AST Research Inc has announced two new options for its AST Premium Exec notebook computers including a data/facsimile send-and-receive modem at $500 and a second serial port adaptor that costs $100, both available in August: the modem has full 9,600bps send-and-receive capabilities when used in facsimile mode, and when it is implemented through the enhancement slot it provides 2,400 bps data modem capabilities; it supports the MNP5 and v.42/v.42 bis data compression standard and transmission as well as the Group III send-and-receive mode fax standard; there are two modem options and the first is $249, is a 2,400bps data modem for users requiring only data transfer and it costs $4,250; the second is a combination 2,400bps data and 9,600bps send-only fax modem for users requiring both a modem and the ability to send facsimiles,and it costs $4,350; both support the MNP5 data compression standard for more rapid transmission of files; the second serial port adaptor allows for the connection of more than one RS232 serial device at a time; the Premium Exec offers one serial, one parallel and one external keyboard mouse port as standard, and an optional second serial device such as a printer, scanner or external modem may now be connected through an enhancement slot in the Premium Exec notebook computer; the second serial port adaptor is $99, and it’s available August.
