HaL Computer Systems Inc founder, chairman and chief executive Andy Heller, the ex-IBM Corp RS/6000 architect and all around hellraiser, has, as reported briefly (CI No 2,214) left the company to become a consultant to Fujitsu Ltd, HaL’s backer. The company said that for the past six months Heller was becoming more and more involved in mapping out the blueprint for the Fujitsu companies – ICL Plc, Amdahl Corp and Fujitsu itself – to follow, and handing off day-to-day responsibilities. This just makes it official and lets Heller do what he’s good at. HaL declined to comment on suggestions that Fujitsu was dissatisfied with HaL’s progress, having failed so far to bring any of its 64-bit Sparc-based machines to market. Heller is not maintaining an office at HaL and is returning to Austin, Texas where he maintains a home. Scott Metcalf is HaL’s president and chief operating officer. HaL still aims to launch a box next year.
