NEWS.COM week in review

After witnessing a plunge in Apple's profits and stock price, it seems fitting that Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity while watching an apple fall from a tree. Even after the company's surprising fourth-quarter profit, analysts are divided on whether Apple has broken free from the pull of gravity.
In Business: Analysts don't bite on Apple

What will your next browser look like? Netscape Communications launched the latest volley in its battle with Microsoft with the introduction of an improved browser and server lineup that includes Navigator 4.0.
In Intranets: Netscape opens intranet attack

As Netscape matures, it must balance its devotion to open standards with its desire to be an aggressive competitor. The pressure could force the company into embracing more closed technologies, as many of its competitors already have.
In Intranets: Netscape has identity crisis

While Netscape's next generation of browser and server software were the guests of honor at the company's developer conference, other products hoping to ride Netscape's coattails were vying for attention.
In Intranets: Vendors show their stuff

Long regarded as offering technically competitive machines, but at a premium price, Apple launched a price war that could chip away at the dominance of Microsoft-Intel. A new line of machines is priced aggressively, and has some extra bells and whistles as well, such as video editing capabilities.
In Computing: Apple assault aimed at IBM PCs

More than a year after its PowerBook 5300 was introduced, Apple is preparing to launch a new line this week. The stakes are high as Apple hopes to rinse out the bad taste left by the problem-plagued 5300 series.
In Computing: PowerBooks don't fall far from tree

Exponential is pushing the speed envelope with a PowerPC processor that runs at better than 500 MHz. When shipped next spring, the machines are expected to run about twice as fast as the latest P6 family of processors.
In Computing: Exponential breaking 500

The tears of a clone: Cyrix, a supplier of Intel-compatible processors, recorded a $6.9 million loss for the latest quarter. But the news wasn't all bad. A judge dismissed a class-action investor lawsuit against the company.
In Business: Chip maker Cyrix posts net loss

Sybase spilled red ink for the third consecutive quarter. On the bright side, it reported an operating profit, which the company hopes will renew customer confidence.
In Business: Restructuring costs Sybase

Borland expects to post a quarterly loss and will cut 15 percent of its work force at its headquarters. The company blamed poor sales as it makes a transition in its product line.
In Business: Losses, layoffs at Borland

Intel shares jumped to another peak as the company reported earnings that were better than analysts expected. The company said its gross profit margin was 57 percent. If you're an investor, there's nothing gross about that.
In Business: Intel climbs to year high

President Clinton wants to connect every classroom to the Internet. Who will pay for it? In an election year, don't expect any answers to that question.
In The Net: Is Clinton's Net plan for real?

The U.S. Postal Service can't beat email and faxes, so it decided to join forces with Sun Microsystems and Enterprise Productivity Systems to speed the delivery of snail mail.
In The Net: Can the mailman debug Java?