Altos Computer Inc, now a subsidiary of the Taiwanese Acer Group, chose the UK as the launching pad for its latest machine – the mid-range Series 4000 – which it claims is the first machine on the market that will run Unix System V and Novell Inc’s NetWare concurrently. And responding to criticisms that its machines are overpriced compared with personal computer-based products from the likes of Compaq, Altos has priced the new line to undercut the SystemPro, and at the same time cut prices on its entry level Series 1000 line by up to 40%. The EISA-based System 4000 uses a 25MHz 80486 processor to support up to 64 terminals, and runs Altos Unix V.3.2, which adds features such as disk striping and mirroring, and support for X Window and Unix-MS-DOS communications to the base Unix core from the Santa Cruz Operation. Altos has been quick with its port of Portable NetWare from Novell Inc, which enables it to position the new box as a fully functional NetWare server, a bridge between Unix and Novell networks, and/or as a Unix-based file server. Sitting between the Series 1000 and the top-end Series 5000 systems launched last March (CI No 1,395), the machines come in two preconfigured versions: the 4420 with 4Mb memory, 200Mb disk, graphics terminal and Unix costs UKP16,000; and the 4844, with 8Mb memory and 440Mb disk for UKP16,000. Memory is expandable to 64Mb, and storage to 650Mb internally or 8.5Gb externally. The machines are due out in the US in the new year. Price cuts on the Series 1000 bring the entry cost down to UKP6,500 from UKP11,000 for a 25MHz 80386 machine, a move that was possible, says UK managing director Colin Goble, because of the favourable exchange rate and economies of scale in buying parts since the Acer acquisition.
