This story covers what exactly is going to happen between intel and compaq and digital with all the hoopla over everyone buying pieces of eachother lately. Thanks to Farrell McGovern for sending this our way.

The Janurary announced merger of Digital and Compaq has gotten the ok of the European Union, a necessary step, due to the considerable amount of business that Digital-Compaq does within the Union. The merger still requires US approval before it can be finalized, however.

DJ Ierardi writes "I don't recall seeing this posted here: Ralph Nader encourages Michael Dell to pre-install Linux" here is the link. Sure, it won't happen, but it's still interesting.

Eric Anderson sent us this story over at the current issue of SunWorld which discusses the Compaq/Digital purchase. I think the scariest part of this whole thing is that Compaq can afford to do this.

Simon Janes wrote in with a very interesting editorial for us to read. This marks the first time that someone besides me has had an Editorial posted on Slashdot, but this piece is so worth reading that I just had to post it. Simon writes about the hardware and software industry, and specifically Sun. His conclusions are "out there" but each time I read this thing, I think he's more and more right. Pay attention guys because this is a big one.

Digital shows its true nature, and why it was bought by Compaq. Follow this link and you'll discover that Titanic was rendered using Windows NT. Rather strange given Linux-Journal's article written by Digital Domain themselves. Seems to me that Digital needs many politely worded corrections. Notice that Digital's article is targeted at newbies and is part of their (Microsoft Based) Web Port

Brian Knotts has sent us an interesting link and a quick comment:"Basically, Jai Singh is taking the position that Compaq's acquisition of Digital is the final nail in the coffin for all things non-Wintel."

Compaq's merger with digital may spell more problems for the MIPS architecture. Compaq recently acquired Tandem, and now Tandem's CS line of MIPS based servers is being phased out because it is not based on the industry standard chip architecture: Wintel. Apparently the Digital Alpha is more Wintel, so may survive. More details here.

Joshua R. Poulson wrote in to tell us the Digital has a 1,000 Mhz Alpha coming in the wings. Guess Compaq has made a pretty nice investment if they decide to keep the Alpha alive.

While the rest of us are still in Awe over the Compaq/Digital buyout, there is an excellant article over at sun about the situation. The future of the Alpha is at stake here, so it is probably worth reading. This one was sent to us by Fredrik Lundh

AMD Inc., has announced large price cuts on its K6 line of processors. All prices have been slashed drastically. A 200MHz model can be had for under US$100 now (in volume). Compaq will also announce a K6-based laptop in the near-future.

Compaq computers has stated that it will become the proud new owner of DEC, a purchase that will end up costing the equivalent of 9.6 billion US. This move, the latest in a series of mergers, sets Compaq up to move forward, by obtaining a company that has been faltering in the past couple years.

j sent in this link and Jeff Roberts sent in this one where you can read about a huge consortium of big names (Intel, Microsoft, Compaq, Baby Bells) working together to get a new technology, DSL, off the ground. 1.5 million bps sounds nice to me.

Compaq said today that they will be exiting the PC-TV home theatre arena, due to high prices, and not much consumer response. So far, this area has been dominanted, if that word can be used, by GW2K's Destination Systems, but this has not proven to be the money maker that computer makers were looking for.

Compaq today announced a new line of Presario computers, a day after HP announced their $799 PC. Two of the new desktops use the AMD K6 processor (from the grapevine- AMD is expected to cut prices by almost 50% later this week on some K6 models, as well as introduce the 266MHz model, which is present in a new IBM computer).
Compaq also has introduced a MediaGX (200MHz) based laptop. A basic configuration starts at US$2000. The chip was introduced this morning.