Hitachi Ltd just announced an AX specification personal computer, but surprised Japanese industry observers by saying that shipments would not begin until December 27 this year even though it started taking orders from April 9: the delay is purportedly down to indecision over whether to go for the new MS DOS/V specfication announced recently by IBM Japan Ltd; the Flora family will consist of three models, two versions of a 3020 model and one 3010, and they will be based on the AX-VGA/H specification, but will also permit use of DOS/V; prices will be between $3,040 and $15,630; Hitachi departed from its hitherto proprietary stance by joining the Japanese language MSDOS AX consortium last April.
