UK systems company TIS Ltd appears to be easing away from its hardware deal with Unisys Corp, following its introduction of custom-built workgroup server systems from Intel Corp, introduced at the Show. The new i-Server series, based on 80386 and 80486 motherboards, are being manufactured by Intel to strict specifications from TIS, and are intended to fill the gap between low-end multi-user systems such as the Altos Computer Systems line (which delivers the performance but are expensive), and souped up personal computers from the likes of Olivetti and Compaq (which don’t provide the performance and are short on software and peripherals). The three models include the 80386-based 325 and 333, and the 80486-based 425, rated at 15 MIPS. Prices start at UKP7,500 for the 325, UKP12,000 for the 333 and UKP16,000 for the 425. All run Intel’s Unix System V.4. TIS says it was starting to miss out on the fast growth rate (62% last year) in the small multi-user systems sector. It is still interested in its Unisys Convergent range of Motorola-based systems, and uses MIPS-based systems at the top-end. Also at the show, TIS launched the recently introduced MIPS Magnum workstation.
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