Can you see the standards through the fog? Apple and I.B.M. are standing shoulder to shoulder against five dozen companies

Article Abstract:

The computing industry is gradually dividing into competing alliances proposing different standards for reduced instruction set computing (RISC)-based workstations. Apple Computer Inc and IBM have signed signed a letter of intent to develop an operating system that will run on a future generation of computers built around a new version of IBM's RISC System/6000 microprocessor. Another group, led by Compaq Computer Corp, Digital Equipment Corp, and Microsoft Corp have made their own agreement, and plan to build computer systems based on R-3000 and R-4000 RISC microprocessors from MIPS Computer Systems Inc. This consortium, called the Advanced Computing Environment (ACE), intends to use two operating systems; one developed by Microsoft Corp and the other by the Santa Cruz Operation. The goal for both the Apple-IBM alliance and the ACE consortium is to create an 'open standard' for RISC-based systems. Both alliances seek to challenge the two dominant workstation manufacturers, Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-packard, who along with IBM, currently control 70 percent of the market.

Electronic computers, Standards, Computer industry, Product development, Standard, Standardization, Technological forecasting, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Contracts, AAPL, Workstations (Computers), MIPS Computer Systems Inc., MIPS, Consortia, Apple Inc., column, Workstations, Future of Computing, Cooperative Agreements, Consortium, Open Systems, Advanced Computing Environment

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Picking the right microprocessor grows more complex

Article Abstract:

The semiconductor industry is changing as companies other than Intel Corp offer specialized integrated circuits suited for specific tasks. For years, Intel controlled the market and offered the industry's 80286, 80386 and 80486 microprocessors. As new companies offer their own microprocessors with specific purposes in mind, the market could grow to accommodate 25 to 30 vendors. In the same way that car buyers often are not concerned with engine specifications, computer buyers will begin to analyze how a computer meets their needs, and focus less on the chip and its processing power. Intel has been diversifying its products, and will offer the P5 line which will probably contain a variety of makes as well. The successful copyright acquisition law suit Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) filed against Intel allows AMD to clone Intel's 80386 and paves the way for other companies to offer cloned chips. These clones will probably incorporate new technologies to differentiate different companies' products.

Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Integrated circuits, Intel Corp., INTC, Design and construction, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., AMD, Market share, Trends, Competition, Specialization

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Can the old processing technology beat back a challenge? Some hot new processors still rely on complex instruction set computing

Article Abstract:

Complex-instruction-set computing (CISC) has been the dominant microprocessor architecture for many years, but new chips using reduced-instruction-set computing (RISC) techniques are showing significant performance improvements. Experts warn manufacturers and users not to count out the CISC architecture just yet. While RISC does provide high performance for technical users who need it, it has the disadvantage of not being able to run any of the existing CISC-based software. Virtually all microcomputers on the market use CISC microprocessors, and while that may eventually change, recent improvements in CISC performance decrease the incentive to switch. Both Intel and Motorola continue to enhance their line of CISC processors, while at the same time rushing to introduce RISC chips with cutting-edge performance.

Innovations, Performance, Semiconductor Industry, Enhancements, Complex-Instruction-Set Computers, CISC processors

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