Editorial 4Q98
Real-Time Magazine defines new challenges before the millennium
As most of you probably
know, we are in the process of a big change in Europe. In January, we will
start using the new European currency, the EURO, for all "wired" financial
transactions. Real-Time Consult will adhere immediately to this "new standard".
The real money will be introduced in January 2002.
We got the taste of the "change" atmosphere and defined new business challenges.
Instead of just publishing a magazine, we want to become
YOUR COMPLETE source of information in the DEDICATED SYSTEMS world.
The Internet will be the major carrier for this adventure.
The first visible step in this new approach was the introduction some time
ago of the
"Virtual
Press Room". The Net consequence is that you now have the Real-Time Gazette
(partially) online before the printed issue gets out. Partially, because
it is not yet the success we expected it to be. Most manufacturers are now
submitting their press releasing via this system, but only a few consider
it worthwhile to pay the small contribution for each press release to support
this new service.
The second step was the recent start of the Internet distribution of the
RTOS
evaluation reports. Today the reports on the Windows-NT Real-Time extensions
are available. Beginning next year, the reports on QNX, pSOS and VxWorks
are scheduled. The ones we will evaluate afterwards will largely depend on
your support and what you request via
the
registration forms.
But this is not all: we also decided to start the magazine online. Very soon,
by having a subscription, you will be capable of accessing all the articles
of the last few years. However, this is not the end. Other services will
be offered, such as immediate access to all submitted press releases including
the ones the manufacturers did not pay to be seen immediately by the general
public.
And there's more. Today, you have access to an extensive
buyer's
guide to RTOS. This guide will be extended to the whole spectrum of dedicated
systems technology such as boards, systems, software libraries, tools and
services. We are also thinking about putting together a tutorial section.
All these enhancements will serve you better in your decision-making process
of how you should use upcoming technologies in your new designs. However,
we will not only focus on technicalities. Market figures and trends are part
of the new information service too. In this issue you will discover a sneak
preview of some of these figures.
But before we get there, we still have to pass the end of this year. I hope
the coming period will give you the opportunity to disconnect from all the
bits and bytes and sit down peacefully with your family and friends. The
Y2K problem is not for this New Year!
Dr Martin Timmerman