Irvine, California-based AST Research Inc’s contribution to the festivities is the Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 Multimedia personal computer, which comes pre-configured with a Sony Corp CD-ROM drive, SoundBlaster Pro II audio card from Creative Labs Inc and the buyer’s choice of bundled CD-ROM multimedia software titles. It has 170Mb disk, floppy, 1,024 by 768 Super VGA monitor and dual stereo speakers, low-profile microphone and mouse. The company does not set retail prices. It also launched the Advantage! Net line of pre-configured personal computers, which feature a wireless peer-to-peer local network system for mass market channels. Wireless communication is achieved via a combination of Microsoft’s Windows for Workgroups software linked to a wireless network adaptor from Proxim Inc. It has 25MHz 80486SX and 66MHz 80486DX2 versions, expected to cost $2,000 and $3,500.
