EDP - Vol.39 No.17 - IBM plans to use Intel processors in high-end network computers

Oct 13, 2026

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EDP Weekly presents computer industry news dated April 27, 1998, in its 37th year. The featured report explains IBM’s plan to tune “JavaOS for Business” for network computers based on Intel processors, including support for Intel’s Lean Client guidelines and a possible threat to Windows CE. It also highlights IBM and Intel cooperation on performance, installability, and manageability, plus updates on related market, distribution, and industry developments across Europe and beyond.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

IBM PLANS TO USE INTELPROCESSORSINITSHIGHEND NETWORKCOMPUTERS

Weekly

Partnership With 14 Firms Creates LargestDistributor Of PalmPilot,Windows CE Tools

DEMAND REMAINS STRONG ASQ1 PC SHIPMENTS SURGE INEUROPE,MIDDLEAST,AFRICA

EDP # The Nation's Leading Weekly Computer News Summary—Now In Its 37th Year Vol.39 No.17 April 27,1998 ## IBM PLANS TO USE INTELPROCESSORSINITSHIGHEND NETWORKCOMPUTERS Big Blue Also Tuning'JavaOS For Business'To Run On NCs Based On Intel Processors In a surprise announcement,IBM Corp.saidlast week it is tuning the new“JavaOS for Business”software it developed with Sun Microsystems(seeEDP Weekly,April 6,pg.1)for network computers(NCs)based on Intel processors with assistance fromIntel. IBM and Intel are also working togetherso thatJavaOS for Business supports Intel's Lean ClientGuidelines for low priced thin client PCs.By bringingtogether the Intel Architecture with the JavaOS forBusiness software,IBM and Intel hope to expand thechoices for customers seeking network computingsolutions When IBM and others including Sun andOracle Corp.first announced the Network Computerconcept in 1996,both Intel and Microsoft criticized theidea.The two firms later came out with thin clientguidelines of their own.NCs have been slow to catchon though,as PC prices continue to collapse. JavaOS for Business,an actual operatingsystem for NCs based on the cross-platform Javaprogramming language,will support both the Network(Continued on Page 2) # Weekly LEADING PDA SOFTWARE MAKERSSIGN ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTIONDEALS WITH RELEASE SOFTWARE ## Partnership With 14 Firms Creates LargestDistributor Of PalmPilot,Windows CE Tools Release Software,the Menlo Park,Calif.,Internet software distributor and marketing company,has signed Electronic Software Distribution(ESD)agreements with 14 of the leading software publishersfor PalmPilot and Windows CE devices.The deals willallow users of Personal Digital Assistant(PDA)devices to download the latest software titles throughany member of Release's reseller network,whichincludes over one hundred points of sale on the WorldWide Web. (Continued on Page 6) INTHISISSUE MidWestMicro Intros S600PentiumPC …2EuropeanPCDemand Skyrockets- -**…2MARKETRESEARCH ….3AirForce ConvertsUnixApps ToNT -….5Bloomberg ContentAddedToWaveTopService 5PEOPLEONTHEMOVE -….6Feds RescueUSGaAsWafer Industry. --------…7PartNETBuildsBigE-MallFor Military ----….BusinessIs BoomingAt Symante… 8WORLDTRADE. 9 Computer Reference Platform and the IntelArchitecture Lean Client Guideline.The initial releasewill support Intel processors and will be available toOEMs.The OS could become a serious threat toWindows CE,a stripped down version of WindowsMicrosoft developed to run on thin clients and smallconsumer electronics devices. IBM says it will also develop a version of itsNetwork Station network computer using an Intelmicroprocessor,for the high end of the Network Stationfamily.The Intel-based NC from IBM is expected tobe available in the first halfof1999,running JavaOS forBusiness.IBM's Network Station will be compliantwith both the Intel Architecture Lean Client Guidelineand the Network Computer Reference Platform. "Working with Intel will allow IBM tostrengthen and improve the JavaOS for Businessproduct,"says Mike Lawrie,general manager,IBMNetwork Computing Software.“Customers andbusiness partners will benefit from a high performanceplatform for implementing and developing networkcomputing Java-based solutions.It is IBM's goal toestablish the JavaOS for Business software as anindustry standard platform for customers in the server-managed environment.” "We are looking forward to the results of ourwork with IBM to optimize JavaOS for Business forIntel processors,as this provides another alternative forthe Lean Client initiative,”adds Will Swope,vicepresident of the Business Platform Group at Intel."Intel is also pleased about IBM's decision to use Intelprocessors for the high end of their Network Stationfamily.In addition,OEMs which choose to buildsystems based on the Lean Client Guidelines will haveaccess to all of Intel's tuni

FAQs

What is IBM planning regarding JavaOS for Business and Intel processors?

IBM plans to tune “JavaOS for Business” so it runs on network computers (NCs) based on Intel processors, with assistance from Intel.

How do Intel’s Lean Client guidelines relate to JavaOS for Business?

IBM and Intel state that JavaOS for Business will support Intel’s Lean Client guidelines, targeting low priced thin client PCs.

What does the document say about PC demand in Europe, Middle East, and Africa?

It reports strong fourth-quarter factory shipments in EMEA, with shipments up 21% over Q1 1997 despite inventory concerns.

Oct 13, 2026

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