Personal computers featuring the new Pentium II processor went on sale May 7 in Japan, immediately after Intel Corp. formally announced the release of its fastest microprocessor to date.
The Pentium II combines Intel's Pentium Pro processor with MMX technology. MMX, introduced in January, greatly increases the power to process voice and video signals. Intel Vice President Patrick Gelsinger said in Tokyo that the Pentium II will rapidly replace the Pentium Pro and will become the standard in a few years.
Following the debut of the new microprocessor, manufacturers such as Fujitsu Ltd., NEC Corp., Epson Corp., Gateway 2000 Japan, Inc. and Dell Computer KK started marketing new computers with the Pentium II. Other companies are also planning to sell computers with the new microprocessor.
Dell's new models, the Dimension XPS H233 with the 233-MHz Pentium II and the Dimension XPS H266 with the 266 MHz Pentium II, are priced at 279,900 yen and 299,900 yen, respectively. Fujitsu's new model, the FMV-6266T6, with a 4.3 gigabyte-hard drive and Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 95, is priced at 488,000 yen.