Nathan - Re:"How does Intel benifit from the Intel/HP deal?..."
Intel benefits in several ways, plus several other "possible" ways.
1. First, as you noted, Intel & HP split the R & D expenses.
2. Intel gets access to HP's computer architects/designers. This is significant because top quality, experienced computer science guys aren't cheap and aren't easy to find.
3. Intel keeps a MAJOR customer happy. HP buys not only x86 CPUs from Intel but a great many embeddded microcontrollers, specifically the i960 types, for use in their laser jet & ink jet printers.
3. Intel gets at least one customer for the P7/Merced!
4. Intel's new chip, the P7/Merced will run a full blown UNIX operating system, HP/UX, for workstation applications. I am assuming this is the case since HP's claim is that the P7 will be PA-RISC compatible. That gives Intel a legitimate opening in the workstation market that they don't currently enjoy today. I think HP controls 25% - 30% of this market. Sun, Dec IBM & SGI have the rest.
5. Intel's P7, by virtue of the above, will give them a CPU that can run INDEPENDENT OF MICROSOFT. A big bargaining "chip" in future negotiations with the boys from Redmond. This is the BIG POSSIBLE.
6. A full blown 64 bit UNIX effort is being worked on by HP/SCO and Intel. Again, a lever to be used by itself and "against" Microsoft.
7. Microsoft (as per 5 & 6 above) is now putting real efforts into a 64 bit WIndows NT version. Let me predict a name - "NT 2000". That's the year it will probably go into Beta testing!
Depending upon the internal architectural features of the P7, Windows NT may move ever so slightly away from the "portable" OS that Microsoft says it is towards the WIHPTEL OS, as in Windows, HP, Intel.
Paul |
