*** Systems
Microsoft and Intel Demonstrate Technical Workstation Segment
Penetration and Unveil Migration Assistance Program for
Workstation Application Developers
(March 6)
More than 300 leading workstation application developers,
system manufacturers and users participating in this reborn
industry gathered in Seattle for the Workstation Leadership
Forum, hosted by Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp. In an effort
to further help independent software vendors (ISVs) benefit
from the popular combination of the Microsoft Windows NT
operating system running on compute-intensive Intel
Architecture-based workstations, Intel and Microsoft
introduced the Migration Assistance Program (MAP). The program
will provide direct support to selected ISVs that are leaders
in various technical application segments. Applications for
MAP will be available online. Applications will be accepted
through March 31. Microsoft and Intel will then select the
most qualified ISVs, who are scheduled to be notified by May
15.
MAP benefits include product updates, discounted developer
workstations, tools and consulting services. On the
information side, the program will feature a briefing by Intel
on the IA-64(TM) architecture and the Merced processor;
briefings and design reviews by Microsoft on its tools and
operating system plans for the Merced processor; and access to
product-specific programs directly related to Microsoft
technologies.
To speed the migration of workstation software, several system
vendors will offer MAP participants computer discounts or
special purchase incentives for Intel Architecture and Windows
NT-based workstations. Microsoft will offer discounts on
Microsoft Office Developer Edition and Visual Studio
development system Professional Edition.
Intel and Microsoft will also offer a number of direct
services to program participants, including developer training
and application architecture reviews. ISVs will also receive
IA-32 and IA-64 application development and optimization
assistance from companies that are part of Intel's OEM
Application Solution Center program and Microsoft's Premier
Support for developers.
Intel announced the new AGP Pro graphics standard, which will
deliver up to four times the power of today's AGP
specification as well as improved cooling to meet the demands
of advanced graphics on both IA-32 and IA-64 platforms.
A recent report from International Data Corp. (IDC) confirms
the increased adoption rate of Intel Architecture and Windows
NT workstations. The report says sales of workstations
equipped with Windows NT increased more than 80% in 1997; in
contrast, UNIX sales declined 7 percent. Shipments of computer
workstations with Windows NT and Intel Architecture outsold
those with the UNIX operating system for the first time,
according to IDC: 1.3 million Intel Architecture and Windows
NT workstations were sold compared to 660,000 UNIX units.
Leading ISVs representing five key industries -- mechanical
computer-aided design (MCAD/MDA), electronic design automation
(EDA), geoscience and seismic analysis (oil and gas),
graphical information systems (GIS), and financial trading and
risk analysis -- announced their intent to support the Intel
Architecture and Windows NT workstations. These vendors are
demonstrating their solutions in a featured technology
showcase held during the forum. Companies include 3Dlabs Inc.,
Avid Technology Inc., Bridge, CAD.Lab Inc., Dynamic Pictures,
Engineering Animation Inc., ESRI Corp., Evans and Sutherland,
Infinity, Kuck, Landmark Graphics Corp., Mental Images, Mentor
Graphics Corp., Parametric Technology Corp., Reuters,
Structural Dynamics Research Co., Softimage Inc., SolidWorks
Corp., Synopsys Inc., Unigraphics Solutions and ViewLogic
Systems Inc.
www.intel.com/.
www.microsoft.com
Windows NT Becomes Most Popular Platform for Bentley Users
(March 6)
Bentley Systems, Incorporated, announced that Microsoft
Windows NT Workstation has become the most popular platform of
its users. The company, which supports many platforms
including Microsoft Windows 95 and various Unix, recently
conducted a survey that determined over 50% of its users were
selecting Windows NT Workstation as the platform of choice to
host their Bentley products.
Bentley's 250,000 users represent one of the largest installed
bases of mission-critical, enterprise-oriented software in the
world. The company's strategy permits the use of multiple
platforms and individual users to migrate to their platform of
choice. The survey showed that users of all Bentley products,
preferred Windows NT.
Bentley engineering products include MicroStation TriForma for
architectural modeling, MicroStation Modeler for solid
modeling-based mechanical engineering, and MicroStation
GeoGraphics for geoengineering. The Bentley Engineering Back
Office contains ModelServer Publisher for web-based, on-demand
publication of engineering models, ModelServer Continuum for
brokering engineering data into Oracle databases, and
ModelServer TeamMate for management of engineering
information, and other server products.
www.bentley.com
Wave Issue 9803 3/25/98 Article 3-01