Birth of a giant

June 12, 1998 2 p.m. PT The computer industry's second-largest company will explore new directions. Makeover for Compaq news analysis The PC giant seeks to blend technologies and begin selling direct. Digital merged The move will spur Compaq's push into services and 64-bit computing. Executive ranks reshuffled The enlarged company's new management team has few members from Digital. Firm ready to break even Digital will add to earnings by the fourth quarter, but 2,000 layoffs loom. Digital shareholders OK deal The affirmative vote is the last step in a long road to the $9.6 billion takeover. New company for Alpha A Samsung subsidiary will market Digital Alpha chips.  previous coverage  • Layoffs likely in Compaq-DEC deal  • Digital's Claflin resigns, the first to go  • Is Digital falling off the desktop?  • EC clears Compaq-DEC deal  • Compaq tops IBM at large firms  • Compaq's quest special coverage