A special emphasis is on the transition to a single scalable operating system for all UNIX platforms from workstations to multi-node systems. Specific features and performance characteristics of HP's current high-end systems (S-, X- and V-Class) are explained in detail together with innovative concepts for high-availabilty requirements. A special focus will be on the relation of NT and UNIX at desktop-, server- and high-end level and the resulting shifts in the general system, system-software and application software markets.
Finally an update is provided on the future processor roadmap including the transition from PA-RISC to IA-64. The technological and economical impacts of this development across the whole HPC-arena are analyzed and advantages and tradeoffs for potential end-user strategies in industry, science and research and in commercial accounts outlined. The relation of future PC- to future HPC-technology at system architecture and system software level is also dicussed within this context.