IBM cuts workstation prices

IBM announced aggressive price cuts on IntelliStation models, including a 20-percent reduction on its new 300-MHz IntelliStation M Pro Model 36U.

Featuring 128MB EDO ECC memory, Intergraph Intense 3D graphics card, and a 4.3GB hard drive, the IntelliStation M Pro 36U will go for an estimated street price of $8,750. All other IntelliStation models have been reduced by up to $1,000.

Using Intel's Pentium II processor to power a Windows NT platform, the IntelliStation is designed for commercial users running computer animation, mechanical design, financial services, and software development applications. Windows NT systems compete with Unix-based workstations for buyers in such high-end applications.

Since its debut in March 1997, the IntelliStation line has boosted its top speed to 300 MHz from 200 MHz, roughly equivalent to the speed of midrange Unix server, according to Tom Copeland, an analyst at IDC Research. "Both in terms of processor and graphics performance, the Unix systems still have an edge," Copeland noted.

However, Windows NT systems are significantly cheaper, with prices sometimes running at half the price of Unix counterparts.