Unix vendors including HP and IBM have pledged to continue developing their proprietary RISC chips even while they promote servers and workstations based on Itanium. Only Sun has shunned the Itanium crowd, arguing that its decision to stay focused on a single, proven platform will give it the edge over its rivals. Launch Signals Major, but Slow, Transition Analysts don't expect Itanium to shake up the server market overnight. Corporate buyers are notoriously averse to risk and will tread cautiously as they explore the new platform. Plus, the availability of compatible applications may also limit adoption rates early on.
Some analysts say they expect that chip to make a much greater impression on picky buyers.
Obviously, in a transition like this, things don't happen overnight. System Details, Sans Pricing Intel's hardware partners are showing off a variety of servers and workstations based on the new chip. However, for the most part, vendors say they won't be ready to discuss pricing until the systems actually begin shipping. The workstation and RX4610 server are due in the next quarter, and the 16-way machine will follow soon after, an HP spokesperson says. IBM plans an EServer x380 that will be available with up to four Itanium processors and 64GB of memory.