How high will Microsoft fly? Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly?

MSFT 492.01

+1.3%

Nov 28 9:30 AM EST

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Mitch Blevins who wrote (29163)	9/5/1999 4:53:00 PM
From: axp	Read Replies (1) of 74651

RE: They sure do seem to be betting the whole boat on just one architecture. All the competition has their eggs spread out across several chips. A delay in 64-bit NT is the biggest impact of Compaq's recent decision to pull support for Windows NT on the Alpha chip. The Alpha chip is mature and has a full set of mature compilers and development tools. I'm a fan of the Alpha chip and I'm surprised and upset that Microsoft didn't push back more on this. It makes Microsoft more vulnerable to 64-bit UNIX vendors deploying large servers for the web. NT doesn't have a stellar reputation for reliability anyway. Windows NT on Merced has to work through the problems associated with a new chip, a new architecture, a new OS (64-bit NT) and new compilers all at the same time. There's no doubt that the IA64 partners will get there eventually, but there's a limit to how much you can speed up this process. Also, reports are that Merced will not even be able to outperform Pentium chips when it first arrives. In this case it will be useful mainly for developers to prepare software until succeeding versions appear (HP's McKinley) and to work out the bugs in 64-bit NT. Note that Compaq is not hurting itself at the same time since it is already selling 64-bit UNIX on the Alpha chip (True64 UNIX). Maybe they just saw the years of continuing development on Alpha NT (32- and 64-bit) as a waste when they have a product that meets the market need today.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next