gauging interest in VAX 6000-530

From: allisonp_at_world.std.com <(allisonp_at_world.std.com)>
Date: Mon Oct 25 08:48:40 1999

> > Wrong, what counts is that the computer can do the job that it needs to.
> > That is why you'll still find systems such as the PDP-8 and PDP-11 still in
> > service. That is also why most people don't need anything more than a
> > 68k-based Macintosh.
>
> This is dead-wrong. You assume that "the job" remains static. But the
> fact of the matter is, unless your computer is embedded in your microwave
> or toaster, you'll want to run new and interesting s/w on it. And, in
> general, that implies that you'll want a faster computer in 18 months.

Weather you machine is a NC mill or toaster you want it to do their
designed function, not run nifty software that you have laying around.
The only excuse for a toaster upgrade is burnt toast.

> If you're running some accounting application or airline reservations system,
> sure, keep it the same until its lifetime expires. But, does it scale?
> Can you load it more?

To many depends there. Often the software does not scale. If it were vax
or as400 the answer is well known, yes.

> An Intel i486DX2/66 will run Dhrystone 2.1 2 to 3 times faster than a Vax 6500.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ F A C T ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's still meaningless.

> Now, as for Alphas: I want one! ;-)

Buy one, they run just a tad more than your average Xeon/500 with all the
bells... Of course you can get an antique one that is only 330mhz a lot
cheaper.

Allison
Received on Mon Oct 25 1999 - 08:48:40 BST