Sunday, May 30, 1999
TIPSHEET
Dell looking for oldest computer
If you have an old — a really, really, really old — computer, get it plugged in, turned on and boot it up.
Dell Computer Corp., the world's leading direct computer systems company, is celebrating National Small Business Week by launching a nationwide search for the oldest personal computer. The small business that has the oldest personal computer still in use will receive $15,000 in free Dell computer equipment.
There are a couple of hitches, however. The clunker will be donated by Dell to the Computer Museum of America in La Mesa, Calif., and only companies with fewer than 400 employees are eligible.
“We're gonna require some sort of proof that the computer has been around, tax documents or receipts,” said Reace Alvarenga, media relations specialist for Dell. “We're going to need something that is verifiable.”
— John Eckberg
Big Boy in a pickle?
Hey, Big Boy, is that a burger you're packing, or a suitcase?
The head of Frisch's Restaurants Inc. assures that it is a burger, but some tenacious shareholders want the chain to consider a company sale as one way to enhance its limping stock.
Jerry Ruyan and Barry Nussbaum, who since 1996 have been calling for improvements in operations, filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission proposing that Frisch's hire an investment bank to explore alternatives to boost the stock. Such alternatives include sale of the company assets or a merger.
“The stock continues to languish in the $10 area while various stock market indexes are making new highs,” the two wrote. “An investment of $100 in Frisch's stock on May 28, 1993, declined to $85 at May 31, 1998.”
What takes the teeth out of the proposal is that Mr. Nussbaum and Mr. Ruyan, who own a 7.4 percent stake, are not soliciting proxies. To Craig Maier, chief executive of Frisch's, that means they don't expect the proposal to pass.
“As far as I can tell, it's just meant to annoy us, which it did for five minutes,” Mr. Maier said. ”
Frisch's in the fall elected two new directors as part of a plan to sell its story on Wall Street. — Lisa Biank Fasig
Work-aholics rejoice
Looking for a few spare minutes to make that last-minute trade or confirm that power meeting before hitting the friendly skies? If you're awaiting takeoff on Delta Air Lines, you might soon have them.
Delta said last week that starting Tuesday, it will allow passengers to use cellular phones onboard any Delta aircraft while the plane is parked at the gate with the boarding door open. Delta's policy still prohibits using laptops at the gate but will allow — at the captain's discretion — the use of cell phones and laptop away from the gate during extended ground time.
The airline said the change comes after extensive testing throughout its fleet to ensure that the technology won't interfere with aircraft communication and navigation systems.
No word so far on the policies' taking effect on the locally based Delta Connection partner, Comair.
Or on changes in Delta's pricing policies. — Amy Higgins
Retail Y2K-ready
The stock market might plunge, the IRS might fold and the public might be consumed by chaos, but Y2K will NOT put a damper on America's style, one trade group pledges.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) told the U.S. Senate's Special Committee on Y2K this week that the nation's major retailers are Y2cool. They have taken the required steps for a successful transition.
Even better, Cathy Hotka, NRF's vice president of Internet technology, said retailers have not reported hoarding. Excess merchandise means the New Year's sales will go on.
The NRF does, however, support the American Red Cross' recommendation to keep a few days' worth of supplies on hand. But buy gradually.
“End-of-year overreaction among normally reasonable people could disrupt this economy and affect the holiday season for retailers who rely on it,” she said. — Lisa Biank Fasig
Items for Tipsheet are gathered by Enquirer business reporters and compiled by Lisa Biank Fasig of the business staff.
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