Applica U2 turns PC into two-user system

Concurrent Controls, a company that specializes in multi-user solutions, has introduced Applica U2, which the company stated is "the only product on the market that unlocks the full potential of Microsoft Windows 95 to turn one PC into a two-user system."

Targeted at home PC and small-business PC users, Applica U2 takes advantage of the powerful, yet underutilized, multi-tasking capabilities of Windows 95 to add a second workstation to an existing PC, according to a release from Concurrent Controls.

The hardware and software system includes a plug-and-play card and connector box (the user supplies a single monitor, mouse and keyboard) combined with a special version of the Applica multi-user software. The result is that Applica U2 users are spared the cost of buying a second computer, which is good news for the family budget or company's bottom line, the company stated.

"There are 40 million homes with PCs, and 40 percent of those have a second PC," said Dawn DeBruyn, president of Concurrent Controls, in the release. "People want a second PC but they can't always afford it. With U2 you get the equivalent of an additional computer without the high cost."

With Pentium-class CPUs running 100 million or more instructions per second, a vast majority of the computer's processing power is wasted, the company stated. Applica U2 harnesses this power and distributes it between two users. By sharing the available resources, the computer can still process enough information to run sophisticated applications.

"In most circumstances when being used in a home office, small business or by the family, there will be no noticeable slowdown," DeBruyn stated.

Applica U2 also takes full advantage of the multi-user capabilities built into Netscape Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer to allow two users to surf the Internet simultaneously using only one modem, one phone line and one Internet connection (through an Internet service provider).

There is no need to install a second phone line or pay monthly charges for that extra line. According to Concurrent Controls, mom or dad can check the stock market while junior browses through an online encyclopedia for his science project. Or a secretary can check e-mail and online orders while the boss researches the competition's web site.

According to Concurrent Controls, Applica U2 can run easily on a Pentium 100, but for best performance it should be operated on a Pentium 133 MHz or compatible PC.

The system includes a hardware card that fits into a half-size ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slot, a 15-foot cable (a 50-foot cable is optional) and a connector box for attaching the monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Concurrent Controls, based in San Francisco, can be found on the Internet at www.applica.com.

INSET CAPTION:

Applica U2 takes full advantage of the multi-user capabilities built into Netscape Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer.[[In-content Ad]]