Microsoft, Cray, and Intel Shake Hands to Create Affordable Supercomputer
Microsoft and Intel have recently unveiled a plan for the most affordable supercomputer ever, which will mainly run on a Windows High Performance Computing (HPC) Server 2008. The supercomputer is relatively cheap compared to previous supercomputers with prices starting from $25,000. The processors for the system will be Intel Xeon processors. Reports also confirm that the system is certified to run the Red Hat Linux operating system, too. The supercomputer, which is called the CX1, can sit under or beside a desk or lab bench. Notable features of the new supercomputer include noise-canceling technology to make it more office-friendly, and the lack of a need for special power, cooling, or a dedicated computer room. The CX1 can be shipped easily in no more than six boxes and will have color-coded cables and preinstalled software. The CX1 is reported to have up to 8 nodes and 16 quad core Intel Xeon processors with 64 MB of memory per node, and supports up to 4 TB of internal storage.
GM Celebrates 100 Years; Powers into the Future with Chevrolet Volt
General Motors Corp. celebrated its centennial with the unveiling of the Chevrolet Volt, a revolutionary electric-powered car which can go up to 40 miles on a single charge. The company plans to launch the Volt in 2010 as part of its bid to make its lineup of automobiles both tech-savvy and relevant in today’s auto market. The Chevy Volt was first showcased at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2007, but since then there have been some changes to its sporty look. GM Vice-Chairman Robert Lutz said that GM had to change the car’s look to make it more cost-effective and aerodynamic. GM has also been testing the Volt's lithium-ion battery packs and is confident in their performance, Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman and CEO, said. The price of the Volt is still under wraps, although media reports suggest that it is expected to sell for between $30,000 and $40,000.
Gov’t Bails Out AIG, Barclays Acquires Lehman Brothers, BofA Gets Merrill Lynch
The government recently agreed to extend an $85-billion loan to insurance giant AIG. In return, AIG will be paying a very high interest rate and giving the feds an almost 80% stake in the firm.
Meanwhile, Barclays, a British bank, has agreed to purchase most of Lehman Brothers for $1.75 billion. Lehman's 25,000 employees, who were laid off earlier, might be forced to give back any bonuses from last year, as those payments may be scrutinized under the bankruptcy regime Lehman is now under.
Also, Merrill Lynch sold itself to Bank of America for the bargain basement price of $44 billion, or $29 per share. The investment firm had already lost $51.8 billion in mortgage-backed securities in the ongoing subprime mortgage crisis. The fate of Merrill’s 60,000 employees, meanwhile, remains uncertain.
