of computer time you spend on business activities compared to personal activities

I was too subtle last year for our 01-Apr-92 issue, and this year I was too short on time to release an issue on that day. So, you'll have to make do with two articles that might have appeared last Thursday. Apple Discontinues Quadra -- by Mark H

I'm trying something new. Since I receive a ton of information that doesn't warrant detailed exploration in TidBITS, I'm starting a new section called TwoBITS that will address deserving announcements but will do so in only two sentences (and contact info)

Practical Peripherals announced significant price cuts on various modem models. Perhaps the most interesting reduction is the PM14400FXMT, a v.everything external data/fax modem whose list price dropped from $399 to $299. Practical Peripherals -- 805/497-4774 -- 805/374-7272 (fax) After Dark Module Contest '93 -- Entries are now available from Berkeley Systems for their 1993 contest for best After Dark module in each of three categories: Macintosh, Windows, and Computer Artist

Technical Support Coordinator, BAKA Computers Users of Apple's Internet Router 2.0 package can now purchase the Internet Router Basic Connectivity Package upgrade kit through the mail

Jim Bates from Nisus Technical Support wrote to tell us that they prefer to use the term "hardware enabling" when talking about the ADB-based hardware copy protection device, colloquially called a "dongle." Jim also mentioned that he had read somewhere that "dongle" stems from the name of the man who invented it, Don Gill

Although Tonya Engst's book review of "Silicon Mirage" wasn't specifically intended to cover the topic of "virtual sex," some points need to be clarified

Last week Apple introduced three new flavors of Macintosh, the Apple Workgroup Servers 60, 80, and 95. They closely resemble their cousins, the existing Centris 610, Quadra 800, and Quadra 950, much as the Performa 200, 400, and 600 closely resemble the Classic II, LC II, and IIvx. Old Macs telling a new story -- The Apple Workgroup Servers (AWS) 60 and 80 represent the low- and medium-end of what you can buy