Until now, Sun Microsystems has been content to let companies such as RDI Computer (San Diego) and Tadpole Technologies (Cambridge, U.K.) sell portable, Sun-compatible systems. But with the new SparcStation Voyager, the Mountain View, California-based company is finally offering its own workstation-class portable. The catch is that this system is far from svelte: It weighs 13 pounds (5.9 kg).
Built around a 60-MHz MicroSparc II processor from Fujitsu, the SparcStation Voyager (see the photo) offers performance that's benchmarked at roughly 43 SPECint92 and 47 SPECfp92, says Sun. Prices are expected to range between $10,000 and $15,000.
Desktop replacement could turn out to be a key application for the Voyager because it faces stiff competition in t
he mobile arena. If Sun is serious about competing in the mobile RISC-computing arena, it needs to channel the engineering achievements of the Voyager into even more aggressive designs.
Flexible C++
Matthew Wilson
My approach to software engineering is far more pragmatic than it
is
theoretical--and no language better exemplifies this than C++.
BYTE Digest editors every month analyze and evaluate the best articles from Information Week, EE Times, Dr. Dobb's Journal, Network Computing, Sys Admin,
and dozens of other CMP publications—bringing
you critical news and information about wireless communication,
computer security, software development, embedded systems,
and more!
Sun Aims High in First "Mobile" System
