Mitsubishi Electric Corp is going relational in a big way with launch of the eight-model range of Melcom 80 GR relational database computers, no doubt its answer to IBM’s AS/400, which has gone down rather well in Japan. The new line is based on the research work of Professor Kitsuregawa of Tokyo University’s Manufacturing Technology Research Institute, and is said to use the MSA design concept of relational objects. A new language, EDUET, is under development for the machines, which are claimed to be three to five times faster than the old ones in database work, is also under development. Prices are $25,000 to $348,000, the GR100 model is out in September, and Mitsubishi looks to put 60,000 out over three years.
