In this podcast, Rich, Dan, and Henry regroup post-SC12 to discuss an industry trend that was in evidence at the show: vendor consolidation. Cray just acquired Appro… Intel recently acquired Qlogic and some Cray IP… IBM bought Platform… and so on.

The guys discuss how acquisitions need to be integrated the ‘right’ way; it’s more than just slapping up new logos on websites and combining slide decks. They also cite some merger cautionary tales. Dan offers a success story: IBM and Platform. Rich predicts which major vendor will next be swallowed whole; Henry predicts a challenge to Intel’s x86 dominance.

In “SC After Hours” chatter, Dan describes “My Dinner With Henry” in Salt Lake City, and Rich is accused of being the biggest Apple fanboi in all of HPC and, perhaps, the world.

This episode features a special cameo appearance by someone who knows all about buyouts: Larry Ellison.

Check the Radio Free HPC website for new episodes and more great content from Rich Brueckner of insideHPC, Henry Newman of Instrumental, Inc., and GCG’s Dan Olds.