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To: Paul Engel who wrote (62359)	8/12/1998 2:19:00 AM
From: Ibexx	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 186894

Paul, Re. Compaq and Intel Develop High Speed Adaptive NIC cards Isn't the NIC market COMS's bread and butter? Hmmmmm Ibexx (Never a COMS fan)

To: Paul Engel who wrote (62359)	8/12/1998 2:20:00 AM
From: Paul Engel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 186894

Intel Investors - Compaq's new Magnesium Alloy Notebook - 266 MHz Pentium II Inside Compaq is targeting the DURABLE notebook market, using a Magnesium Alloy case for their Armada 7400 - with a 266 Mhz Pentium II inside. I guess that makes their other models - non-duarable. Paul {===============================} techweb.com Compaq Rolls Out Its First Durable Notebook (08/11/98; 10:54 a.m. ET) By Joe Wilcox, Computer Reseller News Compaq unveiled Monday the Armada 7400 notebook, its first portable with a durable magnesium alloy case. Compaq (company profile) is not the first vendor to use magnesium alloy. Toshiba America Information Systems, in Irvine, Calif., introduced the Portege 7000CT with a magnesium alloy case Aug. 3. Panasonic Personal Computer Co., in Secaucus, N.J., announced in late May its third-generation ruggedized portable, the Toughbook 45. In addition to offering a magnesium alloy case, Panasonic notebooks are designed for outdoor use and are resistant to water and dust damage. Houston-based Compaq is not positioning its new Armada as a super-durable portable similar to the Toughbook, company officials said. Compaq is providing a more durable notebook more appropriate for an increasingly mobile workforce and widespread use in corporate enterprise installations. "I'm very familiar with the Panasonic units, and it's a fantastic way to go for mobile users," said Theresa Nozick, industry analyst with Mobile Insights, in Mountain View, Calif. "Magnesium alloy doesn't weigh that much more, but there is a lot of advantage and protection if you drop something on a notebook or you drop it." Nozick said more computer companies will choose magnesium alloy over plastic in notebook cases. Compaq officials said until recently, magnesium alloy did not make a lot of sense because of high costs. But plummeting prices and customer demand for more durable units has made magnesium a more compelling option. "We hear from our customers that durability is a big issue from a major-accounts standpoint, so going to magnesium alloy makes a lot of sense," said Mark Vena, Compaq's director of mobile-product marketing. Magnesium alloy also dissipates heat better than plastic cases, making it an attractive alternative in Pentium II portables. The 7400's base configuration includes an Intel Mobile Pentium II 266-MHz processor, 13.3 TFT screen, 32 megabytes of RAM expandable to 128 MB, 4 gigabytes of memory, 4-MB S3 ViRGE/MX graphics accelerator, and integrated sound and speakers for $3,999, on the street. Compaq built the 7400, like other newer Armadas, for corporate expansion and as a desktop replacement. Options include SuperDisk LS-120 high-capacity floppy and DVD drives or a second hard drive. The portable is compatible with the ArmadaStation and MiniStation convenience base. Compaq officials said they continue to look at the ruggedized category, but have chosen to focus initially on increasing durability against drops or other sudden shocks to units. The HiNote VP 700, picked up by Compaq in the Digital Equipment acquisition, is the company's current ruggedized offering. Vena said value-added resellers and customers can expect to see fewer plastic cases from Compaq in the future, adding, "Just as a blanket going-forward statement, you'll see magnesium alloy show up in a much more dominant way in the Armada line going forward." Related Stories: Compaq Announces Pentium II Rack-Mount Server Compaq Delivers New Storage Options Will Armada Sink Or Sail?