Jim,
> DO Merced systems need a bunch of anything like a special RAM,
> big HD, firewire or something special that MERCED buyers have
> to buy?
Nothing more than the hardware maker specifies. Just as you can build a Pentium system to require different levels of hardware, you'll be able to do the same with Merced. However, since initial Merced systems will probably be at the very top end, they'll probably have lots of juicy stuff on them: Fast SCSI hard drives, 2-bit ECC RAM, multiple power supplies, etc. The processor won't specifically require them, but the initial applications probably will.
> Who's writing the new OS?
HP-UX will be available. SUNW has gotten involved, so probably will offer some version of Solaris. MSFT is promising a version of NT.
Initially there probably won't be a "consumer" OS, but since MSFT's long term plan is to move NT down to the desktop, that should just be an extension of what they're already doing.
mg |
