OK, lets clear the air. Here's the official blurb from Enrico:
----Quote----
From: Pesatori, Enrico Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 3:18 PM Subject: 32-bit Windows NT on Alpha Importance: High
Earlier this week in New York, we announced an exciting 8-way ProLiant server line that dramatically increases our ability to scale 32-bit Windows NT for the enterprise. The response from customers and analysts has been very positive. It is clear that our ProLiant products and capabilities meet the growing requirement for 32-bit Windows NT solutions that deliver performance, scalability, manageability and reliability. This enables us to take actions that will simplify our platform strategy and our value proposition for customers and software partners.
After analyzing the needs of our customers and the reality of the marketplace, we have decided to end systems development for 32-bit Windows NT on Alpha with the delivery of V4 SP6 in late 1999. We do not plan to support 32-bit Windows 2000 on Alpha systems.
This decision in no way diminishes our strong partnership with Microsoft or our commitment to Alpha. To increase our focus on Windows NT in the enterprise, we will continue to partner aggressively with Microsoft on development of 64-bit Windows NT. Alpha is the development platform for 64-bit Windows NT.
We will continue to invest in Alpha as a core component of our NonStop eBusiness strategy, including next generation Alpha chip technology and a robust Alpha systems road map.
We will drive Alpha at the high-end of the enterprise market, where our strengths in 64-bit platforms, NonStop technology and clustering give us a competitive advantage. We have already announced an aggressive plan to grow Tru64 UNIX on Alpha in such key markets as high performance technical computing, eCommerce, telecommunications and enterprise applications, among others. We will continue to service and maintain the highest levels of customer satisfaction with our OpenVMS customers. And we will drive Alpha volumes by leveraging the growth of Linux. As we have already announced, Alpha will become the engine for future generations of our Himalaya systems, further extending Himalaya into markets requiring robust 24x7 solutions.
During the past few years a number of customers have made a commitment to Windows NT on Alpha. We are completely focused on protecting their investments and keeping them as satisfied Compaq customers. We will support 32-bit Windows NT on Alpha for as long as they require and offer migration paths to other Compaq platforms.
I have asked Bill Heil to lead the effort working with the regions to manage the communications with our customers and to arm our field teams with the information they need. The following region managers will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of this communication plan: David Booth - North America, Ken Surplice - EMEA, Mit Truax - LAC, Barry Leong - GCD, Takayasu Ichihara - CKK, and Paul Solski - APD. By Wednesday, we will provide a detailed advice package to our field teams, including Q&As, customer presentation, product roadmaps, support plans and migration offers.
Overall, we are convinced that this decision is the right one for Compaq and for our customers and partners. A simplified platform strategy will make it easier for customers and partners to understand the value we deliver. It will also enable us to maximize our investments in strategic products and focused markets that will drive market leadership and profitable growth.
Please feel free to pass this message on. In particular, we are depending on those of you on the regional coordination team to make sure it gets to the appropriate people in each country.
Enrico
----End Quote----
Craig Zeller, Sr. Systems Engineer, Compaq Computer Corporation "The software manual said that it worked with Windows-95 or better... so I loaded Linux." -anon
Slashdot Mirror
OK, lets clear the air. Here's the official blurb from Enrico:
----Quote----
From: Pesatori, Enrico
Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 3:18 PM
Subject: 32-bit Windows NT on Alpha
Importance: High
Earlier this week in New York, we announced an exciting 8-way ProLiant server line that dramatically increases our ability to scale 32-bit Windows NT for the enterprise. The response from customers and analysts has been very positive. It is clear that our ProLiant products and capabilities meet the growing requirement for 32-bit Windows NT solutions that deliver performance, scalability, manageability and reliability. This enables us to take actions that will simplify our platform strategy and our value proposition for customers and software partners.
After analyzing the needs of our customers and the reality of the marketplace, we have decided to end systems development for 32-bit Windows NT on Alpha with the delivery of V4 SP6 in late 1999. We do not plan to support 32-bit Windows 2000 on Alpha systems.
This decision in no way diminishes our strong partnership with Microsoft or our commitment to Alpha. To increase our focus on Windows NT in the enterprise, we will continue to partner aggressively with Microsoft on development of 64-bit Windows NT. Alpha is the development platform for 64-bit Windows NT.
We will continue to invest in Alpha as a core component of our NonStop eBusiness strategy, including next generation Alpha chip technology and a robust Alpha systems road map.
We will drive Alpha at the high-end of the enterprise market, where our strengths in 64-bit platforms, NonStop technology and clustering give us a competitive advantage. We have already announced an aggressive plan to grow Tru64 UNIX on Alpha in such key markets as high performance technical computing, eCommerce, telecommunications and enterprise applications, among others. We will continue to service and maintain the highest levels of customer satisfaction with our OpenVMS customers. And we will drive Alpha volumes by leveraging the growth of Linux. As we have already announced, Alpha will become the engine for future generations of our Himalaya systems, further extending Himalaya into markets requiring robust 24x7 solutions.
During the past few years a number of customers have made a commitment to Windows NT on Alpha. We are completely focused on protecting their investments and keeping them as satisfied Compaq customers. We will support 32-bit Windows NT on Alpha for as long as they require and offer migration paths to other Compaq platforms.
I have asked Bill Heil to lead the effort working with the regions to manage the communications with our customers and to arm our field teams with the information they need. The following region managers will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of this communication plan: David Booth - North America, Ken Surplice - EMEA, Mit Truax - LAC, Barry Leong - GCD, Takayasu Ichihara - CKK, and Paul Solski - APD. By Wednesday, we will provide a detailed advice package to our field teams, including Q&As, customer presentation, product roadmaps, support plans and migration offers.
Overall, we are convinced that this decision is the right one for Compaq and for our customers and partners. A simplified platform strategy will make it easier for customers and partners to understand the value we deliver. It will also enable us to maximize our investments in strategic products and focused markets that will drive market leadership and profitable growth.
Please feel free to pass this message on. In particular, we are depending on those of you on the regional coordination team to make sure it gets to the appropriate people in each country.
Enrico
----End Quote----
Craig Zeller, Sr. Systems Engineer, Compaq Computer Corporation
"The software manual said that it worked with Windows-95 or better... so I loaded Linux." -anon