The $5,000 box aimed at Internet service providers Hewlett-Packard Co is calving from a forthcoming line of A-Class servers(CI No 3,440) is codenamed Staccato, but the company won’t be drawn on features as it doesn’t want to tip the competition. HP says it will be early 1999 before the new low-end server line hits the streets. It’s the server team that gets to debut the latest PA RISC chip this time around – in new PA-8500 V-Class configurations, first shipments of which it promises before year-end – first dibs on the new processors alternate between the company’s workstation and server groups. HP says it’s made no decision yet on whether to extend PA’s life. We’re fairly comfortable we’ve got plenty of coverage the transitional two to three year period to IA-64. We have the option open, though, and can turn it on if it becomes necessary, the company says.
