In a string of unconnected announcements, IBM Corp yesterday said that the version of DB2 for OS/2 is generally available after a successful beta test, that it has a set of software development tools for the object-oriented C++ language, and it duly launched the Thinkpad 720. The 32-bit OS/2 2.0-based relational DB2 database is designed for client-server applications, and comes in stand-alone, client and server versions. IBM Programming systems says that C Set ++ for OS/2 is a suite of integrated software development tools for C++, which will be available on May 31 at an introductory price of $175. The company also launched SystemView Information Warehouse DataHub, a series of software products for simplifying database management tasks by assisting in the integration of database management tools and managing remote databases tasks. It will be available in June. The new ThinkPad 720C is claimed to feature the largest active matrix colour display in a notebook computer, and is accompanied by the ThinkPad 720, with a high-contrast monochrome supertwist nematic backlit screen. A port replicator, which facilitates quick transition between mobile and desktop use for both ThinkPad 700 and new ThinkPad 720 users, was also introduced. The machines use the IBM 486LC2 processor with a 50MHz/25MHz clock doubler. The 720s come with a 160Mb removable hard disk drive as part of the standard configuration, and the disk will be available as an upgrade option for 700 owners, as will a 240Mb drive due later this year. The new models have better intelligent power management capabilities, more extensive use of 3.3V components and a reduction in the power consumption of the 10.4 colour display for a 20% improvement in 720C battery life. Up to 2.4 hours of continuous use and up to 4.8 hours of operation in a typical workday environment is possible with the 720C, with 3.8 and 7.5 hours, respectively, for the 720. The new machines also feature the new Level 2.01 PCMCIA card slot for backwards compatibility with Type I cards. Cards from IBM and third parties offer Ethernet, Token Ring and facsimile modems can be used on the new notebooks, as well as memory cards. The ThinkPad 720C with 4Mb and 160Mb removable disk is expected to go for $4,700. The mono in the same configuration will be $3,355.
