Dell Exec Criticizes HP Machine Project
July 24, 2014
Oh, dear. HP was so excited to declare it is working on a new kind of computer, dubbed simply the Machine. Dell’s head software honcho, however, decided to rain on its competitor’s parade, we learn from IT World’s “Dell Executive Says HP’s New Machine Architecture Is Laughable.” Apparently, the problem is that the new technology would render many existing programs obsolete. Gee, who’d ever want to support something so disruptive (besides, apparently, nearly everyone in Silicon Valley)? Writer James Niccolai reports:
“‘The notion that you can reach some magical state by rearchitecting an OS is laughable on the face of it,’ John Swainson, head of Dell’s software business, told reporters in San Francisco Thursday when asked to comment on the work. The basic elements of computing, like processor and memory, are likely to be reconfigured in some way, but not so radically that existing software won’t run, he said. ‘I don’t know many people who think that’s a really good idea.’”
Really? I think that’s called “technological progress,” and I believe many people are pretty keen on the idea. I, for one, haven’t always been pleased when required to update or swap out software, but I’m awfully glad I’m not running Windows 95 anymore. The write-up goes on:
“Jai Menon, head of Dell Research, said another advanced memory type — phase-change memory — is going to be here ‘sooner than what HP is banking on.’ Those are strong words from a company that isn’t exactly known for pushing the boundaries of computing, having built its business mainly on cheap servers and PCs. Dell’s long-term research looks out ‘two years and beyond,’ Menon said earlier in the day — not far enough that it’s likely to hustle a new memory technology to market itself. That didn’t stop Menon from claiming there are ‘at least two other types of memory technology better than what HP is banking on.’ He named phase-change memory as one of them — another technology HP has worked on in its labs.”
To be honest, we tend to be suspicious about big claims like HP’s Machine hype. However, to declare the project “laughable” because it accepts a changing software landscape seems short-sighted.
Cynthia Murrell, July 24, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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