While the honeymoon may not yet be over for Compaq and Tandem after their whirlwind six-day courtship led to a merger in June, the detractors are already chattering. Ron Skates, chief executive officer of systems vendor Data General Corp, told our sister publication Computer Business Review that Digital Equipment, with whom Compaq reportedly enjoyed a brief flirtation at the beginning of 1997, would have been a more suitable bride. DEC made a big mistake by not selling out to Compaq, says Skates. I’m amazed it would turn down the offer that Compaq said they made. He also questions the compatibility of the newlyweds. There’s such a huge gap between Tandem and Compaq. They come from an entirely different space. Meanwhile, news of further courtship in the server market is eagerly awaited. What will be interesting, says one prominent Silicon Valley chief executive officer, is who Dell will buy now.
