the battle for the business computer equipment market.

IBM, represented locally by Bermuda Computer Services (BCS) Ltd., has just released new versions of its popular AS/400 models based on the PowerPC AS 64-bit RISC.

Data General, represented here by Gateway Systems Ltd., has announced plans to expand its AViiON family of UNIX-based servers with new systems based on Intel processors.

Mr. Stephen Paul Baxter, Data General Corp. vice president, is here for a marketing trip this week, visiting Gateway. The local firm has reached annual sales of $4.2 million.

"Now, one can get significantly more computer capability in this world called open systems. One can dramatically lower the cost, while expanding computer power to more people,'' said Mr. Baxter.

"Very few industries have had this opportunity, where you've had from traditional computer technologies, sometimes as much as a ten-to-one cost difference when staying on the curve of computer technology you are on is contrasted against going to another technology.'' Meanwhile, competitor BCS said that as customers incorporate emerging technologies into their business applications, requirements are growing at an alarming rate. They say that industry observers expect that computer performance needs will double every 12 to 18 months over the next decade.

They say that the PowerPC AS microprocessor implementation in AS/400 will bring a new level of performance and growth to AS/400, preserving the system's traditional strengths in commercial computing.