Sun Microsystems’ position on the Intel Merced processor could hardly have been clearer before last week’s strategy briefing in Rome, but analysts thought they would ask the question anyway. After all, Silicon Graphics Inc and Data General Corp have done U-turns on the use of Intel processors in the past. Robert Youngjohns, VP for EMEA, Masood Jabbar, president of computer systems, and CEO Scott McNealy all took turns to comprehensively dismiss the possibility of Sun ever reselling Intel Merced or Microsoft NT systems, with McNealy adding that he didn’t want to end up like Compaq Computer Corp. Another reason why we don’t OEM Wintel: There is no business there, he added. Having said all this, Sun executives said that 325 customers across the world were now testing the Cascade product, which provides NT networking services on top of Solaris. This product, based around Microsoft code, will be released in the next two months. Sun also said that its PC co-processor card for use in Solaris workstations had received a tremendous response from the marketplace. The card, which has a 33 Mhz AMD K-6 processor, enables users to run Microsoft Windows and Office applications in a Solaris environment.
