Making waves in the CPU arena last week, Digital Equipment Corp’s Alpha chip has already attracted a number of eager partners, Kubota Pacific Computer Inc, Santa Clara, California, being one of the first. Kubota plans to use Digital’s Alpha processor for its next generation multi-processor three-dimensional graphics supercomputer, Titan 2.0, aimed at scientific research and engineering markets. Surprisingly, Kubota still intends to sell the MIPS Computer Systems Inc R3000 RISC-basd Titan 1.0, claiming that the two workstations will be made compatible with a series of migratory and integration services. Upgrades of the existing 1,000-strong Titan user base will also be carried out. However, the decision to upgrade, stay with existing machines or mix the two, will be left to the confused user. Kubota believes that the intended migration services will work well. According to Gregory Hopwood, vice-president of marketing, the intention is for any program written on Titan 1.0 to be taken and then re-compiled to run on the back-end of Titan 2.0. Kubota also intends to do versions of Titan 1.0 libraries and the Dore graphics software – a remnant from the now defunct Stardent Computer Corp – along with all third party programs written for Titan 1.0. Kubota is also set to launch a new graphics subsystem – its name not as yet disclosed – at Siggraph in July, saying that it will be an independent box that will plug into compatible hardware hosts: the first release will be available on Titan 1.0 and later in the year Titan 2.0. In its first outing with DEC, Kubota says the Alpha processor is equal to any other chip in its league, and believes the Alpha age will create a new untapped graphics market, in which it wants a stake: We want to make our presence felt early on, selling as many boxes as we can, says Hopwood. Kubota is also keen to nurture partnerships in the development of its software and its graphics box. Kubota Pacific chief executive Ben Wegbreit said the company would license the graphics subsystem broadly and pervasively with appropriate partners, saying it would gladly talk to Cray Research Inc and Convex Computer Corp as possible partners. Kubota is now meeting the likes of Hewlett-Packard Co and Silicon Graphics Inc at most bids, and says that has caused it to look very hard for suitable partners to anchor itself with. Part of this strategy is its alliance with DEC and the Open Software Foundation: it believes an alliance with the Foundation will be far more significant than its present membership with Unix International, migrating from running Unix 3.2 on Titan 1.0 to OSF/1 on Titan 2.0: the Foundation has a broader market… and we have very strong technological reasons for staying with it Wegbreit insisted; he says he can see Kubota joining the Software Foundation’s proposed Executive Members Group in the future.
