Sun Micro to take on Compaq, Dell with new servers
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 18 (Reuter) - Sun Microsystems
Inc. <SUNW.O> on Tuesday will unveil a new line of low-cost
computers to control data traffic through small corporate
networks.
Sun said Monday it will introduce the Enterprise 450
Server, a $14,650 machine designed to manage data storage,
print jobs and the flow of electronic mail through departmental
networks.
With the Enterprise, Sun hopes to challenge Compaq Computer
Corp. <CPQ.N> and other personal computer makers in the $11
billion low-end server market. The Sun server would compete
against their similarly priced, but less powerful, machines
running Microsoft Corp.'s <MSFT.O> Windows NT software.
Sun's products are based on the Unix software standard,
which is facing a growing threat from Windows NT. Until now,
Sun had left the market for low-end, $20,000-and-below servers
to companies such as Compaq and Dell Computer Corp. <DELL.O>,
while it tackled the mid-range market.
"We're going to come out with a product tomorrow that we
think raises the bar on performance and reliability while
preserving prices," said Ed Zander, president of Sun's computer
unit. "We will offer an alternative to NT that far exceeds on
the hardware and software."
Software companies that have been close allies to Sun,
including Oracle Corp. and Computer Associates International
Inc., will also likely announce products geared for the
Enterprise 450 tomorrow, Zander said.
The machines would appeal especially to companies that are
creating links between their internal networks and the Internet
to conduct electronic commerce, said Jon Oltsik senior analyst
at market researcher Forrester Research Inc.
"I think (Sun's) prospects are pretty good, especially
among customers that have not taken the Windows NT plunge yet,"
Oltsik said.
He said the Sun computer seems to perform common computing
tasks faster than competing offerings from vendors of Windows
NT computers.
Officials at Compaq and Dell could not be immediately
reached for comment.
Rtr 19:35 08-18-97 |
