Digital Equipment Corp tomorrow unveils the 80486-based personal computers being built to its specification by Intel Corp, and is winning plaudits for the machines from people that have seen the specs. The company will also launch the Triumph-Adler Walkstation laptops from Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA in the US, but all attention is focussed on the Intel machines, which are expected to feature built-in Ethernet interface and a very sexy graphics accelerator with plenty of video RAM – yet processor prices will start at $6,000 before you add hard disk and display; Compaq Computer Corp’s 80486 machines currently start at $11,000. The fast graphics and networking is causing observers to describe the box as a new kind of workstation optimised for networking and Windows – as well as computer-aided design.
