Hitachi Ltd is offering a couple of new models in its Skyline series of BiCMOS S/390-compatible mainframes with the highest- performing 150 MIPS processor engine. The 217 and 317 – models 21 and 22 in the three-year old series – can accommodate two and three CPU engines respectively and are aimed at the high- performance, low-processor-capacity markets. The BiCMOS architecture can accommodate a maximum eight CPUs per system. Hitachi Data Systems – the US-based Hitachi and EDS Corp venture – says Skyline, which these days threatens IBM Corp’s own S/390 business, has accounted for half of its revenue for each of the last two years. Skyline pricing starts at more than $8,000 per MIPS.
