Looking at the new Alpha processor coming out of Compaq/DEC, it really looks like a segment buster. Can this processor be turned out in quantity to become a major factor? Do Sun, HP, and Intel have anything to beat it? I've also just read Parametric is going exclusive Compaq for workstations. Will we see more big software suppliers join Compaq? Is Compaq going to be the next IBM?
Will these chips be available to the competition?
DEC ALPHA TURNS ON AFTERBURNERS--Digital Equipment, as if it didn't have enough "paradigm shifts" with the Digital Semiconductor sale to Intel, the divesting of its networking business to Cabletron Systems and the fact that Compaq Computer is swallowing DEC whole, is launching the next-generation, 1GHz-capable Alpha 21264 microprocessor today. The facts that it was coming sometime this month, would be redesigned for faster clock refrequencies and be built on a 0.25-micron process were some of the CPU's segments most loosely-guarded secrets. With Microsoft and Digital locked in a Windows NT Server embrace and now Compaq's marketing and efficiency muscle and mainframe-class aspirations (see story, page 1), the Intel vs. Digital battle in the marketplace may really just have begun.
This leads to the next question, can a disk drive really be useful at these speeds? What sort of interface will be needed? Quantum has a DRAM storgage buffer which has become much more competitive will this give them an edge?
We use to here all this talk about Fiber Channel being the key link to speed data to servers and processors. I made a bundle on the Ancor Com run up and just got lucky enough to sell it before it tanked. Ancor hit 42 before falling to a low of about 3. Now, they trade a range of about 5-7. Is there life to be found there yet?
Here's another interesting tidbit on online users.
Latest IntelliQuest Survey Reports 62 Million American Adults Access The Internet/Online Services
More Than Half of PC Users are Online
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 1998--IntelliQuest Information Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQST - news), a leader in providing information-based marketing services to the technology industry, today announced the results of its latest survey of the United States population's use of the Internet and online services, showing 62 million adults, or 30% of the U.S. population age 16 and older are online as of the fourth quarter of 1997. This represents a 32% growth from the 46.8 million users reported one year ago.
Growth of the online population is anticipated to remain strong, with 7 million adults reporting plans to go online within the next six months. If these people follow through with their intentions, the number of wired U.S. residents could approach 70 million by mid-year. This would amount to a doubling of the online population from when IntelliQuest began studying the medium in the second quarter of 1996.
The fourth quarter marked the first time that Internet/online services users accounted for more than half of computer users, as compared to only 40% one year ago. This increase underscores the growing role of the Internet in users' business and personal lives. The Internet/PC user percentage is expected to continue to increase as the Internet continues to be integrated into everyday life activities such as communication, shopping and information retrieval.
Another key finding from the study was that online services' popularity among new users is eroding. One year ago, approximately 70% of users first accessed through an online service, whereas this holds true for only 61% of today's users. Further, when asked what type of provider they would prefer, users' and intenders' first choice of providers was an ISP, followed by their local telephone company and then a commercial online service. Users and intenders based their choice upon their familiarity/comfort/satisfaction levels, as well as cost and convenience.
Also, the expectation is for the commercial PC market to follow the trend set for consumer market and we'll see very low cost PC's for corporate use this year.
Regards,
Mark |
