This talk will cover the relationship between software developers and computer hardware vendors. I will discuss how software developers can work with computer vendors and why the computer vendors are interested in these relationships. The talk will also include a summary of the current state of the life science software market from a computer vendor's point of view. At the end, Eamonn O'Toole, Ph.D. and member of Compaq's life sciences team will discuss an example collaboration between a hardware vendor and software developer.