Compaq Computer Corp. (Houston, Tex.) announced Jan. 26 that it will acquire Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC, Maynard, Mass.). This would be the largest computer industry acquisition ever—$9.6 billion—and would create the second largest computing company globally.
Compaq Computer Corp. (Houston, Tex.) announced Jan. 26 that it will acquire Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC, Maynard, Mass.). This would be the largest computer industry acquisition ever—$9.6 billion—and would create the second largest computing company globally. DEC would operate as subsidiary of Compaq. The move increases Digital’s reach, service, and support channels. Manufacturers use 64-bit Alpha servers, OpenVMS, Digital UNIX, and Window NT Enterprise systems, as well as Digital VAX and PDP-11s in many settings. Compaq says it’s the largest supplier of personal computers and a major supplier of servers. In 1997 Compaq acquired Tandem Computers; Compaq was founded in 1985 by three former employees of Texas Instruments.