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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: kapkan4u who wrote (69170)	8/18/1999 8:32:00 PM
From: Bill Jackson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1573922

kap, HP cares for and respects it's clients. What did you expect? It is saying that if you wish to give the merced a berth on your mobo, make it a wide one. Bill

To: kapkan4u who wrote (69170)	8/18/1999 9:44:00 PM
From: Rob Young	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1573922

Kap, This turn of events is rather telling.. here is my analysis for what it is worth. In May of 1998 HP did a "Merced climbdown" telling everyone they still loved Unix had several spins on PA-RISC in the works or shortly to come... Through the end of 1998 SGI didn't have the inside track. We collectively must feel sorry for SGI as they didn't "know" and didn't get to do a "Merced climbdown" until March of 1999. If you go back to even August? of 1998 SGI's plans according the the rags were to drop MIPS and go with Merced. Unfortunately, Merced wasn't going to show up on time and the SGI "Merced climbdown" in March of 1999 was very awkward indeed. I will drop all this from a prior go round at the end of this note for reference. Now turning to HP's climbdown of today ... the timing is very suspect wouldn't you say? HP -- lead Intel partner and all the glory that goes with that -- "stomps" on IDF by "pre-announcing" a "Merced climbdown"... Hummm strange indeed. But not so strange actually. If you go back to a day or so ago where Uncle Andy got to demo the Merced simulator actually doing something for the first time, he makes the cryptic comment: "We will see if it works when it goes first silicon". That was strange and Intel spokespeople got their knickers in a twist when poked and prodded by the press on that one. Maybe reading too much on this but Paul sure is very quiet, wouldn't you say? Besides, you tell me why HP is raining on Intel's IDF parade... are they softening the blow? The climdown begins.. Rob ----- Refernce for SGI/HP climbdown history (sorry for the format... a posting of mine to a forum 6/24/99): >> Why did SGI respin the MIPS if Merced is so good? > > Because they cut off their MIPS line way too early, _waiting_ for > Merced? > Because they were the last to get the "very bad" news regarding Merced... check this out from April 1998: news.com One reason SGI is cozying up to Intel is because its own MIPS architecture has begun to lose its grip on the market. SGI will phase out the MIPS processor used in current workstations and servers probably by 2001 as 64-bit Merced chips from Intel become more pervasive and powerful, as previously reported by CNET's NEWS.COM. SGI will continue to boost processor speeds and incorporate the chip in its high-end computers, but the last major MIPS release for servers and workstations is scheduled for 1999. It wasn't a month later that HP climbed down from their Merced perch, did a "we love Unix" booster campaign, talked 8500, 8600, 8700 and possibly 8900. SGI was left flapping and finally got to climb down from their Merced perch in the spring of 1999. In a warm Intel gesture, (givin' the dog a bone) John Mashey of SGI gets to rub elbows with Intel and pronounce: "Merced at 6 Gigaflops ... I've got goosebumps ALL over me body" or some such. Reference: news.com Quote of the day from that URL: "The Merced slowdown in many ways can be seen as the result of a collision between expectations and reality." Retro Roadmap Revamp from URL above: As part of this effort, SGI is releasing new MIPS chips every six to nine months, said Mashey. SGI is currently building servers around its R12000 chip and will come out with a faster version of the chip toward the end of the year, according to Mashey. In the middle of 2000, SGI will release the R14000, which will run at 410 MHz and go up to 450 MHz. The R16000, which will run at 600 MHz, will follow in 2001. It will be followed by an 800-MHz chip in 2002, which could be sold as either a faster version of the R16000 or as the R18000. Earlier, SGI's chip roadmap went through the R12000 only Want a good read, go click on that... Here we are 3 months later. But that's my view, others have theirs. However, let's embrace more recent history.. WinHEC April 1999 .. "Merced is on track" and Craig Barrett publically states: "Merced WILL sample in 3 or 4 months" Oh? eet.com Let me relate a little story I've been hearing. A well-placed microprocessor executive walks into the office of his boss, a capable leader who's known for his penchant for the outdoors. The exec tells the boss that, based on his best technical assessment, there is no way a certain chip will be ready by its target date, and he suggests moving the target date. The boss replies that there will be no delays: The chip must be ready on time and it will be ready on time, he says. End of meeting. But not yet the end of the story. Time for a climb down? theregister.co.uk Craig Barrett, CEO of one of the biggest multinational corporations in the world, Intel, said today that when he heard Merced was delayed "nine months ago" he got very irritated. But, said Barrett, Merced was on target to deliver in 12 to 18 months time. Oh, so that's it. We are hearing a story that is nine months old? But that can't be it as Merced slipped to Y2K quite a while ago. Why not just come out and say: "Merced is on track and we expect to have samples before Labor Day." Maybe not, eh? Merced goes volume in December 2000. Craig Barrett says so.

To: kapkan4u who wrote (69170)	8/18/1999 11:20:00 PM
From: Paul Engel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1573922

Kal Kan - Re: " HP recommending their customers to skip Merced must be hard to swallow. " It isn't the best of news - and it in fact contradicts an HP Roadmap issued just two days ago: Hewlett-Packard Company today unveiled its plans to incorporate Intel's Merced processor into its high-end server product lines by mid-2000. HP's system architecture expertise, coupled with IA-64's parallel processing, will make these servers ideal e-services platforms, addressing the needs of the high-end computing environment. Now we have to figure out which one is the correct story. Paul {================================} biz.yahoo.com Monday August 16, 11:06 am Eastern Time Company Press Release HP Details Merced-Based System Plans at HP World HP to Demonstrate Live Applications on its IA-64 Simulator at HP World PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 1999-- Hewlett-Packard Company today unveiled its plans to incorporate Intel's Merced processor into its high-end server product lines by mid-2000. HP's system architecture expertise, coupled with IA-64's parallel processing, will make these servers ideal e-services platforms, addressing the needs of the high-end computing environment. At booth No. 1100 at HP World, HP will conduct the first public demonstration of IA-64 applications running on its Merced simulator. HP will show its IA-64 simulator running database, multimedia and Internet applications. HP plans to offer its Merced system customers the most application and operating-system choices in the industry. HP intends to support HP-UX(1), the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows, and Linux on its Merced systems, and MPE/iX on its future IA-64 systems. This extensive operating-system support, coupled with existing IA-32 and PA-RISC(2) applications, will provide HP's customers with the broadest portfolio of enterprise and e-services solutions in the industry. ''HP's Merced-based server will provide the power and scalability required for the wave of Internet and enterprise e-services applications that will continue to roll out over the next few years,'' said Jim Carlson, director of IA-64 systems marketing for HP's Enterprise Systems Group. ''Due to collaboration with Intel on the 64-bit instruction set architecture, we understand better than anyone how to harness IA-64's power and smoothly transition our customers to this new platform.'' ''We commend HP's continued commitment to Merced and the commitment to deliver Merced systems,'' said Mike Fister, vice president of the Intel Architecture Business Group and general manager of the Intel Enterprise Server Group, Intel. ''The combination of HP's high-end system expertise with the computing power of the Merced processor will provide HP's customers with a solid, high-end system that addresses the needs of the emerging e-business environment.'' Smoothest Transition for HP Customers Customers' existing PA-RISC applications can run unchanged on Merced and future IA-64 systems due to HP's collaboration with Intel on the 64-bit instruction set architecture. In addition, IA-32 applications will also run unchanged on the Merced-based systems. Additionally, HP will provide transition consulting services and support to bring customers to the new platform smoothly. HP also plans to continue to develop and introduce PA-RISC and IA-32-based systems in parallel with IA-64 systems, enabling customers to migrate to the new architecture as their business needs dictate. About HP Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services. HP had computer-related revenue of $39.5 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. HP plans to launch a new company consisting of its industry-leading test-and-measurement, semiconductor products, chemical-analysis and medical businesses. These businesses represented $7.6 billion of HP's total revenue in fiscal 1998. With leading positions in multiple market segments, this technology-based company will focus on opportunities such as communications and life sciences. HP has 123,000 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at hp.com. (1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products. (2) PA-RISC stands for Precision Architecture-reduced-instruction-set computing. Note to Editors: UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. Contact: Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Jean Shimoguchi, 408/873-5125 jean_shimoguchi@hp.com or Alexander Ogilvy PR Michelle Stevens, 415/923-1660 Ext. 161 mstevens@alexanderogilvy.com