Compaq first off block with mobile PII/300

Compaq is set to be first off the block with a range of Armada machines to be launched the same day as Intel introduces its PII/300MHz mobile on September 9. Channel sources said that on that day Compaq will introduce the Armada 6500, based on Digital's Ultra 2000, the 3500, which will use the PII/300MHz mobile chip and the Armada 7400. A Compaq distributor, who did not wish to be named, gave the details and said the Armada 7400 will cost £2,395, come with many megabytes of DRAM, and use Windows NT as its operating system. The news comes as no surprise to the distributor. He said three weeks ago that Compaq was keen not to consign the Ultra range to the dustbin of history. Intel said yesterday that it was on target to introduce the PII/300MHz mobile into the market on September 9th and denied that the introduction had been pushed backwards to distract attention from its Celeron-Mendocino offerings. * Reports said that Compaq had increased the price of its desktops using the 266MHz and 300MHz Pentium II parts two weeks ago. The reason was the shortage of such parts. Compaq is increasing the price earlier, rather than later, according to the same source. ®