January 18, 1996

As the editor of the newsletter Release 1.0, host of the industry conference PC Forum and chairwoman of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public policy group, Esther Dyson is one of computing's elite. So shortly before Microsoft's Windows 95 went on sale last August, Ms. Dyson was an obvious choice to appear on the PBS talk show "Charlie Rose," offering her expert commentary on a new-product introduction that seemed part marketing extravaganza and part social phenomenon. Yet months later, Ms. Dyson has not yet bought the Windows 95 program. For now, she says, she is content to do her computing with the previous version of Windows, running on an older personal computer not stretched to its limits by Microsoft's powerful new program.

Prodded by Gov. George E. Pataki, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ordered the Metro-North and Long Island railroads yesterday to reimburse riders for service that was suspended or bungled during the blizzard last week. The rebates -- which will amount to about a week of free rides for regular customers -- will cost the railroads about $5.5 million, less than two days' operating expenses, M.T.A. officials said. The decision follows a 9 percent fare increase in November and a round of budget cuts that were brought on, in part, by Mr. Pataki's reduction in state support for the M.T.A., the parent agency of the railroads.

In its first major ruling as the international arbiter, the World Trade Organization determined today that a key section of the Clean Air Act discriminated against foreign oil refiners. It ordered the United States to develop a plan to change its rules on imported gasoline or face unspecified sanctions. It was not immediately clear what the consequences of the ruling, which concerned the law's standards for reformulated gasoline, might be. Administration officials said tonight that they had not decided whether they would appeal.

More Signs of Slowdown; Trade Deficit Declines Two new reports provided more indications that the economy's rate of growth is slowing. Meanwhile, the nation's trade deficit eased in October, falling to its lowest level in 10 months. Page D4.

Republican Leaders Call Off Budget Talks With Clinton Republican Congressional leaders abruptly called off the budget talks scheduled at the White House and said they would not resume them until President Clinton produced a budget proposal that moved in their direction.