Cupertino, California-based Apple Computer Inc, which went all the way to Japan for its last major product introduction, will finally launch its first family of network file servers at CeBit, in Hannover, on March 25, according to US press reports. To be called Apple Workgroup Servers the machines are derived from the Apple Centris 600 series and Quadra 800 and 950 systems. Designed to provide file and print services and database support for from 15 to 50 users, the server line will comprise three systems: the AWS 95, AWS 80 and the AWS 60. The AWS 95 is built around the 33MHz Motorola Inc 68040-based Quadra 950 and comes with a high-performance input-output board and a Unix-based version of AppleShare, Apple’s file server software. It will ship with A/UX 3.0, the new release of the company’s implementation of Unix. The AWS 80 is a revamped 25MHz 68040 Quadra 800 and comes with AppleShare 4.0, a new version of its network software developed to run under Apple’s Machintosh System 7 operating system. Apple’s low-end machine, the Centris 610-based AWS 60 is also configured with AppleShare 4.0 and the System 7 operating system. The Centris-based server will sell for around the $5,000 mark and the Quadra-based boxes will go from $10,000 to $20,000. Client-server document management software may also be launched at Cebit, US sources say.
