In announcing that it had licensed Mac OS from Apple Computer Inc and planned to build Macintosh clones, Japanese consumer electronics company Pioneer Electronic Corp added little to what was known already of its plans. In its first foray into personal computers, We are developing a new entertainment-use personal computer combining our audio-visual products and optical technology, Kanya Matsumoto, Pioneer’s executive vice-president announced.Pioneer has not decided on a price for its machines, but hopes to begin shipments in the summer, and is aiming to get 24,000 away in the first year, a surprisingly low number given the company is aiming at the mid-price Macintosh bracket. Pioneer will buy in finished boards from Apple and will add software for Laser Disk player control so that programming can either be displayed on the screen or on a television, stored on disk and manipulated. The company is working on two models: the MPC-GX1 is a desktop with high-quality surround sound speakers and 4.4 times standard speed CD-ROM drive using the 66MHz PowerPC 601; and the MPC-LX100 is the same but with a 33MHz 68LC040. They will have 17 or 15 monitors, CLD-PC 10 computer-controlled Laser Disk player, and Pioneer will show prototypes at Macworld Expo at Makuhari Messe in Chiba next week.
