SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Intel Corporation (INTC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Jim McMannis who wrote (63555)8/28/1998 8:05:00 PM
From: Tony Viola  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 186894
 
Compaq delaying release of Alpha based systems for performance (they say) reasons. Maybe they're finding out that all boxes aren't created equal.

news.com

Compaq delays Alpha
stations
By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
August 28, 1998, 4:25 p.m. PT

Compaq has put off the release of its
first Alpha-processor-based
workstations until the fourth quarter,
and may push it back further, to clear
up performance issues with the system.

The Alpha processor is one of several
high-end technologies Compaq
acquired when it bought Digital this
past February.

Although
Alpha-based XP
workstations are
expected initially
to constitute a
relatively small
number of unit
sales for Compaq,
the delay is a
symbolic defeat
for the company.
With Digital,
Compaq said that it was poised to
become one of the leading, full-fledged
computing conglomerates.

The acquisition of these technologies
also meant that Compaq would no
longer strictly be manufacturing
computers based around Intel
processors.

The delay effectively means that
Compaq is having more trouble than
expected in building workstations
around the new architecture.

Compaq spokesperson Gary Frazier
pointed out that the XP workstations
will not merely be old Digital systems
with the Compaq name slapped onto
the side of the box. While a great deal
of input for system design is coming
from Digital, Compaq is incorporating
its own technology into these Alpha
systems. The XP workstations, for
instance, will embody the Higher
Parallel System Architecture found in
other Compaq workstations.

Internally, Compaq targeted to have the
workstation out by September,
although Compaq executives publicly
said that the first Alpha workstations
would come out in the fourth quarter.
"The goal currently is now Q4,
possibly Q1 (of 1998)" said Frazier.

Compaq announced the XP workstation
family in July. The XP family, which
will constitute Compaq's top of the line
product segment, will be based around
the Alpha processor, Compaq said at
the time. The middle tier of Compaq's
product family, the SP line, will be
based around Intel's Xeon processor,
while the bottom segment, the AP
workstations, will be occupied by
Pentium II systems. SP and AP systems
are currently available.

Related news stories
 Compaq puts faith in Alpha chip Jun