New Release of Tektronix XpressWare Boosts Administration Advantages of X Terminals; XpressWare V8.0 Adds New Administration Tools And Puts PC Windows On The X Terminal Desktop.

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 1995--Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE:TEK), the fastest-growing major X terminal vendor, further strengthened its network desktop technology lead with today's announcement of the latest version of XpressWare(TM) software.

XpressWare V8.0 includes a number of tools designed to lower system administration costs for Tektronix TekXpress desktops. It also provides the local display portion of Tektronix' new WinDD(TM) software for direct Microsoft Windows(TM) access from any Tektronix display.

"This new software release, coming just nine months after our last major upgrade, will provide much of the technology necessary for us to capture the enterprise desktop," explained Dave Pinckard, director of marketing for the Tektronix Network Displays Division. "We've been aggressively developing products that help our customers reduce cost of ownership through advanced systems management tools and that also improve desktop network access. XpressWare V8.0, with its new system administration tools and Windows access, strengthens our hold on the enterprise market. In fact, we expect this software to significantly raise the standard for competitors, since we're providing customers with a number of unique capabilities."

XpressWare V8.0 includes the local display client for Tektronix' new WinDD software, providing direct user access to any Microsoft Windows application. This Microsoft Windows access, in combination with the existing mainframe, midrange and UNIX connectivity for Tektronix desktops, enables corporations to implement a single multi-client desktop solution regardless of the mixture of platforms on the network.

"We're very excited about the flexibility WinDD could provide for our network," noted Jim Hogan, manager of systems development for COBE Renal Care in Lakewood, CO. "The ability to manage a mixed PC and Unix environment from a single desktop translates into a labor and cost savings for us. In fact, we've been so impressed with WinDD that we may take advantage of Tektronix' trade-in offer to replace our existing terminals with new TekXpress desktops."

The release of XpressWare V8.0, combined with existing TekXpress X terminal technology, underscores the reason why commercial enterprises are turning to X terminals as an alternative to networked PCs. A recent study by the Gartner Group concluded that "when all the costs are considered including support, administration, and upgrade costs, the five-year cost of ownership of X terminals is considerably less than networked PCs with similar functionality."

In addition to Windows access for Tektronix multi-client desktops, XpressWare V8.0 includes a number of enhanced systems administration capabilities. While XpressWare already provided for completely centralized administration, remote system configuration, remote monitoring and a wide range of system and network connectivity options, the latest software version further increases the company's network administration leadership:

Reduced costs through simplified administration

-- Enhanced host selection (XPMCP) tools for assigning primary and backup hosts

-- Tunable NFS for optimizing network performance

-- Easier administration tracking of licensed software capabilities with centralized authorization keys

Support for heterogeneous environments

-- Support for Open VMS on DEC Alpha platforms

-- WinDD Local Client for access to PC Windows applications

Support for industry standards

-- Motif Window Manager 2.0

-- SNMP MIB update for compliance to open systems standards

Increased user productivity

-- Reboot X terminal from easy-to-use setup menu

-- Enhancements for Europe include Sun type 5 keyboard and Spanish LK401

Specific functionality for Process Control and Monitoring

-- XBlink extension to support blinking graphics for visual alarms

Tektronix will begin shipping XpressWare V8.0 in volume for all Tektronix systems within the next 30 days. Pricing for the new software is set at $850.

Tektronix is a portfolio of measurement, color printing, video systems and network displays businesses dedicated to applying technology excellence to customer challenges. Tektronix is headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon, and has operations in 23 countries outside the United States. Founded in 1946, the company ranks 305th in the Fortune 500 and had revenues of $1.32 billion in fiscal 1994. -0-

Note to Editors: Tektronix and Tek are registered trademarks and TekXpress and WinDD are trademarks of Tektronix Inc.

CONTACT: Tektronix NWD 

Kathy Archer, 503/685-2583

Sterling Communications

Paul Forecki, 408/428-0100