DIGITAL IMPROVES PERFORMANCE AND DEPTH OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS WITH MAJOR
PRODUCT ROLLOUT

Digital Advances VME And PCI Alpha-based Solutions, Distributed Realtime
Software, Embedded Development Tools And Third-Party Products..

Second-Generation Embedded Systems Product Line Establishes Digital's
Growing Influence and Marketshare In OEM Embedded Sector..

MAYNARD, Mass. -- September 12, 1995 -- The increasing acceptance of Alpha
64-bit RISC technology among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in
the embedded systems market -- representing more than 150 major design
wins since March 1994 -- reached another milestone today with the
introduction of a new second-generation product line from Digital
Equipment Corporation.

This major rollout of core technologies -- including 64-bit RISC-based VME
and PCI hardware, distributed realtime software and embedded development
tools -- establishes the highest performance levels and broadest support
for industry standards within one complete product set. In all, the
rollout comprises nine products within three primary technology classes:

     Alpha 64-bit RISC VME Hardware

         1. Alpha 2100 VME Server with PCI/VME Bridge
         2. AXPvme Single Board Computer

     PCI Hardware Solutions

         3. Passive Backplane System With Alpha CPU Card
         4. Passive Backplane System With Intel Pentium CPU Card
         5. AXPpci33 PCI-based PC Motherboard

     Realtime Software And Embedded Tools

         6. Distributed Realtime Software Advanced Developers Kit
         7. VxWorks 5.2 Embedded Operating System For Alpha
         8. Distributed Realtime Services for VxWorks
         9. Embedded Tools from third-party providers:  Green
            Hills, Rational

"This new product line addresses the most critical OEM embedded design
issues: the need for longer hardware lifecycles, an effective bridge from
VME to PCI, and support for next-generation software strategies such as
distributed realtime software and Windows NT," said William Armitage, vice
president of Digital's Embedded and Realtime OEM Products Group.

According to Armitage, several major OEMs have migrated to Alpha from
traditional embedded platforms like those of Sun Microsystems and
Motorola, because of Digital's ability to provide higher-performance,
scalable RISC architectures and distributed realtime software. Since March
1994 -- when the first generation of Alpha products for the embedded
industry debuted -- several worldwide manufacturers have used Alpha VME
boards in a variety of system designs. Among the most recent Alpha OEM
design wins are Meidensha (industrial control systems); Siemens/Plessey
(air traffic control systems); Westinghouse (VME-based torpedo detection
systems); and, Heidelberger Druck (raster image processing systems).

Armitage explained that the 20-year Alpha technology roadmap provides a
solid, enduring foundation for OEM designs: the industry's fastest
performance; scalable, modular options for growth; greatest commitment to
the PCI standard; and, a transition path to Microsoft Windows NT. "The
OEMs migrating to Alpha are realizing the growing importance of investment
protection and longer hardware lifecycles. With Hewlett-Packard, Sun and
Motorola planning to release 64-bit architectures within the next few
years, user investments in hardware currently available from these
companies would have shorter life cycles. Digital has robust solutions,
available now, that will carry OEMs through several product lifecycles,"
said Armitage.

Other OEM trends have encouraged migration to Alpha-based VME and PCI
single board computers, according to Paul Zorfass, an industry analyst
covering realtime and embedded systems for Framingham, Mass.-based market
research firm International Data Corp. "OEMs involved in embedded systems
are moving in three key directions. First, they are shifting to commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS) products rather than building their own, due to cost,
the greater availability of high-performance COTS products and the need to
focus on their own core competencies. Second, VME-to-PCI migration is
becoming a major consideration as OEMs evaluate the cost-effective PCI
approach. Lastly, an increasing number of OEMs will migrate to Windows NT
and PCI platforms over the next two years," he said.

Armitage credits recent OEM successes to Digital's product strategy. "We
have selectively entered high-volume and high-margin markets for specialty
embedded and realtime products where we can compete effectively with Alpha
performance and realtime software. For example, our core products have won
a strong following among OEMs requiring raster image processing engines,
speech synthesis and voice processing systems, and Peripheral Mezzanine
Card options."

The product rollout announced today targets OEM segments where Alpha's
64-bit RISC performance, the competitive price/performance of PCI PC
boards and distributed realtime software can offer a clear differentiation
and competitive advantage to OEMs designing embedded systems. Armitage
classified these OEM segments into three groups:

     1.  Imaging/Graphics/Video
         Includes medical imaging, raster image processing
         (pre-press, image setters, digital photography) and
         broadcast video.

     2.  VME-to-PCI Migration Sectors
         Includes military, aerospace and air traffic control

     3.  Process Control
         Includes SCADA and discrete manufacturing

The product rollout is backed by several customer oriented- business
practices which support key OEM customer requirements, according to
Armitage. These business practices include custom design and manufacturing
assistance, leadership price and price/performance solutions, flexibility
in delivery and warranty, access to future technology directions and
global service and support.

"The emphasis on these business practices allows Digital to fully support
OEM customers at all stages of the design cycle," commented Armitage. "We
enable OEMs to maintain their technology leadership and competitive
advantage while reducing their time-to-market and overall operational
costs."

Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open client/server
solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information
systems. Digital's scalable Alpha platforms, storage, networking, software
and services, together with industry- focused solutions from business
partners, help organizations compete and win in today's global
marketplace.
 
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