Following the release of two low-cost notebooks recently, Dell Computer Corp. has released two new low-end desktop systems, the Dimension 2200 and the SmartStep 150D.
The products represent upgrades from Dell’s current least-expensive consumer PCs, the Dimension 2100 and the SmartStep 100D, said Linda Gerardi, Dimension product marketing manager for Dell. Earlier, Dell unveiled two notebook computers priced below US$1,000, the SmartStep 100N and the Inspiron 2600. Like the SmartStep 100N and Inspiron 2600, the SmartStep 100D and Dimension 2100 are targeted at first-time computer buyers, or current users who want a second system for their homes, Gerardi said. Round Rock, Tex.-based Dell will no longer sell the Dimension 2100 or SmartStep 100D, she said.
Giga: IBM, BEA even in J2EE app server market
IBM Corp. and BEA Systems Inc. tied for first place in terms of revenue in the market for J2EE (Java 2 Enterprise Edition) application servers in 2001, according to new research by the Giga Information Group Inc.
The research pegs both IBM and BEA as holding 34 per cent of the revenue generated in the J2EE server market in 2001, followed by Sun Microsystems Inc.’s iPlanet unit with seven per cent, Oracle Corp. with six per cent, Sybase Inc. with four per cent, Hewlett-Packard Co. with three per cent and miscellaneous others with a total of 12 per cent. In 2001, the market’s revenue grew overall by 39 per cent, to a total value of US$2.19 billion, according to the report, which was written by Giga analyst Mike Gilpin.
Intel enables dual-processor blade servers
Intel Corp. has launched its second wave of processors aimed at low-power consumption blade servers. The new processors will allow blade server makers to offer dual-processor systems; until now, blade servers have been limited to single processors.
Intel, whose main competitor in the blade processor market is Transmeta Corp. with its Crusoe chip, launched its own processors last fall at Comdex. Server vendors have also been using Intel’s Tualatin processor, which has a small footprint, as well as its new Xeon Prestonia chip to make blade systems. Hewlett-Packard Co. and NEC Corp. have blade systems using Intel processors, and Intel says it expects Dell Computer Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. to make announcements later this year.