Microsoft and Intel Commit to Workstation Leadership and Innovation

Strategic Insights -

Top executives from Microsoft and Intel, Bill Gates and Craig Barrett, respectively, outlined their companies' commitment to leadership and innovation in the global workstation customer segment at the Workstation Leadership Forum (WLF) '99. The two-day event, attended by over 700 users and developers, highlighted the importance of price/performance, application integration, and platform interoperability in the workstation market. Keynote speakers, Paul Otellini from Intel and Jeff Raikes from Microsoft, emphasized the growing use of workstations as a powerful engine for design collaboration and single-desktop integration.

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft and Intel have been focused on delivering a solid workstation platform that provides high performance, reliability, scalability, ease of use, and low total cost of ownership for customers to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
  • The two companies have made significant strides in driving further performance improvements and easing the migration process to existing Pentium III and Pentium III Xeon processor-based workstations running Windows NT-based solutions.
  • The Pentium III processor and Pentium III Xeon processor families offer outstanding price/performance, flexibility, and reliability on the Windows NT workstation platform.
  • Rapid deployment of workstations in mission-critical and enterprise environments has been observed among companies such as Enron Corp. for increased performance and reliability.
  • The use of workstations in key mechanical design automation (MDA), digital content creation (DCC), and financial services environments has led to the creation, view, and sharing of content at companies such as Sony and BankBoston.
  • Growing use of workstations as a powerful engine for design collaboration and single-desktop integration has been observed at companies such as Xerox Corp. and architectural firm Ellerbe Becket.
  • Intel and Windows NT-based workstation shipments have shown accelerated growth in emerging markets such as Japan and the Asia Pacific region, with 47% and 50% respectively in 1999 according to IDC.
  • New workstation uses, such as data visualization and electronic trading, have emerged as key trends in the workstation market.
  • Companies such as BankBoston, Ellerbe Becket, Enron Corp., Lear Corp., Navistar International Corp., Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Xerox Corp. have announced their move to Intel and Microsoft Windows NT-based solutions.

Statistics:

  • 47% growth of Intel and Windows NT-based workstation shipments in Japan in 1999 (according to IDC)
  • 50% growth of Intel and Windows NT-based workstation shipments in the Asia Pacific region in 1999 (according to IDC)
  • 2-day Workstation Leadership Forum (WLF) '99, hosted by Intel and Microsoft, attended by over 700 users and developers
  • 47% and 50% growth of Intel and Windows NT-based workstation shipments in Japan and the Asia Pacific region respectively in 1999 (according to IDC)

Sources:

  • PRNewswire, "Microsoft and Intel Commit to Workstation Leadership and Innovation" (June 30, 1999)
  • Intel press release, "Intel and Microsoft Host Second Annual Workstation Leadership Forum" (July 1, 1999)
  • Microsoft press release, "Microsoft and Intel Commit to Workstation Leadership and Innovation" (June 30, 1999)
  • Intel Architecture Business Group, Intel Corporation
  • Microsoft Corporation, Worldwide Sales and Customer Support