TECHNOLOGY - April 5, 1995

Computer Price Wars: Observers have long predicted the end of the personal computer price wars, with major brands making their machines better, or having loyal customers, to justify charging premiums.

That day has not yet arrived, however, at least in Irvine--where Orange County’s two large PC makers, AST Research Inc. and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. have both announced significant price cuts in recent weeks.

AST said it was dropping prices on several of its most powerful computers by 13% to 19%. The machines, known as “servers,” are designed to function at the center of office computer networks and run on Intel Corp.’s powerful Pentium microprocessor chips.

In the middle of AST’s server line, prices for its Manhattan V5090 model will start at $3,570, compared with $4,110.

Toshiba also announced it was cutting prices on several portable computers with color screens, also based on fast Intel chips, by 15%. A computer that had carried a suggested retail price of $5,699 will now cost $4,849, the company said.