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New PowerPC Systems from Apple, Canon, FirePower, IBM, IPC Technologies, and Others

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Multiple technology leaders have unveiled new portable and desktop systems based on the PowerPC 604 and PowerPC 603e microprocessors at PC Expo. These systems demonstrate the industry's growing support for the PowerPC architecture, which promises to provide a viable alternative to the x86 standard. The new systems, including Apple's Power Macintosh 9500 series, Canon's Power Workstation line, and IBM's Power Series 800, showcase the scalability and performance of the PowerPC platform.

Key Takeaways:

  • Apple's Power Macintosh 9500 series incorporates the PowerPC 604 chip and features a PCI-based architecture, making it the most powerful and expandable line to date.
  • Mac OS System 7.5.2 has been optimized for the PowerPC family of microprocessors and supports over 760 native Macintosh applications available today.
  • Canon's Power Workstation line includes a PowerPC 603e microprocessor-based notebook computer and uni- and dual-processor desktop systems based on the PowerPC 604 microprocessor.
  • FirePower Systems has extended its Powerized MX family of high-performance PowerPC microprocessor-based systems to include the 133- and 120MHz PowerPC 604 microprocessors in uni- and dual-processor configurations.
  • IBM's Power Series 800 and Thinkpad PowerSeries includes slimline and mid-size desktops and mobile configurations, incorporating the PowerPC 603e and 100-, 120-, and 133MHz PowerPC 604 microprocessors.
  • IPC Technologies' Austin PowerPlay 2 series includes uni- and dual-processor desktops based on 100-, 120-, and 133MHz PowerPC 604 microprocessors, targeting the high-end CAD, 3-D imaging, and graphics workstation markets.
  • Motorola Computer Group's PowerStack family has been extended to include desktop and mini-tower systems as well as servers based on the PowerPC 603e and 133MHz PowerPC 604 microprocessors, available with AIX and Windows NT 3.51 pre-loaded.
  • Zenith Data Systems (ZDS) announced its intent to develop PowerPC 601, PowerPC 603, and PowerPC 604 microprocessor-based uni-processor and high-end dual-processor enterprise servers.

Statistics:

  • Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector had 1994 worldwide sales of $6.9 billion, and the company's 1994 sales reached $22.2 billion.
  • The new 133- and 120MHz 604 microprocessors offer an estimated 200 SPECint92 and 200 SPECfp92, extending desktop performance and driving the development of new business applications.
  • The PowerPC 603e microprocessor features an estimated 120 SPECint92 and 105 SPECfp92 at 100MHz, allowing systems manufacturers to build battery-efficient notebooks and desktop PCs with better performance than most high-end desktop systems.
  • Over 760 native Macintosh applications are available today, taking advantage of the significant performance gains of the PowerPC architecture.
  • More than 3,000 AIX software applications are available today for PowerPC systems.

Sources:

  • PC Expo announcement
  • Motorola's PowerPC Web server (http://www.mot.com/PowerPC/)
  • Motorola's press release (June 20, 1995)
  • Cunningham Communication, Inc.
  • Dean Mosley, Motorola
  • Motorola, Inc.

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