3 Computer Makers Unveil Mainframes

International Business Machines and Digital Equipment Corp., the nation’s two top computer makers, on Tuesday unveiled new mainframe computers aimed at boosting demand and competition in the IBM-dominated $45-billion-a-year market.

Control Data Corp., which plays a minor role in the mainframe market, also unveiled a new high-end model aimed at scientists, engineers and others needing high performance general purpose computers.

Analysts said the new products are designed to win back the increasing number of users who have defected to smaller and less-expensive mid-size or desktop models. The wide-scale defections have been blamed for sluggish sales of mainframe models during the last year.

Digital, which has been IBM’s peer in the mid-range market, is making a bold move with its new 9000 model machine. The system, Digital’s first-ever product for mainframe-type computing, is five times as fast as its most powerful previous processors, according to company officials.

In the past, Digital has increased the power of its systems by clustering together several mid-sized machines. Tuesday’s announcement was seen as a recognition that some jobs can only be done by single, big computers.

“It’s going to do very well,” predicted Howard Anderson, an analyst who is managing director of the Yankee Group in Boston. “Digital always has great software and their users have a hunger for power. The users keep getting bigger systems and they’ll need this.”