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News about SPARC systems and related companies

2002, August weeks 3 - 4

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article:- Think Twice Before You Write-Once: a critical look at optical archiving
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SPARCbook 5000
SPARC portables
from Tadpole
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Sun Microsystems
Editor:- here are some numbers from the original source Gartner. I've only included the numbers for Sun, but if you click on the link to Gartner, above, you'll also see results for Dell, HP, IBM etc.
  • Sun 2Q02 US server shipments = 36,319
  • Sun 2Q01 US server shipments = 29,160
That was nearly a 25% increase in Sun's US server shipments compared to an average of 10% for all US server manufacturers. Sun did less well worldwide, but still got 10% growth.
  • Sun 2Q02 worldwide server shipments = 70,718
  • Sun 2Q01 worldwide server shipments = 63,842
Sun Gains in Worldwide Server Revenue

SANTA CLARA, CA - August 27, 2002 - According to the 2Q02 Worldwide Server Database by Gartner Dataquest, Sun Microsystems, Inc. increased its revenue position with marketshare growth of 10.75% year-over-year and now holds second place with 18.44% marketshare. Furthermore, with just under 80,000 units shipped and $1.86 billion in revenue, Sun maintains a commanding lead as the number one vendor in the UNIX® market worldwide.

Overall, Gartner Dataquest's quarterly database shows that Sun's Solaris Operating Environment and UltraSPARC®-based systems experienced the highest level of revenue and shipment growth year-over-year of the top five IT vendors while most competing systems saw a decline. In the UNIX market, with 63% marketshare in shipments and 44% revenue share, Sun is clearly number one.

Compared to the same quarter last year, Sun grew its marketshare in UNIX shipments by 32% while its three closest competitors lost share in double-digit increments. Sun also led the pack in year-over-year UNIX revenue marketshare, where it grew by 15.4%.

In the US, Sun gained revenue marketshare with a 13.5% increase from last year. ...GartnerGroup profile, ...Sun Microsystems profile
Sun Gains in Worldwide Server Revenue

New PMC Graphics Board Packs Dual Channels, Dual Video Input, and On-board USB 2.0 Hub

Network Technologies Inc. Launches New Low Cost Brand and Catalog for Computer Accessories: Video Products Inc.

Tadpole launches SPARCbook 5000

GTSI Named Top Federal Partner by Sun Microsystems

Quantum And Sun Microsystems Team To Provide Modular Storage Solutions For The Midrange Market

Sun Blade 150 Workstation

Emulex PCI-X Host Bus Adapter Achieves Solaris Ready Certification from Sun Microsystems

Tech-Source Updates Web Site with Details of Newest Sun Compatible Graphics Cards

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"I'm impressed by your new hotSTOR disk to disk backup" said Megabyte to Cheaperbyte . "Does it make coffee too?"

Nibble:- Return of the SPARCbook

When you've been editing a directory like this one for more than ten years, you come across a lot of brands and jargon, some of which stay in fashion for a while, but most of which get gradually forgotten. So it was with great interest, and a sense of déja vu, that I came across a press release from Tadpole recently about their new SPARCbook 5000.

It's been over 10 years since the original SPARCbook, a Sun compatible notebook, made its original appearance in the pages of the SPARC Product Directory, and for many years the word was synonymous with "SPARC portable". But when Tadpole acquired competitor RDI Computer in October 1998 the flow of new portables came out with model names like VoyagerIIi and UltraBookIIe and it seemed like we weren't going to see any more SPARCbooks coming out from that stable.

Tadpole was brave in naming its portable server VoyagerIIi, because the original "Voyager" SPARC portable was an unlovely luggable from Sun Microsystems which didn't survive for long. Instead Sun became a reseller for Tadpole's notebooks, and still is to this day.

However our readers kept searching for SPARCbooks, despite tha name changes, and just to be on the safe side, we made sure that Tadpole's company profile on this web site included that term so that those readers went to the right place.

It's very rare for a computer brand to last so long and still be a positive idea in people's memory.

Clariion started out life as a RAID brand for Data General, and is still used for low end storage systems by the company which acquired it:- EMC. Similarly StorageWorks, which started out as the only good product still made by DEC by the mid 1990's, was retained by Compaq when they swallowed DEC. And StorageWorks still survives as a storage brand within the newly enlarged HP. But it's hard to think of many others which have survived so long.

Sun Microsystems stopped marketing new families of workstations under the SPARCstation brand when they switched from 32 to 64 bit processor chips in 1995. For a while their workstations were called "Ultra this", or "Ultra that". Then Sun started fervently renaming products as "Sun this" or "Sun that" to such an extent that I poked fun at this process in an article in which I suggested that they should rename Solaris back to SunOS. They haven't taken the hint yet.

The SPARCstation brand still has a good ring to it, and it will be interesting to see if Sun take a lesson from Tadpole's relaunch, and come up with a new range of modern SPARCstations.

On the other hand some brands only have a short life. You wouldn't want to buy a PC powered by a 286 processor for instance, and even the Pentium, one of Intel's longest lived processor brands looks like it will be phased out and replaced by Itanium. Unfortunately Itanium sounds a bit radioactive to me, and as I live within walking distance of a nuclear facility, it doesn't sound quite as positive as it was surely intended to be.

Anyway, the SPARCbook is back, and I think it may stay around for some time.

Amtec Computer Corporation Ltd
Amtec Computer Corporation Ltd. is a computer services company specialising in the supply of workstations and client server technologies to the global marketplace.

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Peritek
news image - Peritek
. "The Argus/PMC delivers high performance multi-head graphics, video input and a USB 2.0 hub on a single mezzanine card," said Victor Gold, President of Peritek. "It's the best of both worlds; save slots without compromising functionality"
New PMC Graphics Board Packs Dual Channels, Dual Video Input, and On-board USB 2.0 Hub

OAKLAND, Calif. - August 27, 2002 - Peritek Corporation has introduced a new dual channel PMC graphics board that simultaneously supports multiple monitors and dual digital/analog video input channels. The board also supplies an on-board USB 2.0 hub. The high-resolution Argus/PMC graphics controller supports independent 2D, 3D, OpenGL, and DirectX-compatible displays in Solaris, Linux, Windows, VxWorks, and LynxOS environments.

Each of the Argus/PMC's dual display channels is powered by a Borealis graphics accelerator and supports screen resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 with up to 16.7 million colors (32 bpp). Each of the processors is supported with 16 Mbytes of high speed SGRAM display memory to provide ample local storage for image and off-screen data such as texture maps, Z-buffer, and backing store. Backed by highly optimized software for Solaris and Windows, the Argus/PMC delivers well-balanced, high performance 3D/OpenGL and 2D graphics. With its 128-bit wide memory bus, the Borealis can draw up to sixteen 256-color pixels each memory cycle for a raw drawing speed of 2 Gbytes/s. The Borealis and the host CPU can process data independently to speed system throughput.

The board's USB 2.0 hub supports data rates in excess of 400 Mbit/s on two primary channels. A four USB 2.0 channel version is available by special order.

Video input is provided by two on-board video quad-input digitizers for NTSC, PAL, or SECAM composite video or S-Video capture. These chips also support line level mono audio. The board comes standard with two front panel VGA connectors.

To simplify boot-up in different operating system environments, the Argus/PMC features a custom BIOS that supports both VGA and FCode. This enables the board to operate in virtually any x86 or SPARC system using VGA, SOG, or DVI displays. Pricing starts at $2,463 in 100 piece quantities. ...Peritek profile
Video Products
VPI catalog
. As account executive Tammy Kuhn explains, "We've created a product mix designed for the consumer and SOHO customer, who often order online. This allows us to pass on substantial savings - for instance, our 3-in-1 VGA & PS/2 KVM cables are priced 30% lower when you order online from VPI!"
 Network Technologies Inc. Launches New Low Cost Brand and Catalog for Computer Accessories: Video Products Inc.

AURORA, OH - August 27, 2002 - Video Products Inc (VPI), announces the release of its new computer accessories catalog, featuring a broad range of computer accessories for home and SOHO computer users. VPI's product line includes:
  • VGA & S-Video Cables
  • Video Adapters & Gender Changers
  • Keyboard, Monitor & Mouse Extension Cables
  • Cat5 Patch Cords
  • USB Extenders, Hubs, Cables, Adapters and PCI Card
  • Firewire Hubs, Cables & Adapters
  • KVM Switches for USB & PS/2, VGA
  • Video Switches & S-Video Switches & Splitters
  • Digital Video Cables
VPI is the new Business-to-Consumer brand from Network Technologies Inc (NTI), which has been manufacturing computer connectivity solutions designed for the business-to-business market since 1984. The VPI brand has been created in response to the unique needs of B2C customers, and is focused on delivering quality products at low prices.

Easy and secure online ordering is available. Orders can also be placed by phone at 800-742-8324 (USA & Canada) or 330-562-7070, via fax at 330-562-1999. VPI guarantees customer satisfaction with a 30-day return policy and a one-year warranty on parts and labor. ...Network Technologies profile, ...Video Products
Tadpole
SPARCbook 5000
. "The launch of a new Tadpole notebook is always a significant event for the global Sun community and the SPARCbook 5000 is no exception," says Thomas Kreidler, vice president Sun Microsystems' Government Division. "Built around Sun's innovative UltraSPARC and Solaris technologies, the power, punch, and system expansion features of Tadpole's SPARCbook 5000 make it one mean machine, and the perfect solution for the growing mobile computing needs of federal agencies and Global 2000 enterprises alike."

"Tadpole is a customer-centric company with a clearly defined role to extend the mobile applications of Sun's UltraSPARC and Solaris technologies," adds Graham Brown, president of Tadpole's hardware businesses. "The feature-rich slimline SPARCbook 5000 notebook opens a new page in the history of Tadpole's unique service to the global Sun community, and allows users to again broaden their business-critical mobile computing infrastructures and operations."
 Tadpole launches SPARCbook 5000

Carlsbad (CA) and Cambridge (UK) - August 27, 2002 - Tadpole's notebooks just keep getting smaller, lighter, and more capable. The California-based computer manufacturer begins shipments today of its new SPARCbook 5000 notebook for Sun's Solaris, the sleekest and most feature-packed innovation in Tadpole's hardware history.

The latest addition to Tadpole's innovative hardware portfolio is built around the high performance/low power 500MHz UltraSPARC IIe microprocessor and the Solaris 8 OE from Sun Microsystems. With 15.1" XGA and optional SXGA+ display resolutions, an astonishing 2GB of memory and removable disk capacity of up to 80GB, SPARCbook 5000 raises the bar in the weight/footprint/features equation generally associated with business-critical Solaris applications.

Compared with Tadpole's previous top-of-the-range UltraBookIIe notebook, the SPARCbook 5000 notebook is 30% smaller, and 20% lighter. Like all Tadpole's products built at its California plant, the SPARCbook 5000 notebook is 100% binary compatible with Sun desktops and servers and can run the full inventory of Solaris applications. At just 1.8" deep and weighing less than 7lbs, the notebook offers the connectivity features and performance normally associated with a full size Sun workstation and monitor.

With this profile, the SPARCbook 5000 notebook is destined to become the ultimate must-have work tool for design engineers working at remote locations, for sales and software training teams to up their customer-site demonstrations, and for federal and homeland defense agencies in support of their military and intelligence gathering field deployments.

SPARCbook 5000 notebook features are extensive and include a CD-RW/DVD-ROM, dual Ethernet, PCMCIA sockets, stereo speakers, and a Sun compatible integrated keyboard with glide-point touchpad and 3-button mouse. The numerous networking, serial, parallel, PS2, video and USB ports found on the back of the notebook are extensive and give users sky-high system expansion and network connectivity.

SPARCbook 5000 notebook availability: immediate. Pricing: from $6,000-12,000, depending upon configuration. ...Tadpole profile

Editor's comments:- Tadpole's SPARCbook brand launched in the early 1990's made a lasting impression in the Sun market. Some of our readers were still searching for "SPARCbooks" instead of "portables" for years after Tadpole had renamed their product line (to Voyager). The new SPARCbook is a classic standard by which SPARC notebooks will be judged, and shows that a strong brand can work in the computer market even after more than a decade.
GTSI
. "GTSI is proud to have Sun Microsystems in our rank of top partners," said GTSI Chairman and CEO Dendy Young. "Our expanding role with Sun demonstrates the success of our technology team approach. We listen to our customers and then work with our technology partners to respond to their needs. We have the expertise, the contract vehicles, and the commitment to quality that customers look for in a trusted advisor."
 GTSI Named Top Federal Partner by Sun Microsystems

CHANTILLY, Va. - August 22, 2002 - GTSI Corp. today announced that Sun Microsystems has named GTSI its top federal partner for Sun's 2002 fiscal year. GTSI achieved the highest total Product Volume for Sun Microsystems during the period beginning July 2001 and ending June 2002.

Earlier this year, CISCO Systems also named GTSI its top federal partner. GTSI excels in providing government customers with IT solutions from more than 1,300 software, hardware and service providers. ...GTSI profile
Quantum

Sun Microsystems
. "With the addition of the new tape libraries, Sun has once again raised the bar in delivering data continuance solutions to our customers," said Kathleen Holmgren, vice president of marketing, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Partners like Quantum enable us to deliver products beyond Sun's core competencies to provide the comprehensive offering needed to meet our customer's complete storage requirements."
Quantum And Sun Microsystems Team To Provide Modular Storage Solutions For The Midrange Market

MILPITAS, Calif. - Aug. 20, 2002 – Quantum Corp. today announced an OEM agreement with Sun Microsystems to provide its ATL M-Series automated tape libraries to customers branded under Sun StorEdge L100 and L25 tape libraries.

Quantum's ATL M-Series libraries provide enterprise-class features for the mid-range market and incorporate flexible performance and capacity, modular scalability and unbeatable density.

The Sun StorEdge L100 Library scales from one to 12 tape drives with up to 648 GB/hour performance and scales up to 200 cartridges, providing up to 20 TB capacity when configured in a two-"module" stack. Two Sun StorEdge L100 libraries can be configured in a standard Sun storage rack to be managed and function as a single integrated library by utilizing the StackLink™ pass-through mechanism.

The Sun StorEdge L25 library scales from one to 14 tape drives with up to 756 GB/hour performance and expands up to 175 cartridges, providing up to 35 TB capacity, when configured in a seven-"module" stack. Up to seven Sun StorEdge L25 libraries can be configured in a standard Sun storage rack to be managed and function as a single integrated library utilizing the same StackLink mechanism as the L100. ...Quantum profile, ...Sun Microsystems profile
Sun Microsystems
. "Where's the value in a PC that you toss out every year or two?" asked Neil Knox, Executive Vice President, Volume Systems Products, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Sun has sold more than one million Sun Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations combined, that have provided our customers with years and years of reliable performance. When those customers need more compute horsepower or graphics capabilities, the Sun Blade 150 workstation is the perfect upgrade, providing full binary compatibility for a seamless transition, and offering a very low price point for today's tight budgets."
Sun Blade 150 Workstation

SANTA CLARA, CA - August 20, 2002 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. today introduced the Sun Blade 150 workstation which offers up to 76 percent performance gains over Sun's previous price -leading workstations. Features include:-
  • Sun's UltraSPARC IIi processor - 550 MHz or 650 MHz processor with 512 KB on-chip L2 cache, doubling the 256 KB of the UltraSPARC IIe processor.
  • Large Memory Capacity - Up to 2 GB of addressable memory helps enable support to run complex technical applications with very large data sets.
  • Increased Internal Storage - Up to two internal 40 GB 7200-RPM EIDE hard drives provide high capacity internal storage and expansion.
  • Latest I/O technology - Four USB ports and two IEEE 1394 ports for peripherals. Customers can connect USB-based storage or supported alternative keyboards and mice to suit their preferences. IEEE 1394 helps ensure high-end digital video performance by delivering synchronized video/audio I/O.
  • Built-in Smart Card reader - Provides enhanced security for log-in and access authentication to the system.
The Sun Blade 150 workstation base configuration includes the 550 MHz UltraSPARC IIi processor, Solaris 8 Operating Environment, 512 KB on-chip L2 cache, 128 MB SDRAM, PGX64 onboard 2D graphics, and 40 GB internal disk. It is available today starting at $1,395 list price U.S. ...Sun Microsystems profile
Emulex
. "Emulex is a key member of the Sun Developer Connection (SDC) Partner Program, providing customers with the latest in storage networking solutions," said Patric Chang, director, Market Development Engineering, Sun Microsystems. "The certification of the Emulex PCI-X host bus adapter provides further evidence of the interoperability of its PCI-X connectivity solutions with Sun's robust line of servers and software."
 Emulex PCI-X Host Bus Adapter Achieves Solaris Ready Certification from Sun Microsystems

COSTA MESA, Calif. - August 19, 2002 - Emulex Corporation today announced that its LightPulse LP9402DC dual channel PCI-X HBA has achieved the Solaris Ready Certification from Sun Microsystems, Inc..

The Emulex LP9402DC dual channel PCI-X HBA supports 2Gb/s Fibre Channel data rates on both channels, providing increased bandwidth capacity for emerging PCI-X servers connecting to SANs. Emulex HBAs also offer firmware upgradeability to protect customers' investments and a unique driver architecture that enables compatibility of a single driver across Emulex's entire product line, which significantly reduces SAN management complexity while lowering the customer's total cost of ownership. In addition, the LP9402DC is fully compatible with legacy 1Gb/s SANs, and features automatic speed negotiation. ...Emulex profile, ...Sun Microsystems profile
Tech-Source Tech-Source Updates Web Site with Details of Newest Sun Compatible Graphics Cards

Editor - August 19, 2002 - Tech-Source has updated its web site to include details of its latest Sun compatible graphics cards. Like many companies, Tech-Source cut back on its web design resources during the recession, and as a result, its web site was hopelessly out of date. In fact most of their new products launched for the Sun market during the last year, which were listed in the SPARC Product Directory, weren't even mentioned on the Tech-Source web site. That problem has now been fixed. ...Tech-Source profile

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