Compaq Takes Leadership Role With Pentium Pro Rollout Plans -- Programs
Offer Customers Reliable, Smooth Deployment of New Technology

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EDITORS' SUMMARY

Compaq today announced:

 Confirmation of plans to use the Intel PentiumR Pro processor
 in desktops and servers;

 Investment Protection Program for selected Compaq desktops and
 servers, to satisfy those customers that desire maximized long-
 term investment protection;

 Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) Program, a joint program with
 Intel designed to ensure stability of software applications on
 Compaq servers with Pentium Pro processors.
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HOUSTON, October 26, 1995 -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today
announced its Pentium Pro processor rollout plans. The company said it
will market desktop and server products that support PCI bus technology
and Intel's Pentium Pro processor. Specifically, Compaq confirmed it will
deliver desktop products which use the Pentium Pro processor by first
quarter 1996 and it will offer servers optimized for the multi-processing
version of the Pentium Pro processor in the first half of 1996 (NOTE 1).
Additional product details for both desktops and servers, the company
said, would be made available when products are announced.

"Compaq knows many of its desktop customers want the benefits of the latest
technology as soon as it's available," said John T. Rose, senior vice
president and general manager, Compaq Desktop Division. "For these early
adopters, we plan to offer Pentium Pro processor technology in our
award-winning desktops when Intel formally announces its product."

Anticipating early market adoption of Pentium Pro processor technology and
subsequent demand for Compaq desktops and servers utilizing the Pentium
Pro processor, the company also announced its plans for a flexible
customer investment protection program and a joint Compaq/Intel ISV
program.

COMPAQ/INTEL INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE VENDORS PROGRAM

Compaq and Intel are working together to "seed" key third party software
developers with early Compaq systems which use the Pentium Pro processor. 
Compaq products based on the Pentium Pro processor, which will be used for
rigorous development and testing of new software products, are being made
available to qualified independent software vendors for integration,
optimization and validation testing of that company's software. The goal
of the ISV program is to ensure customers can buy a reliable, stable,
optimized and tuned solution based on Compaq servers when the Pentium Pro
processor (multi-processing version) is formally delivered to the market.

"As an active partner in the Pentium Pro processor development process,
Compaq has been working closely with Intel since last year to incorporate
this processor technology into Compaq desktops and servers," said Mike
Perez, vice president, engineering and leader of Compaq's system
development teams for Pentium Pro processor-based products. "To make sure
our server customers can rapidly deploy Compaq servers with the Pentium
Pro processor, we are working with the leading software companies so
solutions -- based on our platforms and their software -- are stable,
tuned and optimized. We expect our partnering work with Intel and leading
software companies to directly benefit our customers when they deploy
solutions based on Compaq servers which use the Pentium Pro processor."

Said Gary Stimac, senior vice president and general manager, Compaq Systems
Division, "Our Pentium Pro processor initiatives will help ensure that the
transition from Pentium to Pentium Pro goes smoothly for Compaq customers.
Our customers can have a high level of confidence in deploying production
systems as soon as they are available because key industry software
vendors will have already tested their products on Compaq servers which
use Intel's most advanced processor."

"Compaq is a leading innovator in enterprise technology and plans to offer
scalable Pentium Pro processor-based servers with balanced performance and
throughput," said David House, senior vice president of Intel's Enterprise
Server Group. "Intel is committed to helping software developers fully
test and tune applications on this new class of servers. Compaq and
Intel's cooperation on the ISV program is a key example of industry
leaders working together to deliver competitive business advantages to
customers."

Compaq and Intel have jointly targeted over 30 ISVs to receive Compaq
products which utilize the Pentium Pro processor. "Early interest among
software developers is quite high," said Mr. Perez. "The growth of the
client/server market, the rising interest and support for Microsoft
Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server, and the expected growth of
32-bit applications means ISVs are looking to develop these new and
upgraded applications on the best 32-bit computing platform available as
quickly as possible."

INVESTMENT PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR DESKTOPS AND SERVERS

Compaq announced that it is preparing a comprehensive desktop and server
Investment Protection Program for migration to Pentium Pro- based
products. The company said specific details, such as logistics and
qualifying products, will be made available nearer to the introduction of
Compaq products with the Pentium Pro processor.

The goal of this program -- targeted at selected desktop and server
products -- is to protect customers' hardware investments, offer flexible
cost-effective choices and simplify any required moves to systems using
the Pentium Pro processor. For Compaq desktops, selected products will be
upgradable, including products which currently incorporate a Pentium
processor or even a 486 processor. For Compaq servers, customers will be
able to migrate to Pentium Pro processor technology and PCI bus
architecture from selected ProLiant systems.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal
computers, offering desktop PCs, portable PCs and servers. Founded in
1982, the company reported 1994 worldwide sales of $10.9 billion. Compaq
products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries throughout the
world. Compaq also sells directly to customers through Compaq Direct Plus
at 1-800-888-5858. Compaq provides 24-hour customer support and can be
reached through the Compaq forums on America Online, CompuServe, Internet
(http://www.compaq.com), and Prodigy, or by calling 1-800-345-1518.

NOTE 1: Product delivery plans are contingent on the availability of parts
from Intel.
 
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