In brief: Hitachi and Toshiba aim for server breakthrough

Hitachi and Toshiba are to move into the PC server market with the release of Intel-based machines. They are following a path recently taken by NEC. Paulo Puppoli, analyst at DataQuest, believes that the market for Intel-based servers is starting to open up. "Toshiba's move into this arena means that they can enter organisations that would not normally be open to them. It makes sense," he said. Simon Pearce, senior director at research house, IDC, said: "If these companies are intent on succeeding and are willing to spend the money, they certainly have the distribution to do so."